Home › Areas of Bali › Sayan
Sayan
Luxury on the Ayung River gorge (Central Bali)
About Sayan
Sayan is a ridge-top village just west of central Ubud, high above the Ayung River gorge. Jungle valley views, white-water rafting on the river below and some of Bali's most celebrated luxury resorts make it the quiet, upscale side of Ubud, a short drive from the town's cafés and galleries.
Best for: Honeymooners & wellness travelers who want Ubud without the bustle
- Ayung River valley
- White-water rafting
- Sayan Ridge walks
- Luxury jungle resorts
Sayan at a glance
- Beach: None (0/5). No beach; the river valley is the view.
- Nightlife: None (0/5). None; central Ubud is a short drive away.
- Prices: $$$ · Pricey. Pricey: mostly high-end resorts, though the main-road warungs and Ubud are close by.
- To the airport: 37 km · 60–90 min. By road to Bali airport (DPS), in usual traffic.
- Climate: Warm & humid · 200 m
Ratings
- Calm-water swimming: None (0/5)
- Surfing: None (0/5)
- Diving & snorkeling: None (0/5)
- Sunsets: Fair (2/5)
- Restaurants & cafés: Good (3/5)
- Culture & temples: Good (3/5)
- Nature & landscapes: Excellent (5/5)
- Yoga & wellness: Excellent (5/5)
- Family-friendly: Good (3/5)
- Peace & quiet: Excellent (5/5)
- Remote work: Fair (2/5)
- Walkability: Poor (1/5)
Rated from 0 (none) to 5 (excellent), compared with Bali's other areas.
Resorts in Sayan
- Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan: Ubud, from about $1,200 a night
- Kayumanis Ubud Private Villas & Spa: Ubud, from about $210 a night
- The Ridge Bali: Ubud, from about $580 a night
- Bambu Indah: Ubud, from about $320 a night
- The Samaya Ubud: Ubud, from about $310 a night
- Kupu Kupu Barong Villas and Tree Spa: Ubud, from about $140 a night
- Ubud Raya Boutique Hotel: Ubud, from about $28 a night
- Ubud Raya Resort: Ubud, from about $68 a night
- Black Penny Villas Ubud: Ubud, from about $198 a night
- The Payogan Villa Resort & Spa: Ubud, from about $71 a night
- Ubud Padi Villas: Ubud, from about $113 a night
- Bliss Ubud Spa Resort: Ubud, from about $64 a night
- Arya Arkananta Resort & Spa: Ubud, from about $64 a night
- Pramana Watu Kurung: Ubud, from about $92 a night
- MATHIS Retreat Ubud: Ubud, from about $60 a night
- Ubud Heaven Sayan: Ubud, from about $65 a night
- Anumana De Suite: Ubud, from about $110 a night
- The Kampung Ubud Villa: Ubud, from about $213 a night
- Samkhya Villas: Ubud, from about $65 a night
- Temuku Ubud Villas: Ubud, from about $62 a night
- Impiana Private Villas Ubud: Ubud, from about $168 a night
- Uma Kalai: Ubud, from about $132 a night
- Awatara Boutique Resort: Ubud, from about $63 a night
- The Ambengan Villas Ubud: Ubud, from about $68 a night
Sights in Sayan
- Ayung River (nature). Bali's longest river runs through a deep, jungle-lined gorge below the Sayan ridge, with rice terraces stepping down its sides. Rafting trips of about two hours ride its class II and III rapids, several of them starting upstream in the Payangan area. Rafting companies collect guests from Ubud hotels, and the water runs higher and faster in the rainy season.
- Sayan Ridge (nature). The road through Sayan runs along the rim of the Ayung gorge, and gaps between the houses and warungs open onto views of palm forest and terraced paddies falling to the river. Narrow paths lead east from the ridge through working rice fields toward Penestanan and Ubud. The walks are flat and cool early in the morning, a short ride from central Ubud.