Posts Tagged ‘Bali’

The best dive sites in Bali

The best dive sites in Bali.

By Dive Around Bali.

Detailed information on the best dive sites around Bali per region..

Nusa Penida & Nusa Lembongan:

Toyapakeh: A very nice underwater topography made up of great coral boulders and pillars. The fish life is excellent and the deeper areas offer chance encounters with mola mola and other pelagics. Clear and simple, a great Bali dive site!

Gamat Bay: The water of this tiny bay is always crystal clear, and the reef, a steep, rugged slope leading up into the bay, is exceedingly rich in hard and soft corals and fish life. On a bright day this reef simply glows.

Like other sites of Peneeda, currents can be tricky here. Unfortunally, the surface often looks like a washing machine, even if it is just fine under water.

Crystal Bay: There is a white sandy base to the reef, covered with anemones and soft corals. Following the north side of the bay into the corner, at a depth of 12 metres there is a cave, which opens to the sky that has bats asleep in it. Most of the time there are reef sharks inside the cave. From the bat cave continue following the wall (the reef is not particularly rich) looking out for lobsters that have made their home in the hard coral. The bay is vulnerable to swell, creating up and down currents. When the current is present there is the opportunity to see white tip sharks, leopard sharks, mantas and eagle rays.

SD and Ped: These two sites are also extremely popular for their steep walls and prolific marine life. Drift diving along the steep sloped coral encrusted wall with sponges, hard and soft corals, gorgonians and myriad reef fish is awesome. Larger pelagics such as barracuda, tuna and jacks often put in an appearance here.

Malibu Point:?The dive site is small and often tricky to dive if currents are strong but it is one of the better places to see sharks. Also big dogtooth tuna, rainbow runners and mackerel to be found at this spot.

Blue Corner on the northwest of Nusa Lembongan is a very popular drift dive location. The current can be strong here and can try to pull you downwards. The dive starts east off the point where the lighthouse is. Descend to the slope that starts at 10 metres where you are swept in a drift towards the corner in a westerly direction. At the corner there is a vertical wall with a depth of around 30 metres plus. The main reason to dive this site is because ocean sunfish can be seen here from April to September, but there are marble rays, eagle rays and other pelagics. This is big boy country.

Manta point: The name says it all… This is a limestone rock off the southwest coast of Nusa Penida. The above water scenery is dramatic with limestone cliffs that descend straight into the ocean. This is the place for the big manta’s, but if the manta’s are not present, there is noting much to see accept your buddy. Swells can be really big here, so this site has to be dived at the right time.

Amuk Bay: Candi Dasa & Padangbai:

Tepekong: Dive site The Canyon is a striking structure of angular black boulders. Explore the canyon you’ll be able to see an area with huge schools of sweetlips, batfish, snapper, bumphead parrotfish, unicornfish and big-eyed trevally, all of which can nearly fill the canyon. Sharks are relatively common in this area, usually white tip reef sharks and sightings of Mola Mola is possible. It is very rare not to have a current here. (note: this site can ONLY be dived under good conditions, it is probably one of the most exiting sites in Bali but probably also the most dangerous one. It is nicknamed “the toilet”.)

Mimpang: is remarkably varied, combining wall and sloping reefs. The reefs here are amongst of the richest in the whole of Bali, (reminding of the famous sites of southern Komodo and Rinca). The fish life exceptional, including schooling fish, lots of sharks, and even Molas. A very fine diving area.

Gili Biaha: This tiny island is one of the most beautiful of the Amuk Bay sites. A steep drop-off reef, nicely fissured and terraced in places, rings most of the island. There are fascinating smaller species as cuttlefish, octopus, nudibranch, and rich soft corals, gorgonians, and black corals, many with commensals.

The Blue Lagoon is the location that less experienced divers are usually taken to first, as the dive  sites in this area are generally much less exposed to the strong currents   experienced at the other sites. However, don’t let this fool you into   thinking that this is a second rate area – it’s not. with healthy  bommies and  terrific  general marine life. More of a macro than a wide angle area, there are frogfish, leaf scorpion fish, moray eels, scorpion & stone fish,  blue spotted stingrays and lots of nudibranchs. Blue Lagoon is popular with   tourists from Candi Dasa who go there to snorkel.  The more correct name for the area is Tanjung Sari and there are a number of sites to dive, not just the bay in front of the resort. The relative lack of currents and maximum depths of around 1-18m offer a pleasant combination of an uncomplicated dive site but with plenty to see.

Amed:

Amed walls: These sites are actually reef slopes combined with walls at the two sites of quiet idyllic Jemeluk bay. Incredibly rich in fish life and always a possibility for pelagic around. Trevally, dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel, eagle ray, cruise amongst swarms of smaller reef fish above a gorgonian and barrel sponges covered reef slope and wall that drops to 60 metres.

There is also a delightful easy dive on old artificial reefs that where put there by the local villagers. Early proof of how well very simple artificial reef structures work. These are just concrete pyramids, about three metres high, but have a dense coral coverage and attract an astonishing amount of reef fish and act as nurseries.

