Candidasa
This
is the gateway to eastern Bali and is developing as a popular
tourist destination. The beach had once been washed away due to
coral picking but this has now stopped, and the coral is returning.
This peaceful tourist village has plenty of accommodation and
entertainment although all diving is from boats based in Padang
Bai, 30 mins south. The diving here is drift-diving and, due to
the sometimes fierce currents, is for advanced divers. All the
reefs are extremely healthy with great diversity of invertebrate
and fish life. Tepekong's Canyon has dramatic underwater structure
and is usually full of fish; Mimpang is the best place in Bali
to see shark and Biaha has rich wall and slope dives.
Canggu
Canggu
is another attractive site for surfers in the southern part of
Bali. It's surrounded by rice field, quite and calm area. Located
about 40 minutes drive from airport and 15 minutes drive to Seminyak
and Kerobokan area.
East Bali
Amed and Tulamben are alternative destinations in east Bali. Amed
is a quiet resort town which offers a couple of small hotels and
good snorkeling. Tulamben is even quieter and popular with local
divers. A shipwreck and a drop-off accessible from the beach offer
easy access to a colourful underwater world. Diving courses are
also available.
Gili
Islands
Gili in the Sasak language means island. The three Gili islands,
Gili Air, Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno are idyllic islets just
off the northern coast. A favourite with backpakers, the islands
abound with coral gardens. Gili Air, the nearest island, can be
reached in 10 to 15 minutes by boat fro the mainland.
Jimbaran
Jimbaran is a sleepy cove where fleets of fishing boats colour
the scene. Since the opening of the Four Seasons Resort and Bali
Inter-Continental Resort, this once-quiet area has now become
a popular resort. Local families and tourists are drawn by its
beauty, and to enjoy the food of the superb seafood restaurants
along the beach. Jimbaran's grey sand and calm waters attract
many people. It is a very popular spot for windsurfing and small
sailing craft, which are available for rent.
Kerobokan
Just south of Cangu, and to the north of Seminyak, this is
another area being developed by resort companies to attract visitors
from the overflowing Kuta / Legian strip. Like Cangu, it's a bit
too far from the nightlife scene but would suit those who wish
to spend some quiet days relaxing by the pool or on the beach.
Kuta
This belt is by far the most popular and whitest beach in Bali,
attracting all ages and nationalities. The beach extends from
Canggu to the airport in Tuban. It is ideal for those wishing
to combine a beach holiday with testing their surfing skills.
Kuta beach continues to grow in popularity and is a fantastic
place to soak up the warm sun.
Kuta is Bali's busiest region and a trip into the shopping and
nightlife areas is a must for all age groups. There is a great
selection of restaurants and bars and whether it be day or night
you will always find something to see and do in Kuta. The nightlife
is many and varied and goes on long into the night.
Legian
Legian beach has been called the United Nations of beaches where
locals, expatriates and tourists mingle, bargain, play football,
indulge in a massage, catch up on reading, meditate or exercise.
Sunset at Legian is when the beach bars fill up, the football
field is at busiest and the locals finish their work and wade
fully clothed, skirts swirling, into the waves.
Lembongan
Nusa Penida is an island located in the southeast of Bali, across
the Badung Strait. To the northwest lie two smaller islands,
Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. The islands can be reached
by boat in approx. an hour from Padang Bai. Most dives are made
to the northwest around Ceningan and in the channel between
Ceningan and Nusa Penida. These dives are not for beginners!
There are often very strong and unpredictable currents and undertows
and cold water sometimes wells up to the shallow areas, resulting
in water temperatures of 23 degrees or less. Good visibility.
Lembonang island lies north west of Ceningan island but is larger
one with shallow areas in the north. The three dive sites, Blue
Corner, Mangrove Point and Jangka Point (in the front of some
seaweed farms) are all located at the northern corner of the
island.
