If you are looking for a blissful break from the busy destinations in Bali, Amed is the place for you. Amed, Bali is a stretch of coastal villages in the east of the famous Indonesian island.
Relaxed, friendly and charmingly modest, there’s a slow pace of life here. However there’s world-class scuba diving and other activities on offer. While other parts of the island have become popular, Amed remains known as the ‘real Bali‘. As the best spot without tourists, it’s a must-visit on your Bali trip.
I spent two months exploring Bali, including 10 days in Amed. Like many people, I ended up spending longer than planned in this peaceful area. Read on to discover where to stay in Amed and all the best things to do here.
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Is Amed, Bali worth visiting?
Amed is one of those places where you come for 1-2 days and end up staying for a week. I met other travellers who experienced the same thing. Disarmingly relaxed and slow-paced, it’s a great place to unwind and appreciate the simple joys and life around you. It’s enjoyed by families as well as digital nomads. Along with the world-class scuba diving, this is one of many reasons why Amed in Bali is worth visiting.
Amed is actually a series of fishing villages dotted over nine miles (14 km) along the east coast of Bali. The villages are called Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Lean, Selang, Banyuning and Aas. If you’re wondering where to go in Amed and where to stay in each of the villages, read on.
Buy the excellent Lonely Planet Bali guide book and prepare for your trip.
Where to stay in Amed, Bali
Even though it’s one of Bali’s more off-the-beaten-track locations, there are many great places to stay in Amed. Accommodation is available for all budgets, from beautiful beach resorts to villas, hotels, Airbnbs and homestays. As mentioned, Amed, it is actually a series of eight coastal villages. I’ll introduce them below, from west to east, and share some of the best accommodation options in each village.
Amed village
The eponymous Amed village has the longest beach and stunning views of Mount Agung. Here, you’ll find a wide range of accommodation options.
Stay at the divine Amed Beach Resort, which has an outdoor swimming pool, friendly staff and live music. Other top-rated hotels in Amed village include the superb Amed Beach Villa, which has an infinity pool and panoramic views. The Hotel Uyah Amed Spa Resort doubles as a dive centre.
Budget hotels in Amed village include the Mango 5 Hotel close to Amed beach. It has a sensational swimming pool and well kitted-out rooms, making it a good choice for couples.
For solo travellers looking for the best hostels in Amed, check out the Black Sand Hostel near Amed beach. It offers garden and mountain views, coffee machines, natural toiletries and a homemade vegan breakfast.
Check out the latest availability and prices from this great selection of accommodation in Amed.
Jemeluk
Jemeluk is a 15 minute walk from Amed village. I liked this village with its charming homestays close to lovely restaurants with friendly staff. It’s one of the best places to find yoga in Amed. Here, you can also find the ferry terminal where you can catch fast boats to the gorgeous Gili Islands.
I recommend the fabulous Dharma Yoga. We stayed in this spacious, sunny and affordable homestay with reliable WiFi connection, managed by the delightful manager, Ketut. The upstairs rooms have a large balcony overlooking the sea and every day we enjoyed the glorious sunrises.
Alternatively, try the wonderful Bamboo Bali bungalows , which each have their own hammock and terrace with impressive views. Another good option is the Jemeluk Beach Bungalows.
Yoga lovers will adore the beachfront Ocean Prana Village hostel. As well as rustic wooden huts and spacious dorms, it has yoga classes, a swimming pool and an on-site restaurant. The nearby Apneista Bali Freediving and Yoga School also runs yoga classes and has a lovely organic cafe.
Other places to go in the area include the rustic, open air Blue Earth Village. It has an eclectic, vegetarian-friendly menu, jaw-dropping views and a beautiful yoga deck. Meanwhile, the Jemeluk Viewpoint is an ideal spot to watch the sunset as you dine.
Bunutan
Places to stay in Bunutan village include the Santai Hotel Amed. It has rustic cabins set in a tropical garden and offers spa treatments. A good hotel option is the Amed Dream Ibus Beach Club hotel, which has a private beach.
The superb Bali Dream House has elegant villas and an outdoor pool. Meanwhile the Apa Kabar Villas have beautiful modern Balinese decor. The Kampung is an exceptional high-end resort in Bunutan, with luxurious wooden villas.
For Balinese massages and spa treatments, try the Om Shanti Spa or the Bamboo Sweet Spa. If you’re looking for a fun place to enjoy a Bintang beer and music, check out Bunutan village’s Peace Bar.
Lipah
Lipah beach has warm black sand and fantastic snorkelling. However, be aware that there are jellyfish in the area.
