Tanah Gajah Hotel in Ubud, Bali

Essentials
• Location: Jl. Goa Gajah, Tengkulak Kaja.
• Hotel website: tanahgajahubud.com
• Hotel phone: +62 (0)361 975 685
Check prices for Tanah Gajah

Review of Tanah Gajah in Ubud, Bali.

The gorgeous pool at Tanah Gajah features fountains and lots of sun loungers and is surrounded by immaculate lawns and lotus ponds.

Tanah Gajah – Like an art museum, with opulent and individually-designed villas among vast gardens.

Formerly a private guesthouse owned by a Balinese art collector, this is one of the largest, oldest, and most memorable hotels in Ubud. The grounds feature statues, rice fields, and ponds packed with swans, and are extensive enough to feature an organic vegetable garden, tennis court, temple, and art gallery. There are only twenty suites and villas (with private pools), each separately designed and traditionally furnished, featuring carved bed-stands, outdoor sunken bathtubs, and even fireplaces. Accommodations are spread out, providing genuine privacy, and the long pool is surrounded by lotus ponds and immaculate lawns. Downtown Ubud is a short ride away by free shuttle service, and the impressive Goa Gajah temple is within walking distance.

See Also

Tanah Gajah – The Location

  • Area: Along the road between Ubud and Goa Gajah temple. Isolated, with almost nothing close by and accessible on foot.
  • Address: Jalan Pasung Grigis, a side-street from the main road (Jalan Raya Goa Gajah). About 4 km east of central Ubud, the most popular tourist region in central Bali.
  • How to Get There: Best to arrange an airport pickup with the hotel, which is about 75 minutes (40 km) away (depending on traffic). See other options under “Local Transport” below.
  • Handy to: Goa Gajah cave temple. Yeh Pulu rock carvings.

Tanah Gajah – The Basics

  • Guests: Caters mainly to couples, mostly older ones who appreciate the setting and seclusion, but families are welcome and would cherish the spacious setting.
  • Views: Views of the heavenly countryside include rice fields, lawns, and ponds (with swans). On a clear day, the distant Agung volcano can be seen.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Some villas feature private pools, while the single Hadiprana Villa has a pool and a jacuzzi.
  • Extras: Afternoon tea, best enjoyed in a gazebo on the lawn. Yoga lessons. Free transfers to central Ubud.
  • Parking: Plenty of free and secure parking spots, but think long and hard before driving anywhere in Bali.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +62 (0)361 975 685
  • Email: info@tanahgajahubud.com
  • Website: tanahgajahubud.com

Tanah Gajah – Amenities

  • Pool: The main pool is long and lovely. Surrounded by immaculate lawns and lotus ponds, and lined with fountains inspired by Hinduism.
  • Spa: The spa is very elegant. Offers special rooms facing rice fields, signature massages, and cream baths.
  • Fitness Center: Fair size and well-equipped, also with exquisite rice field views. Free yoga lessons.
  • Activities: Tennis court. Cooking classes. Rice field walks. Tours, treks, and trips to ceremonies.
  • Other Facilities: Hindu temple. Organic garden. Art gallery with works collated by the owner. Souvenir shop.

Tanah Gajah – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant & Bar: The restaurant is impeccably located within a secluded section of the extensive grounds, offering rice field views in all directions, and is decorated with Balinese arts and crafts. Many ingredients (including rice) are sourced from the hotel’s organic gardens. The bar is alongside the pool, and restaurant meals can also be enjoyed there.
  • Breakfast: Included in all rates.
  • Room Service: Available from about 7 am to 9.30 pm.

Tanah Gajah – Rooms

  • Room Types: Suite • Pool Villa • Family Villa • Hadiprana Villa (1 only) • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: Contact management about its strict policy regarding smoking on the grounds.
  • Best Room: The sole Hadiprana Villa is designed for Balinese royalty. Named after the owner/founder, it resembles a mansion, with 2 bedrooms packed with arts/crafts, as well as a jacuzzi, separate living area, and extended pool.
  • For Families: Family Villas are spacious, each with a private pool, lush gardens, and even a butler (who can double as a childminder). Easily caters for a family of 4. The 2-bedroom Hadiprana Villa can accommodate 6.

