In Indonesia, the charm of beach tourism in Bali is well known to many travel connoisseurs, both domestic and foreign. Rows of beaches add to the wealth of tourism as well as unique customs and culture.
That said, almost all local and foreign tourists have planned vacation time and set foot on a number of charming beaches in Bali. Starting from Kuta Beach, Sanur Beach, Dreamland Beach, to a number of other beaches, some of which have not yet been extensively explored.
Like several other areas in Indonesia, beach tourism destinations in Bali are famous for their beautiful panoramas, including charming sunsets and sunrises.
Bali tourism statistics which record 1.4 million tourist (thebalisun.com) visits each year prove that Bali is a strong magnet for the Indonesian tourism sector in general.
Beach Tourism in Bali
For some people, having a vacation to Bali may not just be a wish, but a target that must be accomplished. A thousand stories about the beauty of beaches in Bali are not enough to be heard. If you have plans to vacation in Bali or explore the charms of its beaches, here are a number of beach tourism destinations in Bali that are most attractive to connoisseurs of travel.
Kuta Beach
The name Kuta Beach is familiar even to people who have never visited it. This beach, which is located in the southern part of the Island of the Gods, is the number one beach tourism destination in Bali, especially for foreign tourists. That said, Kuta Beach is one of the oldest beaches in Bali because its prestige has been worldwide since 1970.
If Sanur Beach is more popular for its sunrise charm, then on the other hand, on Kuta Beach you will be amazed by the beauty of a truly captivating sunset. This sunset moment is often the object of photography lovers, including as a dazzling pre-wedding photo backdrop. From Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, a trip to Kuta Beach only takes about 15 minutes by private vehicle or taxi.
Sanur Beach
Sanur Beach is a beach in Bali that is no less popular than Kuta Beach. If on Kuta Beach you can enjoy the twilight, then Sanur Beach presents one of God’s greatness through the enchanting charm of the sunrise in the morning.
Because it has a very calm wave character, Sanur Beach is not suitable for surfing. Surfing or surfing requires big enough waves. The most suitable water sports on this beach are scuba diving and snorkeling. For tourists who are just learning to dive, Sanur Beach is perfect for diving because the water is very calm. Bali’s sanur beach is located in Sanur Village to the east from Denpasar City Center. From Ngurah Rai Airport, this beach is about 16 kilometers and takes about 30 minutes with normal traffic flow.
Dreamland Beach
In a way, Dreamland Beach is one of the beaches in Bali that surfers like. This is not an exaggeration because this beach has quite challenging waves. The white sand that lies beautifully along the beach interspersed with rolling waves that chase towards the shore is a real picture of the charm of Dreamland Beach which is not inferior to other beaches.
For those who don’t like surfing, you can sit on the beach by renting sun loungers complete with umbrellas. This beach is increasingly crowded with visitors just before the afternoon. Maybe the weather that is not so hot is the reason tourists choose to come in the afternoon. Dreamland Beach is in Pecatu Village. From Ngurah Rai Airport, you will need about 45 minutes to arrive at the location. You can also use a private vehicle because access to the location is fairly safe if a motorized vehicle passes.
Pandawa Beach
The name is indeed not as popular as Kuta Beach and Sanur Beach, but behind that, Pandawa Beach has the charming natural beauty of the sea. This beach is still a virgin, not as busy as Kuta or Sanur. You will be amazed by the stretch of clean white sand and free of trash on this beach. The calm waves sound in line with the atmosphere of a quiet beach without hustle and bustle.
Pandawa’s white sand beach is located in Kutuh Village, included in the Badung Regency area. Local people often call this beach the Kutuh Beach. It’s different from foreign tourists, especially from Australia, who prefer to call Pandawa Beach as “Secret Beach”. In the past, Pandawa beach was more dominated by foreign tourists. However, lately it is precisely local tourists who come to this beach. The trip from Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to Pandawa Beach takes about 1 hour with a distance of no less than 18 kilometers. The winding roads in Kutuh Village will likely make your journey take longer.
