Candidasa, Manggis and Kubu - experience Bali's idyllic east coast

Alila Manggis

Siddhartha Dive Resort & Spa

Candidasa, Manggis & Kubu map   

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Bali's Candidasa region is a blissful place to spend some time just kicking back and enjoying some of the fascinating sights unique to East Bali. Stretching from Manggis, through the town of Candidasa, and all the way to Bugbug, this wonderfully relaxing, friendly locale is the perfect antidote for anyone who has spent too much time in Asia's more touristy areas. Quiet and laid back, Candidasa and Manggis offer unique cultural sights that remind you that Bali's friendly, cooperative culture is a precious gem unlike any other in the world. Kubu, in Western Bali, is another region famed for its inimitable island beauty while also offering access to high end entertainments such as horseback riding and golf.

No visit to Candidasa is complete without a trip to the walled village of Bali Aga at Tenganan. In this original Balinese village, locals strictly adhere to the traditions of ancestor worship and animism. These villagers also produce a magnificent, fine fabric, Geringsing, known mostly to well-heeled international collectors. Candidasa's beaches include the volcanic, black-sand beach of Pantai Labuan Amok, which offers good snorkelling opportunities due to the live coral that thrive in its shallow waters. The diversity of Bali's beaches will be apparent when you also visit the white sand beach of Pasir Putih. Wonderfully isolated, this 500-meter-long stretch of paradise is bordered with coconut palms and shaded by their broad, swaying fronds.

Downtown Candidasa is an enjoyable place to stroll, eat local delicacies, and view ornate buildings thought to date to the 11th century. Those who visit the Manggis end of Candidasa may wish to arrange for a climb up sacred Mount Agung. Divers also enjoy Candidasa and Manggis for their ideal access to top-rated dive sites. Many exist off the nearby islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan as well as the rocky islets of Gili Kambing, Gili Biaha, and Gili Mimpang.

Not far from the many attractions of Candidasa, the village of Kubu attracts numerous luxury guests with its many spa offerings, pristine villas, and fascinating sights. It is also ideally situated for antique shopping in nearby Raya Kerobokan. Umalas Equestrian Resort offers Kubu visitors the unforgettable opportunity to gallop along a virgin beach, while Nirwana Bali Golf Course is another popular attraction. This Greg Norman-designed, championship-standard course is a wonderful place to take in views of azure ocean, verdant fields, and Pura Tanah Lot, an ancient sea temple perched on a craggy, storm-tossed cliff. This view, and so many others, will remind you that, from Manggis to Candidasa to Kubu, eastern and western Bali are unforgettable pieces of paradise, where the old world and the new coexist in idyllic harmony.