Having lived near the Canggu area for the past three years, I occasionally find myself longing for serene escapes, away from the hustle and bustle. Canggu is vibrant and full of energy, perfect for daily life, but there are times when I crave a break from the tourist crowds—to immerse in nature, savor peaceful moments, and still enjoy the charm of a Bali town without the need to queue or navigate through traffic. Adrien and I have our favorite weekend getaways: Bedugul, Munduk, and, most recently, Amed. The three-hour drive from Canggu to Amed Bali was well worth it, as we were greeted by stunning views and the calm, welcoming atmosphere of this tranquil town.

Amed, Bali has been long known as the best diving spot on the island and one of the most peaceful destinations in Bali, perfect for travelers seeking a more laid-back and authentic Balinese experience. The charming coastal area is located on the northeastern tip of the island. It is located in Karangasem Regency, not far from other main tourist destinations in Karangasem such as Candidasa, Taman Ujung, and Tirta Gangga. I’ve explored those wonderful places on different occasions and I think you should go there too when you have time. Check this out for a guide to explore Karangasem. Meanwhile, The Padang Bai harbour can be reached from Amed for 1 hour and 20 minutes (if you wanna go from Amed to Gili).

How to go to Amed, Bali?

We drove our car from Canggu for 3 hours. It was supposed to be a 2,5 hours ride but along the way from Candidasa toward Amed, there was a truck accident so we got stuck in the traffic jam for half an hour. On the way back from Amed, there was a short congestion in several spots as well, so my suggestion if you plan your trip to Amed, Bali is best to have more time to be on the road.

There is no public transport to Amed so the best way to get there is to rent a car (with or without a driver) or a scooter. The other option is to take the Perama Tour shuttle bus. It’s a shared transport service you can use while traveling alone or on a budget. The shuttle bus departs from various points such as Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, and Canggu to Amed, Bali daily. The cost is varied depends on the departure point you choose. For instance, if you depart from Canggu, the shuttle bus ticket is 275.000 Rupiah per person.

Where to stay in Amed, Bali?

We stayed for 3 days and 2 nights in Sama Villa, a newly opened Mediterranean-styled villa located at the beginning of Jalan Melasti in Amed, Bali. I needed to stay in a comfy place since we traveled with our baby and my mom, and Sama Villa checked all of my boxes. Their loft room was very nice. It’s very spacious, with a double bed on the ground floor and a single bed on the upper floor. The aircon was also working well so we could stay in the room when we wanted to cool off from the heat of Amed, Bali.

The villa has a cute small pool that you can dip your feet into it or even swim, and pretty cool for chilling in the evening, also equipped with a rooftop space and a dining space. They don’t cook but we could order from the restaurant across the street and it got delivered to the dining area every morning.

We loved staying in Sama Villa although it’s not located right on the beach. To get to Melasti Beach, the nearest beach, it took us 10 minutes walk.

Another hotel/ lodge I want to try is Mathis Lodge Amed. I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about it. Probably we will stay there on the next visit to Amed, Bali.

Where to eat in Amed, Bali?

Honestly, I didn’t get much chance to explore the culinary scene in Amed, Bali. Most of the time we went to a restaurant across our villa, Good Stuff. As its name suggests, they provide only good & healthy stuff here, mostly Western food such as burgers, smoothie bowls, pancakes, meat skewers, seafood skewers, and steak, and some Indonesian food such as mie goreng and nasi goreng.

At another time, I went to a bar/ restaurant on a cliff overlooking the ocean and Lipah Beach. The view was truly stunning but sorry, I can’t share with you guys the name of this place cause I forgot the name hehe…

Things to see & do in Amed, Bali

From majestic Mount Agung on one side to lovely black sand beaches, Amed, Bali has a lot to offer us. I could see myself coming back someday to spend a week life in Amed, savoring the peaceful moments and immersing in nature with my family.

1. Explore the black sand beaches

Amed has some of the most stunning black sand beaches in Bali: Melasti, Jemeluk, Lipah, Selang, Ibus, and Amed Beach.

