My days in Bali consist of finding beautiful and stunning beaches that are stretching out from west coast to the east cost, and not to forget southern area. As I live in Jimbaran, some surfer beaches are even located only 10 minutes by a speedy bike from my house :p
Here are my Top 5 Favorite Beaches I frequented quite often as my day dream spots :
1. Padang Padang
Having enough of visiting Dreamland that is now changed into New Kuta Beach (I’ll tell you more about this on my next post) and became so touristy (thanks to local tourists and the new investor of a so called ‘the largest and most comprehensive leisure spot in Bali’), Benny & me spotted this white sand beach with crystal clear water, not so big wave, tranquil, from the bridge of Labuan Sait. Our favorite activity here is eating Rujak Mangga (Manggo Fruit Salad with sweet palm sugar sauce) and watching fishermen drop fresh barracudas to the warung owners to make a mouth watering grilled fish!! and off course, the big rock is perfect as a hiding place for a nap in the afternoon while having your skin tanned..
More bungalows and private villas are built in the surrounding area, my only concern is that Padang Padang will soon turn to be the next Dreamland Beach or even worse : Kuta Beach! The promotion of this beach where RIP CURL CUP is usually held is done from mouth to ear, and that’s how I see more local tourists from Jakarta or Surabaya come to this place specially during holiday season. . 🙁
2. Bingin
First time I came here was to watch OAKLEY ProSurf competition, it’s definitely one of Bali best surfing destination as the wave form a pristine tube. I was watching one of my favorite Indonesia Top surfer, Rizal Tanjung on this competition back then. You can also see they are building new bungalows on the cliff, but at least they still have local warung style with funky wooden signage of ‘cyber cafe’ or ‘ding repair’ and the accommodation there are built in a more tropical style than a modern one. You can bring your snorkeling gear as the waves break on a reef about fifty to one hundred meters from the shoreline. Just be prepared to hike down the narrow dirt path and on high tide, be careful with the unseen reef on the shore.
3. Impossible
Dreamland – Bingin – Impossible – Padang Padang that’s how the southern coast of Bukit area form these 4 beautiful beaches. Access from C151 Villa driveway. Bart and I are always keen for a new adventure finding new spots in Bali, including hidden & beautiful beaches where we can just relax, favorite sarong & ice cold beer, take a nana nap, and do his hobby in photography. Once spotted the wooden sign board, I found the hardest small road to get to the beach down hill!! A bit scary, but when I got there, it’s so worth it!! And leave me a big question afterward, OMG, how do I climb that hill road again to get back to my motor bike…..! It’s an impossible beach trip ever..
Impossible Beach is actually a surf camp, so there was literally only me & Bart on the beach ! and several surfers paddling on the background.
4. Seminyak Beach
There is nothing special about this too touristy beach located across several Bali’s most happening night clubs and bars such as : Double Six (some people called this beach as a 66 Beach), Deja Vu, Bacio, and Outrigger O-CE-N resort and I’m not recommending this place to be your heaven escape, but simply I go to Double Six/Seminyak Beach to go jogging,given the flat landscape beach situation.
Start from the beach volley ball spot across Deja Vu Bar, passing by AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping-if you’re lucky you can watch people screaming doing that silly adrenaline pumping activity that could kill me in just one second-, Sofitel and Anantara Resort, Oberoi and The Legian, and …KU DE TA!! (make sure you’re wearing your best and trendy jogging outfit when passing by this ‘to be seen place on sunset’, girls! ), and if you can still catch your breath, continue until La Lucciola Restaurant, this is where you better stop and back, otherwise you will need to take a taxi to get back to your motorbike or car parked at Double Six parking lot!
5. Far Far away Beach 😉
Will not tell much about the location of this recently become a favorite place of mine to have a fresh grilled fish in a local warung, surrounded by coconut trees that could suddenly become a no. 1 crusher of your car if you dare park between the trees I chose to park my car/bike in the special area next to each warung).
The white sandy beach and pristine blue water, a non touristy one, is totally heaven to me! And it’s simply because I’m desperate to have the beach for myself., and I mean it :p I just don’t want the Dreamland tragedy happens to this place.
