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AMED BALI 15 BEST THINGS TO DO – The Ultimate Guide

Amed is a 14-km long strip of laid back fishing towns on the east coast of Bali. With excellent snorkel and diving sites, black volcanic sandy beaches and impressive views on Mount Agung, Amed is a great place to escape the touristy areas. Although Amed is mainly famous for its incredible dive sites, there are plenty of other things to do in the surrounding areas. If you love epic viewpoints, then Amed is a great place to explore them from. But there are many more things to do in Amed! You can learn more about the traditional salt harvesting in Bali and explore the beautiful temples and historical buildings such as two former palaces. Let’s dive deeper into the best things to do in Amed Bali! 

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Best tours to explore Amed area

If you want to explore the best of Amed then it is highly recommended to book your tours in advance. Of course you can also explore the area by yourself if you are comfortable driving a motorbike. But if you book your tour you don’t have to think about anything else, you can just enjoy and take pictures. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

Best time to visit Amed Bali

Amed is one of the most sunny coastal towns in Bali. Even in the rainy season you can expect to have drier or even sunny days in Amed. So basically you can visit Amed all year round. Because there is less rain at this side of the island, the nature tends to get drier and thus more brown instead of lush green during the summer months. If you plan on diving in Amed, then the best time of the year is to go from April to July and from October to November. Visibility is best at this time, so especially if you plan on diving in Tulamben to see the USS Liberty wreck, you have to keep this in mind before planning your trip to Amed Bali. 

How many days you need in Amed Bali

Of course this totally depends if you plan on diving in Amed, or only will stay here to explore the surroundings. If you’re on holiday in Bali and want to get the most out of your stay in Amed I would recommend 2 nights 3 days. This will give you the opportunity to explore all the highlights which you can pick from this blog post. Of course everyone has different preferences, but to discover the real east Bali you should at least visit some of the incredible viewpoints on Mount Agung, a salt farm and go snorkeling or diving. 

Where to stay in Amed

Amed is a pretty small beach town with plenty of options from homestays, Airbnb’s to mid range or luxury Amed hotels and private villa’s with swimming pool. If you’re a diver, then you can also choose from many dive resorts for the complete package. There is something for every budget, it totally depends on your needs. 

Blue Earth village nearby Lipah beach for example is a community with a shared love of freediving and the mind/body sciences. Perfect if you want to connect with like minded people.

For couples looking for a more luxury and private experience we’d recommend the Griya Villa’s and Spa. We stayed here two times and it was absolutely incredible! 

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Where to eat in Amed

With it’s upcoming popularity there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Amed. There are a few modern cafes and restaurants serving delicious smoothie bowls and other western meals. But of course you can also have plenty of options for local warungs serving fresh fish and autenthic Balinese food. Some of our favourite restaurants in Amed are:

  • Rimba. Amazing smoothie bowls and delicious coffee. Great way to start your day in Amed! 
  • KopiKota
  • Good Stuff Cafe and Eco Store
  • Meeting Point
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15 BEST THINGS TO DO IN AMED BALI

Watch sunrise or sunset at Lahangan Sweet volcano viewpoint

Some of the most amazing viewpoints on Mount Agung is from Lahangan Sweet. On an hour drive from Sidemen you will get to this viewpoint which will blow you away. You will have an unobstructed view towards the majestic volcano Agung with a beautiful green valley below. There are several bamboo platforms at Lahangan Sweet from which you will have a different view and photo opportunity. The great thing about this viewpoint is that you can either come with sunrise or sunset. Both are great, however the most chance of a clear view on Mount Agung is with sunrise. With sunset the sun disappears behind the volcano resulting in the volcano as silhouette. While with sunrise the volcano gets the first light showing all its details and colours. 

Read in our complete guide everything about Lahangan Sweet viewpoint

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Practical information about Lahangan Sweet viewpoint

Getting there: In half anhour drive you can get to Lahangan Sweet viewpoint from Amed. After watching the sunrise at Lahangan Sweet, or before watching sunset, you can easily combine it with a visit to Bukit Cinta, Tirta Gangga or Taman Ujung. 

