The Wonderland Resort of Nusa Dua, Bali

The moment that our chauffeur drove into the main entrance driveway of The Mulia Resorts & Villas, it felt like we had stepped into a different parallel dimensional reality. Instagram worthy walls of large 3D red roses greet all bewildered visitors who enter and pass through The Mulia’s pearly gates. The jaw dropping scale and magnitude of every detail from the massive spiral driveway leading up to the lofty cathedral duo lobbies complete with wide staircases are all extravagantly opulent, grandiose, and out of this world.

We instantly thought and felt that we were no longer in Bali, but instead transported to a surreal Wonderland meets Vegas-imaginarium themed park. I even had to double check with both the driver and the hotel staff whether we were indeed brought to the right place, and that this is The Mulia.

Nestled along the pristine shores of upscale Nusa Dua, The Mulia comprises an 111 all-suite luxury beachfront resort, a 526-room hotel and 108 private villas that accords maximum seclusion.

Boasting over 50 international accolades since its opening back in late 2012, The Mulia fills up prime real estate land mass of a sprawling 30 hectares. To put things into perspective, a standard football field is only 0.5 hectares. In other words, the multiple award winning The Mulia sits on a beachfront land that is equivalent to that of 60 football fields!

Shortly after its inception, Condé Nast Traveler readers voted The Mulia to be the “#1 Beach Resort in the World”. Fast forward to last year, the Mulia was again recognised and awarded as the number 2 best resort in all of Indonesia by the Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024.

Our plush and luxuriously decorated oceanfront suite occupies a generous 1,400 sqft, and opens up to breezy and stupendous views of the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean. The sheer size of the bright balcony and spacious bathroom alone rivals that of entire Hong Kong apartments, or some of the Tokyo hotel rooms that I have stayed in.

Since we arrived on a brilliantly clear sky day, we could even make out the visibly discernible peaks of both sacred Mount Agung to the far left, as well as the majestic Mount Rinjani that sits on next door Lombok island.

On the grassy lawn below our capacious balcony, a Russian wedding was taking place at that very moment when we walked into our suite for the first time. The blushing bride and her dashing groom joyously exchanged their matrimonial vows in front of their tearful loved ones as the instantly recognisable classical music tune of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” filled the salty ocean air.

Private on-ground Balinese temple

One well kept secret of the Mulia is that it actually has it’s very own authentic full-fledged traditional Balinese temple with all the requisite bells and whistles. Situated right in the heart of the resort, but yet tucked away from prying eyes and up an inconspicuous flight of stairs, we were astounded to discover this intricately stone curved Balinese temple by mere chance from exploring and wandering around the expansive resort grounds.

At first, we wondered if it was just a decorative structure made to mimic and resemble a temple due to the prime central spot location. On closer inspection, we realised that this was indeed a proper, legitimate, and fully functional temple.

In spite of being located in such a great spot at the resort, and perhaps because no one else seems to know about it, we managed to relish and enjoy the lush green gardens and meditative spaces all to ourselves.

If Balinese temples are up your alley, you can also admire the gorgeous Pura Geger temple that sits on a cliff edge at the corner of Geger Beach, which is the gorgeous beach right in front of The Mulia. Exclusive entry to the holy grounds of the Pura Geger temple is however only permitted to those dressed and decked up in traditional Balinese garb.

Mr Adhiyanto Wongso who is the Director of Communications for The Mulia enthused, ”What truly makes our resort so special and unique is the picturesque Geger Beach as well as the nearby Pura Geger temple. As one of Bali’s oldest and most significant temples, the Pura Geger remains a hidden gem and our own little private spiritual retreat space; much like having Uluwatu temple right at our doorstep. The sacred water source over at the Pura Geger temple’s centre is accessible only to Balinese high priests to use to bless devotees. At both sunrise and sunset, the resort has a calm, gentle, inviting, and breathtaking energy that offers the perfect setting for some restorative yoga, quiet reflection, or meditative contemplation. The Mulia is the place to rejuvenate, recalibrate, and re-energise all of your senses.”

Gym rats haven

Most hotel gyms are tiny, empty, and cursory. No one really uses them to work out much. However, the gym over at the Mulia is an exception to the rule. Their clean and modern fitness centre is filled with state-of the-art exercise equipment, and is touted and known to be the largest hotel gym in all of Bali. My travel companion even remarked that there are so many machines that he did not know where to start.

