13 Best Beaches in Indonesia (That Aren’t in Bali)

I spent 3.5 years living in Indonesia — mostly on Bali, with a few unforgettable months on Gili Trawangan — and I still don’t feel like I’ve scratched the surface of its coastline. 

For a country made up of over 17,000 islands, the variety of beaches is almost ridiculous: pink shores, black volcanic sands, wild surf breaks and so much more. 

And while I’ve got a soft spot for Bali’s beach scene (sunsets in Uluwatu still hit different), it was the lesser-known spots that really stayed with me. These are the beaches I kept notes on, told friends about and still daydream about when I’m far from the water.

Whether you’re looking for something remote and wild or just want to escape the crowds, these are 13 of Indonesia’s best beaches — none of them in Bali, but every one worth the journey.

One quick spoiler alert: the color of Pink Beach isn’t Barbie-pink (regardless of some of its Instagram snaps), more like a soft blush, especially where the sun hits the sand. 

It gets its tint from crushed coral mixed with white sand, and it’s surreal in the best way. I came here as part of a boat trip around Komodo National Park and we dropped anchor just offshore before swimming in. 

The water is warm and see-through, like snorkeling in a giant aquarium. I floated over reefs teeming with fish, then dried off on the sand with a cold drink and not much else. There’s nothing built here — no cafés, no beach bars, just raw nature and one of the most unique shorelines on Earth.

Tanjung Aan was one of those beaches I found by accident, but ended up staying all day. It’s on the southern curve of Lombok, not far from Kuta (the Lombok one, not Bali), and it feels like a little slice of tropical stillness. 

The sand is almost pearl-white, with this odd, peppery texture that squeaks under your feet. The bay is split in two by a rocky headland, so you can move between sides depending on what you’re after — calm water, shade, or just a quieter spot. 

I swam, read under a warung umbrella, climbed the nearby Bukit Merese hill for a sunset that melted into the ocean and ate grilled fish while sitting cross-legged in the sand. It’s not fancy, but it’s perfect in its own way: laid-back, sunny and just the right kind of sleepy.

Of the three Gilis, Meno is the one that makes you slow down. No party crowds, no loud beach clubs, just hammocks, salty air and a whole lot of quiet. I stayed in a bamboo bungalow steps from the sand and spent mornings walking the island’s loop path, stopping to swim wherever the water looked particularly inviting (which was basically everywhere). 

The west side of the island has the calmest, clearest stretch of beach. Come sunset, it turns golden and glassy, and I’d usually bring a cold Bintang and just sit on the sand, watching the light change. Snorkeling here is good, too. I swam with turtles more than once and the underwater sculpture park off the coast is eerie in a beautiful way. While Meno has a few beach clubs now, I still think the quieter side is better!

This one’s for when you want to go way off the map. I visited Sumba a few years ago and still think about Nihiwatu’s wild stretch of golden sand. It’s backed by jungle, brushed by powerful surf and often completely empty — except for the occasional horseback rider galloping through the foam (yes, it’s as cinematic as it sounds). 

The beach is home to one of the world’s top eco-luxury resorts, but even if you’re not staying there, you can feel the sense of calm and isolation that makes this part of Indonesia so special. I came here at sunrise once and didn’t see a soul for over an hour, just crashing waves and morning light filtering through palm trees. 

If you’re a surfer, the waves here are world-class. If not, bring a book and settle (you won’t want to leave).

Ora is one of those beaches that feels borderline mythical. I arrived by boat and the closer we got to shore, the more it looked like a postcard. Shallow, clear water stretched out like glass, stilted bungalows sat quietly above the reef and jungle-covered cliffs towered just behind. 

There’s not much to “do” here in the usual sense, but that’s kind of the whole point. I snorkeled with parrotfish right off my front porch, paddled a kayak into the stillness and watched the light turn everything gold at dusk. No roads, no crowds and barely any signal. 

It’s a bit of a mission to get to Seram, but once you’re floating in those warm, crystal waters, you’ll forget the journey entirely.

Tanjung Bira isn’t on most people’s radar, but it should be — white powdery sand, bright turquoise water and sunsets that feel straight out of a Bali daydream (minus the crowds). It’s a laid-back town with a local feel, a few cozy warungs and guesthouses perched on the cliffs. 

