Candidasa

Candidasa is a small, low-key resort town on Bali's east coast, facing the islands of the Lombok Strait. It was one of East Bali's first tourist centers and today offers a peaceful base with a lagoon, seafront hotels and easy access to the cultural sights of Karangasem. It appeals to travelers who prefer a calm, uncrowded place to stay while exploring the region.

Just inland lies Tenganan Pegringsingan, one of Bali's Bali Aga villages, whose people preserve customs that predate the island's later Hindu-Javanese influences. Tenganan is known for geringsing, a rare double-ikat cloth in which both warp and weft are dyed before weaving. Along the coast, much of Candidasa's beach was lost to erosion after coral reefs were mined in the past, and breakwaters now protect the shore, a lesson in coastal ecology.

Candidasa suits couples, older travelers and anyone exploring East Bali at an unhurried pace. Snorkeling and diving trips run to nearby reefs and islets, and the white-sand beach of Pasir Putih is a short drive away. Day trips reach the water palaces of Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung and the market town of Amlapura. Accommodation is mostly small hotels and bungalows by the sea, many with gardens and pools.