From surfing hotspots and hedonistic hang-outs to wave-lapped wellness retreats and exclusive seafront resorts, Bali is home to some of the world’s most iconic beaches. But while the likes of Uluwatu, Seminyak and Jimbaran Bay draw sunseekers in their thousands, another lesser-known beach on the island’s southeastern coast is emerging as an alternative to its more famous peers.Located just south of the popular town of Sanur, Pengembak Beach offers something refreshingly different to the more heavily touristed destinations that dot the shores of the Island of the Gods. Fringed by verdant mangroves and windblown pine trees, this stretch of coastline has a rugged, undiscovered feel that sets it apart, while the lack of development makes it a great choice for anyone looking to escape the crowds.But while Pengembak Beach has gone largely under the radar for international visitors thus far, that could all be about to change thanks to Jia Curated, which has chosen the area as the location for its upcoming fifth edition.Spiritual significance and intimacy with natureTaking place from August 13 to 17, the annual design fair will welcome more than 250 Indonesian and international exhibitors and feature around 70 site-specific pavilions and design installations, as well as exhibitions, talks, dining, live music and cultural performances.For Jia Curated co-founder and co-curator Budiman Ong, Pengembak Beach was the perfect choice for the fair because of its relative obscurity.“We wanted a bit of Bali, but not the typical Bali, or what people associate with Bali,” he says. “We were also looking for a place where we feel there’s intimacy, because we want to create that vibe.”Pengembak Beach has a rugged, undiscovered feel that sets it apart from the more heavily touristed destinations, Ong says. Photo: Christopher OctavThe intimacy, Ong says, comes from features such as the surrounding mangrove forest, which forms a natural cocoon around the site, and the fact that Pengembak Beach is separated from the neighbouring area by a river that attendees cross via a long wooden bridge. Nearby, Pura Dalem Pengembak, a small but important Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, serves as a reminder of the area’s cultural and spiritual significance.