Places to stay here include the superb beachfront Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa, which has two swimming pools. You could also try the fabulous and highly-rated luxury Griya Villas and Spa. The Hidden Paradise Cottages have spacious, well-appointed bungalows surrounded by tropical gardens and an on-site beachfront restaurant.
Another good place to stay in Lipah is Waeni’s Sunset View Hotel & Restaurant. At their on-site restaurant they’ll serve you large portions and happy hour drinks.
Lean
For a slice of luxury, check out the 4-star Life in Amed boutique hotel in Lean village. This top-rated hotel has a restaurant and a fabulous outdoor pool.
As well as swimming and sunbathing on Lean’s tranquil beach, you can dine at the Sails restaurant. It’s popular for its outstanding food and magnificent sea views.
Selang
The scenic Selang Beach is known for its beautiful coral reef and is another good spot for snorkelling and diving. For tasty food in a relaxed setting, try the catch of the day at the local Green Melon Warung.
The Aquaterrace Amed hotel is Bali’s answer to an Ibiza-style boutique retreat. It has hillside and beachside rooms, an infinity pool and a fabulous restaurant. The Blue Moon Villas Resort is another popular choice.
The beachfront Good Karma Bungalows is an excellent place to stay in Selang if you’re on a budget. Its bamboo bungalows and villas have private terraces with views of the beach and gardens. There is an onsite restaurant and two swimming pools, as well as yoga and water sports facilities.
Banyuning
About 5 miles or 8km southwest of Amed village is the fishing village of Banyuning. Here you can find the sandy Ibus beach and the nearby Japanese Ship Wreck Point. This is a wonderful and unique place to snorkel. Trattoria Amed is a popular local Italian restaurant.
Places to stay in Banyuning include the excellent Villa Infinite Horizon, which has an infinity pool and panoramic sea views. The nearby Nalini Resort has a wonderful private beach area, swimming pool, yoga classes, cooking classes and a vegan-friendly restaurant. A private chef is on hand to prepare a candlelit seafood barbecue dinner on the beach.
Aas
Amed’s final village of Aas is all about total relaxation. The superb Villa Sky Dancer is a hidden paradise hotel run by all-female staff. The four rooms have their own flatscreen TVs and hot tubs, and there’s a lovely outdoor pool and restaurant.
Yoga fans will adore the peaceful Meditasi Bungalows & Villas. Take classes at the on-site Buddha Sunset Yoga centre and enjoy organic food at their Smiling Buddha restaurant.
These are the most awesome things to do in Amed, Bali
Sunbathe on black sand beaches
One of the main things you’ll notice when you’re in Amed is the imposing Mount Agung. This is Bali’s highest volcano and dominates the backdrop. Head to Amed beach for awe-inspiring views of this impressive peak.
Look down and you will see there is volcanic black sand under your feet. Sunbathing on this black sand is one of the most popular things to do in Amed during the day.
Other black sand beaches in the area include Lipah Beach and Jemeluk Beach. At the latter you can enjoy a Bintang beer at a local Amed warung called Sunset Point.
This popular Amed day trip includes time to relax on the beach.
Go snorkelling with vibrant marine life
Amed is renowned for its snorkelling. If you’re at one of Amed’s beaches, why not explore the coastline’s many pretty underwater spots. The unspoiled coral and colourful marine life make this area an underwater paradise, even if you’re a novice snorkeller.
Jemeluk Bay is a well-reputed snorkelling location thanks to its vibrant marine life and its incredible underwater temple and sculptures. Other popular areas to snorkel include Lipah Beach which has many vivid coral formations.
Enjoy one of the premier snorkelling spots in the world on this Amed snorkelling adventure.
Explore one of the world’s best shipwreck dive sites
A 35 minute drive from Amed is Tulamben. This is home to the USAT Liberty (better known as USS Liberty) shipwreck. It’s known as one of the world’s top scuba diving sites. The best thing is, it’s even suitable for total beginners.
A Japanese submarine torpedoed this US Army cargo ship during World War II. Its remains originally lay on the beach. When Mount Agung erupted two decades later, the tremors caused the shipwreck to slip into the sea.
As it is still in relatively shallow waters, it’s easily accessible if you’re learning to scuba dive in Amed. There are several dive shops in the area so you have plenty to choose from. If you are looking for somewhere blissful to stay in Tulamben, check out the wonderful Bali Dive Resort & Spa.
