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Refers to the coastal area alongside the village of Culik including the seven villages of Amed, Aas, Banyuning, Selang, Lipah, Bunutan, and Jemeluk. Life there is calm and easy going and the landscape uniquely beautiful, making Amed the perfect place for chilled-out holidays in Bali.
Amed has known a rather recent touristic development. Tar has been laid out on the roads in 2000. Phone lines have been installed in 2003 and a bridge was built to prevent the main road to be flooded during the rainy season only in 2007.
If Amed is the place to go to in Bali to do some wonderful diving, it doesn’t mean that it is the only interesting thing to do around here. This Northeastern part of Bali is one of the most authentic in the whole of the island of Gods. Here, you will get to see the Balinese culture up close, from a culinary side, a spiritual side, and a arts and craft side.
Amed is a quiet small place on the beach, where the main source of revenue for locals is fishing. It is truly beautiful to take a walk on the beach at sundown, along all the traditional Balinese fishing boats, called jukungs. Watching the sun set behind the mighty Mount Agung truly is a fantastic sight to behold, especially with a cold beer, a nice cocktail, or a freshly pressed fruit juice in your hand.
Another option you have to watch the sunset and get mind-blown is to go up the hill, about 5 minutes away by scooter from Abyss Dive Center Bali, and choose one of the bars to sit down and have a bird’s view of Jemeluk bay, Mount Agung, and the sun setting, turning the sky pink, orange and gold. It would be a shame to miss such a show!
Some places even offer yoga classes at sunset, the perfect way to relax while beholding one of the most beautiful landscapes in Bali.
During the day, you have several ways to fill your schedule. You can for instance start at sunrise, the roosters will let you know when that happens, and arrange with a local fisherman to go fishing with him. As the boat departs, around 5.15, 5.30 in the morning, you’ll watch the sunrise while the fishing master sets out the lines. You’ll enjoy a sunrise cruise in one of Amed’s bays while hoping to catch breakfast. Any fish you get is yours to keep. If you get too much, feel free to share your catch with your guide of the day. You can then find an accommodating warung to cook your fish for a small fee. And if you don’t catch anything, well, you’ll have enjoyed a nice boat trip with incredible lighting.
You don’t feel like just going for a simple snorkel after you’ve enjoyed the wonders of diving in Bali? Then there are two places you must go to be able to say you’ve been around Amed. The first one is the Water Gardens of Tirta Gangga.
Located less than half an hour away by scooter from Abyss Dive Center Bali, these traditional water gardens have a great significance for Balinese people. The name means Water from the Ganges, the sacred river of Hindus. It was built in 1948 by the Raja of Karangasem but was almost completely destroyed during the 1963 eruption of Mount Agung. Fortunately for us, and for you, it was completely rebuilt and has stood straight ever since. This sacred place is a maze of fountains and terraces among which you can roam for about an hour. The centerpiece of it is a 9 stories high fountain feeding a pond full of Koi carps on which you can walk, thanks to the paving stones scattered across it. Don’t forget your swimsuit if you go visit these gardens, a pool of spring water is open to all visitors and will allow you to cool down nicely.
The other touristic hotspot of the Amed region is the Pura Lempuyang temples. Also located less than half an hour away from Abyss Dive Center Bali, this temple is one of the most popular in Bali, and one of the oldest ones. Some people come to Amed just to see it! It is the highest temple in the area, so try to go and visit it before you go diving in Amed. When arriving at the temple, you’ll be able to enter by making a donation to the temple. If you think of it, take a sarong or a piece of cloth to cover your legs and shoulders. If you don’t, you will be lent one upon arrival.
If you want to visit the whole group of temples, half a day will be necessary. Indeed, the last of the 7 temples takes 4 hours to reach, and you’ll have to climb 1700 steps. However, if you don’t feel up to it, you can ask one of the locals to take you with their motorbike. If you do want to do the climb, don’t forget to take water and sun protection with you.
This temple is really worth stopping by, it is surrounded by nature, built on the top of a mountain covered with a jungle inhabited by macaques. The most famous part of it is its entrance gate, through which you have a spectacular view on Mount Agung.
There you have it, the perfect itinerary to enjoy the surroundings of Amed while visiting. If you have any questions regarding these attractions, don’t hesitate to ask us when coming diving at Abyss Dive Center Bali.
After this early start, the day is yours to explore the area. One piece of advice, rent a scooter in one of the many places that rent them daily to tourists and go get lost in the countryside. Beautiful rice paddy terraces surround Amed. Their bright green is without equal. You can also go along the coast to explore the many beaches of Amed. Jemeluk, Lipah, Bunutan, there are many for you to go laze around on. If you feel like it, rent some snorkeling gear and go have a look at the Japanese wreck of Lipah, the Pyramids of Amed, or the underwater post office of Jemeluk.