Bunutan: This dive site is something special, but has as most important feature the most hallucinating amount of fish imaginable. Clouds of banner fish, surgeon fish and redtooth trigger fish surround you and actually block your view of the reef. Stingrays are everywhere. Cruising white tip sharks and great barracuda are always there. The start of the dive before you descent to 30 meter where there is a deep reef, is in shallow water at a sandy bottom where you swim trough the biggest field of garden eels you will ever see. There are thousands of them. Then there is the big fish show while you drift with the current for a while before you arrive for the last portion on a very rich hard coral reef flat.

Deep Blue: From here on the exploration diving of Amed starts. This dive site is only dived by a very few local dive operators. You will likely be the only divers here. This a drift dive with an amazing diversity and number of fish. Sharks are also relatively common.

Japanese wreck: A little bay where the wreck lies of a small steel freighter. It rests in very shallow water and is nicely encrusted with gorgonians and black coral bushes. The actual dive site is the reef next to the wreck and is also very rich with soft corals, gorgonians and sponges and shallow fields of staghorn and table corals. It makes a calm wonderful dive, although this dive site is very easily affected by visibility.

Gili Selang: This little island looks like it just broke away from the mainland. This is a very nice dive site and covered everywhere with soft corals – probably the healthiest corals in Bali – but also a lot of fish and a good chance to find turtles, bumphead parrotfishes, tunas and whitetip reef sharks. You dive in a very current-swept area, so this dive is only for experienced divers.

Kafe Garam: Amed has some very decent muck-diving that is rarely visited and we would like to keep it that way. You dive from the beach on very fine gray volcanic sand and among purposely-dropped rubbish. Ghost pipefish and mimic octopus, stonefish and even the Ambon scorpion fish can be found here.

Tulamben:

US Liberty Wreck: the federal shipbuilding company in Kearny, New Jersey built The Liberty. She was 120 meters long, 17 meters in beam, drafted 7.3 meters and grossed 6.211 tons powered by a 2500 horsepower steam turbine engine. Early in the morning of January 11th 1942, the Liberty was motoring across the Lombok Strait, bringing war material from Australia to the Philippines. At 4.15 am the ship was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-166. Although crippled by the blow, the Liberty did not sink. Two destroyers tried to tow the ship toward Singaraja where it was hoped she could be repaired, however the ship was taking in too much water so she was beached at Tulamben. Over the coming year anything of value was removed.

In 1963, Bali’s highest and most holy mountain, Gunung Agung, erupted creating a powerful earthquake that rolled the ship in to deeper water and broke her at the bow and stern. The Liberty now lies almost parallel to the beach, the shallowest part of the wreck touches the sandy slope at 7-9 meters and the deepest part is at 28-30 meters. It’s a lovely, easy wreck dive that is popular for photographers as it is totally encrusted in anemones, gorgonians and corals. Tulamben’s black sand provides an excellent colour contrast for the incredible variety of marine life. It’s quite difficult to list what you will see on this dive because you will come across just about everything in any Indo-Pacific reef guidebook. The variety is amazing with minute angelfish, nudibranchs, pipefish and gobies through to the areas of garden eels, huge schools of big-eyed trevally, sweetlips, batfish, butterflyfish set against hard coral, black corals, sponges and sea fans. Current is rarely present and at most it will be mild. The wreck is great for night dives, particularly if the moon is full. You may see Spanish dancers, flashlight fish, or sleeping parrotfish and will notice the different behaviour of marine life compared to the daytime.

Drop-off: The Drop Off is an old lava flow from Mount Agung leading out from a temple onshore. It is located at the opposite end of the bay from the wreck. The dive starts off on a steep sandy slope with nudibranchs, flounder and shrimp (be careful with your fins) at 10 metres. There are big sponges with many varieties of shrimp and lionfish and continuing to the right, the slope develops into a reef with very impressive topography, becoming a vertical wall from 15 metres and descending to below 60 metres. The wall has nice, craggy structure and is exceedingly rich. At a depth of 28 metres you will find a sea fan that is almost 2 metres across.

Octopus, Bumphead parrotfish, scorpion fish etc. Are all quiet common here.

Batu Kelibit: Just around the corner from Tulamben bay, this beautiful site consists of steep, coral covered ridges separated by valleys of bright white sand. The best site in the area to see big animals.

Coral Garden: Just in the front of Tulamben resort in 5- 12 metres of water is a delightfully rich little patch reef, which is dominated by hard coral, including some large table and fire corals, interspersed with anemones and sponges. There is a little bit of everything here. Blue ribbon eels are a very easy find here. The black sand slope to the deep makes an interesting area for good critter findings. It also is an excellent night dive.

Seraya secrets: Notorious muck diving site with seahorse, frogfish, harlequin shrimp and a great number of nudibranch species.

Kubu is a small fishing village north of Tulamben that is very rarely dived but is becoming justly more popular. There are two dive sites and the coral reef is extremely rich with an abundance of fish life.

