Ubud

Ubud is the Bali that existed before the beach clubs — and the reason many people fall in love with the island in the first place. Set in the lush highlands 30 kilometers from the coast, the town is cradled by ancient rice terraces, deep river valleys, and some of the most important Hindu temples in Southeast Asia. The Ubud Royal Palace still hosts nightly traditional dance performances, and the surrounding villages maintain artistic traditions in painting, woodcarving, and silverwork that date back centuries. For investors, Ubud occupies a unique niche. The wellness tourism market — yoga retreats, meditation centers, detox programs — has turned Ubud into a year-round destination that attracts a high-spending, health-conscious traveler quite different from the Seminyak beach crowd. Properties with rice paddy views, open-air yoga shalas, and eco-conscious design command premium nightly rates. Green School Bali, the island's most prestigious international school, draws affluent families from around the world who need long-term housing, creating a reliable lease market alongside the short-term rental opportunity.

Ubud in Bali, Bali, Indonesia