Villa Aio Lombok
in beautiful Selong Belanak
About Villa Aio
Villa Aio is a private villa tucked into the hills above beautiful Selong Belanak beach.
It was built on 2025 as a private home in a traditional Javanese style, offering 3 free-standing cottages around a pool.
The main house has a large kitchen and living area in a joglo style, complete with an office and a library called the Rain Room.
Additional rollaway beds are available on request, as is hire of the staff house.
Our story
The word "aio", in New Zealand Maori, means 'the resting phase of the moon' - the crescent phase where it appears to be lying on its back.
Villa Aio was built to be a restful retreat, a place for contemplation and freedom from the pressures of daily life in the Western world.
Ironically, "ayo" in Bahasa Indonesia means 'Let's go!', which sets the tone for the yin/yang balance that is at the core of Villa Aio.
The villa is perfectly poised for as much activity as you want, and as much relaxation as you need.
Another theme that is found at Villa Aio is the lotus flower: floating on the surface of the water, appearing serene - but gaining its strength from its roots in the mud. This represents our human nature: the constant striving for balance between the divine and the mundane.
The villa is also decorated with birds and open bird cages, symbolic of the human desire for freedom which is also balanced with our need for the feeling of safety.
A little reflection on island life
Life is made of contrasts, and at Villa Aio we find peace in living lightly amidst these. Selong Belanak is a thriving community of locals: fishermen, farmers, food and fruit sellers, warungs and surf instructors as well as the expats who have made their homes here. Locals flock to the beaches on their day off, and we love that it's not just a sanitised, cookie-cutter stretch of sand for tourists - but instead is a functioning heart of a working community.
Religion is woven into the fabric of daily life in Lombok, as it is in Bali. While the majority practice Islam, acceptance of other religions is a matter of course and it is a beautiful part of daily life here. This core of spirituality strengthens the community, and one way that this is seen is a remarkably low crime rate and virtually no homelessness. This is also a safe place for women to travel on their own.
This area is developing rapidly, with Lombok having been identified as Bali's little sister which still offers authenticity and unspoiled green spaces. This means that there is opportunity to purchase your own piece of paradise, but that comes at a cost: being surrounded by construction and a knowing that this landscape, too, is changing.
Activity / Relaxation
Selong Belanak is a sleepy seaside village with just enough going on.. or so we think!
Among the things to do are the local markets on Sunday mornings, walk or ride to the beach to swim, take a surf lesson or rent a sun lounger, or have lunch in the shade with a view at Laut Biru restaurant.
Hang out long enough, and you will get a glimpse of the famous herd of buffalos that are regularly walked along the beach on their way to graze.
Those with a more adventurous spirit can do a tandem paraglide with Sky Lombok, or if you are a licensed paragliding pilot, chat with us about local flying sites and inductions. The peak flying season is April to October, when the trade winds blow constantly, producing a smooth laminar flow over the Pacific to our south-facing headlands.
Surfers, feel free to bring your boards. We have a rinsing station and shaded storage in the garage.
Villa Aio also has a beautiful atmosphere for meditation, with the sound of fountains in the near background and the call to prayer of the local mosque at regular intervals.
Tropical warmth / island breezes
The climate in Lombok is tropical, with an average daytime temperature of 29 degrees. The pool's temperature is 27 degrees, and the ocean is 28.8.
While this is a very relaxing temperature, you will occasionally want to cool off - especially on sunny days.
Villa Aio is built in a traditional style, capitalising on centuries of natural cooling techniques such as clay tile roofs and peaked ceilings, wide roof overhangs and windows on all sides. There are sliding mosquito nets on every door and every window, which means you can maximise cross-breezes to stay cool.
Each room also has air conditioning should it be required, but with all of the potential ventilation it might not be necessary. Beds are also fitted with mosquito nets so you can sleep with windows open should you wish.
We find that with its hillside location, Villa Aio is often cooler than down on the flat land or in town. Perhaps it's the contour of the hillside combined with the sea breeze? We don't know but we aren't complaining. ;-)
Luxury / Nature
Villa Aio is a celebration of the beautiful natural materials available in these islands, as well as the traditional craftsmen who know how to work with them.
Teak wood is used extensively throughout the villa and the roof and doors are covered in hand-woven bamboo skin. There is also a lot of natural stone and other local materials used. The gardens are planted with tropical trees such as frangipani, and monkeys occasionally come to visit. (Please do not feed them!)
The feeling here is one of natural, barefoot luxury and living in harmony with the pace of the islands. The view and the warmth invite you to drop your cares and to live in the moment.
Eat out / Stay in
Selong Belanak is a growing village which is blessed with some wonderful restaurants: Three Sisters Dumplings, Pronto Pizza, Club Kembali - the coolest cocktail bar with an amazing menu as well as the aforementioned Laut Biru Bar & Restaurant. There are many others as well for coffee and lunches, and many great places that deliver.
Or, you can cook in the fully equipped kitchen at Villa Aio.
The kitchen is made to host large gatherings around the marble-topped island bench or in the large joglo living room, all with a view of the sea.
There is also a kitchen garden in the back with herbs and other tropical plants which you can pick as you like.
Get in Touch
Whether you have inquiries or wish to reserve your tropical villa retreat, our team is here to assist you. Reach out to us and start planning your dream tropical getaway in Lombok.