Entrance fee: The entrance fee is 20.000 Rupiah per person.

Best time to go: As said before, Lahangan Sweet is a great sunrise and sunset spot. But with more chances of a clear view on the volcano with sunrise, I would recommend going early in the morning and then continue exploring to the other nearby places and mentioned in the ‘getting there’ section. 

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Visit Tirta Gangga water palace

If you want to explore a former royal palace then you have to go to Tirta Gangga water palace in Karangasem. In 30 minutes driving you’re at Tirta Gangga water palace from Amed, so it’s a great day trip and you can combine it with other spots such as Lahangan Sweet.

Tirta Gangga palace is built in 1946 and is still owned by the royal Karangasem family. It features 1.2 hectare of ponds and fountains surrounded by tropical gardens and stone sculptures of mythical creatures. You can feed the Koi fish in some of the fish ponds and walk around the gardens to admire its beauty and the history. 

Book your east Bali tour including Tirta Gangga water palace here

Read in our complete guide everything about Tirta Gangga water palace

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Practical information about Tirta Gangga water palace

Getting there: From Amed it is only a 30 minute drive to Tirta Gangga water palace. You can perfectly combine it with a day trip to Lahangan Sweet and Taman Ujung which is in the same area. 

Entrance fee: The entrance fee for the Tirta Gangga Bali water gardens is 50.000 IDR per person for adults and 15.000 IDR for a child in 2022. Parking fee is 2000 IDR per vehicle.

Best time to go: Because there is little shadow around the gardens of the water palace it is highly recommended to go in the early morning. Otherwise it can get really hot in midday. If you combine a visit to the water place with a beach midday, such as Virgin beach, you can perfectly combine both.

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Snorkel at Japanese shipwreck

The Japanese wreck in Amed is next to the very well-known Liberty wreck in nearby Tulamben some of the best diving sites in Bali. However, if you are only into snorkeling, then you can easily do this yourself as the Japanese shipwreck is literally just off the beach in Banyuning Bay. Therefore it is very easy to snorkel to which also made it quite popular with tourists. If you don’t have snorkels yourself you can rent them down the beach. 

Book your snorkel experience to the Japanese Shipwreck here

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Hike to Les waterfall / Yeh Mempeh

Les waterfall, also known as Yeh Mempeh, is a beautiful hidden gem in the Buleleng regency in north Bali. Located in the small village of Tejakula you can find this untouched nature treasure where you can enjoy the beautiful waterfall and short hike. Les waterfall is about 50 meters high and consists of two parts of water flow. Unfortunately you can’t swim in a natural pool at Les waterfall because the water isn’t deep enough. But you can wade through the river and just relax and enjoy the beautiful nature surroundings. From Amed it is about an hour drive. But if you want to see something different than ocean and mountains, then exploring Les waterfall is a great thing to do from Amed.

Getting there: Les waterfall / Yeh Mempeh is located nearby Tejakula in Les village and is best visited when you stay in North Bali. There are signs along the main road near Tejakula so you can easily find the entrance of Les waterfall. Rent a scooter of find a private driver to bring you there.

Entrance fee: 10.000 IDR per person.

Best time to go: We always advice to go in the morning, but Les waterfall isn’t a popular tourist destination so you won’t have to worry about avoiding crowds later on the day.

Photo tip: Les waterfall is a great waterfall to capture with a long exposure. Stand in the river to create leading lines and try to capture the top part of the waterfall as well.

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Visit the Savana Tianyar viewpoint

The Savana Tianyar is still a bit of a hidden gem in Bali as it is far away from the popular tourist destinations. However, it is the closest you can get to the foot of Mount Agung with an impressive view. From Amed it is only a 45 minute drive to the viewpoint which is called Savana Tianyar or Savana Nusa on Google Maps. With the backdrop of Mount Agung you can capture some stunning photos here from different angles. During and after rainy season the grass is vibrant green and gives a completely different experience than during dry season. 

