This region contains some of the most picturesque and least visited beaches on the whole island. All the way along the south coast from Padang Bai to way beyond Candidasa in the east there are attractive waterfront villages.

With the improved accessibility to East Bali that has come with the completion of the Kusumba Highway in 2007, there has been a bit of a tourist boom to hit this quiet coastal region. While more suited to more extended stays, Candidasa is worth a day trip to explore its quaint fishing villages, multi-ethnic restaurants, Balina Beach located in nearby Buwitan Village and Goa Lawah, one of Bali’s important directional temples inhabited by thousands of bats that dangle from the craggy overhangs. While not too much to see in Padang Bai itself there is one small beach called Blue Lagoon that may be worth a stop, otherwise dive sites such as Tepekong, Mimpang and Gili Selang are the main attraction here.

While the beach of Candidasa is called The White Sand Beach, the sand can actually turn black after a downpour. Some call it Virgin Beach, but it is hardly the pristine, isolated place the name suggests since several bars and restaurant have been established along the long coast. Bias Tugal is perfect for those looking for an intimate beach with minimum commercial activity; White Sand Beach is a good choice for a family outing. With all their highs and lows, they are arguably better than the over-crowded and over-developed coasts of South Bali. Blue Lagoon is the more developed beach, with concrete stairs access and modern beachside pavilions, while Bias Tugal is a short distance from the parking spot.