A Day of Silence at Mulia Bali Villas

The middle of my visit to Bali coincided with the Indonesian island’s ‘Day of Silence’. Here’s how I spent it with my two teenagers, and with an all-inclusive Nyepi package at the Mulia Bali Villas.

About Nyepi, the Day of Silence

The Balinese mark their New Year, called Nyepi, with silence. The day before, starting from early evening, the island celebrates with fanfare. Locals parade giant ogoh-ogoh statues (in the likeness of demons) accompanied by loud cymbals and chants. At midnight, fireworks go off and can last for 30 minutes or longer.

When the sun rises on Nyepi, silence descends over the Island of the Gods. All the Balinese are indoors – they meditate and fast from sunrise until the next day’s sunrise. No one can go out of their house. You can’t make noise, indulge in entertainment such as television or social media, cook, work or use lights at night. The only exceptions are emergency services, hospitals and the presence of elderly or infants at home.

It’s the one day of the year when no flights go in or out of Ngurah Rai International Airport. The airport is closed, as are all businesses and shops. Even the animals seem to know it is Nyepi! When night falls, there isn’t any barking or cockerels crowing at odd hours.

Tourists are expected to observe the occasion too, though not as strictly. They have to remain in their hotels, keep noise levels down and turn off any external lights at night.

Hospitality providers in Bali are prepared for Nyepi – many offer Nyepi packages around the date that include all meals, activities and curated entertainment.

Private accommodation at Mulia Bali Villas

The Mulia Group is an Indonesian property group that owns three hospitality concepts in Bali. They all sit side by side in Nusa Dua, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Mulia Resort is an integrated resort with family facilities such as a kids’ club and kids’ pool. The Mulia Villas offers all private villa-style accommodation. Beachfront suites make up The Mulia Bali.

We stayed in one of the Family Villas. It consisted of two individual bedrooms, an outdoor pavilion and dining area, a small garden and a hydrotherapy pool accompanied by a daybed.

Both bedrooms had modern amenities. These include a large-screen TV, study desk, mini bar, bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. Even the toilet had with an intelligent bidet. In the larger bedroom was also a spacious living area, walk-in wardrobe with makeup desk, double sink vanity in the bathroom and a jacuzzi tub.

Exclusive amenities and facilities at Mulia Bali Villas

A perk of the Mulia Villas and suites is a personal butler service, available 24 hours. All requests and queries are communicated with the team via WhatsApp.

During our stay, Jessy oversaw many things for us. This included pick-up and drop-off in a buggy, making reservations for meals and activities, arranging the evening turndown service, having the jacuzzi prepped for a certain time, and even conveying food allergies to Mulia Bali’s culinary team. Her prompt and attentive service made it a comfortable experience.

Another privilege that guests at the villas and suites enjoy is access to facilities of all three properties; so, while we could use the facilities at the resort, resort guests couldn’t use the villa or suite facilities. This meant we could dine at the resort, but also at The Lounge at The Mulia Bali or Living Room at Mulia Villas. If we wanted quiet time in the sun, we could lounge at the infinity Oasis Pool at The Mulia Bali or the Aqua Pool at Mulia Villas.

Nyepi activities at Mulia Bali

While the streets of Bali were empty on Nyepi, the Mulia Bali was abuzz with activity. Some guests lounged by the pool, but others engaged in a curated lineup of activities. For adults, there were social pool games, arts and crafts, mat Pilates, yoga and an MMA workout. Kids made Balinese offerings using flowers and leaves, or did arts and crafts or stretching exercises. Available on the large TV screen in the rooms was a special curation of movies on a dedicated channel, as cable access for the day was blocked.

As my kids slept in, I went for a Yin yoga and sound healing class at 7am – an aptly quiet start to the day. After breakfast, my daughter and I bonded over a Watsu (aquatic bodywork) session at the resort’s Courtyard pool. We faced the clear sky as we floated in the pool, accompanied by sound healing.

As the sun rose high in the sky, many guests at Mulia Bali sought refuge in their rooms. My children and I grabbed the chance for a quiet stroll around the resort – we browsed the gift shop before deliberating over gelato flavours and fresh pastries at Cannele patisserie. We then snuggled up on the couch watching Fly Me to the Moon and eating snacks. Although the Nyepi package getaway was for us to be quiet and slow down, staying active runs in our family. So in the late afternoon, we hit the gym for a light workout.