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Practical information Savana Tianyar

The Savana is located in far North Bali between Amed and Tejakula. The best time to go is in the early morning with sunrise because the volcano can get covered in clouds during the day. Therefore it is best to visit this spot when you’re staying in Amed. Otherwise it’s gonna be a long drive up north! There are two places on Google Maps which are named as Savana. Savana Tianyar and Savana Kubu. The difference is that Savana Tianyar is a big field of grass while at Savana Kubu an asphalt road runs through the field.

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Go scuba diving in Amed

Scuba diving is one of the most popular things to do in Amed. Especially the USS Liberty wreck in Tulamben is great place for diving. This dive site is even considered as one of the best sunken ship wrecks in the world! The interesting story about this shipwreck is that it was hit by a Japanese torpedo and then was beached at Tulamben. But during the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963 the vessel slipped off the beach and now lies on a sand slope in 9 to 30 meters deep water. The USS Liberty wreck is about 130 m long. The shallowest part lies at about 5 m deep and the deepest at about 30 meters. The best time to go diving here is early in the morning or late in the afternoon as the site can get very crowded. It is also an excellent place for a great night dive! 

Book your scuba diving experience in Amed here

Book your dive at the USS Liberty wreck and Tulamben Bay here

USS-liberty-shipwreck-Amed

Visit a salt farm in Amed

Something typical Bali is not only rice farming but also traditional salt harvesting. So if you want to learn more about how the Balinese make salt from sea water, then visit some of the salt farms at Amed village or Jemeluk. On the black sand beach you can see the salt farmer repetitively fetching seawater in palm leaf buckets on carrying poles. He then splashes them out onto the smoothened black sand where the salt begins to crystallise after several hours of drying. The salt crystals are then scraped off, collected and brought inside huts for the filtration and evaporation processes. Amed Bali Salt has been produced and consumed by the local community in Amed for hundreds of years and is known for its high quality and refined natural taste. 

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Visit Besakih temple

The Besakih temple is one of the six most holiest places of worship in Bali and also the biggest Hindu temple in Bali. Therefore it is also known as Bali’s mother temple. The complex has more than 86 clan temples and shrines and yearly more70 ceremonies take place at Besakih as each shrine has its own anniversary. Located on the slopes of Mount Agung you can have incredible views when visiting the temple. Make sure to arrive early to have the highest chance of clear volcano views. Don’t expect that you can just explore the complete complex of Besakih as some of the temples are more than 3 kilometre apart from each other. From Amed it is about 1,5 hour driving to Besakih temple, but you can easily combine it with some other points of interest along the way. You will pass Lahangan Sweet viewpointTirta Gangga water palace and Jagasatru waterfall. So you can easily combine these places during a day trip of exploring the area around Amed. 

Book your tour to Besakih temple and Lempuyang Luhur temple here

besakih temple

Hike to Jagasatru waterfall

Jagasatru waterfall is a hidden gem in the Sidemen area which is an hour drive from Amed. This 40 meter high waterfall is flanked by two high cliffs and can be accessed by going down steep stairs for about 5 minutes. Because it isn’t a popular tourist destination you can expect to be here alone. There is even a small purification area where locals pray and purify themselves. There isn’t a possibility to swim at the waterfall as there isn’t a pool which is deep enough. But nevertheless it’s a great opportunity to discover the nature in Sidemen area. You can perfectly combine this waterfall on your way to Besakih temple.

Jagasatru-waterfall

Watch sunrise at Bukit Cinta Mount Agung viewpoint

Bukit Cinta is located on a 30 minute drive from Amed and is an incredible sunrise viewpoint in Bali. It is basically a grass land with views on the rice fields with Mount Agung as backdrop. On a clear morning, you will have stunning views on the active volcano of Bali. Mount Agung is the highest and holiest peak of the island that stands at 3,031 meters above sea level. The first rays of light shining on the top of the volcano are magical. So if you’re up for an early adventure, you have to go to this amazing Bali viewpoint! There is no entrance fee for this spot and you can easily park along the road to get to this spot. 

