11 Secret Beaches in Bali
Hidden and Unexplored Beaches of Bali
You might think that there are no secret beaches left in Bali as almost everyone heads for the beautiful coastline. However, there’s so much more to the island than the tourist heavy regions of Kuta, Sanur, and Nusa Dua. With a penchant for adventure, a vehicle, and some hints to guide you, you can discover some of the island’s lesser-known coastal gems that don’t generally make it into most travel guides.
Whether you’re looking for an isolated stretch of soft, white sand, secret coves directly under towering limestone cliffs, or black-sand beaches that indicate the once potent power of Bali’s volcanic past, there is surely a secret beach for you in Bali.
1. Balangan Beach
A surfing spot tucked behind a golf course
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
A favorite surf spot, Balangan Beach can be found on the northern side of a cliff that forms the signature hole 15 of the New Kuta Golf course. The name Balangan itself was thought to apply to the whole coastline, including Dreamland, before surfers nicknamed the specific shore area south of the cliff.
Accessing Balangan Beach is easy, compared to other beaches along the Bukit peninsula’s shoreline, with only a dozen steps down from the limestone hill. Several beach shacks (warungs) serve simple local “surfer meals”, cold refreshments, and beer. Read more
Location: Jalan Pantai Balangan, Jimbaran, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Balangan Beach
2. Suluban Beach
A pro surfer’s paradise concealed by rocks
Good for: Photo, Budget, Adventure
Suluban Beach is one of Bali’s most unique, concealed by natural limestone formations and accessed via steps and log ramps through narrow gaps in the rock. Shaded by a looming cliff face, this small beach may not be ideal for sunbathers, but makes a great base for pro surfers.
They can paddle out and ride adjacent reef breaks, including around Uluwatu, just to the south. Most surfers refer to the beach as Blue Point. Access to Suluban is narrow and steep, down crags and rocky steps. When you arrive at the sand, the view is very rewarding. Read more
Location: Pantai Suluban Street, Uluwatu, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Suluban Beach
3. Padangbai and Blue Lagoon
Several hidden gems great for sunbathing and swimming
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget
Better known for its main seaport in east Bali, Padangbai comprises a small collection of hidden beaches that are great for day-trippers, as well as diving and snorkeling. Blue Lagoon, a small bay northeast of the seaport, has a lovely but modest 200-foot stretch of white sand.
Another gem is Bias Tugel, a 125-foot-long strip southwest of the port, with calm, blue waters most times of the year. You can relax on the even sand here, or grab some shade from the beach lounger parasols. The beach that shares the bay with the seaport is not so busy, especially on its eastern end, and you can also enjoy fairly good swimming here, too. Read more
Padangbai and Blue Lagoon
4. Dreamland Beach
A dreamy beach with a dreamy name
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Dreamland might not be too much of a secret anymore, but it’s still kept pretty secluded by limestone cliffs. It has a beautiful stretch of white sand, bordered by the blue seascape of the Indian Ocean. You can find it by heading west down the main road of the Pecatu Indah Resort complex, past New Kuta Golf course.
Despite the major developments around its cliff sides, the beach retains much of its rugged charm on the sand, particularly for beachgoers, day-trippers, and surfers who enjoy some of Bali’s best reef breaks near the shore and close paddle-outs to the neighboring world-class reef breaks of Balangan and Impossibles. Read more
Location: Jalan Pecatu Indah Raya, Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Dreamland Beach
5. Padang Padang
A favorite surf break by an iconic temple
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Photo
The tiny Padang Padang Beach is accessible down a few flights of steps and through a limestone crevice beside a large, yellow-railed bridge. Conveniently, just across the road before the bridge, there’s a spacious parking lot. Among the island’s favorite big surf breaks, Padang Padang’s white-sand beach offers a great view and a small sandy area for sunbathing.
Local seafood “warung” (food stalls) serve fresh, grilled catches-of-the-day. This little beach is a lovely spot to relax in if you’re visiting the nearby Uluwatu Temple. Note that there is a small entrance fee required to visit Padang Padang beach. Read more
Location: Jalan Labuansait, Pecatu, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Padang Padang
6. Karma Kandara Private Beach
A private paradise with a luxury feel
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Karma Kandara Private Beach is reachable via a funicular ride down a sheer cliff. A stretch of clean white sand and the blue sea awaits on this exclusive beach. The beach was formerly known as Nammos Beach but was renamed after the beach club at Karma Kandara Resort.
