Thomas Beach, Uluwatu: Our Review & Visitor Guide

Thomas Beach is a long, narrow bay in Uluwatu that offers a quieter, lesser-known alternative to neighbouring Padang Padang Beach. It has soft white sand and turquoise waters, with an intermediate surf break out at sea.

In this article, we've drawn on our experience of visiting Thomas Beach multiple times to create an easy and honest visitors' guide designed to answer any questions you might have.

Quick Review: Is Thomas Beach Worth Visiting?

Thomas Beach is a good choice if you're looking for a quiet beach in central Uluwatu with decent amenities. While not completely empty, it feels like a peaceful sanctuary compared to its two overcrowded neighbours, Padang Padang and Uluwatu Beach.

The 130 steep steps down to the beach from the parking area are what put some people off visiting, but we didn't find it too difficult. It took us just 4 minutes to get down, but it was a little more challenging on the way back up.

The beach has soft white sand and calm waves close to the shore. At high tide, it's a nice spot for a swim or paddle. But at low tide, the slippery rocks and corals make it a little challenging to reach the water (bring water shoes). During our last visit, there was quite a lot of seaweed too.

Along the sand, there's a long row of local vendors offering drinks, sun loungers, and umbrellas for reasonable prices. There's also space to lay down a towel. However, the forest behind the beach doesn’t offer much shade, so we'd suggest getting beds if you plan to stick around.

Thomas Beach isn't a famous surf spot like its neighbours, but you can still catch some small waves here. Surfboard rental and surf lessons are available on the beach.

How To Get There

To reach Thomas Beach, turn off the main road opposite Suka Espresso Uluwatu. There's a small, narrow alley that runs through the Anjuna Bay development (mostly construction right now), which you need to follow for roughly 200m to find the parking area.

The side street leading to the parking is currently only wide enough for scooters. If you’re visiting by car, you’ll need to get out on the main road and walk the rest.

From the parking area, the walk to the beach took us around 4-5 minutes down 130 steps. The steps were fairly steep, but doable. Most people with a moderate fitness level should have no problem getting down and back.

If you have mobility issues and want a beach that’s easier to reach, consider heading to Dreamland, Pandawa, or Melasti. All of these are much more accessible with parking right next to the beach.

Can You Use Online Taxis?

Yes, online taxis such as Grab or Gojek can drop off and pick up at Thomas Beach.

Only bike taxis can drop you off right in the parking area. Car taxis will need to drop you off on the main road, which is around 200m further.

Visitor Information

How Much Does it Cost?

It’s free to visit Thomas Beach - there is currently no entry fee or parking charge.

You can expect to pay around 100,000 IDR ⓘ to rent two sun loungers and an umbrella.

What Are the Crowds Like?

Thomas Beach is one of the quieter beaches in central Uluwatu, especially compared to its busy neighbours, Padang Padang and Uluwatu Beach. It's lesser known, and the long staircase down puts people off, keeping it relatively uncrowded.

Saying that, we have seen this beach become a little more popular recently, especially on weekends and during the peak summer season. During busier times, you'll probably need to arrive in the morning to grab a sun lounger.

The beach is quietest in the morning, then usually gets a little busier in the afternoon and around sunset.

Can You Swim at Thomas Beach?

You can swim at Thomas Beach, but it's fairly dependent on the tides. The best time to swim is mid to high tide when it's easier to enter the water and the waves are calm close to the shore.

At low tide, there's a row of slippery rocks and coral along the shoreline, making it challenging to get into the water (bring water shoes!). Once you get past these, there are pockets of sandy seabed to sit or paddle in, but it's not deep enough to swim.

We had a lovely, refreshing dip on our last visit to Thomas Beach. But there was quite a lot of seaweed on the seafloor and floating in the water, which wrapped around our feet as we paddled.

Is Thomas Beach Good for Sunset?

Yes, Thomas Beach is west facing so it’s a good spot to watch the sunset.

But keep in mind that you’ll have to walk back up the steps which are unlit, so aim to leave before it gets too dark.

Is Thomas Beach Good for Surfing or Water Sports?

Thomas Beach is an okay surfing beach in Uluwatu with a left-hander that breaks at mid-high tide. It's an uncrowded spot for intermediate surfers to practice on fun, manageable waves.

However, we've never seen more than a handful of people surfing here. This is because the beach is sandwiched between Padang Padang and Uluwatu Beach, which are much more renowned surf spots in Uluwatu.

Some beach vendors offer surfboard rental for roughly 100,000 IDR ⓘ per board for a couple of hours. You can also take surf lessons with Moana Surf, which is located right on the beach.

Lessons with Moana are more expensive than elsewhere in Bali, but you get to practice without worrying about the crowds and the concern of being knocked off by other surfers.

The best time to surf at Thomas Beach is during the dry season (April to October) when the waves are most consistent. Currents can get much stronger during Bali's wet season.

Thomas Beach Amenities

Cafes, Restaurants & Shops

There aren't any flashy beach bars or modern restaurants on Thomas Beach, but there are plenty of small, locally-run beach shacks lining the sand.

Most vendors sell cold drinks and snacks, while a couple also offer basic dishes like Nasi Goreng (fried rice) or French fries. The prices are what you’d expect from a beach vendor. We paid 40,000 IDR ⓘ for a coconut. You need cash as none accept card.

If you want good coffee, don’t wait until you get to the beach. Stop and grab takeaway at Suka Espresso on the main road before you turn down the side street towards the parking area.

Toilets & Showers

There are no public showers or toilets at the beach, but some of the beach vendors have (very basic) toilets that you can use for 10,000 IDR ⓘ.

Sunbeds

There are plenty of sun loungers available to rent from local vendors on Thomas Beach. The going rate is currently 100,000 IDR ⓘ for two sunbeds with an umbrella, which you can use for as long as you like.

Unlike other beaches in Bali, Thomas Beach is backed by a forest rather than towering cliffs. Unfortunately, these trees offer very little shade on the beach itself, and it can feel very exposed in the midday heat. It's best to get beds and an umbrella if you're planning to stick around for a while.

Beach Clubs

There are no beach clubs at Thomas Beach.

More About Thomas Beach

Thomas Beach stretches for more than 500m along the coastline. The first half of the beach is filled with sunbeds and beach vendors, but the rest is much more untouched.

Thomas Beach is named after Thomas Homestay, which used to sit above the beach (likely where Casa Poema is now). It's sometimes incorrectly called Padang Padang Beach, but this refers to the neighbouring beach.

Thomas Beach doesn’t have the dramatic cliffs like many other beaches in Uluwatu. Instead, there’s a more gradual incline with a vibrant green forest that sprawls up the cliffside. The forest doesn’t have any walking routes, so it's inaccessible on foot.