Tracing the footsteps of one of Bali’s most revered priests, experience a centuries-old pilgrimage as you make your way through five beautiful and historic temples located in Bali’s Bukit region, each with its own story to tell. Only available to guests of Alila Villas Uluwatu, this Journey of Enlightenment takes you on a passage seldom traversed by tourists. Find yourself walking through an ancient cave temple filled with stalactites, containing a revered source of holy water on the island, or enjoying a traditional Balinese-style lunch in a Balinese pavilion with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and the Bukit’s surrounding limestone cliffs.

Opened on 1^st June 2009, Alila Villas Uluwatu, a luxurious all-pool villa resort perched upon an elevated plateau in Bali’s exclusive Bukit Peninsula, is the first in their portfolio of carefully curated, one-of-a-kind guest activities, known as Alila Journeys.

The Alila Journeys are a series of customized activities exclusively offered at all Alila Villas properties, which are designed to integrate indigenous nature, traditional culture and local community for an unparalleled guest experience. On offer at Alila Villas Uluwatu are full-day and half-day bespoke experiences which focus on spa and wellness, Balinese culture, arts & crafts as well as environmentally-conscious excursions.

“Keeping in mind that our guests are always on the lookout for unique and surprisingly different experiences, we have fashioned the Alila Journeys to anticipate their needs,” says Sean Brennan, General Manager of Alila Villas Uluwatu. “Whether they are looking for a facet of Bali they never knew existed, or a slice of the island brought to the comfort of their own villa, their Alila Journey is crafted to suit their tastes and preferences.”

A total of 7 varied options have been created for the Alila Journey. The Journey of Enlightenment traces the footsteps of High Priest Dang Hyang Nirartha, a Hindu High Priest born in the 15th century in East Java during the Golden Era of the Majapahit dynasty. His search for a place to reach enlightenment brought him to the Bukit region in Bali, where Alila Villas Uluwatu is currently located, an area many thousands of years older than mainland Bali with some of the best surfing spots on the island.

High Priest Dang Hyang Niratha’s search for enlightenment led him to establish five major temples on the Bukit, ranging from cliff temples with panoramic views over the magnificent Uluwatu coastline, to a cavernous limestone cave temple with numerous stalactites. Each bearing its own tale on how it came to be founded, the five temples are: Pura Gong, the Temple of the Gong; Pura Gunung Payung, the Temple of the Parasol; Pura Geger, the Temple of Amazing Occurrences; Pura Uluwatu, Uluwatu Temple; and Pura Gunung Cenggiling, the Temple of Remembrance.

With its upcoming launch in June 2009, Alila Villas Uluwatu will provide the ultimate in luxury living, surprising guests with its high-level of personalized services and innovative lifestyle. Much thought had been put in by award-winning architects WOHA, to ensure that each villa is specifically designed and constructed in accordance with environmentally sustainable principles. Alila Villas Uluwatu’s grand location and detailed architecture blend harmoniously with its natural environment to showcase the richness and depts. Of Balinese culture.

For reservations, you can email uluwatu@alilahotels.com