Keen on exploring the best things to do in Amed Bali? In this post, we’ll go into what makes Amed special, and why its a paradise for culture, diving and nature lovers alike.
The promise of the unspoiled black-sandy beaches in Amed is still somewhat of a Bali secret. Besides the beaches, Amed is also a scuba divers paradise, making it the top spot to visit and go diving or snorkeling. With Mount Agung seemingly disappearing in the ocean, Amed has enough things to do to fill a weekend away, a trip I had to take!
(Updated November 2024)
Best Experiences & Things to Do in Amed Bali
Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Karangasem
As a former royal palace, it features a wonderful green garden, fountains and an array of carvings depicting mystical creatures. The place is a mix of Chinese and Balinese culture and offers some fantastic photography opportunities – if you can beat the crowds!
The large pond right near the entrance with its golden koi fish is the most popular spot for everybody visiting. There are plates in the pond on which you can wander through it, as well as feed the fish. Once the fish come close to you, you can snap some nice pictures.
To actually enjoy the place, I’d suggest coming early morning as soon as they open. We visited Lempuyang temple first and arrived at maybe 10 am – too late already!
As a first-time Bali visitor, I recommend booking a full-day East Bali tour that allows you to tick off some of the best spots – including Tirta Ganga, Lempuyan Temple and many others on the way! East Bali and its main sights are far from each other, so if you want to make the most out of your visit, this tour will cut it!
Pura Lempuyang Temple
Located on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang, this place is often referred to as the ‘Gates of Heaven’. The main photography spot that everybody is lining up here for, is between the gates, where you got the view of Mt. Agung.
A man and his mirror changed this place like no other in Bali. What seems to be a fountain or small pond is, in reality, nothing more than a small mirror, cleverly placed in front of a camera.
Despite the illusion, the area is a paradise for taking photos of Balinese architecture, offerings and its magical surroundings.
Lempuyang is Bali’s mother temple and therefore the holiest of them all. The way up is steep and the whole area is bigger than one might expect. When I was there in 2018, there was a big ceremony happening. Hundreds of Balinese flooded into the place. All of them were dressed in white, women carried massive offerings on their hats and the temple was gloriously decorated.
So on one side, it was amazing to see, on the other hand, I couldn’t explore the grandeur of the temple area.
For an alternative spot to take some great snaps, head down through the Gates. The views are as good and you certainly don’t have to line up.
I’d so recommend you include a culture tour that visits Lempuyang Temple on your trip to Bali, just make sure to be there early!
If you aren’t comfortable driving a scooter to East Bali, I recommend hiring a local driver for the trip so you can cruise around safely.
Sunset Point
Amed’s rugged coastline changes altitude and makes it the perfect scenery for some great landscape photography. Only a 10-minute drive from Amed Beach, you can find yourself high on top at Sunset Point. A low-key local bar, serving basic food and cheap drinks – views are priceless.
The views of Jemeluk Bay and Mt Agung are incredible. The approaching sunset made for some nice layer landscape photos.
As it’s Bali, chances are high you will experience a fantastic sunset – similar to this one.
Amed Beach
Unlike the white-sandy beaches found in other parts of Bali, Amed Beach is known for its volcanic black sand. The coastline is dotted with traditional fishing boats known as jukungs, adding to the picturesque charm of the area.
As you already drove to a laidback beach town, I’d recommend staying in a place with an ocean view. This step will also make it easier to get up in the morning and see the sunrise on the beach. Jumping out of bed and watching the sunrise was never easier!
For me, the best spot for capturing Agung volcano is right near Classic Beach Villa. The sky was changing by the second and literally reminded me of a rainbow.
The fishermen returned with their catch, just in time when local woman seeking them to buy a bag off of them.
It was a spectacle, to the right you got that rainbow turning into an orange sunrise. Whereas to the left you had candy-floss clouds, looking like they’ve been painted in the sky. Mount Agung took on shape, as well as a pinkish hue.
Amed Bali Diving
One of the main reasons I wanted to head to Amed was to go diving. One of Bali’s most renowned dive sites and competitive prices sounded intriguing.
Indeed I have rarely seen a coral reef that was so healthy and the variety of fish was outstanding. With a visibility of 20 meters and a temperature of 28 ° degrees, diving in Amed Bali is something you have to try!
You’ve got a couple of great dive sites near and in Amed – two of them being a shipwreck. However, the more popular one is the WWII shipwreck in Tulamben is apparently very worth seeing. If you’re up for the adventure dive, I suggest booking this Scuba Diving at Tulamben Tour including a tasty lunch to refuel.
The most photographic dive site worth mentioning is called Pyramid. It’s an artificial reef made up of three-meter-high, hollow concrete pyramids. In between, we spotted a green moray, a huge pufferfish, various scorpionfish, and a blue octopus.
The second dive site and major photography spot is called Jemeluk. Right in front of Jemeluk Beach, you have a sandy bottom that leads to a 45-metre wall. During this dive, we encountered massive fan corals shimmering in pink. Straight out of a fairytale!
Also, ask your dive instructor to show you the motorbike – so much fun to have a ride!
If scuba diving isn’t your thing, but you’re keen to go snorkeling in Amed Bali I recommend booking a snorkeling tour to see the underwater world this way.
Both dive sites are shore dives and can easily be done in the morning. For our diving in Amed Bali, we chose Born To Dive and paid 800K IDR for both dives.
Best Hotels in Amed Bali
Classic Beach Villa in Amed, located steps away from Amed Beach, offers a sustainable guest house experience with a pool featuring sea views. Meanwhile, the beachfront property includes a family-friendly restaurant, terrace, free private parking, and WiFi. Accommodations feature private bathrooms with walk-in showers, some with fully equipped kitchens.
Aquaterrace Amed provides a seaside retreat with panoramic views of the Bali Sea. The resort offers a choice between hill-side and beach-side units, each with its own pool and spa. The on-site restaurant serves Japanese, Asian, and international dishes with the option of in-room meal delivery.
Book The Best Hotels in Amed Bali
Restaurants in Amed Bali
Right on Amed Beach is a place called Reggae Bar. Its a pretty relaxed joint (the name says it all), and the food is decent, a mix of Indonesian and Western food. The atmosphere was pretty good, with lots of people relaxing on the sun chairs.
Other things to do in Amed Bali – Day Trip to Candidasa
On the way back to Canggu, we thought, why not take the scenic route? So we headed towards Candidasa and passed countless rural villages and the most stunning coastline. During the whole drive, we could see Lombok in the distance.
If you leave Amed early enough you can easily squeeze a visit of Virgin Beach in. Both are stunning, white-sandy beaches featuring turquoise water – another great opportunity for some beach photography.
Another one of the amazing things to do in Amed and East Bali is the Lotus Lagoon. This local landmark features 1000’s magenta and fuchsia-coloured lotuses and makes a really unique photo backdrop. And, it’s free to visit!
Have you read my other articles on what to do in Bali?
One of the best trips for divers to take from Bali : Budget Scuba Diving in Komodo – What You Need To Know
Looking for the best beaches in Bali Uluwatu to visit and swim, this post will show you where to go!
My Top Experience To Do in Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
When in Bali you should also visit its neighboring island Sumba: Sumba, The 20 Most Amazing Places to See
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