Tanjung Benoa Beach
Just like Pandawa Beach, Tanjung Benoa Beach is one of the beaches in Bali which has calm waves and has a stretch of beach with clean white sand. Due to the relatively calm characteristics of the waves, this beach is quite safe for water sports. Visitors can freely and safely play snorkeling, diving or parasailing at Tanjung Benoa Beach.
There is a spot on Tanjung Benoa Beach that children really like, namely Turtle Island where there are cute turtle habitats there. On this beach, there are many business units that provide various needs for water sports. In addition to interesting water sports activities, around the beach there are also several hotels that are ready to provide comfortable rest for tourists who want to vacation for a few days there. From Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, it will take you about 30 minutes to arrive at one of these popular beaches in Bali.
Jimbaran Beach
Hearing the name of this beach, maybe your memory will immediately remember the Bali Bombing I and II tragedies. Since this incident, the name Jimbaran Beach has become increasingly global as one of the beach tourism destinations in Bali. In fact, the sea view at Jimbaran Beach is so mesmerizing. With a very beautiful sunset view, not a few tourists come to this beach in the afternoon.
Apart from enjoying the charm of the sunset, generally tourists who come to Jimbaran Beach also enjoy culinary delights in the form of seafood dishes. This can be seen from a number of cafes on the beach which are never empty of visitors. These cafes provide a variety of processed seafood, such as clams, squid, crabs and shrimp. Jimbaran Beach is about 15 minutes from Gusti Ngurah Rai airport. For those of you who want to take a longer vacation or stay overnight, international standard villas and hotels are available around the beach location.
Legian Beach
In the eyes of tourists, maybe Legian Beach is the third choice of destinations they want to go to after Kuta Beach and Sanur Beach. Almost similar to Kuta Beach, Legian Beach also offers a captivating beauty of the sea. Walking along the stretch of white sand that stretches along the beach while gazing at the sunset on the western horizon is a beautiful and exciting experience.
Apart from swimming and sunbathing, tourist activities are also surfing, considering that the waves on this beach are quite large at certain points. Not infrequently, at Legian Beach, surfing competitions are held which are attended by local and foreign surfers. Culinary at night at Legian Beach is also quite complete. There are several cafes, food stalls and restaurants ready to pamper your stomach when you are hungry.
Legian Beach is a favorite destination for tourists from Australia. From Gusti Ngurah Rai airport, it is quite close, about 6 kilometers and can be reached in no more than 15 minutes. In addition to several culinary attractions, there are also night entertainment facilities such as bars and pubs on this beach. For accommodation facilities, around Legian Beach there are many international standard villas and hotels.
Nusa Dua Beach
Among the many beaches in Bali, Nusa Dua Beach deserves to be named the cleanest beach. This beach has the character of waves that are not so big that it is safe for diving or swimming. Therefore, Nusa Dua Beach is also recommended as a tourist destination for families, including children. There are some parts of this beach that have shallow water.
Apart from swimming in a calm atmosphere, Nusa Dua Beach is a beach that is not so hot so that visitors feel comfortable sunbathing and spending time on this beach. In addition, various international level state activities are often held in the Nusa Dua Beach area with dignitaries from countries around the world. Not surprisingly, around the beach location there are many international scale luxury hotels.
In addition to a row of luxury hotels, on Nusa Dua Beach there are also public facilities such as well-maintained gardens, toilets, trash cans, and not forgetting a large parking area. There are several spots on this beach that offer beautiful panoramas and are therefore often used as a background in pre-wedding photos.
Lovina Beach
The tourist destination of Lovina Beach is one that is relied on from Buleleng Regency. In this beach area there are various accommodation facilities, restaurants, gift shops and boutiques, to car rental. Lovina Beach is famous for its interesting dolphin shows for tourists. By boarding a ship that takes you out to sea, hundreds of dolphins that live on this beach will appear and present adorable attractions.
This dolphin attraction can only be seen in the morning considering that the dolphins will appear from 6-8 in the morning. In addition, diving or snorkeling activities are also one of the highlights. The charm of ornamental fish in coastal waters is quite capable of presenting a comforting charm of the underwater world.