There is more diving in Batu Niti that lies about half a kilometer to the east. Batu Niti is a volcanic ridge with a lava flow that drops into the sea. Exploration diving!

Menjangan:

Garden Eel point: is one of the more popular dive sites where coral growth is healthiest. Longnose hawkfish can be found on the gorginians here and whitetip sharks are often seen on the sandy bottom at around 35 meters. The garden eel colony is on a slope in roughly 20 meters of water.

Pos II (park service guard post), off Menjangan’s most southeasterly point, is usually done as a drift dive in the gentle current along the wall. An explosion of colour from the wall of soft coral can be seen here and thermoclines are present where upwellings of cold waters from the deep are met. This often brings in bigger visitors such as mantas and sharks. Just west of Pos II are a couple of caves at around 18 meters that are worth a look.

The Anker Wreck: This wreck is actually named for the anchor that still lies about 6-8 meters from the surface. Follow the anchor chain down the steep slope to the flattened remains of the shipwreck at 35 – 50 meters, which lie across about 60 meters of sand. The Anker is a 25 metre long 19th century wooden ship, that carried ceramics and copper, parts of which can still be seen across the site.

Further Away, North Bali muck-diving:

Secret Bay is located approximately 3.5 hours drive from the south in a small bay called Teluk Gilimanuk where the ferries from Java dock. It is about 2 km across and very shallow with most of it less than five metres deep. Gilimanuk Bay is the only bay off the narrow Bali Strait, where currents can reach 7 knots. This means that it acts as a catch tank for many larval fish and other plankton sweeping between Java and Bali.

Be prepared – you are diving on fine black and gray volcanic sand and rubble and not on a coral reef! This place is a great place for the rare and unusual. On offer are a number of rare jewels for the macro photographer including gobies, frogfish, dragonets, nudibranchs, seahorses, juvenile Batavia batfish and many other organisms.

Night diving at Secret Bay is a truly magnificent experience! You will see some unique creatures that you won’t see on the day dive. This is a shallow dive site with no rich coral growth and limited weed and coral beds. The water can be cold and visibility can be very low due to the dark mud/sand bottom.

Puri Jati (PJ): A relatively new dive site for muckdiving lying west of Pemuteran.

You dive from the beach on very fine gray volcanic sand and some seaweed similar to Seraya, Gilimanuk or Lembeh. There are snails, slugs and seahares and even frogfish among the seaweed. You reach a large flat area with sea grass. There are coconut octopuses, hiding in burrows made with shells and pieces of rubbish. On this flat area (6-10m) you also find seahorses, several types of eels, flying gurnard and with good eyes, some hidden scorpionfishes, mostly lionfishes but also the rare Ambon scorpionfish.

There is also a small river close by where you can take a dip.

For more information on your dive holiday in Bali feel free to contact me at Dive Around Bali.

Michel De Ruyck

Bali Vacation Packages Deliver Memories That Last

When the ancient temples and stunning volcanic mountains of Bali are on a holiday agenda, the memories that are made will last a lifetime. If the desire is to pack every incredible sight possible into a trip to this legendary island is the plan, Bali vacation packages will deliver.

No matter what part of this island is visited during a trip to Bali, holidaymakers are likely to discover that packages are the way to go. Whilst actual inclusions in Bali vacation packages will vary, they generally include accommodations and tours that are more than worth taking. The coupling of both can help vacationers keep costs low and adventure high.

When Bali is the destination, travellers will find breathtaking sights around almost every corner. Some of the top stops to make memories in include:

* The Bali Butterfly Park – Located in Tabanan, this destination offers visitors to Bali a chance to explore expansive gardens that are home to hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies.
* The Bali Bird Park – This stop in Batubulan boasts more than a thousand birds in a single location, including many rare species found only in Indonesia.
* Mount Agung – Also known as Gunung Agung this is Bali’s highest mountain and home to an active volcano. Called the “navel of the world,” this mountain holds a sacred place in the religious life of many Balinese. It is said to have been erected by the Gods to serve as a viewing point for them down upon the world. The Hindu temple Pura Besakih is located on this mountain. Dating back more than 1,000 years, the temple was erected to honour Vishnu, Brahma and Agung. The temple is located within a complex of other sanctuaries that serve other gods in the Hindu religion.
* Gunung Batur – This is another active volcano revered by the Balinese for its religious significance. Whereas Mount Agung is seen as the male, Gunung Batur is the “female.”
* Klungkung Royal Palace – This reconstruction of the historic palace serves as a reminder of what once was. The site offers holidaymakers a chance to take in breathtaking gardens, courtyards and more.
* The beaches – Throughout the island, those on a Bali holiday will discover pristine beach after pristine beach. Each, however, offers its own distinct charms. Sanur Beach, for example, is known as a tranquil destination that is ideal for quiet walks, wind surfing, swimming and parasailing. On the other hand, Katu Beach might not offer a lagoon feel, but it’s famous for surfing and its incredibly white sands.
* The Elephant Safari Park – This world renowned stop in Bali, near Ubud, offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with these gentle giants. The park offers elephant rides, a show and a chance for holidaymakers to learn more about this creature and its long history. In fact, the park boasts a 15,000-year-old mammoth skeleton.

