Candi Dasa Hotels
Due to the fact that Candi Dasa is not such a popular and developed tourist resort, most of the Candi Dasa hotels that are available are directly situated on the beach and are spread out over a large distance surrounded by tropical gardens and dense vegetation with stunning views of the ocean. Being secluded from other tourists and prying eyes means that you will be spending a bit more on rooms and villas that the budget areas of South Kuta offer.
The advantage of staying in Candi Dasa accommodation is that even when all the resorts and villas are fully booked, it is still a quite place and you will be able to relax in peace and quiet. The various rates that you can expect to pay when staying in Candi Dasa do include some budget accommodation but mostly the prices range from middle to top end.
Even if you are on a tight budget and come to visit Bali, it is definitely recommended to stay in Candi Dasa if you are looking for a relaxing holiday rather than the fast pace you would expect in Kuta. All the top Candi Dasa hotels and villas will provide all the luxuries of home when you stay there, and although the leisure activities are fairly limited, the reception will be able to arrange anything that you would like to do and that is available in Bali.
The fact is that no matter where you stay in Bali, the budget area of South Kuta or the more classy resorts in Ubud, the whole island is easily accessible. The longest drive to get to any activity you want to do from Candi Dasa would be 2 hours.
Recommened Hotels in Candi Dasa
Watergarden Hotel
Discover one of Bali’s best kept secrets – the unique Watergarden hotel. Follow narrow brick paths meandering through lush tropical gardens, over small streams, past waterfalls and lily ponds, to find your private bungalow nestled amongst the verdant growth.
Enjoy peace and serenity in the sleepy seaside village of Candi Dasa. From here one has easy access to East Bali’s spectacular unspoiled beauty. A short distance from the hotel one encounters dramatic views of Mt Agung, Bali’s sacred mountain; lush green rice terraces clinging to steep and sweeping valleys; traditional villages following age-old customs; colourful rituals and ceremonies; and crystal-clear seas rich in coral and marine life.
Jalan Raya Candi Dasa, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: 62-363 41540
Fax: 62-363 41164
Rama Candidasa Resort and Spa
Rama Candidasa Resort and Spa is located in the eastern part of Bali, right in the Candidasa district with private beach front and beach terrace above the sea. The resort offers tranquility, ocean breezes and a romantic atmosphere for nature lovers.It consists of 72 well appointed air-conditioned bungalows and main wings, artistically furnished and decorated with contemporary Balinese décor and featuring modern facilities. See the secluded private balconies with scenic ocean view, cozy pool side and well maintained tropical garden landscape.
Jl. Raya Sengkidu, Karangasem, Bali-Indonesia
Tel: 62 363 41974
Fax: 62 363 41975
Lotus Bungalows
Under the shade of the coconut trees on the edge of beach, Lotus Bungalows is an excellent stepping stone to discovering the unknown treasures of east Bali. Situated away from the tourist areas, it is perfect for both divers and non-divers who are ready to discover the cultural and the underwater gems of Bali. Lotus Bungalows features twenty bungalows, each with elegant furnishings, a Balinese-style open air bathroom with hot and cold water and a veranda overlooking the ocean. Spend your days diving, exploring cultural sites, enjoying a swim in our pool, a meal in our open-air restaurant or a traditional Balinese massage.
Candidasa Main Road, Karangasem
Tel: 62 363 41104
Fax: 62 363 41403
Candi Beach Cottage
Welcome to the delightful Candi Beach Cottage in peaceful east Bali, escape from the hustle and bustle, and embrace the tranquility. Our enchanting and intimate 4-star resort rests amid swaying palm trees within the quiet and natural environs of the beautiful Mendira Bay, Candidasa in the royal Balinese regency of Karangasem. Our charming, cottage-style Cottages, comfortable rooms, beach side restaurant, cozy bar, lobby lounge, two refreshing swimming pools, and blissful massage pavilions, are set within a coconut grove garden that gently rolls on to a beautiful private white sand beach. Natural colors and local materials have been blended to create a resort that harmonizes with the environment. The traditional architecture utilizes local materials from Bali and neighboring Indonesian islands, while the turquoise waters of the dreamy, palm fringed swimming pool appear to overflow into the azure sea.
Mendira beach, Sengkidu, Candi Dasa, Karangasem
Tel: 62 363 41234
Fax: 62 363 41111
Some of Bali’s most beautiful scenery can be found in Candi Dasa, a secluded beach town situated in the northeast of Bali away from the bustling tourist resorts like Kuta and Sunar. The scenery here is very different from what most tourist are used to with the white sandy beaches and rice paddies of the southernmost resorts. Here instead of the dazzling white sand, the beach is covered in black sand with a backdrop of huge mountains covered with rice terraces and dense tropical forests all under shadows of the towering and impressive volcano.
Most of the landscape is relatively untouched here despite the growing tourism industry and the hotels and villas are more blended into the landscape than the other tourist resorts where the end of the accommodations and the beginning of the natural terrain is clearly visible. The accommodation in Candi Dasa is not as abundant as the other more popular tourist areas. The hotels and villas are more spaced out along the shore front.
