The landscape design by Bali-phile Made Wijaya has won awards for this hotel. These hot and cold plunge pools reveal one of the many secluded spots found amongst the beautiful garden. These tokk 500 labourers nine months of excavation and planting to create, according to what Wijaya calls his 'tropical Cotswold' aesthetic.

When it comes to luxury spa resorts, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay has earned its stripes as one of the world's best, offering a seamless fusion between five-star amenities and local ambience. This same success has been carried over into the hotel's spa, also ranking as one of the best while maintaining its indigenous sense of the exotic: gamelan music, eastern aromas and a soul-soothing atmosphere where time has no role to play.

Unique to the Spa at Jimbaran is its Quiet Room: while painted in hot shades like the rest of the spa pavilion, it offers absorbing time-out as nurtur- ing as the treatments themselves. Treatments here are high class and expertly devised in a menu that makes choosing almost as agonizing as the stress they aim to bustThe mere sound of a Coconilla Scrub with Vanilla Beans and Coconut Milk, a steamy 20 minutes in a Peppermint and Lemon Grass Vapour, or a Wrap with AloeVera and Banana Leaves, is a heaven-sent reminder that indeed this is the Island of the Gods.

Hand movements in traditional Balinese massage

While this spa is beautifully designed with indoor-outdoor treatment rooms offering that all-Asian frisson of shower- ing naked next to nature, guests can be pampered in the privacy of their own residence too.These comprise walled courtyards, dining pavilion, bedroom, bathrooms inside and out and the famous private plunge pool and outsized tub. Indeed, some guests have been known not to emerge through their carved, painted, double Majapahit Palace front doors from arrival to check-out.., and they have still enjoyed spa treatments most people only dream about.

A view up to the lobby from the main body of the hotel designed by Grounds Kent Architects according to a brief that combines the ambience of Balinese culture, namely a Balinese village layout, and the standards of a hotel in the Worlds Best' category.

(Clockwise from top) This infinity edge pool is one of the resorts two public pools. However this was one ofAsias first hotels to introduce private plunge pools in each of the villa suites. All spa treatments are based on natural products rather than chemical preparations.In oriental philosophy breath is synonymous with 'inspiration from the gods'. While normal breathing supposedly eliminates one third of toxins from our bodies, inhaling essential oils does more, stimulating our respiratory and nervous systems.This must explain why the scent from these oil burners enhances our sense ofwefl being as soon as we enter this spa.

Many treatments have been exclusively devised by Kim and Cary Collier, a couple who spent a number of years studying Indonesia's botanical heritage before launching their own spa consultancy.Their sensitive dedication to their work is reflected in the 'karma' that prevails among the therapists and hangs in the air.They also create the divine products used here.The texture, fragrance and ingredients of the spa's Bali Santi massage blend - coconut oil infused with essential oils ofvetiver, basil and patchouli - speak for them- selves. Sampling is believing!