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.
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.
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.
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/Kerobokan/Canggu 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.
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.
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.
Ubud Ubudis 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.