Our second stay at Alam Shanti, it's not that we're not adventurous, but when you're on a good thing stick with it !

We simply can't fault the rooms (spacious, gorgeous) and the verandah (cool, airy, fabulous view, relaxing day bed) and the breakfasts (could make you fat if you stayed too long) .

The pool is lovely - only complaint is the need to keep up the towel supply and add a couple more loungers as they were often all in use.

The location is quiet, yet there are a couple of restaurants nearby -Chilli Cafe which we enjoyed and Lake Leke (owned by the family) which is superb. I did a cooking course at Lake Leke and was most impressed not only by the instruction but also the opportunity to see the various herbs, fruits and spices growing in the garden -equal to anything else on offer in Bali and what a sumptuous feast at the end, so much food that the chefs Yoyo and Dona rang my husband (who was relaxing by the pool at Alam Shanti) and invited him to join us.

The new day spa centre at the entrance to the property is very convenient and quite nice. A one hour hair and scalp treatment and head massage cost less than $A10. Don't miss a combined hand and foot reflexology massage at one of the little places on Monkey Forest Road, it's a $A7 one hour torture but it's so good!

The walk to Ubud through the monkey forest motor bike path is quite beautiful and any of the shops and restaurants in busy Ubud proper are only a short distance away via this track. Then of course there's the very polite and unassuming Ipon who will drive you anywhere and collect you again when you call.

What more can you ask ?

Just returned from Alam Shanti and Alam Giwa their sister property next door. Both were magical places which embodied my vision of Bali. Stayed on the rice paddie replete with Oxen, ducks, monitor lizards, gekos and a myriqad of sights and smells. the hotel had a centries old feel and design yet is 3! New spa was great with daily $20 1.5 hour massages from qualified technicians. Breakfast crepes were killer and the staff arranged all tours, transpo and my picky needs with ease..... Go stay there ASAP!!!!

This place was just amazing. Alam Shanti has 8 rooms (ranging in price) so I'd recommend to book early. I stayed for three nights. One night in the Narmada room, and the following two nights upstairs in Indus. Both rooms were lovely, with four poster bed and marble (huge!) bathrooms. The upstairs room has a balcony with daybed, and the downstairs room a huge verhandah. The pool area was nice, clean, quiet and overlooked a nearby creek and rice field. I can also recommend the spa at the property, they did nice massage, facial, pedicure and manicure.
As a couple of reviews mention you are living close with nature. That means the occasional bug or cicak (house gecko) coming inside to pay a visit - they do no harm and add to the ambience of the place.
My room did occasionaly get a bit smokey courtesy of the neighbouring farmers maintaining their rice paddly fields and burning off. A simple fix for this is just to close the windows when they light up.
It is a nice walk into Ubud via the sacred Monkey Forest, the hotel also has a free shuttle service if you're feeling too lazy (or hot) to walk.

I booked Alam Shanti on the basis of Tripadvisor reviews, and it certainly lived up to expectations! It's simply gorgeous - spacious most beautiful gardens and a most wonderful pool area. I was traveling solo, so I had one of the cheaper rooms (one of only 8) which was excellent value - huge with spacious outdoor areas but a little noisy as it's closest to the little laneway and entrance. When I return (which I definitely will!) I would book one of the more expensive rooms which I still think would be excellent value. The staff are lovely and the breakfasts were fantastic. It's a little out of the way but an easy walk to into Ubud during the day and very willing transport provided as well.