Shunyata Villas, Karangasem | A Clifftop Stay We Still Think About
By Des Res Bali
We found Shunyata Villas by accident during Covid, back when Bali was impossibly quiet and long drives around the island felt a little dreamlike.
We’d been circling the island slowly, staying wherever was open and looked interesting, when a wrong turn somewhere in Karangasem led us here — a peaceful clifftop stay above Batu Telu Beach that immediately felt special.
Shunyata sits well off the usual Bali path, tucked into one of the warmest local neighborhoods we’ve come across. The villas are quietly chic without shouting about it — private pools spilling toward the ocean, clean lines softened by sea air and tropical greenery, and views dramatic enough to make you pause mid-conversation.
Below, Batu Telu Beach stretches out in black sand, pebbles, and striking volcanic rock formations. The coastline here feels wilder and moodier than southern Bali — less polished postcard, more raw beauty.
Breakfast in the villa became part of the ritual for us: coffee, ocean air, waves crashing below the cliffs, fishing boats drifting past in the distance. The staff were genuinely lovely — warm in that effortless East Bali way that never feels performative.
It’s the sort of place that encourages you to slow down without announcing itself as a wellness retreat. Peaceful, intimate, beautifully designed, and deeply calming.
We still dream about it, honestly.
Why it’s on our Shortlist
- Clifftop villas with sweeping ocean views
- Batu Telu Beach’s dramatic black sand coastline below
- Quietly stylish design that feels relaxed rather than overdone
- Warm, thoughtful hospitality
- Excellent in-villa breakfasts
- A slower, more peaceful side of Bali
- Good to Know
- Located in Karangasem, East Bali
- Best suited to couples, slower stays, and people wanting quiet
- A longer drive from the airport — but very worth it
- You’ll hear the ocean constantly, which for us was a plus
Location: Celagi, Jl. Pura Batu Telu, Seraya, Kec. Karangasem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80811
Instagram: @shunyatavillasbali