Tanah Gajah – Local Transport

  • Walking & Cycling: The main road just up the quieter lane from the resort is ugly and noisy, with potholed sidewalks, and very little is within walking distance anyway. It is possible, but not that enjoyable, to cycle from the resort to Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu (see “Attractions” below). Ask about bike rental at reception.
  • Public Transport: There is no reliable public transport anywhere in or around Ubud.
  • Cars, Motorbikes, & Taxis: Car rental can be arranged at the resort, but driving anywhere in Bali is not recommended. Motorbikes are easy to organize from agencies in Ubud and popular for visiting local attractions without the traffic of southern Bali. Metered taxis from southern Bali can drop passengers off in Ubud but are forbidden to operate here. So the best (and really, only) option for day trips is to charter a car with a driver through the hotel.
  • Shuttle Bus: For towns popular with tourists (e.g. Kuta and Lovina) shuttle buses are comfortable and cheap, if a little overcrowded at times. Local operators, as well as the major island-wide company, Perama, will normally pick up (but not drop off) guests from hotels. But they won’t come this far, so get a hotel transfer to/from Ubud. The Kura-Kura Bus company links Ubud with southern Bali, but schedules are convoluted and routes confusing.

Tanah Gajah – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

  • Bebek Tepi Sawah – The only place worth visiting on foot. One among a chain of much-loved cafés specializing in crispy duck. Gorgeous garden setting and exquisite food. About 1 km west along the main road.

Otherwise, organize a lift from the hotel to one of these special places in Ubud:

  • Ibu Rai Restaurant – Been around since the ‘70s (but moved since). Still one of the finest for its elegant setting and extensive menu.
  • Ibu Oka – Offers almost nothing but babi guling (roast pig), a Balinese specialty. The outlet along Jalan Suweta is more spacious, and guests can peek into the kitchen (animal lovers beware).
  • Murni’s Warung – On 4 levels, facing a river and ravine. Local favorite since 1974 for Indonesian, Thai, and French food. Art shop inside.
  • Bridges Bali – Super-swish and award-winning, with an extensive wine list, live music, valley views, and 5-star service.

Nearby Shops

  • Minimart at the turn-off to the hotel from the main road, but nothing else nearby, so organize a hotel transfer to Monkey Forest or Hanoman road, and/or the produce and art markets in central Ubud.

Nearby Attractions

    While the main road from the hotel to Goa Gajah is busy and a little steep in parts, the area between Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu is delightfully shady, flat, and quiet.

  • Goa Gajah – Mysterious and fascinating ‘Elephant Cave’ with a divine setting. Open from 7 am, so arrive before 9 am to avoid the bus hordes. Only 700m east along the road from the hotel.
  • Yeh Pulu – Ask directions from Goa Gajah to these rock carvings. They are a little underwhelming, but the general area and the access lane among rice fields are heavenly.

Tanah Gajah – The Hotel

The resort is located among rice fields outside Ubud.

The Tanah Gajah resort is positioned within rice fields, about 4 km from Ubud, a very popular tourist area in central Bali.

The spacious grounds feature lawns, gardens, and ponds.

The resort grounds are very spacious and impressive, with plenty of lawns, gardens, and ponds.

Buggies are ideal to get around the resort grounds.

The best way to get around the vast grounds is by buggy.

The large pool has a wonderful garden setting.

The large and appealing pool is beautifully located among lawns and gardens.

Elephant statues adorn the large gardens.

Statues of elephants are common around the grounds. After all, gajah means ‘elephant’.

The restaurant is located among lush rice fields.

The resort restaurant boasts a divine setting among rice fields.

The restaurant features several Balinese artifacts.

Along the center of the restaurant are several Balinese artifacts.

The restaurant offers gorgeous views.

The views from tables make it difficult to focus on eating or chatting.

The shop by the pool sells a good collection of souvenirs.

A shop alongside the resort pool sells a range of classy souvenirs.

The resort also features a tennis court.

The resort grounds are large enough for a tennis court.

The resort grounds feature lily ponds and pools with swans.

Among the grounds are ponds with lilies and pools with swans.

The secluded suites sport a traditional design.

Suites are secluded and feature a traditional design.

Suite furnishings are exquisite.

Furnishings in the suites are exquisite inside and out.

The suites feature a divine decor and plenty of windows.

The décor in the Suites is divine, with plenty of windows adding to the appeal.

Pool Villas come with open-air bathrooms and sunken bathtubs.

The bathrooms in the Pool Villas feature sunken bathtubs.

The private pools are quite large.

The pools in some of the villas are substantial.

Bebi Tepi Sawah nearby is popular for its crispy duck.

The only restaurant within walking distance (about 1 km), Bebi Tepi Sawah specializes in crispy duck.

Ibu Rai in central Ubud was one of the first tourist restaurants here.

Worth visiting in central Ubud, Ibu Rai was one of the first tourist restaurants in Ubud.

Ibu Oka in Ubud serves only roast pig.

Also in Ubud, Ibu Oka offers almost nothing but roast pig, a Balinese specialty.

Bridges Bali is a very stylish restaurant in Ubud.

On the other side of Ubud from the hotel, Bridges Bali is a very stylish place to dine.

Murni's Warung is one of Ubud's best cafes.

Built way back in 1974, Murni’s is still one of the finest places to eat in Ubud. Check rates and availability: Tanah Gajah

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