Thomas Beach Uluwatu: Our Honest Guide to Uluwatu’s Most Peaceful Beach (2026)

Every year, without fail, there’s one day on our Bali itinerary that’s just for Matt and me. We leave the kids with our trusted nanny, pack a tote with a book and sunscreen, and spend the whole day together like we did before we had two little humans asking for snacks every eleven minutes. And because we got married at Uluwatu Surf Villas in 2023, the Uluwatu leg of our trip always seems to land on our anniversary. Funny how that works.

This year, our anniversary beach was Thomas Beach Uluwatu – and honestly, it might be the most peaceful beach we’ve found on the Bukit Peninsula in a long time. No beach clubs. No thumping DJ sets. No $20 cocktails. Just a long stretch of soft white sand, a row of little local warungs selling cold Bintangs and coconuts, sun beds under umbrellas, and water so turquoise it looks edited (it isn’t).

I’ve been to Bali over 30 times, and being half-Indonesian, I’ve spent a lot of time hunting down the quieter corners of this island. Uluwatu and Sidemen are my two favourite places in Bali, and I’ve written about most of the Uluwatu beaches over the years – but Thomas Beach is the one I keep telling friends about when they ask, “where can we go that isn’t packed?”

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Thomas Beach Uluwatu: where it is, how to get there (including the sneaky little laneway you’ll walk straight past if you don’t know it’s there), the steps, the tides, what it costs, whether it’s any good for swimming or surfing, and exactly how we spent our perfect Uluwatu date day – beach, sunset drinks and dinner included.

Los Cabos Villa –
Where we stayed!

🏆 9.5 rating on booking.com

We stayed in the 1 bedroom private pool family villa, which was perfect. It also had a trampoline and little playground area for the kids.

👉🏼Check price and availability here

Where Is Thomas Beach Uluwatu?

Thomas Beach sits in Pecatu, on the western side of the Bukit Peninsula in South Bali, tucked between Padang Padang Beach and Uluwatu (Suluban) Beach. It’s right in the heart of Uluwatu, which makes it one of the easiest beaches to slot into your day if you’re staying anywhere along Jalan Labuansait – the main road that runs past Padang Padang, Suka Espresso and a lot of the area’s best villas.

Fun fact: it’s named after an old guesthouse called Thomas Homestay that used to sit on the cliff above the beach. You’ll sometimes see it mislabelled as Padang Padang online, but they’re two very different beaches. Padang Padang is the famous one (thanks, Eat Pray Love), with crowds to match. Thomas Beach is its quieter, more laid-back neighbour.

Rough travel times by car, depending on traffic:

• From Bingin or Padang Padang: 5 minutes
• From Jimbaran: around 30 minutes
• From the airport: around 45 minutes to 1 hour
• From Seminyak or Canggu: around 1 to 1.5 hours (longer in peak traffic)

My tip: If you’re staying in Canggu or Seminyak and only coming down for the day, leave early. The traffic heading onto the Bukit in the afternoon is no joke, and you’ll want to be on your sun bed before the midday heat kicks in, not sitting in a car.

Our Verdict: Is Thomas Beach Uluwatu Worth Visiting?

Most blogs put this section at the end, but I know you want to know straight away!

Yes – Thomas Beach is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you want a slow, quiet beach day without the beach club scene. It’s one of the most relaxing beaches in Uluwatu, the water colour is stunning, and the setup with local warungs and sun beds feels like Bali the way it used to be.

Thomas Beach is for you if: you want a peaceful beach to swim, read and switch off; you’d rather support local warungs than pay beach club prices; you’re a couple looking for a low-key date day; or you’re an intermediate surfer looking for an uncrowded wave.

It’s probably not for you if: you want a full-service beach club with pools, music and cocktails; you have mobility issues (there are steps, and no way around them); or you’re visiting at low tide and want an easy swim.

Would we go back? In a heartbeat. It’s already pencilled in for next year’s anniversary. I mean look at this view!

Thomas Beach Uluwatu: Quick Info

*Prices are a guide and do change – bring small notes.

How to Get to Thomas Beach Uluwatu

This is where most people get a little lost, so let me walk you through exactly how we did it.