But if you come to Bali next time, and I’m in the mood to be your local guide, I’ll be happy to show you this postcard landscape, deserted, tranquil haven…
(update 10/02/13 : The waiting is over, I’m happy to reveal the Far far away beach location, enjoy the post and thank you so very much for the overflowing support! Here you go : http://www.risanto.com/beeamazing/virgin-beach-the-far-far-away-beach-revealed/ )
Related posts :
– A ME time at Geger Beach, Nusa Dua
– Reasons why I dislike Dreamland Beach in Bali
– Impossible Beach Ever
– 5 Tips to enjoy Bali not as a tourist
Hi Vanessa! Sorry for the late reply, I was having trouble with my WP. I’m actually living just 10 min from dreamland so I could say the transport cost is zero rupiah :p If you stay around that area, you made a good choice because you can easily rent a bike or a car (by the help of your hotel/villa concierge) and go explore Jalan Labuan Sait with these “beach jewels” : Suluban Beach, Padang Padang, Bingin, Impossible Beach – ALL in one visit, if you have full energy as theyr are a bit if offbeaten path to get to the beach. And you don’t need me to take you to this area. Hope you can still read this answer of mine. Enjoy your time in Bali, will visit your blog now! Cheers!
you forget Karma Kandara, i really love that beach..feels like heaven
Hi Bee… Salam Kenal 🙂 i’m going to be in Bali with my wife n it’s our honeymoon, pleasee pleaseee let me know where is this hidden beach 🙁 just want to have leisure time with my wife
Dear all, thank you so much for your love towards Bali beautiful beaches, looks like this “Pristine Blue Water and Far Far away Beach” has made you super duper curious, not to mention tons of emails I’ve received begging, asking nicely with a beer treat promised to reveal the secret beach. Looks like I have to ask my @bartcatapult to give me his best pics of this beach to be posted on my next next next blog post…YES, I’M REVEALING the secret beach name & all the chronicles..*phew*..I hope this stops the emails asking …”Bee, can you please please pretty please tell me about this hidden beach, I promised I won’t tell anyone” (and I’ve been receiving like almost 100 similar emails). STAY TUNE on http://www.beeamazing.com ! Thanks guys!
I love Padang2 beach. 2 years ago when we stumbled upon it, there was hardly anyone. perfect! dont know how it is now. Im a rock climber, not a surfer, so i spend time doing bouldering along the shore…
im planning to explore Pemuteran beach next January – whats your opinion?
Thank you
Hi Andri! I’m not a big fan of North of Bali black sand beaches…but if you’re looking for something different than the eastern and southern white sandy beaches, I say go explore this part of Bli. Thanks for stopping by! – BEE
Thanks Bee. Well, we go travelling to a lot of white sandy beaches here in Malaysia ( where Im from) so a black beach is a nice change :).
Do you know of any good word of mouth resorts there? I know there is tripadvisor, but its always nice to get an opinion of a local.
thanks again.
Andri
Hi Andri,not too familiar with resorts in Pemuteran area, but try Aneka Bagus Resort. If you happen to go to Munduk area (see my serial blog posts on Trip to North of Bali), there are several smaill villa/home stay in the area – cozy, homey, not pricey. You’re a rock climber? You should go with my husband, Benny. He actually loves mountain climbing! http://www.risanto.com Cheers!
Hi Bee! I am going to Bali for the first time with my wife at the end of this month. We plan to visit:
– Nusa Dua for snorkeling
– Jimbaran for dinner
– Ubud for Babi Guling Ibu Oka and enjoy the nature
– Legian just for stay and enjoy the atmosphere
– Tanah Lot to watch beautiful sunset
Can you please advice how should we arrange our trip from Ngurah Rai airport so we can cover all those places without going back and forth and in shorter distance/time possible.
And also can you recommend any good local tour in Bali (for local people is fine, because it is cheaper than travel agent for international tourist, and my wife can speak indonesian very good).
Looking forward to hear from you soon and thank you!
Hi Bee! Are there any other beaches you recommend apart from the ones you’ve mentioned above? I’m staying in Jimbaran for 4days and I’ll be there on 11Feb! I’m researching on the nicest quietest beaches to go to, and thanks to you I have a few 🙂
Hi Jessica, yes you should go to TegalWangi Beach in Jimbaran near Ayana Resort, here’s the blog post about the beach : http://www.risanto.com/beeamazing/tegal-wangi-beach-my-backyard-hidden-gem/ Cheers!
