Thomas Beach Bali is one of the more low-key beaches in Uluwatu, nestled between Padang Padang Beach and Suluban Beach on the southwest coast of Bali. A lot of people overlook this beach because it doesn’t have the best surf in the area, but that makes it the perfect chill-out beach.
If you’re planning a trip to Bali sometime soon, we’ve put together this guide with everything you need to know before you visit – from how to get there and what to bring to entrance fees and what to expect.
Best time to visit Thomas Beach Bali in Uluwatu
If you want to see the vibrant blue water that Uluwatu is known for, then you’re best visiting Thomas Beach Bali during high tide around midday. It’s also a nice spot for sunset for a different kind of vibe.
How to get to Thomas Beach Bali
By far the best way to get around Bali is by scooter – this island is just not made for cars. Most accommodations will be able to arrange a scooter rental for you, and if you hire for multiple days you can usually haggle down to around 60,000 IDR per day. If you’re not comfortable driving in Bali, you can always hire a private driver online.
Thomas beach is located between two famous beaches in Uluwatu, Padang Padang Beach and Suluban Beach. You can find it easily on Google Maps. The path from the main road to the parking lot is pretty rocky and bumpy, so you can either park at the gate at the main road and walk, hire a motorbike taxi to take you to the parking lot, or brave the bumpy road.
If you’re a confident scooter driver then it’s not too difficult, but know your limits. From the parking lot, it’s a short climb down some stairs before you reach the golden sand.
What to bring to Thomas Beach Uluwatu
Prepare for your trip to Thomas Beach Bali with our must-have travel essentials. (click for prices)
If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:
Professional camera: Sony a7iv (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO10 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Air 2s (click for price)
Related post: What's in our camera bag
Click here to see our complete camera gear
Thomas Beach Bali Entrance Fee
Thomas Beach is one of the few beaches in Uluwatu with no entrance fee or parking fee, however, if you want to rent a beach umbrella you should bring at least 50,000 IDR.
What to expect at Pantai Thomas Beach
Thomas Beach is a stunning stretch of soft white sand, a lot more lowkey than neighbouring Padang Padang Beach. Beach umbrellas line the sand, which you can rent for around 50,000 IDR (everything is negotiable), or you can save a buck and find some shade underneath the shops. Heads up, this is the only place for free shade on this beach.
There are plenty of opportunities to support local at Thomas Beach, with women walking the length of the beach selling bikinis, bracelets and massages. There are also a number of warungs where you can buy food, drinks, snacks and fresh coconuts. They also offer surfboard rental from these shops.
We visited Thomas Beach twice, the first time for sunset. It was low tide at dusk which is when a lot of locals walk out on the rocks to search for dinner, like small octopi and crabs. On a clear day, you can see a towering volcano in the distance. There were few other people on the beach for sunset, which was fine by us!
The second time we visited Thomas Beach it was during high tide in the middle of the day. This painted a very different picture, with almost all of the sun beds taken and many people in the water. Unlike Padang Padang Beach, it still didn’t feel crowded despite a lot more people, because Thomas Beach is a lot longer.
If you’re interested in surfing but you still have your training wheels on, Thomas Beach is the perfect beach for beginner to intermediate surfers. The waves here are a lot smaller than nearby beaches and are nowhere near as intimidating.
More Beaches in Uluwatu
Uluwatu has been blessed with some of the best beaches in Bali. Check out more of the stunning beaches in the area:
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