Bali is getting busy! Here at The Bali Sun, we have definitely noticed how much busier the island has become over the last ten years.
With crowded beaches and resort areas becoming the norm, we have people asking us all the time… Is a crowd-free vacation still possible in Bali?
Our answer to that question is an emphatic yes! We love Canggu, Seminyak, and Sanur, and we have a soft spot for Kuta. But we get it, sometimes we want to escape the crowds, too.
Thankfully, even as Bali gets busier and the island’s top resort areas welcome more visitors and even as the lesser-known escapes start to appear on the radar of holidayers, there are always crowd-free beaches to be discovered. So crowd-free in fact, you may just be able to have the whole beach to yourself…would you believe it possible in 2026?
First up on our list of top crowd-free beaches is Nusa Lembongan…anywhere in Nusa Lembongan. This gem of a vacation hotspot is the sister island to Nusa Penida and sees markedly fewer visitors.
Offering a truly relaxed atmosphere, Nusa Lembongan really does move on island time.
Jungutbatu Beach is perhaps the most famous beach on Nusa Lembongan and offers stunning views over to the main island, Bali. At certain times of day and certain times of the year (hello, low season travel), Jungutbatu Beach is as empty as can be.
For a real Nusa Lembongan beach gem, tourists have to head to Mushroom Bay Beach. This is a great all-day sunbathing spot, but it can sometimes feel busy in the peak season.
The best secret beach in Nusa Lembongan can be found at the very north of the island and is called Pantai Pasir Putih, or White Sand Beach. If you’re looking for desert island tropical bliss, this is the place for you!
Back on the main island of Bali, there are plenty of crowd-free vacation destinations to choose from. For holidaymakers who want to explore Balinese culture and spend plenty of time in nature, Pemuteran is the number one spot for you. Located on Bali’s north coast in Buleleng Regency, Pemuteran is the award-winning destination that no one has heard of!
This really is a low-key gem, and tourists planning a vacation in Bali 2026 and even 2027 who want to connect with culture, enjoy nature, and escape the crowds will find their wish list suitably fulfilled in Pemuteran.
In late 2025, Pemuteran was named as one of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s World’s Best Tourism Village Award winners.
The award has previously been won by top Bali destinations like Penglipuran Village, and the acclaim quickly catapulted the community onto the world stage. Fast forward three years from the win, and Penglipuran Village now welcomes thousands of visitors a day. This is the future that the small coastal fishing village of Pemuteran is eagerly facing, so tourists had better explore this part of the province soon, before the crowds arrive.
Pemuteran offers vast expansive beaches, untouched rolling hills, and incredible marine life. Ideal for those who love snorkelling and scuba diving, the community of Pemuteran has been investing in marine conservation initiatives for the last decade.
Pemuteran is also a great spot to use as a launchpad for explorations around North and West Bali, including trips into West Bali National Park. Highly recommended for nature lovers! For an added treat, be sure to pop Sumberkima Beach on the itinerary too.
An added extra option for crowd-free beach vacations in Bali in 2026 is Candidasa. In fact, the Karangasem Regency coast is a great area to explore.
Candidasa is home to some stunning hotel resorts and offers access to white sand beaches and breathtaking views of sacred Mount Agung…what’s not to love!
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