Lombok
Island
Lombok means 'Chilli Paper'
in Javanese language, it is a small island, slightly smaller
than Bali with its white virgin beaches, cool mountains, wide
savannas and old aged tradition. Lombok separated by a merely
narrow strait and easy accessible by ferry or air from Bali.
Like Bali, Lombok has a chain of volcanic mountains in the Northern
half of the island and the same climate and soil for its variety
of crops. Mt. Rinjani is one of the highest moutain in Indonesia,
which rises to 3276 metres from a high plateau area with its
large lake Segara Anak on the top of the mountain.
North
Bali
Between Singaraja and Seririt on Bali's wild north coast is
a busy strecth of hotels, and the low sea makes this area by
far from the most inspiring beach in Bali. The coastline has
a number of tranquil coves, Lovina being on of them. Early morning
dolphin watching tours are a popular option, and hikes in the
mountains to the south reveal some of Bali's finest scenery
and waterfall.
The diving off Pulau Menjangan, part of West Bali National Park,
is generally regarded as the best in Bali. Boats are available
to take divers over to the inhabited island.
Pemuteran is the perfect choice for those who would like to
visit The Menjangan Island.
Nusa
Dua
Nusa Dua was designed with luxury in mind. Bali's premier resort
location and the internationally acclaimed hotels that are located
here attract visitors from all over the world. Most hotels are
first class and above, and the facilities that they all offer
for both individuals as well as families make this one of Bali's
best holiday resort areas.Numerious five star chain hotels line
the beautiful sandy beaches which offer excellent swimming in
a protected lagoon. Some resorts have private beaches; however,
most are accessible.
Sanur
Sanur is a well established favourite for all holiday makers
to Bali. Sanur is a thirty minute drive from Kuta and is very
popular with water sports enthusiasts and families as the beach
is protected by a reef and the lagoon offers safe swimming all
year round. The hotels are many and varied from boutique to
five star. The shopping and restaurants in this village make
Sanur an area where you can walk in peace and see a side of
Bali that many never see.
A calm, quiet lagoon area, Sanur Beach offers great conditions
for windsurfing, parasailing, and other recreational activities.
The chic address of many of Bali's rich and famous since the
1930's Sanur has a lively history and is still cherished by
many. The stretch from the Grand Bali Beach Hotel to beyond
the Bali Hyatt is served by a beach path, making it possible
to enjoy the many hotels and restaurants along the strip. The
calm waters of Sanur beach make it very popular with families.
Seminyak
Some of the best restaurants and most popular nightspots are
here, but you don't want to walk around looking a cheap place
to stay. There is some goods mid-range accommodation. There
are also houses and bungalows to rent by the week or month.
Tanjung
Benoa
Strecthing northward from Nusa Dua is Tanjung Benoa, a promontory
with an excellent beach. A few restaurants and four-star hotels
are found here, and the sea is suitable for all kinds of water
sports.
Tuban
Between Kuta and the airport, Tuban Beach is lined with big
hotels. Less frantic than Kuta, it is a wonderful place to simply
grab a lounger, a good book and relax. It is safe to swim here,
thanks to the hotel lifeguards.
Tabanan
This regency is very famous for Tanah Lot temple. The regency
also has a lot of tourism resorts such as Bedugul [lake of Beratan]
with its cold temperature. Tabanan also has other tourist attractions
such as Alas Kedaton, Jatiluwih terraced rice-fields, Pacung
village or Soka Beach.
Ubud
Ubud is one hour from Denpasar and is lovely alternative to
the hustle and bustle of the downtown beach areas. Ubud is located
in the cooler hills are north of Denpasar and is the artistic
heart of Bali. Well known for it's celebrated sculptors and
artists Ubud is an enjoyable break away from the sun and the
surf. The shopping is excellent and the selection of unique
goods is often better than int the beach areas.
West
Bali
This strecth of Bali is very beautiful and wild. Some surfing
is done in this area but it is not recommended for beginners
as the roaring sea is filled with treacheous rips. The beach
around Tanah Lot is fantastic for horse-riding, watching dramatic
sunsets but not really safe for swimming.
