Hostels in Candi Dasa, Indonesia

Candi Dasa is a situated on the eastern coastline of Bali, only about ten kilometres from the ferry terminal to Lombok. It is a quiet and laid-back resort town, which offers a nice alternative to the busy and crowded Kuta or Ubud. With only a small supermarket and a few local eateries, the place still keeps its traditional vibe and it is definitely a perfect place to hide away from the rat race of a busy life.

Candi Dasa is on the corner of a freshwater lagoon and most resorts in the town are located along the coastline. However, due to the extensive mining of corals in the eighties, it is not an ideal place for snorkeling and the town does not have any beach any more as the sea level has risen drastically with the disappearance of the corals. Therefore, most resorts have a concrete breakwaters in front of the sea and a ladder leading into the water.

While Candi Dasa itself does not offer too much apart from the tranquil bungalows and seaside villas, which are ideal for relaxation, if you get hold of a motorbike (local transportation is infrequent, unreliable, and drivers will do their best to rip off foreigners), then you will have a huge variety of sights from which to choose.

First of all, if you are longing for the paradise type beaches, five kilometres to the north, you will find the White Sand Beach with its pristine sands and palm trees that will surely take your breath away. Moreover, within thirty minutes' drive, you can arrive at absolutely spectacular diving spots where an abundance of diving and snorkeling companies offer their relatively cheap packages for one-hour, half-day, or full-day courses. A bit to the north, in Amed for example, people can dive to look at the underwater world of a plane wreck. If water activities are not your cup of tea, then you should head toward the mountains, where you will not only find spectacular hikes, but also picture-perfect rice paddies with the local farmers working on them.

In the hills only four kilometres from Candi Dasa, you can find Bali Aga, the most famous original village with a community that is isolated from the outside in almost every way. Besides, if hiking is the reason why you came to Bali, Candi Dasa can be an excellent base for the climbing of Mount Agung, the highest and most sacred mountain of Bali.

There are plenty of cultural sights around as well -- Tirta Gangga, the Hindu water temple, is probably the most interesting. Ask at your Candi Dasa hostel for additional recommendations for cultural sights.