We were staying at Los Cabos Villas, which made Thomas Beach an easy walk – one of my favourite things about staying in this part of Uluwatu is that you can walk to cafes, beaches and dinner without needing a driver for every little thing. From the villa, we strolled along the main road to Suka Espresso (an Uluwatu institution, and one of the best cafes in Uluwatu if you need a coffee before the beach). Right around there, you’ll spot the Thomas Beach sign.

From the sign, you walk down a small road – and I mean small. It’s only wide enough for motorbikes, so if you’re coming by car, your driver will need to drop you on the main road and you’ll walk the rest of the way. The laneway leads you to a little parking area, and from there it’s down a set of steps to the sand.

My tip: Don’t let the laneway put you off. The first time you walk down it, it genuinely feels like you’re wandering into someone’s driveway. Keep going – the payoff is worth it.

Getting there by scooter

If you’re confident on a scooter, this is the easiest way to get to Thomas Beach. You can ride all the way down the laneway and park right at the top of the steps. Parking is free at the time of writing.

Getting there by Grab or Gojek

Grab and Gojek both work here. A bike taxi can take you right down to the parking area; a car will drop you on the main road near Suka Espresso, and it’s a short walk from there. Getting a ride back up is usually easy enough from the main road, though you might wait a little longer at sunset when everyone’s heading to dinner.

Getting there with a private driver

If you’re doing a bigger day of the best things to do in Uluwatu – a beach, Uluwatu Temple, sunset drinks – a private driver for the day is the most relaxing option, especially in the heat.

➡️ Book a private driver for the day – here is the link

The Steps Down to Thomas Beach

Let’s talk about the steps, because they’re the reason Thomas Beach stays so quiet. It’s roughly 130 steps down from the parking area to the sand. Going down takes about five minutes and is easy enough – you get these gorgeous glimpses of turquoise water through the greenery as you go. Coming back up after a full afternoon in the sun is a different story, so take your time and keep some water for the climb.

Unlike a lot of Uluwatu beaches that sit beneath dramatic sheer cliffs, Thomas Beach is backed by a lush, green slope, so the walk down feels a bit softer and more jungly than the big cliff staircases at Suluban or Nyang Nyang.

My tip: The steps aren’t lit at night. If you’re staying for sunset (and you should, at least once), start heading up while there’s still some light left in the sky, or have your phone torch ready.

Tides at Thomas Beach – Check Before You Go

If there’s one thing I’d tell you to do before visiting Thomas Beach, it’s this: check the tide.

When we first got down to the water, the tide was high and there wasn’t much sand at the bottom of the steps. For a second I thought, “oh no, where are we going to sit?” But we walked up along the beach and, the further we went, the more sand opened up – and with it, more warungs, more sun beds and plenty of places to set up for the afternoon. So don’t panic if it looks a bit squeezy when you first arrive. Just keep walking.

The tide also changes the swimming situation completely:

• Mid to high tide: This is the sweet spot. The water comes in over the rocky reef and you can swim and float in that dreamy turquoise water easily. This is when we swam, and it was perfect.
• Low tide: The water pulls back to reveal rocks, coral and seaweed along the shoreline. It’s harder to get in and not really deep enough for a proper swim – reef shoes are a must if you want to wade out.

My tip: Use a free tide app or website (search “Uluwatu tide times”) the night before. Planning your beach time around a mid-to-high tide makes the difference between a magical swim and a frustrating wade over rocks.

What to Expect at Thomas Beach

Local warungs, not beach clubs

This is the thing I love most about Thomas Beach. The beach is lined with a handful of warung shacks set up by locals, offering ice-cold Bintang, fresh coconuts, soft drinks, snacks and sun beds. There are no beach clubs here, no minimum spends, no $20 cocktails in sight – which, for us, is exactly the point.

Uluwatu has some incredible beach clubs (and I’ll happily point you to the best beach club in Uluwatu for a big day out), but there’s something really special about a beach where your money goes straight to a local family, and your “service” is the warung owner wandering over to ask if you’d like another coconut.