With its beautiful landscapes, unique history and incredible attractions, Bali offers holidaymakers the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. When Bali vacation packages are booked, dreams of adventure come true.

5 Great Bali Attractions

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Many travellers and tourists from the west have a dreamy ideal of somewhere like Bali, since even the place’s name conjures up images of mystery and a world far away from the daily grind of a job in a western country. Naturally the weather plays a part and the humid climate is one of the reasons for people heading to the lush greenery and tiered paddy fields of Bali. While there some of the best things to do are:
1.See the temples. Nothing says south east Asia more than the temples which are scattered about the land, and in contrast to the Buddhist structures of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, Indonesia’s Hindu temples are a sight to see in their own right. There are literally thousands of temples to see in Bali and while many temples might look a little run down, they still operate as central points within every Balinese community.

2.The beaches. If it’s paradise that you want then Bali has it. The unspoiled nature of Bali’s beaches is one of the biggest pulls to the island, and the palm-fringed sands are both inspiring and relaxing at the same time. Lots of visitors to a luxury Bali hotel like to combine a beach holiday with a spot of diving, and the destinations of Menjangan Island in the north and Nusa Penida in the south are perennially popular spots for beach and scuba holidays with western tourists who want a holiday with a difference.

3.See ‘real’ Bali. This means exploring the sights and sounds of the island in a slightly different way, by getting out of your luxury Bali resort hotel to tour the island either on foot or by bicycle. Many tourists and visitors to Bali have enjoyed this activity and there is nothing quite like cycling through a tiny village stopping to talk to the local inhabitants or walking through miles of paddy field s on foot. There are tour companies to help arrange tours such as this as it is always best to have an informed local guide to point you at the best walks and rides.

4.Spoil yourself. There are so many different massages, spas, treatments and the like to be had in Bali that you could be forgiven for thinking that you have actually gone on holiday to a health farm. When you only have a few weeks off work each year to relax and recuperate from the daily grind it is worth indulging oneself in the numerous oils and treatments on offer in the luxurious health spas of Bali, something which most people find that they can suddenly afford to do every day. Not a luxury which is available to most back home!

5.Take a cruise. What is the point of going to a paradise island if not to make use of the emerald waters surrounding the place? The seas around Bali boast some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world and there are no end of high quality cruises available to take the visitor out into the big blue – check out stunning Lembongan Island for somewhere a world away from everything that you know.

Considering Bali For Your Next Holiday

By considering Bali for your next holiday, you can have an amazing experience in your life. Bali is an Indonesian tropical island with amazing beaches, friendly citizens, and breathtaking scenery. It is considered as one of the top holiday destinations since the olden days and has a tropical climate that ranges between 28 and 32 degrees round the year.

Every year each and every of us prefer to go for a luxurious vacation. Most of us choose tropical paradises because all of us want to be in a relaxing environment. However, most people like to spend their vacation in a furtive tropical place that is not only beautiful but also possesses some of the best attractions in the world. Bali in Indonesia is one of such beautiful places to enjoy your vacation.

Bali is home to some of the world famous artworks and is a great place for travelers who want a wonderful vacation. When considering Bali for your next holiday, keep in mind that the island’s climate is hot throughout the year.

There are hundreds of tourist attractions around Bali. Kuta, Sanur, and Seminyak are among the best tourist spots in Bali. The southern areas of Bali are warmer than other areas. The sandy beaches of Bali are well-known for abundance of coral reefs and marine life. The Beaches on the island include Sanur beach, Jimbaran, Soka beach, Nusa Dua, Medewi beach, Lovina beach, Kuta, and Legian beach. Beaches in Bali are famous for their magnificent view of sunset and surfing.

Numerous hotels are available on the shores of Nusa dua beach and these hotels offers comfortable swimming experience in secluded lagoons. Delicious gourmet food is also served on site.

Sanur beach has calm and secluded lagoons which are suitable for activities such as wind surfing and para-sailing. Soka beach and Mediwi beach are situated between Despansar and Gilimanuk. Jimbaran Beach is some what attractive and is a favorite place for tourists as well as natives alike.

Several seafood restaurants are available on the shores of Jimbaran. Lovina Beach is most visited by the people around the world irrespective of the season. Most of the people visit here especially to view Dolphin swimming. Kuta is the best place for those who like a warm beach atmosphere. Also known as tourist mecca, the beach has several shops, pubs, and fully equipped first class hotels. Kuta beach is best for swimming and recognized for its random underwater currents.

Situated to the east of the island of Java, Bali is the primary focus of Indonesia’s booming tourist industry. Bali, one of the provinces in Indonesia, is divided into nine regions from west to east including Jembrana, Tabanan, Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem and Buleleng region.

