Amed
A string of quiet black-sand fishing villages in Bali's dry east, where Mount Agung looms over water full of coral just metres from the outrigger boats.
- Best forDivers & snorkellers · Couples · Wellness & slow travel
- In December30°C · 25 rainy days · sea 31°C
- Ideal stay3-4 nights
- Approx. flying time~17h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyIDRIndonesian rupiah
- LanguageIndonesian
- Local time19:127h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+62
Why go
Bali's dry eastern coast is a line of black sand coves and fishing hamlets under the bulk of Mount Agung, with outrigger boats drawn up on the shingle and coral starting a few metres offshore. There is no strip and very little to do after dark, which is the appeal. Mornings go to diving and snorkelling, afternoons to a hammock, and evenings to grilled fish and an early night.
Three or four nights fits neatly into a wider Bali trip, longer if you are diving daily. Tulamben and its wreck are twenty minutes north, the rice terraces of Sidemen lie inland, and the ferry to Lombok and the Gili islands leaves from Padangbai. The dry season, roughly April to October, gives the clearest water. Anyone wanting soft white sand, nightlife or spa resorts should stay in the south.
- Ideal stay
- 3-4 nights
- The vibe
- Black sand, early nights, volcano views
From our guides
The Japanese shipwreck at Banyuning sits shallow enough to snorkel, and the house reefs of Jemeluk bay are alive again after years of restoration. Life here is early nights, dawn dives and grilled fish — Bali with the volume turned right down.
Featured in Ten snorkelling beaches with reefs right off the sand
Things to do
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Jemeluk Bay
The house reef starts in the shallows and drops to a wall, with an underwater sculpture and temple garden that has grown a coral cover of its own.
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The Japanese wreck
A small patrol boat lies in shallow water close to shore at Banyuning, coral covered and reachable with a snorkel rather than a tank.
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USAT Liberty at Tulamben
One of the most accessible wrecks anywhere lies parallel to a pebble beach, dived straight from the shore by day and by night.
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Sunrise over Lombok
The sun comes up behind Lombok and Mount Rinjani, by which point the fishing fleet is usually already out on the water.
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Mount Agung and Lempuyang
Bali's highest volcano is climbed overnight with a guide, and the temple on its flank frames it through a much photographed split gate.
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Salt farming
Sea salt is still made along this coast in wooden troughs and palm trunk pans, and several families will explain the process to visitors.
Getting there
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Fly to
Kuta, Badung (DPS)
Nearest airport to Amed, about 69km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Amed
About three hours by car from Denpasar (DPS), north-east across the island through Klungkung and up the coast. Nearly everyone books a driver rather than driving themselves.
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On the ground
Getting around
The villages spread along several kilometres of coast road, so a scooter is the usual way to reach a different bay each day; house reefs are a few steps from the shore.
Public transport: Effectively none; hired drivers, scooters and ride-hailing apps do all the work.
Flights
Los Angeles Amed, Bali, Indonesia
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Roughly 17h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 30°C in July to 31°C in October. Driest in August; wettest in January, with rain on about 29 days. The sea is warmest in December at around 31°C, coolest at 28°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December30° · rain 25 days · sea 31°Hot and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to September. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small dive resorts, family homestays and a handful of cliffside boutique bungalows. No large hotels, no chains, and nothing resembling a nightlife strip.
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Best base overall
Jemeluk Bay
The liveliest of the string of villages, with the best house reef, a curve of warungs and dive shops on the sand. Still very quiet by Bali standards, and the beach is black pebble rather than soft sand.
Find stays in Jemeluk Bay -
Best for couples
Lipah and Selang
Further east, small bungalow hotels on the water with sunset views over Agung. Very little to walk to, so evenings are your terrace and one restaurant.
Find stays in Lipah and Selang -
Best value
Bunutan
Simple homestays on the hillside above the road at a fraction of resort rates, often with the finest views. Steep access and a scooter is close to essential.
Find stays in Bunutan -
Closest to the sights
Tulamben
Twenty minutes north, right on the Liberty wreck, so divers can walk in before the day boats come from the south. A one-note village otherwise.
Find stays in Tulamben
Worth knowing before you book: The road in from the airport takes about three hours, so book a driver in advance and arrive in daylight. Dive packages booked with the accommodation usually work out cheaper.
Search everything else in Amed by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Safety
- Beaches are steep and pebbly with strong currents in places. Ask locally before swimming away from a sheltered bay.
- Getting there
- It is a three hour drive from the airport in the south on winding roads. Book a car and driver rather than arriving late at night.
- Cash or card
- There are few cash machines and many places take cash only. Bring rupiah with you from the south.
- Pack this
- Reef shoes for the pebble entries and a torch, as street lighting is minimal once you leave the main road.
- Etiquette
- Temples require a sarong and sash, usually available at the entrance, and quiet behaviour during ceremonies.
Similar places
Radhanagar Beach
Havelock, Andaman IslandsAlso for divers & snorkellers and couples · 28°C in December (30°C here)
Anse Chastanet
St LuciaAlso for divers & snorkellers and couples · 29°C in December, as here
Abu Dabbab
Marsa Alam, EgyptAlso for divers & snorkellers and couples · 25°C in December (30°C here)
Nearby destinations
Sunrise trek up Mount Batur
Bali · 31km away →
Ubud
Bali, Indonesia · 47km away →
Nusa Penida
Indonesia · 47km away →
Gili Air
Indonesia · 49km away →
Bali
Indonesia · 51km away →
Batu Bolong
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia · 67km away →Elsewhere in Indonesia
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Amed?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to September. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 30°C in July to 31°C in October. Driest in August; wettest in January, with rain on about 29 days. The sea is warmest in December at around 31°C, coolest at 28°C.
How long should I spend in Amed?
Our suggestion: 3-4 nights.
How do I get to Amed?
About three hours by car from Denpasar (DPS), north-east across the island through Klungkung and up the coast. Nearly everyone books a driver rather than driving themselves.
Do I need a car in Amed?
No. Effectively none; hired drivers, scooters and ride-hailing apps do all the work.
What currency and language are used in Amed?
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Language: Indonesian. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Amed best for?
Best for divers & snorkellers, couples and wellness & slow travel. In a phrase: black sand, early nights, volcano views.