Best beaches in Bali

Bali's south coast has been attracting surfers since the 70s with the southwest coast of the Bukit Peninsula, from Balangan to Nyang Nyang, featuring some of the island's top beaches and most consistent surf, with varying degrees of accessibility. Although several of Bali's best beaches have succumbed to mass tourism there are still plenty of quiet, safe, sandy spots both to the north and the south of Kuta, so don't be downhearted if you're staying in the south. On the north coast, around Lovina and Pemuteran, things are a lot quieter with gentle waves, perfect for snorkelling. Although, it has to be said, Menjangan Island, within Bali Barat National Park boasts some exceptional coral, just offshore. East coast Bali, around Amed, also has some wonderful stretches of coastline, making it ideal for exploring off the beaten beach track before considering heading out to the Gili Islands where white sands and crystal clear shallows await.

Early morning dolphin tour boats leave Lovina just before the sunrise however, hang around a little longer and you’ll find a really laid back north coast community inviting a chilled out day at the beach where gentle waves and fine volcanic sand are all that’s required for a good old soak. Away from Lovina’s main beach, to the east, rows of colourful outriggers line up, steadied before the evening’s launch, and a top tip is to wait until Java’s conical peaks stand out on the horizon before whipping out your camera to snap volcanic silhouettes against the shades of sunset.

Translated as Deer Island, due to the resident muntjacs, Menjangan sits just off Bali’s northwest tip surrounded by some of the brightest and most fascinating coral reefs within the protected marine area of Bali Barat National Park. A lack of strong current and an abundance of tropical fish and hawksbill turtles add to the attraction for snorkellers with one of the best preserved reef systems in Indonesia to be found hardly any distance at all from the water’s edge. As Menjangan Island is only 3km long it doesn’t boast much in the way of huge strips of sand but what it does offer are plenty of small rocky and sandy bays as well as the occasional wild deer wading through the shallows.

When looking for Bali’s best beaches it’s safe to use the proximity to Bali Barat National Park as a general vote of confidence, which is why Pemuteran, on the north coast, is rated so highly. Close enough to Lovina and Singarja, without being too intrusive, Pemuteran is gaining a reputation for its sublime snorkelling thanks, in part, to the artificial bio-rock reef sitting just a pebble’s skim offshore. Although the fine grain volcanic sand does tend to get everywhere it also keeps away the crowds so bring your mask and flippers, but leave the bucket and spade at home.