TOP 9 THINGS TO DO IN AMED, BALI

Amed was a real surprise for us. Looking back it was probably our favourite place in Bali. It’s understated in the best possible way and aside from keen divers, Amed hasn’t firmly forged its place on to everyones Bali itinerary – yet.

Part of the Karangasem Regency, Amed is made up of a 14km stretch of fishing villages along Bali’s east coast. The seven villages include Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Selang, Banyuning, and Aas and merge seamlessly in to one another as you travel between them. 

The main road is sandwiched between the vast blue ocean and contrasting lush green mountains on either side. You won’t find any high rise buildings or shopping malls here, instead it’s small warungs and bean bags on the beach.

Amed feels quintessentially Balinese and we love it!

With the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, you can opt to spend your day exploring and your afternoon lazing on the beach sampling the freshest catch of the day.

So if you’re wondering if Amed is worth visiting, our answer is a resounding YES! Hopefully after reading our suggestions, you’ll be on your way too.

1. Scuba Diving

Most people visit Amed to learn, hone or put to use their Scuba Diving skills. With shipwrecks and black sand seabeds to scour, Amed offers a fun and unique diving experience.

Healthy coral and marine life mean you’re in for some cracking underwater photos and a high chance of setting your eyes on some of the big fish. It’s not uncommon to see turtles and black/white tip sharks and if you’re extra lucky you may even get a peak of the super rare mola mola fish.

Thanks to the gentle currents, Amed is a great place for beginners or those wanting to try Scuba Diving for the first time. A 3-day PADI course starts at around £339.

2. Snorkelling 

Another feather in Amed’s cap is the variety of diving and snorkelling sites it harbours along its coast. We love nothing more than to grab a mask and a pair of fins and head out into the water. Without sounding too ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, there’s something about immersing yourself in the underwater world that is good for the soul. 

Jemeluk Bay is the most well-known site due to it’s abundance of tropical fish, calm water and array of submerged sculptures. Situated next to Amed beach, Jemeluk is an easy and enjoyable place to snorkel with clarity of up to 25m.

You’ll swim over statues of mermaids and treasure chests but perhaps most exciting of all, buy a waterproof postcard and dive down to slot it into a working postbox on the seabed. How cool is that?

Our snorkelling highlight in Amed was exploring the Japanese Shipwreck. Once you reach the location you’ll spot one, sometimes two, black buoys marking the wreck. Swim down and be surrounded by beautiful fish and coral carpeting what’s left of the vessel. 

It’s a fairly small ship but since you would usually need to don a wetsuit and tank for this kind of site, it’s nice that snorkellers can enjoy it too. 

Once you’ve finished at the shipwreck, head right to explore the domes of coral and Hindu nymphs that lie under the surface.

FOW Tip: Expect to pay around 50,000 IDR for snorkel hire on the beach but be aware that this is not a 24 hour rental and you will need to return the gear before you leave. If you’re planning to hop between snorkel points then we would recommend that you to rent your equipment from your hotel or a diving store along the road.

3. Black Sand Beach

Beautiful beaches line the whole of Bali’s coastline but Amed was our first taste of black-sand shores. In fact, it was the first black sand beach either of us had ever visited.

Made up of volcanic sediment, the black seafront is visually striking and a stark contrast to the golden beaches you come to expect from Bali.

Amed Beach runs parallel to the main road and you will often see local fishermen jumping on and off their boats which are berthed along the shore. 

Most restaurants along Amed Beach set out bean bags or small tables so you can enjoy the evening on the sand while looking out across the ocean.

Amed Beach isn’t the only black sand in the area. You can also enjoy the volcanic rock beaches at Jemeluk Bay and Lipah Beach.

The good news is that beaches on the east coast are far less crowed than those in southern or western Bali. You can spend the day strolling along the beaches in Amed without sharing them with too many others.

4. Explore on a Scooter

We love hiking mountains or wandering through a new village but our absolute favourite thing to when travelling is to hop on a scooter and get out into the country. Riding a scooter allows you the freedom of pulling over when passing a cute coffee shop or an unexpected viewpoint and for us, that’s what travelling is about.

And Amed is the perfect place to do just that. If you’re confident on a scooter there’s nothing better than getting out of the villages and sweeping through the luscious green countryside on two wheels.

We’d go as far to say that Amed’s outer roads would give the Hai Van Pass a run for its money with its tricky hairpins and breathtaking scenery. The lanes will leave you open-mouthed and gripping on to your bike with equal levels of fear and excitement. 

5. Bukit Cinta

Standing almost anywhere in Amed, you can feel the looming presence of Mount Agung. Bali’s tallest volcano stands at just over 3000 metres tall and has an alluring, magical pull.

By order of us at Full of Wanders, you cannot miss spending some time at Bukit Cinta viewpoint. It’s a moment that you simply must experience when spending time in Amed.