At 6am in the morning, the gym was already abuzz with frantic activity with at least a dozen others busily working out alongside me. Hearing the sound of running treadmills and the metallic clank of barbells was very motivating and inspiring. This bustling resort fitness centre is a refreshing change to working out all by yourself in an otherwise typically small, cold and lonely hotel gym. A rotating daily roster of free fitness classes is also available at the gym’s check-in counter for guests to register. Take your pick from TRX, HIIT, MMA, cardio-boxing, step, pilates, yoga, and more.

After our workout, we hastily made our way over to The Café which is conveniently situated just one floor above the fitness centre. The lively and vibrant dining venue presents a diverse and dazzling array of international breakfast buffet foods with live cooking and fresh juice stations that showcase the various cuisines from around the world. Whether you seek Thai, Indian, Cantonese, Japanese, Indonesian, or Western, you will be utterly spoil for choice.

Located at the pastry and desserts section, a large rotating wheel rotunda of delectable gelato flavours emblazoned with the letter “M” at the center was naturally highly popular amongst both kids and adults alike.

The display was so enticing that it brought out the greed in me. I savoured generous scoops of the Es Puter, Dulce de Leche and Sea Salt Caramel choices. I felt that the taste of the ice-creams were divine and well worth the calories even if consuming it had neutralised the efforts of my morning exercise.

The dining experience

Exploring all of the different dining options at The Mulia was a gastronomical adventure and an experience onto itself. The Mulia’s four main F&B establishments offer an extensive choice of highly delectable dishes that cater to a global audience. There is definitely something for everyone and and a cornucopia of mouth watering gourmet delights to suit even the most discerning and picky of palettes.

Resort guests can expect culinary excellence, ingredient freshness, as well as top notch attentive service to rival that of well known hotpot chain restaurant Haidilao.

Our personal favourite dining experiences are “Edogin”, which is a culinary haven for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts who are craving for sashimi or teppanyaki, and “Table8”, which specialises in delicious yet authentic Cantonese and Szechuan fare.

For those seeking comfort foods such as a nice oven-baked pizza or a plate of Nasi Goreng, then “Soleil”, which is the resort’s Mediterranean and Pan Asian all-day dining establishment, would be appealing.

Family fun for all ages

The Mulia was built and designed to be an accommodating, fun, and relaxing escapade for the entire family. Understanding the importance of multi generational family experiences, The Mulia provides a host of family friendly and communal bonding activities.

Even teenagers are not left out as they have their own dedicated “T-Zone” space that is catered to their age group by the provision of interactive games and mentally stimulating social activities.

One of the most popular things at The Mulia which we had the opportunity to try out was drinking hot cocoa and roasting marshmallows over a blazing campfire on the sandy shores of Geger beach. This well executed bonus add-on option allows visitors to enjoy the beach ambience while stargazing underneath the comforts of red teepee tents. It definitely brings back cherished childhood memories of outdoor camping while making new memories with your loved ones.

Getting the spa treatment

The Mulia’s spa features an astounding array of 20 treatment rooms, a Finnish sauna, meditative steam rooms, an ice room, and a large unisex outdoor hydrotherapy area. Guests can indulge in various heath and wellness therapies that blend traditional healing techniques with modern innovations.

The spa’s “Be Rejuvenated” and “Be Relaxed” packages combine acupressure, aromatherapy, and crystal massage to restore balance and vitality to revitalise tired spirits and relieve sore muslces. At the heart of The Mulia’s holistic offerings is their signature “Wellness Unbound” programme, which is a comprehensive approach to complete well-being that transcends traditional spa experiences. From Ayurveda therapies that open up the chakras to Chi Ne Tsang abdominal massages that detoxify and stimulate internal organs, each programme is specially tailored and customisable to individual needs and requirements.

Sustainability at its core

The resort is dedicated to responsible tourism and constantly achieves that by implementing various eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable practices while supporting the local communities.

Collaborations with local artisans and selected charitable organisations helps to further uplift and empower the surrounding villages with mutually benefitting engagements and gainful employment.

Last year, as a pledge of commitment to both the community and the planet at large, The Mulia managed to successfully reduce all waste sent to landfills by a whopping 97.5%. This is truly remarkable and no mean feat especially considering the massive size and scale of the entire resort. The Mulia has become an inspiration and shining example by setting a high standard for other luxury resorts in the vicinity to also follow suit.

Images: Luke Elijah