Jimbaran Beach
Located on Bali's south coast - Jimbaran offers a small secluded beach area, where tranquility and peace are the perfect antidote to a stressful world. The land gently slopes away from the beach revealing exclusive celebrity haunts hidden under a canopy of leafy tropical forest.
Luxury five star hotels like The Intercontinental and Four Seasons Resort consistently rank in the top 100 best hotels in annual readers polls conducted by the prestigious travel companies. On the hillside overlooking the sea the awesome Ritz-Carlton and the latest addition, the five star plus Bvlgari.
Gentle tides, dramatic sunsets, fine seafood restaurants. No water sports are available on the beach although some may be arranged with the hotels who provide equipment and boats for snorkeling trips and sea canoe excursions.
Envelop yourself in five star luxury. Gorgeous Spas, fantastic views, ocean breezes, friendly impeccable service. You rarely need to leave the hotel - but if you do, local fishermen will be glad to take you sightseeing along the coast!
Jimbaran's other premier attraction is the local seafood market at the end of the beach. Walk along the beach to reach the market and the excellent local seafood restaurants that line the seafront. Popular with both locals and visitors, it can get very busy at mealtimes! Candi Dasa
Candi Dasa was a sleepy fishing village until it was discovered by the hippies in the 60’s. The village is laid out along the main road, with guest houses, small hotels, warungs and a few bars. Back in the 1990’s Candi Dasa enjoyed more business than it does now. A guide book from the early 90’s, says “Candi Dasa is a nice,
relatively unspoiled getaway if you want fine dining, few sellers, and nothing to do but soak up the sun by day, or go diving by day, and lull yourself to sleep with the sound of crickets and crashing surf by night.”
The village of Candi Dasa was a settlement dated back to before the 11th Century. The temple, which is located on the mountain side of the main road, across from the lagoon, contains a statue of Hariti, the Buddhist fertility Goddess. The old name ‘Cilidasa’ means ‘10 children’ (Pan Brayut).
Candi Dasa became popular because of the white sand beach which drew people from Kuta. The local people then destroyed the reef by using it for limestone for building. Without the reef, there was nothing to stop the ocean washing away the beach. Now Candi Dasa consists of a strip of tourist places, lined up on the main street. The
view is as lovely as ever, with the green hills in the background, and there is a remnant of the original beach left. As the guidebooks point out, Candi Dasa grew up around the lagoon which lies next to the beach. The area that is called Candi Dasa now stretches to other villages, some containing high end hotels. The village of
Manggis in particular, is home to a few luxury hotels, including the Amankila.
Candi Dasa could be called the ‘gateway to East Bali‘. The completion of the Kusamba highway means one can get there from Kuta in less than 2 hours with little stress. The choice of accommodation in Candi Dasa is good and there is a selection of services.
Bicycle rental - Candi Dasa itself is one strip of businesses along a busy coastal road. This is not exactly the type of place you’d choose to cycle, but for those wishing to explore the area around the Bali Aga village of Tenganan and the neighboring village of Tenganan Dauhtukad, a bicycle would work fine. Many guest houses will be
able to rent you a bicycle or point you some a place that will.
Book shops - The Candi Dasa bookstore, located on the main street next to Maoka Dive Center, offers a larges selection of new and used books.
Car & Motorbike Rental - A much better option than cycling if you actually want to get out of the immediate area. The main road in Candi Dasa has an abundance of places offering cars and motorbikes for rent. Your hotel / guest house may also offer them. Prices are always negotiable and as Candi Dasa is quiet, you may be able to find
a good deal. Both cars and motorbikes require an International Driving License. For people who got to Candi Dasa by Perama bus, renting some local transport is a great idea and it will give you the freedom to explore areas such as Pasir Putih, Jasri, Tirtaganga and other great parts of South East Bali.
Charter Transport - It is possible to rent transport and a driver in Candi Dasa, which can be a convenient way of getting a small group of people around. If you let the locals quote you prices, you’ll end up paying 300,000-400,000rp per day. Best bet is to rent an older Kijang for 150,000rp per day, then ask if they can provide a
driver for 60,000rp extra
Medical - The Candi Dasa Clinic is located on the beach side of the road in Senkidu, just west of the Tenganan turnoff, has a 24 hour service. Serious injuries should be dealt with at the hospital, the nearest of which is in Amlapura. Life-threatening injuries should be dealt with at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar.
Money-changers are plentiful along the main street in Candi Dasa. There is an ATM at BII Bank on the main street in Candi Dasa.
Internet cafes - Equipment is old and the connection is dial-up. Speeds are slow so don’t expect much.
Massage - As in Kuta, massage services are available in Candi Dasa, either on the beach or in your hotel room. Inquire at your hotel / guest house if they can arrange for someone to come over and check the price beforehand.
Perama bus - The Perama bus office in Candi Dasa, is located close to the police station, on the main road just past Senkidu. The office is open daily from 8am-9pm. Perama offers one-way drops or tours, including other islands to the east. If you book the Perama bus to the Gili Islands, for example, you will have a choice of route
back to Kuta, with stop-off possibilities if needed (a route going back through Ubud with a 2 day stop-over.