I spent my days swimming in calm water, snorkeling just offshore and eating grilled ikan bakar with spicy sambal while watching boats drift across the horizon. The beach does get busier on weekends, but even then, it feels more like a community hangout than a tourist hotspot. 

If you’re looking for something that still feels a little undiscovered, this one’s worth the detour.

Jungutbatu was one of the first places I fell for outside of Bali — and it’s still one of my favorites. The beach runs along the main strip on Nusa Lembongan, but it somehow manages to stay charming despite being the hub for boats and beachside cafes. I’ve watched countless sunsets from here, usually with a cold Bintang in hand and my feet buried in the sand.

The view across to Mount Agung is unreal on a clear day, and if you’re up early, the morning light over the volcano is magic. It’s not the softest sand, but the water is clear and great for a dip at high tide. Most days I’d swim, grab a smoothie from Ginger & Jamu and just post up for a slow, salty afternoon.

Derawan is the kind of place where time slows down. It’s a tiny island off the coast of Borneo, and the beach here is classic paradise: white sand, calm water and a sleepy village vibe that makes it dangerously easy to stay longer than planned. 

I arrived planning to dive with manta rays and ended up spending hours just lying on the beach, watching kids play football in the sand and eating nasi goreng from a local warung. There’s great snorkeling right offshore and, if you head to nearby Kakaban Island, you can swim in a jellyfish lake (don’t worry, they’re stingless). 

The best part? I saw wild turtles almost daily. Sometimes while snorkeling, sometimes just popping their heads up at sunset like clockwork. 

Sawarna is wild in all the right ways. It’s only about a six-hour drive from Jakarta, but it feels like a totally different planet. When I first arrived, the beach was misty and moody, with huge waves crashing against dramatic rock formations and thick jungle lining the cliffs behind me. 

It felt like discovering the Jurassic Park version of Java. The surf here is serious: great if you know what you’re doing, but also beautiful just to watch. I stayed in a simple homestay and spent the days walking the length of the coast, exploring caves and sitting by the tide pools watching tiny crabs scuttle across the rocks.

Wedi Ireng isn’t the easiest place to reach — you either hike through jungle or take a boat from nearby Pulau Merah — but that’s half the charm. I chose the hike (hot, sweaty, but absolutely worth it) and arrived to find a peaceful, horseshoe-shaped beach with barely anyone else around. The sand here is a mix of white and black, which gives it this slightly shimmery, unusual texture.

It’s not polished or developed: no loungers, no beach bars, no vendors. I swam, napped, read and watched the tide roll in. It felt like a place that was happy to be left alone at the end of each day. 

You’ve probably seen the famous T-Rex-shaped cliff all over Instagram (and yep, it really does look like that in real life). But no photo prepares you for how dramatic it feels standing at the top of the ridge, with that impossibly blue water crashing below.

I’ve hiked down to the beach a couple of times and it’s not for the faint-hearted. The path is steep, slippery and more of a climb than a walk in places. But the payoff is unreal: powdery soft sand, huge waves and barely anyone else around. Just make sure to bring water, wear proper shoes, and go early before the heat and the crowds arrive. Even if you don’t make it all the way down, the view from the top alone is worth the trip. 

I ended up on Kanawa by chance — tagged along on a snorkelling trip and decided to stay the night. The island’s tiny, with just one rustic resort and a whole lot of sand. The beach is ringed by coral so bright and intact you can see it from the pier. 

I spent hours just floating, snorkelling with baby reef sharks and watching clownfish duck in and out of anemones like something out of a nature doc. Evenings were my favorite with the sun slipping behind the hills of Komodo in the distance. No crowds, no sound beyond the lapping tide and a night sky so full of stars I didn’t even bother looking at my phone.

Tucked just north of Labuan Bajo, Waecicu Beach is a must-visit. I’d spent the day diving in Komodo National Park and came here by accident after discovering it inside the Ayana Komodo Resort. While we weren’t staying at the resort, we got a day pass and spent the day sipping fancy cocktails and walking down the pier to float in the bar as the sun went down. While there are public parts of the beach that you can access for free, this is a beach that’s best explored with a little touch of luxury when you’re feeling fancy.