Now-a-days, Bali attracts people from around the world, drawing in more than one million of tourists every year. Also known as “The Island of God” or “The Island of Thousand Temples”, the island has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world offering all the facilities expected by the tourists. If you are planning to enjoy your next vacation in Bali, the best time to visit is from April through September and November through January.

Bali has a lot to offer tourists, from historical places to scenic views. The main reason why many tourists keep visiting Bali is Bali’s image as a beach destination. Several accommodation facilities are available in Bali. Private Villas with different price ranges are available. Most of the villas have a large array of amenities such as swimming pools, restrooms, change rooms, golf courses and tennis courts. Luxurious private villas with standard facilities are also available within your budget.

Once you choose your Bali villa rental, the next step is to learn about the local culture of the native people. You will get guidance from your Bali Holiday Rental regarding how to shop for your groceries and stroll around the island.

Villas are available for both short and long-term rental. Most of the Bali villa rentals are set in lush tropical gardens while some others have seashore settings. Additional amenities such as private pools, house dining, and staff assistance during your stay are also available with most of the villa rentals. Be there in this wonderful location for your next vacation and make your vacation a fantastic experience in your life.

Types of Bali Accommodation

Bali offers a diverse range of different places to stay in from simple hotels to luxurious villas, the bulk of which are set in a tropical environment. The overall standard of service in Bali is high, even if you ‘re staying in a budget hotel. The interiors of the villas and hotels could be a bit meagre if staying in budget accommodation, but even these hotels have terraces and pools that offer you the possibility to spend most of your time enjoying the outside and views. Then there’s the top end places to stay that may offer you everything you might imagine and more. The hospitality of the Balinese people makes staying in any kind of accommodation a more satisfying experience ; it is widely known that the Balinese people are called the best hosts of any tourist destination around the globe.

Bali is a comparatively small island, but has some impressive natural marvels that will keep you enthralled. Discovering the island is exiting so long as you plan your holiday well in advance and swap your accommodation venues between staying at the beach and also taking a little time to remain in one of the villages. This way you will be in a position to experience the astounding views from the mountains and rice terraces, enjoy relaxing on the beach and mingle with the friendly Balinese .

Bali is a just off the Indonesian coast not very far from East Java, with a tiny population of about 3,000,000 people. While staying at one of the hotels, take a while to experience the local culture by visiting one of the islands that’s home to one of the twenty thousand temples that are situated all around Bali or attend one of the colorful lively festivals that usually include some traditional dance performances. Whatever your position and taste is there is sure to be some Bali accommodation available to ensure that your experience of this tropical island paradise is unique and full of thrilling journeys.

Bali accommodation varies from budget to luxury and each offers a different standard of conveniences and services, but you’ll always be met with a smile and a willingness to make your stay a content one no matter which type you select. Budget accommodations offer extremely simple accommodation that is still clean and snug. The facilities are limited but are good for the traveler looking to stretch their budget.

Moderate accommodations offer more facilities that are superb value. The rooms may still be reasonably simple, but you are more likely to have a coffee bar, restaurant, bar and round the clock room service. These kinds of places are great for families on a{ little budget as the rooms will be fairly big and you should be able to have up to five people staying in one room.

Superior accommodations are well cared for with wonderful facilities and services. The bulk of these hotels range between 3-4 stars and are located on the beach front or other prime locations. Extra services that you would find here are spas, fitness centers and lots of activities to keep the youngsters occupied. This is where the quality and standard of service starts to become excellent when staying in superior kinds of Bali accommodation.

Deluxe accommodations are often 4-5 star hotels that offer prime quality and high standards of service. These properties will be offering private villas or apartments that are surrounded by gardens and luxurious pool areas. The service and quality that is available in these resorts is what anyone would expect from a five star resort or hotel, these places offer pretty much anything that you would want when on a holiday on a tropical island like Bali. Leisure activities will certainly be offered in house, with other tours available that the hotel or resort will prepare for you.

Luxury accommodations offer the best that is available in Bali. The hotels decor is always superbly beautiful with quality facilities. These hotels have everything that you need, coffee bar, first class restaurants, and leisure facilities with most of them offering shops in the hotel that you can browse around. Whatever you’re looking to do or whatever you think should be provided by the top accommodations when on holiday, youwill find it at these types of resorts. The restaurants will be world class offering not only local cuisine, but a big variety of international dishes to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

Bali Travel Offers Adventure, Wonder And History

The world is chockfull of destinations that are all worthy of consideration when itâ??s time to make holiday plans. There are not many places, however, that can compare to a particular island in the Indonesian archipelago. Bali travel melds adventure, history and wonder into a single experience that is virtually certain to create memories to last a lifetime.

Located only a few hours away from Australia by plane, this unusual destination packs a great deal of fun into 5,632 square kilometers. Here holidaymakers will find weather that is perfect practically year round. With warm tropical temperatures ranging between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius no matter the time of year, visitors to Bali are often surprised to find sunny days dominate even in the thick of the rainy season.