I’m interested in the Pristine Blue Water and Far Far away Beach. Can kindly send an email to share this beautiful beach. I’m desperate for this blue lagoon beach.
hi Simon, thanks for stopping by, will write on this secret beach that everyone wrote me to reveal, very soon! Stay tuned!
Hi Bee, I have lived in bali for my whole life and I am really interested in the Pristine Blue Water Beach. I am desperate to find a beach where i can just relax. Can you kindly please email me the location of the beach please… 🙂
Hi Putri, stay tuned for the reveal of the pristine blue water beach soon!
hai bee, I am working in bali and I need a place to relax and refresh my mind. I’m very interisted in The pristine blue water beach, Can you kindly send email for this location please…
Thank you for not revealing the location of (our favorite) and one of the last pristine beaches in Bali …
Hi Bee, I’m gg to bali soon, i hope you could tell me the location of “far far away beach” please… Thanks a mio!
Great website and pictures! Congrats! I visited Bali in 2008 and at the time I really wished to see some amazing clean and white sand beaches, where relaxing without too many people and enjoying the nature. I carefully planned the daily tours by myself using Internet deep searching 🙂 . My Indonesian friends and even the local tourist guide suggested to don’t visit Dreamland beach because it was really changed by new building, still under construction. On web I discovered exactly your number 5 beach so I could visited it. It was really beautiful and I hope it will remain in such good status for long long time! Good that few people visit it and it’s not so easy to reach by car. So guys, if you wish to see it you have internet tools to find it, but please please respect that place, don’t spread to much it’s location if you want to admire that beauty for long time.
Actually I discovered another amazing beach in Bali and even my tour guide had never been there before. Unfortunately they already built a resort on the top of the nearest cliff but the view is not so damaged by it. The location it’s difficult to reach and so it could be a salvation from tourist invasion. I hope the hotel didn’t change the beach as a private beach 🙁
Could you please give me some news about this two beaches, in PM it’s ok so I can explain which beach I’m talking about.
(I just added you on twitter 🙂 )
hi bee, please don’t reveal the pristine blue water beach.. thanks 🙂
Hi Bee, I’m going to bali on the next coming birthday of my wife. I’m interested to enjoy “Far Far Away Beach”. Could you please recommend me the nearest hotel to that beautiful beach? I will get there with my wife and our baby (1.5 years old), so we need clean & comfort hotel/bungalow. Thank you so much for your help.
Hi Riza, sorry for the late reply, thank you so much for visiting my blog. As you can see on the comment field of this post, I will reveal this beach location on my next blog post. We just had a baby and are overwhelmed with all the baby stuff that we still haven’t got a chance to update our blog. Stay tune!
Hiya, my husband and I and our three year old son are heading to Bali in December. We are complete “non-tourists” and we are going to find suitable chilled out Balinese style accomodation on a white sandy calm beach. Our first five days will be I’m Ubud, we were hoping to spend the last five days near the sea, away from the tourists and mania and the folk that think a concrete jungle in Bali is a Balinese holiday. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, L
Hi Leigh, you made the right choice by staying in Ubud for your first 5 days of your holiday. You know you can still enjoy Seminyak, Canggu, with your family even in the midst of the hustle bustle touristy place. When you are in Seminyak, for example, you don’t want to miss all the culinary delights on Jalan Laksamana aka Oberoi street aka Eat Street (the street has 3 different name over the different of time). Try also look at West Bali for Menjangan Island (there’s a beautiful resort there) for 1 or 2 nights non-touristy getaway. Amed, Candi Dasa on the East of Bali is also a good option. But I would strongly suggest to stay in Jimbaran or Kuta or Seminyak area on your last night in Bali as you need easy access to get to the airport. Bali is now having the massive underpass construction connecting Tanjung Benoa and Serangan Island that passes on Kuta round-about (Simpang Siur) which is the busiest spot of the city so you might want to avoid traffic jam and get to the airport on time. Enjoy your holiday!
Hai Bee, your blog is amazing…soon will be touchind down the wonderfull of Bali Island…and nice to knowing you as well.
Vanda, terima kasih, really looking forward to meet you in person in Bali with my bestie, Serry! Cheers!
Nice to find this blog 🙂
I found my “secret” white sand small-hidden beach near padang bai (but not padang-padang). I was on my scooter struggled with rough road and high shrubbery cliff. Is that same beach as yours??
