Scooter Rental in Candidasa & Padangbai: East Bali Guide

Padangbai is a small, busy harbour: ferries to Lombok and fast boats to the Gilis leave from here. Ten kilometres east is Candidasa, a quiet beach town and the gateway to East Bali: the traditional village of Tenganan, hidden white-sand beaches, Tirta Gangga and Amed. Distances here are awkward and public transport is scarce, so a rented scooter is the cheapest way to explore.

Where to rent a scooter

If you are setting off from South Bali, see the options at scooter rental in Sanur. If Candidasa is just a stop before Amed, you can also rent in Amed and explore westwards.

Route from Sanur to Padangbai and Candidasa

1. From Sanur, follow Jl. Prof. Ida Bagus Mantra east past Ketewel, Keramas and Saba.
2. At the end of the coastal road, continue towards Klungkung (Semarapura). If you have time, stop at Kertha Gosa in the town centre.
3. Continue east through Kusamba and past Pura Goa Lawah, the roadside bat cave temple.
4. Turn right towards Padangbai (about 1–1.25 hours from Sanur).
5. Return to the main road and continue east for about 20 minutes to Candidasa.

Trucks and buses use this road to reach Padangbai harbour. Keep your distance, do not overtake on bends, and be ready for crosswinds on the coastal road.

Things to explore in Padangbai

• Blue Lagoon: a small bay with clear water for snorkelling, just minutes from the harbour.
• Bias Tugel Beach: a white-sand beach behind the hill, reached by a short downhill walk.
• The harbour: departure point for ferries to Lembar and fast boats to the Gilis. The area around the harbour is crowded at departure times.

The roads to the Blue Lagoon and the hills around Padangbai are short but steep. Brake gradually, and do not park in the harbour's vehicle entry and exit lanes.

Things to explore from Candidasa

Tenganan Pegringsingan village

Tenganan is a Bali Aga village, one of the oldest on the island, with its traditional layout and customs intact. It is famous for gringsing cloth, woven using the double-ikat technique. Park your scooter at the village gate and walk inside. Visitors are usually asked for a donation. Respect people's homes and ask before photographing anyone.

Virgin Beach (Pasir Putih)

This white-sand beach in Perasi village is about 20 minutes from Candidasa. The last stretch of road drops steeply. If the road is wet, park at the top and walk down. The beach has warungs and sunbed rental.

Bukit Asah and nearby beaches

Bukit Asah in Bugbug village offers clifftop meadows with sea views. The access road is narrow and partly broken, so use a scooter with good brakes and arrive before late afternoon.

Distances and travel times from Candidasa

For a morning route to Lempuyang and then Tirta Gangga, follow the East Bali–Lempuyang scooter route. If you are moving on to the north-east coast, read scooter rental in Amed & Karangasem.

Heading to Lombok or the Gilis? About your scooter

• Fast boats to the Gilis and Lombok carry only passengers and luggage, not scooters. Return the scooter or leave it as agreed with the rental before you go. See Padangbai–Gili Trawangan tickets.
• The Padangbai–Lembar ferry can carry scooters and runs all day, taking about 4–5 hours. However, most Bali rentals forbid taking a scooter off the island without written permission, and damage cover usually does not apply outside Bali. See Padangbai–Lembar tickets.
• The easiest solution: cross without the scooter and rent another on the island you are going to. Details are in taking a rental scooter to another island.

Riding tips for East Bali

• Fill up in Klungkung, Padangbai or Amlapura. Petrol stations between the villages on the east coast are quite rare.
• Dark roads at night. The Candidasa–Amlapura–Amed stretch has many unlit bends. Plan to arrive before dark.
• Animals on the road. Dogs, chickens and cows often cross village roads.
• Rainy season. Afternoon rain around Mount Agung can be heavy and wash sand onto the road. Slow down on descents.

If you are arriving in Padangbai from Lombok or the Gilis, contact a rental via WhatsApp before your boat leaves. That way the scooter can be ready near the harbour and you do not have to haggle with touts on the pier.

Prices and how to book

Estimated market prices for daily rental are BeAT about Rp60–80k, Scoopy about Rp70–90k, Vario 125 about Rp75–100k and NMAX about Rp120–150k. For hilly routes to Lempuyang or Amed with a passenger, choose an NMAX or Vario. Check current prices on the scooter rental in Bali page, then send a WhatsApp message with your pick-up location and dates.