When Bali travel is under consideration, potential holidaymakers will find these reasons tend to draw travellers from all over the world like moths to a flame:

* The outdoor splendour â?? Bali is famous for its breathtaking geography. The island is surrounded by warm turquoise waters that lap at white sandy beaches. From quiet lagoons just right for swimming and snorkeling to more â??activeâ? beaches that call to surfers and adventure sports lovers, the waters here are ideal for year round fun. Whilst the beaches are certainly a draw, they are not the only outdoor wonder that awaits those planning Bali travel. This island is also famous for its lush tropical forests, active volcanoes, tiered rice paddies and incredible lakes and waterfalls.
* The history â?? Bali has a history that dates back thousands of years. Evidence of its most early inhabitants can be found in a variety of sites all over the island. From the temples in the Mount Agung complex to the wonderment of the Tanah Lot, visitors here will learn much about the peoples and cultures that have touched Bali throughout the ages. With its strong ties to the Hindu religion, holidaymakers will discover that many of the islandâ??s most splendid outdoor attractions have also served as places connected deeply to religion through the ages.
* The culture â?? Balinese culture is known for its distinct arts, form of dance and cuisine. Those who plan Bali travel will find themselves arriving on a island that is known the world over for its welcoming hospitality and unique traditions.
* The adventures â?? Bali is one of the few places in the world where people can get up close and personal with gray monkeys, elephants and a variety of other tropical creatures all on a single vacation. If fauna doesnâ??t appeal, those on Bali tours will find that plenty of other adventures await. Bali tours can unlock adventures that are found nowhere else in the world. From Odyssey Submarine trips that take holidaymakers into the depths that surround the island to a trip to the 11th century Elephant Cave, there is no shortage of opportunities to do and see things that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

When an experience like nothing else is desired, Bali travel will deliver. Combining adventure, wonder and history, this legendary island offers holidaymakers an opportunity to explore paradise on earth.

Bali Beaches

There are a wide variety of different types of beaches in Bali from the energetic sports and activities beaches to gentle secluded coves to spend lazy afternoons chilling and enjoying the warm Indian ocean.

Many of the beaches are palm fringed white sands with a tropical feel that you would expect to see in the movies while others are black due to the islands volcanic activity.

Some beaches are within very easy reach and actually make up part of the resort while others are off the beaten track and are a drive away.

Bali has many great beaches – good for swimming, surfing, or just lounging on the sand. Some beach hotels in Bali and villages provide daily clean up and grooming of beaches. Also, the quality of a beach can change drastically between seasons, depending on the location of the beach and the direction it faces.

Bali’s beaches are best during the dry season, roughly April through October. During this period at beaches on the western coastal areas, erosion is minimal and the lack of wind or offshore winds keep the beaches clean and relatively calm.

During the wet season, onshore winds deposits flotsam and garbage on the west facing beaches and constant clean up is needed. In addition heavy rains can deposit run off around the beaches, particularly around run-off streams that flow into the ocean.

The east cost beaches of Sanur and Nusa Dua are less affected by seasonality, although the beach strip from the Melia Hotel to Nusa Dua Beach Hotel  in Nusa Dua experiences seasonal erosion in the winter, resulting in a very narrow strip of sand. The sand returns for the summer months.

The west facing beach from Canggu to Kuta can have rough surf and is known to have many rip currents and strong undertow. Safe swim areas are marked by flags and lifeguards are posted in some places but it is advised to keep an eye on the weak swimmers as the currents often change suddenly.

Mengiat  beach at Nusa Dua and Sanur beach areas are nice because there is an offshore reef that keeps heavy surf away from the beach.

 

Kuta Beach

If  it is an activity beach close to all amenities then Kuta beach is the one to head for as there is a wide variety of water activities available from this beach and surfing being one of the primary ones.

Parking is available all the way along the beach front and there are often extra activities and events held along the long wide walk way.

Parking can get cramped and swimming is dangerous for weaker swimmers as the rip curl and under currents are strong along this section of the shore so be aware of this when planning a day at the beach.

Along the beach front there is a wealth of activity from board and sports rental equipment to five star luxury hotels and sandwiches shops.

You can rent a sun bed and umbrella along certain sections of the beach but make sure that you get a good price for them the normal rate is around 50,000 IDR.

On the west cost of the island the resorts of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak are very busy to watch the sun go down.

There are often a wide variety of vendors on the beach offering every thing form a a relaxing massage and pedicure to sellers of beach wear and fresh fruit.

You must be careful along this section of beach as to pick pockets and bag snatches and exercise common sense when swimming and leaving your belongings unattended.

Kuta beach can often become a little crowded in high season and traffic very heavy to get to this part of the island through the bottle neck streets so make sure to leave plenty of time to allow for transit through Kuta and parking.

 

Nusa Dua Beach

The Nusa Dua peninsula is surrounded by some lovely beaches from long golden stretches of palm fringed beaches to more secluded coves at the bottom of cliffs.

Nusa Dua from Geger Temple is known as Mengiat Beach and Geger Beach. The most beautiful blue water, pristine white sand, minimal vendors.