Hi Dian, nope, it’s not at padang bai. I will for sure, reveal the secret beach soon, it’s just that our new baby boy has taken our time & energy we haven’t got a chance to write this up. Please be patient, and stay tuned! thanks!
Bec, I’m SUPER curious (and see I am not alone) in finding out about your secret beach… I am coming to Bali for my third visit this year for Christmas and would love to book nearby your favourite spot. If you’re ready to give up the goods, I’m more than ready to hear your secret.
Congrats on becoming an Ibu!
🙂
@Katherine Here you go http://su.pr/69xBcB Thank you for your patience..
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hey is the far away beach you are talking about the “white sand beach”?
i have been to a really beautiful beach that looks a lot like the one on your pics, i loved going there.
@Eskedar Here you go http://su.pr/69xBcB Yes, you are right!
Hi Bee,
Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy, hope things are going well and you are loving motherhood.
We are going to Bali for the first time this Xmas and we are love getting off the beaten track and finding amazing spots, I hope you can reveal the secret beach (or at least tell a few of us that promise to keep it secret) in the next week or so…
Thank you very much.
Hi Eva, my baby boy kept me super busy, deeply sorry for not replying soon. I will try to write the blog post about that (not so secret anymore) beach by this weekend. Stay tune on Beeamazing.com!
hello! i come to bali. Now i want you to act up & show far fra awy beach if U are in good spirit today!^)
@Eugene here you go http://su.pr/69xBcB Thank you for your patience..
Can you email me the location of the far away beach. I'm living/teaching in PNG and I'm desperate to find a non tourist place to unwind. my email is kristy.carbury@smit.ac.pg.
Luigie!! Kapan kalian ke Bali lagi? Jadi turis kali ini kan hehe..
white sand beach!!! jadi kangen bali ckckckck 🙁
I am planning to go to Bali between March 08,2015 to March 13,2015.I intend to stay in Candidasa and explore the island by car on my own as distance n traffic is not a problem for me as i am from India.Is it a right decision?I have short listed a villa near the beach in Candidasa which is fitting my budget also( US$ 350 for 5 nights) and i want to stay in a peaceful quiet place and enjoy the village life too.Just wanted to know if Candidasa has a white sand beach and as per info,the shipwreck and dolphins are near to this place.Also catching a ferry for lombok is also easier from here.I intend to use to circular road around the island for my travel.Is it a right decision or i shd find a place in South Kuta?I prefer peaceful beaches compared to the high waves surfing friendly beaches.Also another reason for Candidasa is the morning sunrise.For sunset i intend to visit Jimbaran for a day and hv dinner by the beach.Lovina is also on the list but that is having grey/black volcano ash sand beach….Awaiting your reply
Hi Nilesh, thank for your message and looks like you know East Bali well, actually better than me. We live in the south of Bali (Jimbaran) and rarely go to Candi Dasa. Yes, we wrote about this beautiful beach called Virgin Beach aka White Sand Beach at Prasi Village, Candi Dasa, here you go: http://www.risanto.com/beeamazing/virgin-beach-the-far-far-away-beach-revealed/ Everything you plan here looks fine to me. And with hiring a car you can even go farther to other area to the North of Bali such as ; visit Gitgit Waterfall or Munduk Waterfall (see our serial blog posts re. A day trip to North of Bali). I would personally opt staying in Jimbaran or Kuta on the last day of the holiday so that it’ll be faster and more efficient to get to the airport. Pantai Matahari Terbit (Sunrise Beach) in Sanur, is also well known as one of Bali’s best sunrise spots. And yes, Jimbaran has a marvelous sunset, go to Kelan Beach if you prefer a quite time without smokes from seafood restaurant like in Muaya Beach (most touristy beach in Jimbaran), we got married on Kelan Beach, it’s a beautiful fishermen village and you can see airplanes landing at the very close possible spot. Hope this would help, cheers! Bee
Hello Bee,