Quiet time at Mulia Villas

Dusk arrives early in Bali – it was dark by the time we returned to our villa around 6.30pm. On Nyepi, without any exterior lights, the sky sparkles with stars; it’s the best day of the Balinese year for star gazing. As we dipped in our villa’s pool, with only some light escaping from under the curtains of the rooms, we could easily spot stars and constellations.

While we were at the gym, room attendants dimmed the lights in our rooms. The dimness and external hush automatically put us in a relaxed mood, and we welcomed the cosiness of our villa after dinner.

First, we took turns in the jacuzzi tub. While one or two of us soaked in the warm water, we bonded over conversation. After coming out of the tub, my son showered outdoors, which he said was a memorable experience for the quietness and the stars.

We continued chatting over camomile tea while lounging around in my room, until drowsiness called us to bed.

Enjoying the Nyepi package dining inclusions

Our Nyepi package included all meals. As guests of the villas, we could choose to dine at the Living Room at Mulia Villas or make reservations for restaurants at Mulia Bali Resorts.

We unanimously agreed to start each day at the Living Room. Its international menu suited our varied tastes – pancakes with berry compote for my daughter; fresh pastries off the bread trolley and huevos rancheros for my son; smashed avocado and poached eggs for me.

For lunch and dinner, we picked our favourite cuisines at Mulia Bali Resorts – Chinese cuisine and dim sum at Table8 (my daughter’s choice), Japanese and a teppanyaki buffet at Edogin (my son’s choice) and international selections at The Cafe (something for everyone!). Service was prompt, ingredients were fresh, and flavours were well-balanced.

Our favourite meal was the daily afternoon tea from 4pm to 6pm at Mulia Bali Resort’s Living Room. (Ever since I introduced the concept of a “proper” afternoon tea to my children when they were toddlers, they have loved it!) The hors d’oeuvres came on a three-tier stand, Classic or Asian. One day we were biting into chicken rissoles, tahu telor, lemper ayam, coconut sago with mango and ongol-ongol. The next day, it was Parma ham with cantaloupe, egg salad soft roll, smoked salmon with dill creme fraiche, apple crumble, macarons, madeleines and scones. There was also a buffet selection of savoury bites, cold cuts, cakes and a dessert trolley with other sweet treats plus unlimited tea or coffee, classic cocktails, mocktails, juices and soft drinks.

If afternoon tea wasn’t sandwiched between lunch and dinner, we wouldn’t have practiced the restraint that we did!

Refreshed and recharged

As the sun rose on the second day of the Balinese new year, I welcomed it with yet another yoga lesson before breakfast. This time, it was a more invigorating style, a contrast to the silence and slower pace of the day before.

We requested a late checkout, so we were able to enjoy a long breakfast followed by another dip in our villa’s pool before returning the key cards. Jessy bid us goodbye, and our private transfer turned out onto a busy street.

The Day of Silence was over and it was back to usual for the island. Our stay at Mulia Villas had completely recharged us and we were ready to take on our next segment of our stay in Bali.

Off-season allure

You don’t have to wait for the next Nyepi (19-20 March 2026) for some quiet time in Bali! There are months on the island where there are smaller crowds at popular spots. This gives travellers the chance to immerse in the natural beauty and warm hospitality without distractions.

Although not as comprehensive as a Nyepi package, Mulia Bali has off-peak stay packages that cater to families. It has family-friendly suites and private pool villas with amenities for young ones.

While the children engage in supervised activities at Mulia Kidz, parents can soothe their body at Mulia Spa. Or enjoy family bonding over strolls along the beach, cinema by the sea, beachfront bonfire or pool time at the infinity pools. Dining outlets at Mulia Bali have child-friendly menus and can accommodate dietary needs. And the atmosphere is calm, quiet and welcoming – great for families who want to slow down and spend quality time together.

Mulia Resort: +62 361 3017777
Mulia Villas +62 361 8467777
themulia.com | reservation@themulia.com

This article about the Nyepi package at Mulia Villas first appeared in the July 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!

To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free! Or head to our Travel section for more tips on travel around Asia and the rest of the world.