Sun beds and umbrellas

You can rent sun beds and umbrellas from the warungs along the sand, and the going rate is roughly 100,000 IDR for two beds with an umbrella. Once you’ve paid, they’re yours for as long as you like. The slope behind the beach doesn’t throw much shade onto the sand, so if you’re planning to stay more than an hour, I’d definitely get beds with an umbrella – the Uluwatu sun is no joke.

We got two beds and a coconut each and set up for the afternoon. That was it. No plans, no schedule, no one needing their bottom wiped. Bliss.

Food and drinks

The warungs keep it simple – coconuts, Bintang, soft drinks, water and snacks, with a few offering basic dishes like nasi goreng or chips. It’s not the place for a big long lunch, so if you want a proper meal, eat before you head down or plan dinner afterwards (I’ve got our favourites below).

Toilets and facilities

There are no public toilets or showers, but a few warungs have very basic toilets you can use for a small fee. Bring cash – I’ve never seen a warung here take cards.

Crowds

Compared to Padang Padang and Suluban, Thomas Beach is so much quieter. It’s not deserted (it’s getting more popular every year, and weekends are busier), but even on our visit during the busy season, it felt calm and spacious. It was the kind of quiet where you could actually hear the waves instead of someone else’s speaker.

Our Uluwatu Anniversary Date Day (and How to Steal It)

Okay, this is the part I’m most excited to share, because if you’re travelling as a couple – or you’re parents like us who need a day to remember you actually like each other – this is our tried-and-tested Uluwatu date day. We do some version of it every single year as our wedding anniversary falls when we are in Uluwatu.

Morning: leave the kids in good hands

Our kids stay with our nanny, who we’ve used across multiple Bali trips and trust completely. If you’re doing Bali with kids, I can’t recommend building one kid-free day into your trip enough. It doesn’t have to be fancy – it’s just about having a few hours where the only thing you’re responsible for is reapplying sunscreen. Ask your villa or hotel for nanny recommendations, or jump into our Facebook group – it’s one of the most common questions we get, and members share their trusted nannies all the time.

Arvo: Thomas Beach

We walked from Los Cabos Villas past Suka, down the laneway and the steps, wandered up the sand to find our spot, and spent the arvo swimming, chatting and reading. It sounds so simple, but those uninterrupted conversations are the best part of the whole day. The water that day was the most gorgeous turquoise colour, and every time I looked up from my book I had that “pinch me, we’re really here” feeling.

Optional: a spa session at Spring Spa

Part of our anniversary tradition is often a spa session at Spring Spa in Uluwatu. A massage after a day at the beach, when you’re salty and sun-sleepy and completely relaxed, is just the best. If you want to add a little luxury to your date day, book a couples’ massage in the late afternoon between the beach and sunset.

Sunset: drinks at Single Fin

After the beach, we always head to Single Fin for a drink. This is another of our traditions – Matt loves watching the waves and the surfers out at Uluwatu’s famous break, and I love watching the sky turn pink over the ocean with a cold drink in hand. It’s busy, especially at sunset, but it’s one of those classic Uluwatu experiences that never gets old for us. Get there a little before sunset if you want a spot near the edge.

Dinner: Teja (or Mana, or Masonry)

To finish the day, we went to dinner at Teja, one of our favourite Uluwatu restaurants. If Teja’s booked out or you want to try something different, Mana and Masonry are also firm favourites of ours – honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the three for a special night out. Whichever you choose, book ahead, especially in peak season.

My tip: If you’re doing this as an anniversary or special occasion, mention it when you book dinner. Bali hospitality is next level, and you’ll often get a little extra touch.

Swimming at Thomas Beach Uluwatu

Yes, you can swim at Thomas Beach – but the tide decides how good it is. At mid to high tide, the water is calm close to shore and you can float around in that gorgeous clear water. We swam on and off all afternoon and it was the perfect way to cool down between chapters of my book.

A few things to know before you jump in:

• There are no lifeguards. Swim within your limits and stay close to shore.
• Watch the conditions. The surf break is further out, and currents can be stronger in the wet season (roughly November to March).
• Wear reef shoes at lower tides. The reef and rocks can be slippery and sharp, and there can be seaweed in the shallows.