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Explore Taman Ujung water palace

Another water palace in Karangasem is Taman Ujung. This former palace consists of beautiful historic buildings and various large pools. Built in 1909 and designed by a Dutch and Chinese architect the water palace is a combination of Balinese, Chinese and European architecture. It is one of the largest historical landmarks in Bali and a beautiful place to explore. In our opinion is Taman Ujung water palace even better and more beautiful than it’s sister Tirta Gangga water palace. So if you’re short in time then we recommend Taman Ujung instead of Tirta Gangga. 

Book your East Bali tour to Taman Ujung water palace here

Read in our complete guide about Taman Ujung water palace

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General information about Taman Ujung water palace

Getting there: From Sidemen it is a 45 minute drive to Taman Ujung water palace. You can perfectly combine it with a day trip to Virgin beach and Tirta Gangga which is in the same area. 

Entrance fee: The entrance fee for Taman Ujung water palace is s 75.000 IDR per person. If you have KITA’s it is 50.000 IDR per person. 

Best time to go: Because there is little shadow around the gardens of the water palace it is highly recommended to go in the early morning. Otherwise it can get really hot in midday. If you combine a visit to the water place with a beach midday, such as Virgin beach, you can perfectly combine both.

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Relax at Amed beach

In between all the exploring it is also important to slow down and enjoy the beach life. Luckily there is a long stretch of black sandy beach in Amed. There are plenty of warungs along the beach where you can buy drinks, food and relax on the bean bags. Note that along many of the beaches in Amed are fisher boats docked on the beach. But you can always find a spot to lay down and swim in the calm water. If it’s a clear day you can have wonderful views on Mount Agung from the beach.

Pantai Amed is also a great place to watch the sunrise from. With sunset, the sun will disappear behind Mount Agung giving you the opportunity to watch as well sunrise and sunset from Amed beach.

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Visit Lempuyang Temple 

The Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple has some of the best views on Mount Agung and is a super photogenic place with the two white gates. Also known as the ‘Gates of Heaven’, this sacred temple is a must visit in Bali. Throughout the years the Lempuyang temple has become a huge Instagram hit which makes it a very popular place to visit. Therefore you should take into account that it can be busy. An early visit to Lempuyang Temple is not only recommended to beat the crowds and be some of the first in line, but also to have the highest chance of having clear views on Mount Agung. During the day the volcano often disappears in the clouds. 

Book your tour to Lempuyang temple here

Practical information about Lempuyang Luhur temple

Getting there: From Amed it is a 30 minute drive to the temple. But after sunrise you can perfectly combine other spots in this area such as Tirta Gangga, Bukit Cinta, Taman Ujung and Virgin beach. 

Entrance fee: The entrance fee for Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple is 100.000 IDR per person. 

Best time to go: If you want to have clear views on Mount Agung volcano the best time to visit is early morning. Also considering its popularity you can expect there will be a line of people to take a picture. If you don’t like busy tourist places, then skip this place and go to Lahangan Sweet or Bukit Cinta instead. Also amazing viewpoints on Mount Agung but no temples. 

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Relax at Virgin beach

Virgin beach along the East coast is one of the best white sand beaches with crystal clear waters in Bali. So if you’re done with the black sand beaches in Amed, then you can perfectly pay a visit to Virgin beach. You can easily combine a visit to this beach after going to Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung water palace.

Tucked away in a gorgeous bay surrounded by green cliffs and waving palm trees, Virgin beach is pure treasure. The soft white sand and calm turquoise waters make it the perfect beach for swimming and relaxing. With warungs along the shore and enough options to rent sunbeds you can plan a full day of relaxing at Virgin beach.

Read in our complete guide everything about Virgin beach Bali

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More Bali travel inspiration

We hope you enjoyed this complete about the best things to do in Amed Bali.

For more Bali travel inspiration, head over to our other Bali travel guides.

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25 best waterfalls in Bali

10 best hikes in Bali

Best sunrise spots in Bali

25 best things to do in Sidemen

20 best things to do in Munduk

22 best things to do in Ubud

Mount Batur sunrise trekking

20 most beautiful viewpoints in Bali

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