Thanks for a prompt and extremely useful reply.I think what i know is surface knowledge acquired thru google earth but what you know is the practical useful information which google earth cant provide.If i can use some of your time then would like to tell u something abt me in gist.I am coming to Bali with wife and another couple through a MSC cruise starting from Bombay.India.I basically am from Bangalore,India.From 24th Feb to 8th March is our travel time on the cruise and disembarment wld happen on Benoa port,Bali.Bali being in our to do list since long seized this opportunity.We would be flying back to India on 22.45 hrs on 13th March.Infact i found your blog a very useful one and has pinned it to my favourite list.While going through various parts of Bali,i found that sunrise and peaceful beaches are on eastern side with beach facing being in and around Candidasa.Jimbaran/South Kuta does have some good beaches but as ultra luxury resorts and hotels are there for a normal person either its out of reach or too secluded to stay.Also the sea over there is best for surfing means people who want peaceful swim wld be difficult.Sunset as u also said is best in Jimbaran and now will follow your advise about Kelan beach.Infact looking forward to if possible meet you while my trip to Jimbaran…Have found a villa place in Jimbaran also which is like US$ 325.00 for 5 nights.Another option i came across was in Lovina beach,North Bali.The only thing that put me off from Lovian is the grey volcanic ash sand beaches and lot of distance to cover to go to Nusa Dua/Kuta/ubud etc.Though dolphin watching in a natural habitat is always an attraction.I also intend to visit the Gili islands/Nusa Lebonjan if possible.Yesterday i came across a beautiful tree top kind of place just 3 kms from Central Ubud with river Ayung passing through the green dense jungle and the tree top located in this greenery.The rate which i got is mind blowing and thats US$ 325.00 for 5 nights.I just have to check if staying in a jungle wld allow me for my travelling plan acorss Bali by car or not.In India when i travel i do 1000 kms of car driving in a day without any problem and that in 18 hrs.I dont know much abouth roads in Bali and how are the traffic rules etc.Is it a left hand driver vehicle in Bali?Kuta i have kept out of my staying option as i want a peaceful place and as per what i have gathered Kuta is full of electrifying and lively place…In fact if you are ok i would surely like to invite you to our car trip across Bali as one thing i intend to do is travel across the circular road along the coast of Bali and also cutting across to North to South and East to West….Having a known and knowledgable local person is a big help..Kelan is in my to do list as now would love to see my Balinese friend’s wedding place for sure and the plane seeing is an additional advantage…:)So now if you can help me with finalising the location from Candidasa (US$ 500 for 5nights ) , Ubud ( US$ 325 for 5 nights ) , Lovina beach (US$ 325 for 5 nights) and Jimbaran (US$ 325 for 5 night) which one should i finalise.I prefer sunrise over sunset and swimming in a peaceful sea snorkelling is something which i love.Also a jungle life tree top housing is also attracting me as there the price is highly reasonable…Also reading on yr views on various beaches around Jimbaran i would like to consider that also as the price if highly attractive there also….and yes distance to airport and port is also very near….Once again thanks for a wonderful reply and looking forward to meeting you in Bali….And yes anything you need about India,now you got a friend in me who can help you with the practical and ground information the way you have given about Bali….Thanks and warm regards…..Nil
Hi there Bee, I found your blog upon googling ‘blue beach in Bali’. I’m going for a babymoon at the end of this February, and I’d like to go for a chill & swim in a clean, non-touristy beach in Bali. I am very interested in Padang Padang, and I understand that you wrote this post in 2009, time when not too many people knows about this beach. I’m wondering if Padang Padang still a good beach to go?
Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Nuri, Padang Padang since the last 3 years is officially a touristy beach (thanks to social media and my blog, maybe? hehe). You can still go there during weekdays and not during the school holiday and peak season. But I personally would not recommend Padang padang for pregnant lady because of the number of the stairs, you will be super exhausted on the way back up. If you at The Mulia Bali or Sofitel, both in Nusa Dua swimming on their private beach will be much better. Or you can go to Karma Beach Club at Karma Kandara Resort in Ungasan (you have to pay Rp 250K pp for entrance, just google it, but it’s credited back Rp 100K to your F&B bill). If you can stand 2,5hours of driving to Candidasa, Karangasem go to Virgin Beach aka White Sandy Beach, wrote about that here: http://www.risanto.com/beeamazing/virgin-beach-the-far-far-away-beach-revealed/ Check out also : Sindhu Beach in Sanur. Weekend in Bali during low season could also be packed with locals and if you want to avoid crowd in the beach, just go during weekdays. Hope you’d enjoy your babymoon, take a really good care of you and the baby inside! God bless, cheers! – Bee