We went to Melasti Beach on the night so we didn’t see much but Jemeluk and Lipah were very pretty! I love how tranquil it was, totally different from the vibes I felt on the South Bali beaches. Lipah and Jemeluk also looked the same as the last time I visited Amed, Bali in 2013. Clean and quiet. There was a row of traditional boats that were being used by the local fishermen to catch fish. Jemeluk Beach is a popular spot for snorkeling with its coral reefs and diverse marine life.  While not snorkeling, you could sit in one of the beachside warungs, sipping coconut or fresh juice while sunbathing, or wander around the little fishing village. On top of that, we enjoyed the stunning turquoise water of Lipah Beach from a bar on the cliff.

2. Diving

Diving and snorkeling are the main reasons travelers go to Amed, Bali. You can dive into Amed Reef, a popular spot that is known for its warm shallow waters and breathtaking underwater scenery. It’s great for both beginner divers and more experienced divers. The other exciting option is the USAT Liberty Shipwreck, just off the shoreline at the village of Tulamben. This ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine during World War II and, since then has transformed into an incredible artificial reef, covered in coral and teeming with sea life. You can find everything from huge shoals of fish to turtles and seahorses. Best of all, it is easily accessible from the shore, making it a great dive for beginners.

3. Hiking Mount Agung

I can see how majestic Mount Agung is from the rooftop of our villa in Amed, Bali!

Enjoying the stunning view of Mount Agung from Amed, Bali is nice but hiking to its summit is another level. The highest volcano in Bali is located relatively close to Amed, Bali, about 25 to 30 kilometers southwest of Amed, and can be reached by driving for 1 to 1,5 hours. To hike to the summit, it will take 6-7 hours. You can do it with the help of a guide.

If you prefer to savor the beauty of Mount Agung from afar, please head to Lahangan Sweet Viewpoint. This incredible viewpoint offers outstanding sights of the mighty Mount Agung volcano. Nestled atop a lush hill adorned with a canopy of trees, this spot is straight out of a postcard.

There are plenty more viewpoints facing Mount Agung, but I think that Lahangan Sweet offers the best, most varied and impressive views of the highest volcano in Bali. The great thing about Lahangan Sweet viewpoint is that you can watch the sunrise and sunset here.

It’s located near Amed and can be reached by driving for 30 minutes. The entrance fee to the area is 30.000 Rupiah (± 2 USD) per person.

4. Watch Sunset

If you’re a sunset lover, don’t miss to witness the stunning sunset in Jemeluk bay. From Sunset Point in Jemeluk bay, you will seethe whole bay spread before you, while in the background, Bali’s holy mountain, Mount Agung, shimmers in light.

5. Tirta Gangga Water Palace

40 minutes away from Amed, Bali is Tirta Gangga Water Palace, a place worth visiting while visiting Amed. Arguably the most iconic place of Karangasem, Bali after Lempuyang Temple. Tirta Gangga is a former Karangasem royal water palace that turned out to be tourists’ favorite water garden. You must have seen the famous Instagram photo of someone posing in a maze of beautiful pools while feeding a group of koi fish. People come to Tirta Garden to admire its unique mix of Balinese and Chinese architecture, enjoy a tranquil atmosphere, and spoil their eyes with its beautiful pools.

Its name was taken from the Sanskrit word “Tirta” which means water, and Gangga is taken from the holy river in India, the Ganges. The one-hectare complex was built in 1946 by the late King of Karangasem but was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963. Tirta Gangga is considered a sacred site for Balinese Hindus, and its holy water is regularly used for religious ceremonies.

3 days and 2 nights is not enough for me to taste how tranquil life is in Amed, Bali. Someday, we will be back, maybe for a week in Bali’s high seasons so we could escape the bustling life in the South. I hope we can!

Curious about my adventures in Europe and America ?. You can click the following links to see my traveling videos that have aired on Net TV :

1. Desa Hallstatt, Desa dengan Arsitektur Klasik di Pinggir Danau
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