Majapahit Beach Villas is an exclusive enclave of three luxurious private villas on Bali's south-east coast. Designed by Italian architect, Guiseppe Verdacci, the villas reflect the grand proportions and splendid artistry of a golden age - the ancient Javanese Majapahit Empire.

Four-bedroom Villa Maya occupies an absolute beachfront position, while the three-bedroomed Villas Raj and Nataraja are set slightly back, but have their own beach access and stunning views of the Badung Strait and Nusa Lembongan Island from their upper floors. Inland, the villas overlook verdant rice fields, tobacco plantations, papaya and banana groves.

Built in 2005, the fully-staffed villas blend stylish modern architecture with the art forms and cultures of the Indonesian archipelago to create a sense of place. Spacious rooms with high ceilings and designer bathrooms, ample communal living areas, jacuzzis, swimming pools, relaxation bales and walled gardens spoil guests with privacy and comfort.

The Majapahit complex is ideal for large gatherings and weddings and is much more than a luxurious beach front estate. It is famous for its elegant and sophisticated service and food and the only one that has a private Hindu temple for ceremonies and a private boat for the guests.

Villa Maya:
Elevated above the water's edge and soothed by the prevailing easterly sea breezes, absolute beachfront Villa Maya offers that combination of relaxed indoor and outdoor gourmet living that a thousand and one coffee table books have gushed about for years.

Maya presents a three-bedroom main villa plus an antique, one-bedroom, wooden Joglo house imported from Java and retrofitted with all the comforts of modern-day living. The main building encompasses an upper floor master bedroom, two ground floor guest bedrooms and a living and dining room facing the 14-metre swimming pool. In the beachfront garden is a massage pavilion and another charming sitting and dining area open on three sides, while a comfortably cushioned relaxation bale is set upon a broad furnished wooden deck overlooking the ocean. A door in an adjoining wall leads to the one-bedroom antique Joglo house complete with open-sided sitting and dining room and kitchenette. The Joglo is set within a private garden with its own swimming pool and beachside deck.

Inside, sophisticated decor and a generous smattering of tribal objets d'art fill the villa with the wonderment of the Indies while a mix of modern and antique furnishings and top quality linens upon king-sized beds, mean comfort is assured.

Practicalities are taken care of in the staff service area. Superb gourmet cuisine is prepared by Majapahit Beach Villas' excellent chef while personal butlers offer first-class service and a level of sophistication that even top hotels strive to provide.

Villa Maya's beautiful beachfront Joglo house, pool, garden and ocean-view deck make this villa the star of Majapahit Complex particularly well-suited for weddings and other special celebrations.

Bedrooms:
Master suite: The air-conditioned master suite in the main villa covers the whole of the upper floor under a soaring pitched roof. The bedroom is furnished with a king-size bed, desk and chair, and equipped with a satellite-channel TV, DVD/CD player. Paras stone bricks form a wall behind the bed while, at the front, glass doors open out onto a timber balcony furnished with a sofa and loungers and offering cool breezes and delightful views of the coastline and ocean. The ensuite bathroom (fitted with corner bathtub, shower and twin washbasins) comprises two separate dressing and washing areas accessed by two different doors from the bedroom and linked by a covered, semi-open-air walkway on the far side. The walkway is enclosed with fretwork screens (and blinds for privacy) which allow the cool breezes to permeate.

Guest bedrooms:
Villa Maya's two air-conditioned guest bedrooms are located downstairs in the main building and are mirror images of each other. Accessed via magnificent carved doors, each has a wooden floor and is furnished with a king-size bed, desk and chair and equipped with a satellite-channel TV, DVD and CD player. A dressing area is situated behind the bed while glass doors at the front of each room open onto a terrace furnished with two loungers. Each semi-open-air bathroom is flanked by a staggered wall under a pergola roof and features a triple-tiered running water feature and hidden lighting which illuminates the space stunningly at night. The bathrooms are crafted in dark grey terrazzo and fitted with twin washbasins, sunken bathtubs and rain showers.

Joglo:
The one-bedroom Joglo house is accessed through a wooden sliding door in Villa Maya's garden wall. This ornately carved, antique Indonesian timber house was imported from Java and reconstructed at Majapahit Beach Villas in 2011 as a private space for newlyweds and couples.

