Bali au Naturel

An adults-only naturist resort on the north coast of Bali, at Bondalem in the Tejakula district: a rural area far from mass tourism, three to four hours by car from the airport, with the last stretch on narrow, winding mountain roads. The complex is large, with around twenty units scattered through a tropical garden with ponds: rooms and villas (some with air conditioning) and six teak bungalows with fans, all with a partly open-air bathroom. There are two large pools, each with its own group of units, a small gym, massages and a restaurant by the sea. Nudity is required in and around the pools and is the norm everywhere else at all hours; clothes stay on at the entrance, at reception and on the black sand and pebble beach in front of the resort, where Indonesian law does not allow it. Men and women, couples and solo travellers are all welcome; naturists come from all over the world, often more men than women, gay and straight together, and the management explicitly caters to gay guests as well. People choose it for peace and seclusion: in the low season you may be almost alone, and anyone looking for company may be disappointed. In front of the resort there is a coral reef for snorkelling and diving, and boat trips, canoeing and excursions to waterfalls and temples inland are organised. Guests praise the gardens, pools and staff; the most frequently mentioned weak points are maintenance that is not always up to standard (dated bathrooms, damp in some rooms), food that does not please everyone and the distance from shops and restaurants, which makes getting around difficult without a car and driver.