Police - A post office is located next to the Perama bus office in town.
Candi Dasa used to have a good beach, but it washed away, but hat is a well known story. There is however a bit of beach left. Between Senkidu to the west and Candi Dasa, there is a small section of beach. The main road runs very close to the shore in this part of Bali and its easy to stop and take a look. In the evenings, young
Balinese like to park their bikes and chat here, its the local hangout scene.
The Lotus Restaurant has a nice little chunk of beach next to it, a low tide anyway. Lotus Restaurant is right at the entrance to the Candi Dasa main street. At the far end of the main street, the road curves to the left and heads off towards Amlapura. If you keep going straight, you will drive down what feels like a quite lane, but
one that is lined with small hotels. There is also a sign saying ‘The Beach’.
Nightlife - Candi Dasa has limited nightlife. There is one bar and its easy to find. It has live reggae music and is located at the far north end of the long strip of restaurants & hotels. Malibu Cafe has live music starting around 9pm. Maybe part of the attraction of Candi Dasa is that it is quiet at night. There certainly
isn’t a rocking scene, or large groups of people getting dressed up to go out.
Snorkeling - Snorkeling while in East Bali is a great activity. Your options are Padangbai, Candi Dasa and Amed. Its a good practice to never go snorkeling in Bali without a boat. Two of the islands off of Candi Dasa (Gili Tepekong & Gili Biaha), are good for diving. However there are currents and the water can be cold.
For a better snorkeling experience, try Blue Lagoon, the small bay at the eastern end of Padangbai. The 3 little islands close to Candi Dasa (Gili Mimpang) are also good. You can organize snorkeling through your hotel, although it will cost more than going direct to the boat owner. also dive shops will take you snorkeling.
Other places that will work for snorkeling are Pasir Putih Beach in Perasi and many of the beaches in Amed. Nusa Lembongan has good snorkeling too, and can be accessed on a day trip from the port of Benoa (Bali Hai Cruises).
Restaurants in Kuta
Whatever style of cuisine or eating out experience you're looking for, from world renown family restaurants, pubs and international standard ala carte restaurants, you're sure to find one that suits your tastes and budget in South Kuta Bali.
Blue Fin - Japanese Restuarant
Bubba Gump - All American
Asian Spices - A taste of Singapore
Khin Khao - Thai favorites
Golden Lotus Restaurant - Bali Dynasty Hotel
Award winning Chinese Restaurant “Golden Lotus Restaurant” is located in the lobby of Bali Dynasty Resort, offers the finest Szechuan and Cantonese Cuisines, and is open for lunch and dinner. Every Sunday from 10.30am to 2.30pm you can enjoy the biggest variety of Family Dim Sum in town. It’s an ‘all you can eat’ buffet with a
selection of over 60 items fresh signature Dim Sum items. Children under 12 years old are charged half price including Soft Drink. Opening hours: Lunch (11.30am till 2.30pm) and dinner (6pm – 10pm)
Gracie Kellys Irish Pub - Bali Dynasty Hotel
Traditional Irish Pub “Gracie Kelly’s Irish Pub”, voted the Best Pub in Bali in 2005 and 2006, located at lower lobby of Bali Dynasty Resort and is open for lunch and dinner. The menu is affordable and offers traditional home cooked meals including Beef and Guinness pie, Cork Chicken and Mushroom Pie, Fish and Chips and many other
favourites. There is a good range of beers including Kilkenny and Guinness as well as all your favourite cocktails. Pool, dart, juke box and big screen for all the sports lovers and live music. Opening hours: Open from 11am till late
Kafe Batan Waru Restaurant - Bali Garden Hotel
Rated Bali's "Best Indonesian restaurant", this perpetually popular café serves up an imaginative menu of Indonesian and Balinese favorites in a charming setting. There is something for everyone at Kafe Batan Waru.
Ryoshi Japanese Restaurant & Bar - Bali Garden Hotel
With five island locations, Ryoshi Japanese restaurants long have been a part of the Bali dining scene. Ryoshi offers several styles of Japanese cooking: sashimi, tempura, sushi, mochi, teppanyaki, robatayaki and noodles. The affordable prices and a reliably consistent menu, supported by a constant supply of fresh fish, are what made
Ryoshi an island icon. A great Japanese meal with simple, good food, pleasant presentation in a refreshingly cool air-conditioned atmosphere on the second level of Bali Garden Hotel overlooks the hubbub passing by on the street below. To be more a part of the passing parade, Ryoshi also has a sidewalk bar with stools to perch upon
and watch the world go by.
Thai Express - Bali Rani Hotel
Thai Express is internationally certified for Authentic Thai food with affordable prices. Open daily for lunch and dinner. All menus are selected with a favorite Thai Cuisine. Starting from Tom Yum Soup, Pad Thai, Chicken in pandan leaf and many more. The restaurant is part of franchise group in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New
Zealand and others major cities in Indonesia. Since it's opening in Bali in 2006, the restaurant has welcomed various guests around the world to provide their excitement in Thai food culinary journey whenever they come to Bali.