Bias Tugel Beach
Bias Tugel Beach means a beach where the sand is cut. This is due to the fact that the Bias Tugel Beach area is not wide because on the right and left the beach is flanked by large rocks. Bias Tugel Beach has clean white sand with clear blue sea water. Given its popularity which is not as well known as Kuta, this beach is quite relaxing to visit and is one of the hidden charms of beaches in Bali.
In addition, you are also not charged an entrance ticket. Around the beach area, there are no hotels or restaurants yet. Don’t worry about going hungry, you can fill your stomach at the food and drink stalls that are open there. Bias Tugel Beach is not far from Padang Bai Harbor, about 700 meters from the harbor entrance or just walk for about 10 minutes.
Beach on Menjangan Island
Menjangan Island is a small uninhabited island located in the West Bali National Park area, about 10 km off the northwest coast of Bali. Don’t be surprised if on Menjangan Island you won’t find inns, restaurants, shops, and more. The only available resort is Menjangan Island Resort which is directly under the Labuhan Lalang Region III National Park Management Section.
This island has the best wall diving in Bali with its charming underwater garden. This is why diving enthusiasts in Bali really enjoy diving in this island area because of good visibility and rich marine life. Menjangan Island does have complex coral reefs and rock formations.
Apart from diving, tracking activities on this island are also interesting. You will be able to witness a number of birds that live on Menjangan Island, as well as cross the savanna where you can witness the activities of the deer in the wild. To be able to arrive on this island, you can use a people’s boat managed by the West Bali National Park. Alternatively, you can use a boat from the small jetty at Banyuwedang Bay and Thank Bay.
Virgin Beach
This beach is relatively quiet and untouched by many tourists. Therefore, the atmosphere at Virgin Beach is very natural and calm. This beach has clear blue sea water with soft white sand and harmonious waves. You can see how clean the beach is from trash.
Some of the activities of tourists on this beach in general are enjoying food at cafes that are open around the beach. Apart from swimming, some tourists simply enjoy the atmosphere of the beach by lazing on the edge of a seat complete with an umbrella. If you want to snorkel, all you have to do is rent the equipment there. Located in Karangasem, you can use a car or motorbike to visit one of the pristine beaches in Bali. From Denpasar, the trip will take about 2 hours.
Amed and Tulamben Beaches
Located in a village in the eastern part of the island of Bali, Amed Beach and Tulamben Beach have a wealth of marine life, coral reefs and other interesting underwater natural charms. These two beaches are located next to each other. Tulamben Beach is very liked by divers. In the depths of the coast, there is the USS Libert which sank a long time ago and this is a “magnificent” underwater scene with wrecks filled with coral reefs.
Amed and Tulamben beaches are one of the exotic beach destinations in Bali. If you visit Amed Bali, various tourism facilities are available such as hotels, restaurants and bungalows. You will only need about 3 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport to arrive in this exotic area.
Balangan Beach
At Balangan Beach, you can see a series of coconut trees that are neatly arranged and become a unique sight. For those of you who want peace, this beach is a choice that is worth a visit.
Swimming and surfing at Balangan Beach are the activities most often done by many tourists. Due to the geographical location of the beach which is in the southern part of Bali, the waves are quite big. This is why surfers love this beach. In addition, there are many cafes and inns in the Balangan Beach area. You don’t have to worry about going hungry or wanting to spend more time there. The location of this beach is only about 38 minutes from Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
Padang Padang Beach
Padang-Padang Beach has actually been known for a long time by foreign tourists who come to Bali before becoming popular among domestic tourists. Do you remember the film “Eat, Pray, Love” which takes Bali as one of the places in the story? This film stars many Hollywood actors and actresses, one of which is Julia Roberts. It was at Padang-Padang Beach that the film was shot in 2010.
Padang-Padang Beach has a beautiful panorama and an unspoiled environment. This beach is located in Pecatu, close to Uluwatu. Initially, this beach was famous as a place to surf considering the big waves. Also, sunbathing and relaxing activities on the beach are liked by many tourists. The Padang-Padang Beach area is surrounded by solid rocks, you have to pass through the cliffs while going down the stairs to be able to set foot on the beach.
