The Sanur Village Festival is a much-anticipated 5-day annual event held at the Matahari Terbit Beach in Sanur. This year it will be held from August 21 - 25 and have the theme of Dharmaning Gesing, which translates as a celebration of all things bamboo.

Traditional parades through the streets of Sanur for the annual Sanur Village Festival in August. Image by Dede Landika on Wikipedia.

Bamboo carries special meaning in Bali as it is used in almost every religious ceremony, is an important element of traditional architecture and construction and is also used for a variety of musical instruments.

Even though the Sanur Village Festival is a highlight on the event calendar, it doesn't stop there. Set on Bali's east coast it is the oldest resort area in Bali and has a reputation of being a laid back, sleepy resort village with none of the chaos associated with Kuta's hedonism. It also boasts impressive views of Gunung Agung and Nusa Penida from a sheltered golden sandy bay, a favourite with local and visiting kids.

Traditional Melasti purification ceremony on Mertasari Beach, Sanur. Image courtesy of Andy Barski.

Luxury Beachfront Resorts

With easy access to Ubud, Gianyar and Candi Dasa, Sanur is popular with foreign tourists, especially those from northern and central Europe. It also plays a significant role for the Balinese who hold regular ceremonies on Melasti Beach.

The main street, Danau Tamblingan, is where most of the upmarket restaurants, villas, hotels and resorts can be found. The jewel in the crown is the completely renovated and newly opened Grand Hyatt Regency on Jalan Danau Tamblingan.

Set on 9-hectares of beachfront land, this resort offers guests the choice of 363-rooms and suites, restaurants, spa and fitness and meeting facilities. And it's all set in beautiful designed tropical gardens, overlooking a golden sand beach protected by an off-shore reef.

Surfing and Kite Surfing

But there is more on offer than a sleepy lifestyle, restaurants and luxury accommodations. Diving's popularity is obvious considering the number of dive operations available. And according to Surf Indonesia, Sanur reef has great waves.

More and more kite surfers from around the world are heading to Sanur. Image by Steven Bol on Pixabay.

Recommended for advanced and experts only because of a shallow reef and coral heads, surfing Sanur is best in the wet season from October to April. This is also the best time of year to experience Kite Surfing in Sanur's relatively sheltered bay and every year, the number of Kite Surfers from around the world increases.

Things to do and see in Sanur at a glance:

• An International kite festival from June through August
• The Mangrove Information Centre set in 600-hectares of mangrove forest
• The Serangan Island Turtle Conservation Centre
• Bali's oldest known artifact at Pura Blanjong
• Go diving or snorkeling
• Learn to kite surf
• Explore musuems
• Taste local wines at Hatten Wines

Investing in property in Sanur

In a recent report published by Gapura Bali, Bali's east coast looks set for development with plans afoot to extend the current highway, which starts in Sanur, all the way to Candi Dasa. And with plans moving forward to build a new international airport in Buleleng on the northeast coast, Sanur could be an exciting and strategic opportunity.

Bali's east coast from Sanur to Candi Dasa could be an exciting and strategic opportunity. Image supplied by Exotiq Property Bali.

Land prices in Sanur have increased from IDR 200 million per are in 2007 to IDR 2 billion per are in 2016, according to statistics released by Exotiq Property Bali, with beachfront, or beachside ocean views fetching even more. And while the range of property investments in the area falls behind Canggu and the Bukit, there are still good deals to be had.

Harcourts Seven Stones is offering a family friendly villa 5-minutes from the beach, Harcourts Purba have a villa with apartment style rooms close to Sanur's beaches; and while not in Sanur itself, both Xclusive Property and Exotiq Property Bali are offering real estate investments on Bali's east coast.

 Sources: Bali Tribun, Kumpuran, Surf Indonesia, Gapura Bali

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