Nusa Dua beach is a wide golden sandy beach stretching some 3 kilo meters from the blow hole and ancient temple at one end to the more secluded cliff at the other end.

As opposed to watching the sun go down on Jimbaran beach why not sip a cocktail and watch the moon rise on Nusa Dua beach or a lovely stroll along in the moon light while the crabs come to life scurrying up and down the beach is a sight not to miss.

Getting here is relatively easy just follow the signs and the surfers via the old wooden bridge and then to the wide flat car park that rolls onto the beach and you are there once you pay the 2000 rupiah to park.

Geger is one of the few beaches at which topless sunbathing is allowed.

There is are toilet facilities and sports hire along this stretch of the beach including hobby cats, canoes, peddle boats, and snorkel equipment.

There are a few beach bars and restaurants where you can get everything from fresh fish and satay to sandwiches and pizzas.

Sun beds and umbrellas are readily available on the beach and cost about 1,500 rupiah, although you will often be asked for more but it is widely acceptable to bargain.

Geger Beach, from Geger Cafe to Geger Temple. This part of the beach is used by seasonal seaweed farmers. At the far end against the hill is the Nusa Dua Beach Cafe, which also has a few rental beach chairs and get a more sheltered day at the beach with the cliff to explore and a shorter paddle out to the reef for the surfers in the party.

The beautiful sands of Mengiat Beach, to the north now has three beach cafes, serving food and beverage, and a currency exchange on the Geger side of the St Regis

It is quieter this side of the beach with fewer bars and activities it makes for a pleasant walk in the evening along to the temple and blow hole to the north.

 

Jimbaran Beach

At Jimbaran you can literally park up at the beach and you are there on the white sand.

It is pretty quiet during early afternoon however the beach springs to life around 4.30 with the restaurants setting up for the evening trade of people watching the sun go down.

The beach is accessible from the many cafes and bars some of which have beach loungers for the day and will allow you to use them free of charge as long as you buy a drink from them.

At the south end of the beach is the Four Seasons, with a private beach club and restaurant.

The beach directly in front of the Four Seasons is rocky and rough, not really suitable for swimming. The beach is more inviting 50 meters away towards the beach BBQ restaurants.

You can get Pizza and ice cream along from the BBQ restaurants and hire body boards and surf boards.

Life guards usually patrol this part of the beach too. It is advisable to bring some form of shoe to wear in the water as the coral washed up makes it difficult sometimes to enter the water.

The barbecue restaurants are great at night for fresh fish, Indonesian style served with local stemed vegetables and boiled rice with an array of different spicy sauces.

During the day the cafes serve drinks and simple Indonesian meals although are now catering more to western taste and you can also get bbq chicken and french fries in some of them.

Some of the big beach hotels groom and cleaned daily the beach in front of the section of their hotel and  provide comfortable chairs and a simple beach cafes.

The beach from the  north to the airport boundary is know as Kedonganan beach and is the the territory of a fishing village, a few fresh fish restaurants, and the local wholesale fish market.

Kedonganan beach is wide and sandy, but as a working beach is not suitable for relaxation. It provides a fascinating site in the morning when the fisherman land their catch and the market is at it is busiest

 

Sanur Beaches

This area is a favorite of many visitors and locals with it is old time feeling it has a seven km paved walkway along the beach front lined with bars restaurants and shops.

This area was one of the first developed tourist areas and is very popular with tourist and residents.

You can find many places renting out bicycles and is an excellent spot to take up an early morning run and walk while watching the sun coming up.

There are plenty of sun beds and places to stop and take a swim as the area has many breakwaters making it safe to swim and enjoy the white tropical sands and clear  blue sea.

A sun bed will cost around 20,000 IDR for the day and you have a choice of bars and restaurants to have a tasty lunch at.

Further along the cost to the Benoa region you will find the Bali yacht club and there is ample parking at this end of the stretch of coast just be careful not to park in the motor bike parking as you will get blocked in by thousands of bikes making it impossible to get out.

 

Benoa Beach Area

Here you will find predominately the sport recreation area and the boats and ferry that takes you to the surrounding islands of  Lombok, Lembongan and the Gilis on one side of the water way and the other home to the many small recreational boats to rent to para-glide, jet ski, dive or a simple banana ride over the crystal blue Indian ocean.

This section of the beach is wide and golden and has a several bars, restaurants and hotels.

This part of the coast runs from the Nusa Dua area and joins the Benoa area in a wide open water way north Nusa Dua beach area that ends eventually at the activity beach at Tanjung Benoa.

Here you can get a trip up the cost to turtle island and see the conservation that takes place of the turtles in Bali who in February are dug up as eggs from Sanur beach and taken to the island to hatch and live out the first months in safety and then released back to the wild in September.

Many of the companies offering the excursions and water sports will also offer a transport service, however parking is simple at the beach side.

The sea here is not really the place you would come to swim as there are many many small speed boats in the water.

 

Seminyak Beach Area

The seminyak area is a great place to go and chill and the beach or enjoy a nice meal while watching the sun go down.

The narrow streets can sometimes get a little crowded at peak times and parking can be difficult so allow time for this.

