A quiet east coast hideaway, offering solitude, sea views, and local village life.
Far from Bali’s busy southern beaches and away from the buzz of Ubud, the tiny village of Seraya sits quietly on the island’s eastern coastline. Just south of Amed and northeast of Candidasa, Seraya is the kind of place you reach by accident – or by intention if you are seeking peace, sea views, and an unpolished taste of coastal village life. It is not a resort town. There are no bars or shops. What Seraya offers instead is calm: quiet mornings, endless ocean, and the presence of Mount Agung always looming above.
The road to Seraya follows a rugged stretch of Bali’s east, where the land dips and curves along black sand shores and dry hillsides. The final approach is scenic and often empty, with glimpses of palm groves, crumbling sea walls, and farmers tending goats or drying sea salt on woven mats. The road ends in Seraya village, a collection of simple homes, small temples, and warungs stretched along the shoreline.
Village Life by the Sea
What draws the few visitors who come here is a combination of seclusion and authenticity. The village feels untouched by tourism. Locals smile and wave as you pass, but there are no touts or tour stands. Fishermen pull boats ashore each morning, and the pace of life is slow. The beach itself is narrow and volcanic, with coarse black sand and pebble patches, but it offers uninterrupted views of the Lombok Strait and a wide horizon for sunrise watchers.
Just outside the village, a few small guesthouses and villas have popped up, often catering to long-term travellers, divers, or writers in search of quiet. Some sit on hilltops, with wide verandas and breezy lounges facing the sea. Others are tucked near the beach, simple but welcoming, often run by local families. At night, the sound of waves replaces any nightlife. It is the kind of place where you read a book by candlelight or fall asleep early to the rhythm of the sea.
Culture, Temples, and Day Trips
The main attraction near Seraya is the underwater world. While the beach is not ideal for swimming due to rocky entry points, snorkelling is possible just offshore, and Amed’s famous dive sites – including the Japanese Shipwreck and Lipah Bay – are only 30 to 40 minutes away. Seraya is a peaceful base for exploring this stretch of coast without the bustle that sometimes comes with more popular dive hubs.
Culturally, Seraya retains a strong connection to local customs. Simple temples dot the landscape, and ceremonies still unfold according to the Balinese calendar. The people of Seraya are primarily farmers and fishers, and you can often see them working the land or drying harvests by the roadside. The village also has one of Bali’s oldest and most interesting royal palaces, Puri Agung Karangasem, located a short drive away in Amlapura. This elegant but faded complex gives insight into Bali’s eastern kingdoms and their architectural heritage, blending Balinese and European styles.
Practical Tips for Travelers
If you want to explore beyond Seraya, there are good day trips in all directions. You can visit the Tirta Gangga Water Palace, climb the stairs to Lempuyang Temple, or take a drive inland toward Mount Agung’s foothills, where the air cools and views stretch over green rice terraces and valleys. But many visitors find that Seraya itself encourages stillness. You walk the beach, talk with locals, or just sit and watch clouds pass over the mountains. The Wi-Fi might not always work, but the sunsets usually do.
Getting to Seraya requires a bit of planning. The drive from Denpasar or the airport takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on traffic. The easiest way is by private driver or rental vehicle, as public transport does not reach the village. From Amed or Candidasa, Seraya is about 45 minutes by car or scooter, and the coastal road offers sweeping sea views the whole way.
There are no ATMs in Seraya, so bring cash. There are a few warungs and small stores, but limited supplies – this is not the place for café-hopping or boutique browsing. What you will find instead is simplicity, connection, and quiet. For independent travellers, artists, and those chasing the slower rhythms of the island, Seraya feels like Bali before the buzz.
It is not for everyone. But for those who seek it, Seraya offers something rare – space to think, to breathe, and to just be.