Soka Beach is one of Bali’s best-kept secrets, a beautiful black sand beach beyond the rice fields of Tabanan.
Most tourists will never visit Soka Beach which is a shame because the beauty of this area has to be seen to be believed. Our guide to the area will help you decide whether to include it on your Bali itinerary.
Where Is Soka Beach?
Soka Beach is on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk Road and it’s about 40 kilometers from Denpasar and 25 kilometers from Tabanan.
Address: Jalan Raya Denpasar Gilimanuk, Antap, Selemadeg, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82162, Indonesia
How To Get To Soka Beach
If you’re coming from the main beach towns (Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, etc.) or Ubud, you can use a Grab or Gojek to reach this beach but it’s quite an expensive journey.
We’d recommend that most people who visit Soka Beach opt for a private car and driver service that allows them to enjoy driving through the rice fields to get here and to see other parts of the area after they’ve had some time on the beach.
When’s The Best Time To Visit Soka Beach?
Soka Beach is great to visit all year round, though we’d note that its going to be a bit cooler and less humid in the dry season (from April to October).
If you want to get the light show above the waves that Bali is famous for, you will want to be at Soka Beach at sunset not sunrise as it’s located on the West side of the island.
There are very few tourists at this beach and while it is mildly popular with the local community, it’s never busy and you don’t have to worry about rubbing shoulders with crowds of visitors at any time of the day.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Soka Beach
No, there is no entrance fee for Soka Beach. You can park up near the highway and then walk down to the sand at any time and nobody will ask you to buy a ticket.
What To Expect At Soka Beach
This is a very relaxed place that doesn’t see many tourists, so don’t expect many facilities but you can certainly enjoy:
Black sand – it’s very black, indeed, in fact, and this makes it striking to behold.
Clear water – be warned, it’s not the best beach for swimming except for experienced swimmers as the currents are strong but it’s very good for surfing.
Sunset – this side of the island has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world and we’d recommend bringing something to eat and drink and then enjoying the sunset with a picnic on the sands.
Bulung Daya Cave – if you follow the cliffs down from Soka Beach, you will come to a cave that is used as a nesting place for swallows. You can see thousands of them flying in and out of the cave. This is unusual behaviour for these birds that normally prefer high places in cliffs to nest. Ornithologists will want to bring a camera.
Fishing – as the local fishermen you will see in this location will testify, this is a great place for fishing. You can rent a boat and go out to catch your own fish.
Local warungs – there are some basic local warungs selling food, drink, snacks, etc.
Soka Beach And The Local Legend Of Kebo Iwa
One interesting thing about this beach is that the Balinese champion, Kebo Iwa, a man so powerful that kings paid him respect used to live here.
It’s said that he used the rocks on the beach to cook food on and his kitchen lined the shore with other rocks used to contain his food.
His “oven” is said to have been the 3-meter long rock near the shore today and his “kitchen” is another 20-meter long rock nearby which, although entirely naturally formed, does resemble the traditional Balinese kitchen.
Oddly, nobody seems to know why this beach is called “Soka” and the word has no clear etymology in Bahasa Indonesian.
Hotels Near Soka Beach
You will have to stay a few kilometres away from this beach as there’s nothing located at the beach itself.
Some local options are:
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Bali Beach Glamping – a great way to enjoy a night on the beach in style and comfort (we’ve got a list of all Bali’s best glamping spots )
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Nirjhara – an exceptional resort with a unique design that looks great in Instagram shots, it’s a place for travellers to feel truly at home
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Uluaman Eco Luxury Resort – this lovely resort is 100% eco-friendly (we’ve got a list of all the best eco-resorts in Bali too) and very high-end
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WakaGangga – an authentic slice of Balinese hospitality and their airport pickup service is first-rate
Restaurants Near Soka Beach
Apart from the warungs by the beach, there are some nice restaurants in the area within a short drive including:
Babi Guling Slingsing – serving Bali’s famous roasted suckling pig and it’s one of the finest such restaurants on the island
Sahaja Sawah Restaurant – a decent place serving a mix of international and Asian food
Balicious – an Indonesian restaurant serving exceptional satay and finely presented food
Soka Fleur – a cheap eatery serving a wide range of cuisines from around the world
Deki’s Warung – a great place for authentic local grub that is prepared with genuine love for the ingredients
Soka Indah Restaurant – a pan-Asian restaurant with an emphasis on Chinese food, surprisingly tasty and reasonably priced for a Chinese restaurant in Bali
What Is The Nicest Beach In Bali?
We like to think Berawa Beach the home of FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, is pretty awesome and it certainly has one of the finest sunset experiences in Bali.
However, we have to acknowledge that Nusa Dua in the Southern Area of the island known as the Bukit Peninsula is commonly regarded as having the nicest beach. That’s because it’s a white sand beach which is surrounded by high-end luxury resorts.
Which Beach In Bali Has The Clearest Water?
Arguably, Bias Tugel Beach near Padang Bai harbour has the clearest water of any beach on the mainland.
It’s a long way from the main tourist attractions but it’s a great spot for snorkeling.
Alternatively, if you include the whole province of Bali, Crystal Bay Beach in Nusa Penida has incredibly clear water which is why “crystal” is in the name.
Does Bali Have White Sand Beaches?
Yes! Bali has both white sand beaches and black sand beaches. The black sands are volcanic sands created when rocks ejected from the island’s active volcanoes are hurled into the water and then broken up in the waves and washed back to shore.
The white sand comes from the same process as white sand beaches all over the world.
Does Bali Have Blue Waters?
Yes! Bali has blue waters.
However, not every beach has the same level of clear water due to tidal conditions, local shore conditions, etc. but you can certainly find your dream tropical island beach in Bali with the perfect turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean lapping at the shore.
What Is The Most Relaxing Beach In Bali?
This is very much down to you and what you like to do. Local residents of Tabanan might argue that Soka Beach is the most relaxing beach on the island.
Whereas someone else might argue that Sanur, thanks to its calm water and laid-back atmosphere is. And others, might opt for Jimbaran Beach or a more remote and hidden beach like Thomas Beach.
There are so many great beaches in Bali that you can visit and they’re located all over the island.
Many tourists and visitors will only see a handful of beaches and won’t have a complete picture of everything that’s on offer to them.
We recommend trying as many as you can until you find the location that suits your needs. The beauty of the sea and sand and the ocean landscape never gets old, so exploring is always fun.
Which Beach In Bali Is The Least Polluted?
There is no single location where you can guarantee that sand will be free of pollution.
This is because during the rainy season and especially from March to April the ocean can suddenly bring plastic waste ashore and this can make swimming and sunbathing unpleasant.
However, the local community knows how important these facilities are to tourists on a trip to Bali and they will go out of their way to make the beach suitable again by sending out cleaning crews, etc.
However, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Jimbaran do tend to see less waste wash up on the main beach site from the sea than some other places.
We’ve written an article looking at plastic pollution here in Bali and why it’s not being fairly presented in the media and on social media.
You can always book a beach holiday in Bali through the excellent Bali Res Centre which is a locally owned and operated travel service.
They can ensure you get to see everything you want to see from Tanah Lot to Mount Batukaru and more and get you great deals on hotels, flights, trips, etc.
Final Thoughts On Soka Beach And Why It’s So Popular With Local Residents
Soka Beach is a great place to visit and it’s somewhere that we’d recommend all travelers seeking a new experience in Bali to visit.
The uniqueness of the black sand and the quiet location form an irresistible combination for beach lovers looking for a place of natural beauty a long way from the tourist crowds.