Surfing at Thomas Beach

Thomas Beach isn’t one of Uluwatu’s headline surf spots, but there’s a left-hand break out the back that works at mid to high tide and is a fun, uncrowded option for intermediate surfers. You’ll usually only see a handful of people out, compared to the crowds at Padang Padang and Uluwatu.

You can rent boards from some of the warungs, and there’s a surf school, Moana, set up right on the beach if you want a lesson without battling for waves. Beginners would be better off at gentler breaks elsewhere in Bali, though – this is more of a “you already know what you’re doing” wave.

If watching is more your thing (Matt’s very much a watcher on our date days), the action at Uluwatu’s main break from Single Fin at sunset is hard to beat.

Best Time to Visit Thomas Beach

Time of year: The dry season (April to October) brings the best weather, clearer water and the most consistent surf. The wet season (November to March) can bring rain, rougher water and more seaweed, but also fewer crowds.

Time of day: The beach is quietest in the morning and gets busier in the afternoon and around sunset. We arrived after lunch and still found beds easily once we walked up the beach, but in peak season (July, August and Christmas), I’d aim to arrive mid-morning.

Sunset: Thomas Beach faces west, so you can catch a beautiful sunset from the sand – just remember the unlit steps on the way back up.

My tip: Plan your visit around the tide first, the time of day second. A mid-to-high tide in the afternoon is the dream.

How Much Does Thomas Beach Cost?

One of the best things about Thomas Beach is how affordable it is, especially compared to a beach club day. Here’s a rough guide:

• Entrance: Free
• Parking: Free
• Two sun beds + umbrella: around 100,000 IDR
• Fresh coconut: around 30,000–40,000 IDR
• Bintang: expect warung prices, a fraction of what you’d pay at a beach club
• Toilet: around 10,000 IDR at some warungs

For two people, you can easily do a whole afternoon at Thomas Beach for less than the price of one cocktail at some of the bigger beach clubs. If you’re putting together a Bali trip cost budget, beach days like this are where you claw some money back for the nice dinners.

My tip: Bring small notes (10,000s, 20,000s and 50,000s). The warungs often can’t break a 100,000 IDR note for a single coconut.

What to Bring to Thomas Beach

• Cash in small notes – no card payments here
• Reef shoes – especially if there’s any chance you’ll hit a lower tide
• Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunnies – there’s very little natural shade if you dont get a sun bed with umbrella.
• A good book (or a fully downloaded podcast – reception can be patchy on the sand)
• A towel or sarong – handy even with sun beds
• Water for the climb back up the steps
• Phone torch if you’re staying for sunset

For everything else, our Bali packing list covers exactly what to pack after 30+ trips.

Is Thomas Beach Good for Kids?

Our Thomas Beach day is our kid-free day, so we haven’t brought our two down here yet – but as a mum who has done a lot of Bali with kids, here’s my honest take.

For older kids who are steady on stairs and confident in the water, Thomas Beach at mid-to-high tide could be a lovely, chilled beach day – it’s calm close to shore and much quieter than its neighbours. For toddlers and babies, I’d think twice. The steps are a workout with a carrier and a beach bag, there’s not much shade, there are no lifeguards, and the reef at low tide isn’t ideal for little feet. If you’re travelling to Bali with a baby or toddler, easier-access beaches like Melasti or Dreamland, or the calm, shallow water in Sanur and Nusa Dua, are much more practical.

Speaking of which – if a stress-free family beach holiday is the priority, some of the best family resorts in Bali are in those calmer areas. We loved our stay at Kayumanis Sanur, and Merusaka Nusa Dua is another popular pick for families who want resort facilities right on a gentle beach.

Where to Stay Near Thomas Beach Uluwatu

Staying close enough to walk to Thomas Beach makes a beach day so easy. Here’s where we’ve stayed nearby:

Los Cabos Villas – where we stayed

We stayed at Los Cabos Villas on this trip, and the location is fantastic – an easy walk to Suka Espresso, Thomas Beach and Padang Padang, so we didn’t need a driver for our whole date day. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa with a pool. Its a newer villa so everything was in pristine condition which made it perfect for travelling with a 5 month old baby. They also had a full stocked, funcition kitchen which was another gam changer with a bub.