Travel 35 minutes south of Amed village and you’ll find yourself on a narrow road leading to your pinned location. Your first views across the sprawling fields spread out at the base of Mount Agung are goosebump worthy.

There are no signs or parking area for Bukit Cinta, you know you’ve arrived by simply looking at the view. Walk through the opening in the hedgerow and prepare for some epic photos with Mount Agung positioned over your shoulder. 

On the opposite side of the road sits a tiered garden enclosed in private property. When we arrived a local man was pruning the trees and invited us up to admire the view from the garden.

After taking far too many photos, we sat with our legs dangling over the wall and watching the world pass by. 

We have visited many incredible viewpoints on our travels but this one sticks out as being a truly memorable experience.

6. Go Fish-ing

Now we’ll be the first to admit that we are not avid fisherwomen but for the local people in Amed, fishing is their bread and butter. Before you’ve set two feet in the sand, you’ll notice the wall of Jukungs, traditional Balinese fishing boats, parked up after their morning haul.

Thanks to its wealth of marine life and sustainable line fishing, Amed has managed to keep its waters thriving.

Almost everyone in Amed is a fisherman or at least knows someone who is, so chartering a boat is fairly simple. Either speak to a local fisherman directly or head to one of the many shops dotted along the main road.

You can expect to pay anywhere between 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 IDR per boat for a morning at sea. 

Tuna, mahi-mahi and barracuda are some species of fish typically caught in the Amed area. Some of the fishermen even carry small barbecue’s on board and will be more than happy to grill you some out on the water.

Alternatively, you can take your freshly caught fish back to your hotel or homestay to cook for lunch or dinner. What’s better than sampling your very own catch-of-the-day?

7. Sunset Point

Aptly named, Sunset Point is exactly what it says on the tin. An elevated stretch above the beach, it’s the best location to catch the sun going down behind Mount Agung. 

Lounge in one of the beanbags with a cold drink and soak up the orange sky that coats the curved section of the island.

The restaurant serves both Indonesian and Western cuisine and boasts a stunning infinity pool overlooking the scenery below.

There is a local Warung along Sunset Point if you prefer which offers more affordable food and an equally beautiful viewpoint.

8. Pura Lempuyang

You’ve seen the photos of the magnificent Hindu gate sitting behind a perfect lake with a view of Mount Agung in the backdrop. Sound too good to be true? Well maybe a little.

Pura Lempuyang is a multi-tiered complex of Hindu Temples located on Mount Lempuyang. It is actually one of the “six sanctuaries of the world” which are the holiest places of worship in Bali. 

To non-worshippers however, it is known almost exclusively for Pura Lempuyang, nicknamed the Gates of Heaven. Instagram may have made the site world famous but we’ll let you into a secret.

The trick to getting those insta worthy shots isn’t by posing in front of a still body of water. The locals actually hold a mirror under your camera to create the visual water effect.

The temple is still pretty spectacular even if it is a little touristy. We recommend timing your trip to Pura Lempuyang wisely, as the wait for your photo opportunity can be up to 4 hours.

Check out our full guide to Pura Lempuyang here.

9. Tirta Gangga

Situated around a 40 minute drive from Amed, Tirta Gangga is a former Royal Palace built in 1946. The Palace was constructed by the last King of Karangasem and almost perished entirely due to the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963.

Tirta Gangga takes it name from the Hindu sacred river Ganges and still holds holy ceremonies to this day. The grounds are made up of exquisite gardens and Hindu statues and fountains line the water pools. 

For many travellers and tourists Tirta Gangga has forged its name as an Insta-famous spot thanks to the snake of stepping stones laid out across the water. Koi carp swim in the pool below and swirl around your feet waiting to be fed. Be sure to buy your fish food at the entrance to get that feeding frenzy snap.

Best time to visit Amed

Bali has two seasons split into dry and wet. The dry season is typically considered to fall between November and March and the rainy season sits between April and October. 

Prices will generally be lower in the rainy season but the rainfall does get very heavy and can affect water visibility and put a stop to some outdoor activities.

How to get to Amed

Just under 100 kilometres from Denpasar Airport, it takes roughly 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Amed. Alternatively many travellers chose to visit Amed before or after they return from the Gili Islands. A ferry from Gili Trawangan to Amed takes 1 hour 15 minutes. 

Getting Around

Renting a scooter is the easiest and cheapest option to get around Amed. 

Scooter hire usually starts at 60,000 IDR and should always include a helmet for the driver and any passengers.

Be sure to test the bike is in good working order including the brakes, lights etc and never be afraid to ask for another if something doesn’t feel right. Ultimately this is your safety on the line.

Alternatively if you prefer to have the organising done for you, GetYouGuide offers great package tours.