Padang Bai

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In a nutshell

Try the seafood — it is both cheap and excellent. Venture across to Blue Lagoon for some snorkelling, or, if you have more time on your hands, try out Pantai Kecil. If you're into bats, Goa Lawah is where the action is.

Padang Bai sits in the heart of East Bali in the regency of Karangasem, surrounded by hills and on the edge of a small but very busy bay. The main purpose of the town is to service the Bali/Lombok ferries, which arrive and depart throughout the day and night. Consequently, a constant stream of traffic transports people and goods to and from the town.

Away from the port lies a small beach which is home to countless fishing boats. From these boats arrive the meals that many restaurants along the beachfront serve each night. Many fish dishes cost around 40,000 rupiah, somewhat more than other meals, but it is well worth the minimal extra to try some of the freshest fish you may well ever eat. Styles vary, but generally involve the grilling of tuna, barracuda, mahi-mahi or snapper.

Aside from the seafood, Padang Bai offers some stunning diving and snorkelling opportunities. Much of the diving is arranged through dive shops along the beachfront whereas snorkelling can be undertaken by simply walking to Blue Lagoon beach and renting the necessary gear from the beach vendor. Another beach to the west of town offers an even better beach experience and is virtually deserted aside from a few vendors who will make sure you don’t go hungry or thirsty.

Padnag Bai is located about two thirds of the way from Sanur to Candi Dasa down the end of a spur that runs off the main coastal road. There's plenty of accommodation, but most choose to stay in Candi Dasa.

Orientation
Internet facilities are available at a variety of shops and hotels around town. The going rate is 200 rupiah per minute and speeds vary dramatically dependent on the time of day, weather and a range of other factors that one cannot foresee — be sure to check the router is actually plugged in — it helps.

An ATM is located just outside of the ferry terminal entrance and the post office is just to the west.

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Text and/or map last updated on 17th June, 2011.

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Padang Bai reviews

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An unexpected gem

Padang Bai is an enigma because despite its bustling ferry wharf where vessels to Lombok load and unload trucks, buses, other vehicles and people 24/7, it's a surprisingly laid-back and appealing little town with a nice selection of budget and these days better accommodation.

The vehicle ferry pier at the south end of the reef sheltered bay. You can also catch scheduled small ferries to Nusa Penida from a smaller pier maybe 150m north, plus Perama's Gilis slow boat and several speed boats direct to the Gilis. Small boat owners will take you across to Nusa Lembongan for the right price. Note there is now an ATM inland from the pier on the main access road.

The bay's beach starts north of this -- the beach road has a strip of budget accommodation/flashpacker places, dive shops and restaurants. Some of the more popular include Padangbai Beach Inn 1, Padang Bai Billabong and the Topi Inn at the end of the road which has finally been rebuilt (under construction my past two visits -- several years apart!) There are quite a few others in town although those close to the pier could be a bit noisy in the early hours. The old fish restaurants on the sand I enjoyed so much on previous trips are gone -- but this has definitely opened up the beach side of the road and given the restaurants on the other side good views.

One of Bali's more popular snorkelling spots, Blue Lagoon is reached by continuing up the steep hill which starts at the northern end of the town beach -- follow the signs you will reach this nice spot in less than 10 minutes. Coral and fish life are pretty good by Bali mainland standards. Lots of people come around from town in hire-boats and from even as far as Candi Dasa which is visible about 8 km north. Quite a lot of work has been done here since my last visit -- a retaining wall behind the narrow beach, tumbledown warungs replaced by attractive joints with beach chairs etc. Note that at highest tide there is not a lot of sand left to sit on.

Just around the southern headland from the town bay (but very difficult to reach by rock-hopping) is the nice white sand beach of Bias Tugel. The ladies in the warungs are real keen to sell drinks/massages/etc but this is still a pleasant place to spend time. There always seems to be a decent shore-wash of waves, but I have never seen a surfable wave here. There is a huge hotel development behind the beach and another to the south on a headland but these are in unfinished limbo, apparently with problems in their development applications. There is now a big Bias Tugal sign showing the short-cut thru the grounds and down to the beach posted a short distance up the hill as you leave town on the side road south from near the pier.
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By tezza (dabbler)
Written on 8th November, 2010 after a visit to Padang Bai in August, 2010

Also reviewed by tezza: Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park, Coral and Raya Islands, Haad Sai Khao, Khao Lak, Ko Kho Khao, Ko Lipe, Ko Pha Ngan East Coast, Ko Samet, Ko Samui, Kuala Perlis,

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