Absolutely beachfront, the Joglo is cooled by sea breezes and features a shady open-sided living room with hardwood floors and richly carved ceilings - particularly noteworthy is the centre piece above the sofa.

Double doors at the back of the living area lead through to the air conditioned bedroom. This is a studio style space furnished with a king-size bed and equipped with a flat-screen TV.

The Joglo's garden features a 8 x 2.6-metre plunge pool lined in green and black stone and a large lawn bordered by brightly colored tropical plants and shrubs. The waterfront deck is furnished with four built-in two-seater couches shaded by a canvas canopy as well as two sun loungers and bean bags. Beyond the deck, steps lead down to the black-sand beach.

Indoor living:
The fan-cooled living and dining room at Villa Maya borders the swimming pool and features a timber floor and folding glass doors at the front and back which can be fully opened for a tropical living experience. A double sunken jacuzzi extends into the living space and overflows into the pool creating an attractive water feature. A flat-screen satellite-channel TV and hi-fi system with wall speakers provide entertainment, and WiFi internet access is available free of charge. The sitting area is furnished with a large L-shaped sofa, occasional tables, a funky suede chair and an antique coffee table facing the pool and garden.

Resting beside a fish pond, the dining area is furnished with a solid table and six cushioned cane planter chairs. Colorful local artwork adorns the walls, harmonized with antique Indonesian woodcarvings. A striking feature is the semi-spiral floating staircase, crafted in wood and supported by eight columns.

On the far side of the fish pond, within a pebbled courtyard, is a stand-alone kitchen fully equipped with an oven and four burner hob, a microwave, fridge and all the appliances and utensils that the chef needs to prepare meals for his guests. A set of five stone pillars create a partition between the kitchen and the dining area. A guest washroom is positioned to one side.

In one corner of the garden is a charming stand-alone living pavilion, open on three sides (one side is protected from the elements by sliding glass doors) with a large and comfy cushioned daybed running along the back wall, and two circular dining tables and armchairs at the front. A ceiling fan and colorful beaded lanterns hang from the high roof, and the picture is completed with soft white drapes and tablescape of traditional artifacts.

Outdoor living:
Villa Maya's walled garden presents a wide flat lawn with a 14-metre swimming pool as its centrepiece. An open-sided massage pavilion with a high thatched roof and billowing white drapes is located in one corner and furnished with a massage bed. The garden also boasts an outdoor shower, four sun loungers and umbrellas, and an abundance of towering coconut palms, pandanas, fragrant frangipanis and flowering shrubs.

The end of the garden is open to the beach and the glorious view. Here, a large timber deck (accessed via a bridge over a fish pond) rests upon a beachside buff with stone steps leading down to the black-sand beach. Furnished with a daybed, a bale and an alfresco dining table with six cane chairs, this is a place to enjoy the cool breezes, afternoon tea, a cocktail, or even breakfast or dinner beneath the tall coconut palms while gazing at the glorious view of the East Bali coastline or the clear night sky.

Location:
Majapahit Beach Villas are located at Pabean Beach down a narrow lane off the Klungkung Bypass, which runs along the east coast and is also known as the Sunrise Road. Bounded by the River Wos, rice fields, tobacco plantations, papaya, banana and coconut groves, the area is blessed with spectacular views extending across the ocean towards the beaches of Sanur and Nusa Dua, the islands of Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida, and the mountains of East Bali.

Pabean was once a small port through which oriental traders brought their products; at low tide you can still see the structure of the old harbour. This glistening black sand stretch of coastline is popular with surfers and beachcombers but swirling currents and a lack of lifeguards make it unsuitable for swimming for all but the most confident of swimmers.

The nearby village of Ketewel is the origin of the celebrated Legong Bededari Dance, and the neighboring village of Saba produced the finest Legong dancers on the island. There are no Western-style restaurants in this area, but there are plenty of local warungs (eateries), while international restaurants, shops galore can be found just 13km away in Sanur. Also the location is in between Seminyak and the cultural capital of Bali, Ubud and just 5 -10 minutes from all the famous traditional villages of Mas, Sukawati, Batubulan and Batuan for all handicraft shopping.