Expect a laidback tropical setting and 5-star services at Karma Kandara Beach. You’ll be able to sip signature cocktails and indulge in a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Your entrance fee includes a cash coupon for food and drinks at the Karma Kandara Beach Club. Read more
Location: Jl. Villa, Kandara, Ungasan, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Phone: +62 (0)361 848 2200
Karma Kandara Private Beach
7. Kandara Private Beach
A beach hidden below a clifftop resort
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
The Kandara Private Beach is a spot that easily falls into the hidden category. It’s a 165-meter stretch of sand below The Ungasan Clifftop Resort, athough the signs for the beach along Jalan Pantai Selatan Gau are more prominent than the signs for the resort. If you’re not staying at the hotel, you’ll need to pay a deposit which you can then spend on food and drinks.
You can reach the beach via a funicular ride down between 2 cliff walls. The sea here is swimmable and crystal clear. Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine from the semi-open kitchen with thatched-roof shades and ocean views. The club’s beach is a great option for a laidback day with lots of fun beach activities. Read more
Location: Gang Pandawa, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Kandara Private Beach
8. Green Bowl Beach
A journey down a towering cliff to an exotic shore
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Unusual
Green Bowl Beach is found at the end of Jalan Bali Cliff and down hundreds of concrete steps, which gradually drop down the cliff face. Getting down is easy, but getting back up is a challenge, though a scenic bird’s eye view keeps you going along the way. At the base are several bat caves.
There are a few variations in the story behind the name, with one inspired by the view of green seaweed and corals exposed at low tide and another taking the name of the company slated to develop a resort there. This hidden gem on the southern coast of Bali appeals to lovers of quiet and exotic shores. Read more
Location: Jalan Bali Cliff, Ungasan, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Green Bowl Beach
9. Amed Beach
Seven villages sharing a stunning stretch of sand
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
The Amed region covers 7 different seaside villages: Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Selang, Banyuning, and Aas. All are traditional fishing villages, hence the classic scene of “jukung” (traditional outriggers) lining the coast. Famous as a dive spot, the quiet shores here, with their dramatic sunrises, are a not-to-miss sight if you’re staying nearby.
It’s a long drive to reach the stretch of sand known as Amed Beach, although it’s a straightforward one, passing the Klungkung and Karangasem entry points. Various road signs provide you with a fail-safe journey. Among the overland highlights that you can find on your way to Amed is traditional salt farming in the area of Purwakerti. Read more
Location: Jl. I Ketut Natih Jl. Raya Amed, Purwakerti, Kec. Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
Amed Beach
10. Pasir Putih
A secluded haven between 2 villages
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Pasir Putih is a secluded stretch of coast between 2 hills and the villages of Bugbug and Perasi. Both are in the Karangasem regency, approximately 3 miles east of Candidasa. Parasols, sun loungers, and various local seafood restaurants line this hidden beach in East Bali.
You can get to Perasi from Candidasa via the Jalan Raya Candidasa and Jalan Raya Bugbug main roads. A dirt road opposite the village’s Pura Bale Agung temple leads to the beach. The stretch of sand here also goes by various nicknames, such as White Sand Beach, Virgin Beach, and Hidden Beach. Read more
Pasir Putih
11. Gunung Payung Beach
A remote and serene location with temple monkeys
Good for: Couples, Photo, Adventure
Gunung Payung Beach is one of the hidden beaches that can be found on Bali’s southern coast. It’s a remote and serene setting that overlooks scenic seascapes. The location takes its name from a Balinese Hindu temple site of the same name (Pura Dhang Kahyangan Gunung Payung), which sits high up on the cliff above the beach.
Along the main Jalan Gunung Payung road, you’ll encounter the landscaped greens of the 18-hole Bukit Pandawa Golf Club and rugged limestone terrain. Just outside the temple, catch glimpses of gray long-tailed macaques, which are generally more shy than their notoriously cheeky counterparts in Uluwatu. Read more
Location: Pantai Gunung Payung, Kutuh, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali, Indonesia
Gunung Payung Beach
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