👉🏼 [Check price and availability here]

Uluwatu Surf Villas – where we got married

It’s no secret that Uluwatu Surf Villas holds a big place in our hearts – we got married there in 2023, and my sister had her wedding there in 2024 too. It’s perched right above the ocean with incredible surf views. You can read all about our Bali wedding at Uluwatu Surf Villas.

For more options across every budget and area, our guide to the best accommodation in Uluwatu breaks down the six areas of Uluwatu and our firsthand stays, including family-friendly villas.

Where to Eat Near Thomas Beach

Because the warungs on the beach keep it simple, you’ll want to plan your meals around your beach time. These are our picks nearby:

• Suka Espresso – right by the Thomas Beach turn-off. Perfect for coffee and brekkie before you head down. It’s on just about every list of the best cafes in Uluwatu for good reason.
• Single Fin – sunset drinks with surf views. Our annual tradition.
• Teja – where we had our anniversary dinner this year.
• Mana – another of our Uluwatu favourites for a special dinner.
• Masonry – a go-to for a long, delicious dinner.

If you’re craving proper Indonesian food after your beach day, ask any of the warungs on the main road – the local spots along Jalan Labuansait do a mean nasi campur especially Warung Local and Yeye’s!

Other Uluwatu Beaches Near Thomas Beach

If you’ve got a few days in Uluwatu, it’s worth beach-hopping. Here are the beaches closest to Thomas Beach:

• Padang Padang – the famous neighbour, with a cave-like entrance and a small, pretty cove. Beautiful, but much busier.
• Uluwatu (Suluban) Beach – home to the legendary surf break, with caves to explore at low tide. Watch the surfers from Single Fin above.
• Bingin Beach – a laid-back surf beach with cliffside guesthouses and warungs.
• Impossibles Beach – a quieter stretch between Bingin and Padang Padang, best at low tide.
• Dreamland and Melasti – easier access with parking close to the sand, better for families or anyone wanting to skip the stairs.

You’ll find our full rundown in our guide to the best Uluwatu beaches, and plenty more ideas in our list of the best things to do in Uluwatu.

Fitting Thomas Beach Into Your Bali Itinerary

Thomas Beach is an easy half-day add-on to any Uluwatu stay. Pair it with a coffee at Suka in the morning, beach in the arvo, and sunset at Single Fin or Uluwatu Temple – that’s a perfect Uluwatu day right there.

If you’re still working out the best areas in Bali to base yourself, here’s how we usually structure our trips around Uluwatu:

• Canggu & Seseh: When we’re in the Canggu area, we base ourselves in Seseh, just up the coast, for a quieter feel. From there, it’s easy to dip into things to do in Canggu, find the best cafes in Canggu, and take the kids to Maimain playground.
• Seminyak: Great for shopping, Seminyak cafes and some of the best Seminyak restaurants on the island. Our Seminyak accommodation guide will help you choose a base.
• Ubud: For culture, rice terraces and food. Our Ubud itinerary covers the highlights, plus our favourite Ubud restaurants and the best cafes in Ubud.
• Sidemen: For slowing right down. We stayed at Wapa di Ume Sidemen and it’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed.
• Nusa Lembongan: For snorkelling and island time. Here’s our Nusa Lembongan guide and our favourite Nusa Lembongan beaches.

For a full day-by-day plan, check out our 10-day Bali itinerary, and if you’re still building your bucket list, our guide to the best things to do in Bali has 50 ideas from 30+ trips. And if you’ve fallen in love with Indonesia beyond Bali, our round-up of the best places in Indonesia covers the best things to do in Indonesia island by island.

Thomas Beach Uluwatu FAQs

Thomas Beach is one of those places that reminds me why I keep coming back to Uluwatu. It’s simple in the best way – soft sand, turquoise water, a cold coconut and a local warung owner who remembers you from an hour ago. No velvet ropes, no minimum spends, just a beautiful beach and time to actually enjoy it.

If you’re putting together your Bali itinerary and want a beach day that feels a little more like the Bali of old, add Thomas Beach to your list. Check the tide, bring cash, take the steps slowly – and if you can, make a whole date day of it.

Let us know if you visit – and feel free to drop questions in the comments or message us for personalised recs!

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