Activities in Candi Dasa
Bali Scuba Vacations
Fifteen minutes offshore from Candi Dasa on the East coast of Bali in Amuk Bay there are three islands each with one or more dive sites around it; Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang and Gili Biaha. These Candi Dasa dive sites are for experienced divers only, due to challenging and frequently unpredictable currents and surges. We require divers have a minimum 50 logged dives, including some strong current experience. Pay attention to the possibility of down-currents. For this reason we don’t include the Candi Dasa dive sites in our regular Bali diving packages, however if you have the diving experience (and proof of it) we can include these dive sites in your Bali scuba diving program on request.
Elephant Safari Park
Without a doubt the Elephant Safari Park in Taro is a must for visitors to Bali, and is the only complete elephant experience in the world – making it truly unique. Get up close and personal with these incredible animals in a beautiful tropical park setting. Elephants can be seen immersing themselves in the park lake, in between riding, painting or other activities. Hand feed them, touch them, take photos with them, then learn more about the elephants ancestry and diversity at the parks historical and graphic displays.
White Water Rafting Bali
The action starts when you launch into an 8 km river stretch, navigating through 27 class II and III rapids set to a backdrop of wild unspoiled rain forest, towering gorges and magnificent rice paddy terraces.Professionally trained and experienced guides pilot safety-equipped Avon rafts through the best river runs, dramatic drops and spectacular waterfalls to make your Bali rafting ride a fun and awesome experience.
Most people come to Candi Dasa to enjoy a relaxing refreshing holiday, soaking up the Bali sun and enjoying the beautiful scenery that is natural to Candi Dasa. There are many hiking trails to meander along as you explore the rural surroundings. Most of the hotels will provide you with loungers to relax on the beach or around the pool. Barbecues are common place in Candi Dasa with most of them being done on the beach or while you are relaxing next to the pool. The barbecued seafood is delicious and Bali offers a huge variety of shellfish and other seafood delicacies.
With all the resorts next to the beach, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are obviously very popular. The diving spots around Candi Dasa are some of the best diving spots in the world with an amazing diversity of marine life. Sharks are not common in Bali and very few attacks have ever been reported, but it is always best to ask around at the dive shops before entering unfamiliar waters.
There are many tourist places and resorts to choose from when planning a holiday to Bali, from the crowded beaches of Kuta, the tropical rain forests in the mountains situated in Ubud and the secluded Candi Dasa hotels. Most popular tourist destinations have hundreds of different hotels and villas to choose from and it is fairly easy to find a place to stay even if you just land at the airport and then try finding accommodation. Candi Dasa lodging is different because of the limited amount of places that are available to stay, to ensure that you get the hotel or resort that you want stay at in Candi Dasa you will have to book in advance. The limited number of places available means that most accommodation is fully booked before the height of the season starts with families and couples looking for a quiet secluded area to enjoy their holiday.
Planning your trip well in advance, not only your hotel room or resort, but any specialized activity that you would want to partake in like helicopter rides or a scuba safari, will make sure that you are not disappointed if you arrive and find that all the scuba safaris are fully booked. This can be very depressing especially if you had your heart set on something special. It is easy to book in advance through the hotels or activities website, all top hotels have their own website and the activities will have a contact email address if they don’t have a specific web site.
For a quiet resort like Candi Dasa it is not so important to consider, but if you are staying at a hotel in a popular destination, try booking your room as high a floor level as you can. There may be a slight increase in the rate, but you will not have to deal with the noise from the other tourists entering and leaving the building and the street noise will hardly be audible, plus you will have a much better view of the surrounding area.
Candi Dasa is very quiet and secluded so you won’t be bothered by local beggars or people trying to sell you things, which can be quite frustrating, If you do travel outside the resort, make sure to leave your valuables locked up in the hotel safe, especially your passport, jewelry and any extra cash that you may have exchanged. Just carry enough cash for your needs for that day. Take a money belt that fits under your clothing and carry just a little cash in your pocket, never pull a wad of money out when in a public area or leave a load of cash in your hotel room. It is not that the Balinese people are any more dishonest than people of other nations, it is just that a week’s spending money for you could well amount to a year’s wage for someone working at the hotel you are staying at and the temptation to take the money may be too much.
Even though you may be able to pinpoint the person who took it, if it happens, the chances are that your money will be long gone and you will never be able to recover it.
ATMs are a popular target for criminals to try and steal your card. Never be distracted by anyone and always make sure that you hide the keypad when entering your pin number. A great trick, not only in Bali, is for a young women to pretend to have a problem with her card, after helping her and a thank you it is only the next time you go to use your card do you realize that you have someone else’s card and money has been drawn daily from your account. Before leaving for holiday, work out how much you will need to withdraw and set a limit on the amount that can be drawn just in case something like this does happen.
You are in Bali to enjoy yourself and just being a little bit cautious and careful will ensure that your holiday runs smoothly without any major mishaps. Just use your common sense and you will be fine.