Stream empties into ocean near Seminyak/Batu Belig. During wet season, the stream is a major river!

Beach around “Kerobokan”, but most know the area as Seminyak. Administrative areas on Bali are gerry mandered, so sometimes the official administrative name does not match the place name most visitors are aware of.

 

“Echo Beach” Canggu

Increased in popularity recently due to the vibe from the restaurants built on a cement seawall facing the ocean. Echo beach really isn’t suitable as a swimming or relaxation beach, but has a solid reputation as a surf beach.

The beach is a bit rocky and the sand is blackish and the seawall on which the restaurants are built is not attractive. The surfing attracts a crowd of surfers and watchers, and it is enjoyable to watch the action from the seawall while enjoying the cuisine from the The Beach House or other warungs. The road to Echo beach has become very pitted and is in need of improvement.

North side of Echo Beach, a bit rocky however it is a great place to come and watch the sun going down and enjoy the early evening jazz.

This is a little bit off the beaten track and can get busy sometimes when surf is up!

 

Dreamland

This is a white sand beach which is very popular with surfers and  now has a  fully developed  hotel.

The old surf beach is gone, replaced with a 15,000 IDR parking lot. Apparently construction on another hotel, the Raffles is on hold due to the global recession.

However the Dreamlands complex has a great bar and pool over looking the beach and you can access the beach via a stair case descending down from the pool area.

On the beach are a few small warungs and bars offering local refreshments and surf hire, sun beds and umbrellas.

The climb down is a little steep but well worth it once you are on the beach with it is tropical white sand.

 

Balangan Beach

Next to Dreamland is Balangan Beach. Popular with surfers and not as well known as Dreamland. The feeling of this beach is almost Hawaiian.

There are a couple of bungalow style accommodations and most of the surf warungs from Dreamland have moved here. Almost no tourists. Access is a bit of a pain from the Nirmala Store intersection on Jl Uluwatu, but the road is paved.

Padang Padang beach follow on across the bay from Dreamlands and  this little beach is paradise on earth. It is both a surf beach and a great place to swim as it is sheltered by a reef so and ideal spot for the surfers and swimmers.

Parking is at the top of the beach and there is quiet a steep staircase down to the beach but the climb is well worth it.

On the beach there are a few warungs offering refreshments and sun beds and at the top is a pizza restaurant offering takeaways.

The shallow waters are ideal to swim and further out on the reef is a surfers paradise.

 

Bukit Beaches

Kutuh Beach access from the village of  Kutuh in the Bukit area through the rock quarries in center. Seaweed farmers are abundant in this area with it is white sand, privacy, and no tourists and is really different. No accommodations and no tourists. This is way Bali was 50 years ago.

“Green Bowl” accessible from the long stairway at the temple next to the closed Bali Cliff  hotel. Surfer beach, caves at the bottom of the stairs and monkeys living around near here. Great scenery and adventure. No accommodations. Really a surf spot.

 

Amed

This is on the north eastern coast of  Bali, is a great place to both swim (as there is no surf) and snorkel directly from the beach.

Some beaches aren’t sand though, they can be coral or pebbles so shoes can be of benefit to get to the water. Amed is approximately a 2-3 hours drive from the south of Bali.

 

Lovina Beach

This beach is a narrow black sand beach with calm water. The beach is lined with a variety of relaxed restaurants. There are very few sun beds on the beach, and the beach is used by fisherman for their jukung.

You can rent a junket to go and see the wild dolphins that live along this section of the cost and it is well worth the early morning call to see the sun rise and watch these magnificent animals play in the wash of the boats.

Most boat owners offer the option to go and have breakfast and then come back to take you oput to the reef to snorkel in the clear blue waters.

The cost of a boat trip is around 50,000- 60,000 IDR per person.

The black sand beaches can feel dirty and the black sand absorbs heat, so its hard and hot on the feet.

Parking is easy at the beach side and access is flat.

However, the views from Lovina beach over to Java are spectacular and it’s worth visiting for this reason alone. Lovina is on the northern coast of Bali and is approx a 3 hour drive from Kuta.

 

Candi Dasa

This is an unspoiled tourist spot on the east cost and is about a one and half hour drive from the airport.

Here the beaches are black and the tide very high at times so that the beach disappears.  A large wall has been constructed to combat the encroaching sea and aid the development of tourist attractions.

This is a place to enjoy a very relaxing, peaceful, romantic holiday. The night life is quiet mainly entailing dinning in the fine restaurants or there is a beer garden and rock cafe with the odd live band.

The shopping in this area is limited and you would be better taking a day trip to Kuta or Ubud.

Snorkeling and diving are very popular here as it is a snorkelers dream. You can rent the  equipment from most hotels.

Bali’s eastern most port from where the ferry to Lombok leaves three times a day. The trip to Lombok takes about three hours and costs approx. 8000 – 12000 IDR..

Becoming a popular little stop over, Padangbai offers a few warung and losmen style accommodation as well as some fine snorkeling.