It had been one of my ambitions to explore a shipwreck and it was truly a magical experience. The ship’s dark iron skeleton is now home to an abundance of marine life. We even swam inside the wreckage.
After the Liberty wreck, we went to an Amed scuba diving site known as the Tulamben drop-off. This is a sheer wall covered in colourful coral. We were treated to a rare sighting of a school of large silver bumphead fish. They were on their way to rest in the wreck for the evening.
Reserve your place on this dive trip to Tulamben’s shipwreck. Never scuba dived before? This beginners diving experience is for you.
If you’re feeling adventurous, Amed freediving is also renowned in Bali. Visit one of the area’s freediving centres such as the Apneista Bali Freediving and Yoga School in Jemeluk. Here you’ll get full guidance on how to safely descend into the water without equipment.
Celebrate the Balinese festivals
While I was in Amed, the locals were preparing for the Galungan festival, one of Bali’s most significant religious ceremonies. I chatted to a guy who was creating a penjor. This is a beautiful decorated bamboo pole arching over the street, laden with gifts and offerings for the spirits.
Extended families from all over the country are reunited for this important event in the Balinese calendar. Our homestay owner Ketut kindly offered to lend us a motorbike and visit her family temple for the festival. We dressed in traditional Balinese sarongs that we’d bought from local shops and they welcomed us in. Here, we watched the women in their colourful lace and sashes carry plentiful offerings of food and flowers.
Chill out with the locals and dance to reggae bands
You may be wondering, what is Amed, Bali like in everyday life? Well, life in Amed is super laid-back but it has an entrepreneurial spirit. A group of friendly local guys told us that many of them have several jobs supporting the area’s tourism. Don’t be surprised if you recognise your taxi driver serving dinner at a restaurant in Amed. Or perhaps you’ll spot your scuba diving instructor later than night performing on stage in a reggae band.
If you’re ever wondering what to do in Amed, ask one of the locals. They are well-connected and sure to be able to help you. One day during our stay, we were invited to the launch party for a new bar in a neighbouring village. We wandered up the road to find locals and tourists dancing all night to the band’s cool reggae grooves. They made us feel really welcome and we enjoyed this taste of Amed’s nightlife.
Visit a peaceful and pretty water palace
Thirty minutes’ drive from Amed is the Tirta Gangga water palace. This pretty place is a former royal palace in eastern Bali. It’s named after the sacred river Ganges, which flows through India and Bangladesh.
Here, you can wander around the peaceful gardens and fountains. We enjoyed hopping between paving stones, like lily pads, across the main pond.
Check out this top-rated Amed day trip including an unforgettable visit to the Tirta Gangga Water Palace.
Discover more blissful things to do in Amed, Bali
Take your time and enjoy a relaxing massage in Amed’s spas. They include the Om Shanti Spa and the Bamboo Sweet Spa, both in Bunutan village.
If you’re a fan of yoga studios, the best places for yoga in Amed include Apneista Bali in Jemeluk. In this village, there’s also the Ocean Prana freediving and yoga school. In Aas, check out the Blue Earth Village and Buddha Sunset Yoga.
Otherwise, you can simply spend your time relaxing and dining in Amed’s tempting restaurants, organic cafes and local warungs. Often you’ll dine to the sounds of live music played by local reggae bands.
How to get to Amed, Bali
The most convenient way to go to Amed in east Bali is by taxi. It is 60 miles or almost 100km from Bali’s international airport in Denpasar to Amed. The journey takes about two and a half hours by car. You can avoid hassle at the airport by booking your private transfer in advance.
From Ubud to Amed, it’s about 45 miles (just over 70km) and around 2.5 hours by taxi, depending on traffic.
Where to go next after Amed, Bali
Amed is the perfect location to catch a fast boat to the Gili islands. This is a popular destination loved by backpackers for their chilled-out scene, fun parties and famous sea-swing.
Departing from Jemeluk bay, the fast boats operated by Freebird Express leave daily at 9:30am. The fast boat from Amed to Gili Trawangan only takes an hour. This is quicker than other boat routes from Bali to Gili. To Gili Air it’s 1.5 hours. The boat’s final stop is at Lombok, two hours by fast boat from Amed. The price for boat tickets is around €33 one way or €65 return.
You can read my full backpackers’ guide to Gili Trawangan.
Next up, discover more perfect destinations that will make you fall in love with Bali.
You definitely should – it’s such a lovely laid back part of the island. Hope you’re enjoying life in Chiang Mai!
If I go back to to Bali i will have to stay there. I stayed in bad part of Bali (kuta beach. This area you wrote about looks amazing!