Amed Indonesia – Your Quick Travel Guide
In a nutshell
A far cry from the bustling hubs of Ubud and Kuta, Amed is a string of small fishing towns in the north easterly parts of Bali. The quiet beaches and lively waters attract but a handful of tourists to the small villages. Should you be one of these tourists, you’re in for a special, inordinately authentic experience.
Why go to Amed
Beyond the pretty well known wreck diving and snorkelling opportunities, there is more than enough going on here to keep a restless soul content. Of course, you should definitely go do the wreck dive. It’s considered to be Bali’s number one dive site. You can snorkel it but you won’t see it all without the help of some oxygen strapped to your back. The amount of sea-life surrounding the wreck is phenomenal.
The Tirta Gangga water palace is sure to satisfy both photographers and those keen to dive into the cultural heritage of the area. This would be complemented well by a trek amidst the Amed countryside. If this walk has you wanting to do more, why not summit the highest point on the island and sample the views from the top. Mount Agung is well worth your time and effort in doing so.
Other absolute musts include the viewpoint of Jemeluk Bay, followed by a stroll on the black sanded beach itself. Kayaking in the sea and around the coves is a great way to spend a couple of hours, whereas cycling your way through the countryside is nothing short of spectacular and simply must be on your itinerary.
When to go to Amed
A trip to Amed is relatively unaffected by the wet and dry seasons. The temperature remains fairly constant throughout the year and will never have you stretching for your woollen jumper. Rather bring more bikinis, board shorts and sun screen – you’re sure to spend good chunk of your day in and around the shallow waters. The rainfall throughout the year is fairly moderate, only influencing the amount of tourists that roll through to the area during the wet season.
Where to stay in Amed
Amed is the first of the small villages that you pass through when approaching the coast from the west. The most popular of the villages that proceed Amed are Jemeluk, Bunutan and Lipah. There is relatively cheap accommodation in all of the villages. However, options do reduce the further you head east.
The cheapest rooms are available in Amed because of the level of competition in the village. Lily Amed in Amed was our favourite budgets spot. The rooms are basic but the scenery and service fantastic. You’ll have to pay around 180. 000 IDR a night. One can find homestays for less than this that aren’t registered online just with a stroll around the village. Spend a little more and you could have a spot at the Volcano Beach Bungalows. Beachside rooms with Wi-Fi – spectacular.
The flashpacker offerings can seem a little unworthy of their prices at points, what with insufficient attention to the details that you want to see when you’re paying 600,000 IDR. That being said, spots like Rising Star and Kembali Cottages in Jemeluk have decent offerings, picturesque pools and brilliant sea-side views.
Devoid of big-name hotels like the Hilton, high-end boutique resorts here have had a chance to thrive. Santai Resort in Bunutan has rooms priced at around 1,250,000 IDR. The rooms are reminiscent of Sulawesi architecture and the views from such are reminiscent of every postcard you’ve seen at curio shops along beach-sides. It’s fantastic. Groups and families would do well to check out Kampung Villas and the beachside house at Life in Amed. The prior will cost around 2,000,000, while the latter will set you back a substantial 4,500,000 IDR.
Where and what to eat in Amed
Being a strip of small bays with fishing boats the dot each beach, there is a big focus on seafood in the area. This is unlikely to have anyone complaining. The food scene in Amed is surprisingly diverse for an area that has only recently become more popular. Not only is there an array of beautiful warungs that can whip up brilliant takes on local dishes on beach side tables, there is also a large selection of western cuisine. There is also Hungarian cuisine – who would have thought? Fantastic burgers and ribs at The Grill, idyllic spots to have sundowners and a good few high-end spots to slap on your suit and treat your taste buds to some adventure. You won’t be left wanting here.
How to get around Amed
The ease with which you can get around Amed depends on how you feel about riding a motorbike. If you’re a fan of the wind in your hair, the tar, stones and dust rushing beneath your feet, then go ahead and get exploring. You can rent a bike from accommodations and a few rental spots around town. You won’t pay any more than 130, 000 IDR for a day.
Offering slightly less freedom but far more safety and security is the option to rent a car in Amed. You’ll have to pay around five times the price for an economical hatchback kind of car. Evaluate your budget and your priorities and make the call.
How to get there
How to get to and from
There are no scheduled bus routes to and from Amed in Bali. As such, travellers are left with two real options – the Perama shuttle bus service or a private taxi.
The prior of the two options will have you relying on having enough passengers to fill up the shuttle. This may mean waiting around for a bit or having to fork out a bit extra to make it worth the drivers while. As such it’s probably a good idea to book your trip the day before. This way you’ll have a guaranteed seat and you’ll know if the bus is actually running. Book your ticket at the Perama office in Amed. You can get to the airport for 175,000 IDR, to Ubud for the same price, and will even be able to stretch your trip through to Kuta for the same cost. The closer destinations of Padang Bai and Candi Dasa will set you back 100, 000 IDR.
There are several tourist agencies around the town that offer ‘private’ shuttle services to the same destinations at the Perama service. If you decide to use one of these services, you’ll have to haggle to get a price that is competitive and won’t have the security of the Perama name. On the positive though, you’ll be able to organise a trip outside of the times that the Perama service is running.
If you need to leave in somewhat of a hurry, can’t find people who need to go where you’re heading, or are lucky enough to not have to worry about the inflated price of a private service, then you can organise a private car through to where you’re going. At the very least, you’ll be paying double the rate of the shuttle busses for these journeys.
You can also get to Amed directly form the Gili islands. However, it must be said that the operators are nothing short of reckless. Boats can be overloaded, have had breakdowns in the past and have even sunk on occasion. Misleading and dismissive boat operators is sadly just another negative. On the positive, you can be in Amed within 40 minutes and for less than 300,000 IDR.
Is Amed a safe place to visit?
There is little to concern yourself about when it comes to keeping safe on your trip in Amed. As a general rule, the further you move away from the more touristy areas, the safer things get. The worst you are likely to be confronted by is an overzealous salesman or a moderately crafty transport tout. In encounters with such people it’s good to be firm rather than kind. Your kindness can be regarded as invitation to manipulate you or continue whatever pitch they are delivering.