Haston Cafe
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner with wide range of modern international cuisine and Indonesian style Offer menu from "Grill mixed seafood and fresh pizza selections" .Steak and Rips are among recommended menu for meat lover. Come and enjoy our delicious cuisine as one of the perfect place for families and business
visitors.
The Pond Café Restaurant - Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel
Menu International breakfast buffet, dinner & scheduled theme buffet dinners with cultural performances. Located on the ground floor, pool & sea view. Opening hour 6.30am – 11.00pm
Tepan Noodle - Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel
Menu A La Carte Asian noodle menu, tepanyaki, sushi & sashimi. Located on the Beachfront, near the main pool with and pool views. Opening hours 10 noon – 11.00pm
Febri's Cafe & Bar
Famous among European and Australian travelers for good food & great value. Inspired by the Balinese Water Palace, the restaurant is of contemporary design with high ceilings and large open spaces in most areas. Providing a pleasant & relaxing ambience, Febri’s is ideal for mature travelers and families. WIFI access is available.
Wayang Restaurant - Hotel Santika
Located upper the main lobby level, the restaurant serves an extensive buffet breakfast daily. Its setting depicting unique Indonesian puppets, open daily from 7.00 till 10.30 hours.
Kunyit Bali Restaurant
Located next to main gate of the Santika Hotel. Built in traditional Balinese concept, this restaurant is surrounded by lush tropical garden. An award winning dining outlet serves the authentic of Balinese and Indonesian cuisine. The restaurant’s specialties are Bebek Goreng Kunyit (Fried Crispy Duck), Bali Megibung as well as
Indonesian Rijstaffel. Open daily from 11.00 till 23.00 hours.
Sunset Beach Front Restaurant - Santika Hotel
Located right on the beach, it serves a casual menu of popular Seafood, pasta and pizza. Perched over the ocean shoreline for glimpses of Kuta’s famed sunset, you could enjoy the stylish evening dinner. Open daily from 7.00 till 23.00 hours.
The Wharf Restaurant - Ramada Bintang Hotel
Our romantic beachfront The Wharf Restaurant offers delicious Mediterranean Cuisine, open for lunch and dinner. Every Sunday from 7 pm to 10 pm you can enjoy our Rijsttafel with a selection of the 10 best provincial ethnic specialties served warm, dish by dish by our specially trained service staff attired in traditional Javanese
costume.
Bali White Water Rafting
Enjoy a screaming sensation along the river-flow; feel your heart beat faster then ever on a natural "water-slide" and refresh your mind by seeing natural gardens along the river side. Test your courage while jumping from three meter water-flow and pass the waterfall. All can be enjoyed in Bali's rafting.
This is an experience you will never forget. Your adrenalin will be racing but there is nothing to worry about safety, just beware of being addicted to try again and again. All rivers in Bali are class II to III but may rise to class IV in the wet season (Nov-Mar).
Raft at Ayung River, The Ayung Rive is Bali's most spectacular and provides twenty seven sets of challenging and fun filled rapids set to a backdrop of wild unspoiled rainforest, towering gorges and magnificent rice paddy terraces.
While enjoying the white water rafting you will see incredible views, for example, the Supernatural Bat Cave and untouched Ayung river and greeneries.
There are eight rafting operators on this river and each have unique facilities and offers that have attracted international personalities such as magician David Copperfield, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and Hollywood action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. You can even see their photographs on billboards.
Raft at Telaga Waja River - the spirit of adventure begins up in the hills around sacred Mount Agung. Here the untouched forest and emerald green paddy fields feed water into the valley which channels the Telaga Waja River into a gushing torrent heading for the coast.
Flowing from the sacred mountain, the waters of Telaga Waja are holy to the Balinese. It is a river to be respected; yet it also offers the perfect playground for this exhilarating sport. The torrent twists and turns like an angry white snake struggling for the ocean, yet our internationally trained guides negotiate the rapids with
great skill.
Experience a safe, exciting, and the sheer adrenaline thrill of grade 2-4 rapids as you raft this 12 Km stretch through Bali's holy river in Klungkung. Take in the spectacular scenery and witness the daily life of the local villagers while traveling through rice field and ancient rain forests.
Raft at Bakas River - this rafting trip takes place on Melangit River between Eastern part of Gianya and the Western part of Klungkung. From the heart of Denpasar City it is 45 minutes drive along good roads. It has super top rafting you find nowhere else in Bali - winding rapids like an eel moving with its white, wavy, foamy water
shaking the boats along its way.
The Melangit is a unique among rivers in Bali. Its steep cliffs and rocks waterfalls, and sharp bends make it very attractive to the adventurous. With pollution free water and untouched tropical vegetation, it has a pure natural beauty that is especially refreshing.
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