Amed snorkelling spots, in order along the coast
From Culik going east, not to scale. Every snorkel spot here is a walk in from the beach.
Tulamben · 15 to 20 minutes back past Culik
The Liberty wreck
Culik, then east along the coast
- Amed (Purwakerti)Our courts, and the salt fields
- JemelukJemeluk Bay, and the viewpoint above it
- Bunutan
- LipahLipah beach
- Lehan
- Selang
- BanyuningThe Japanese wreck
- Aas
In Amed
Snorkel Jemeluk Bay
Jemeluk, central Amed
Walk in from the beach. The reef starts in a metre or two of water and runs out to about 12 m before the wall drops away, and a short swim out there are small temple statues sunk 3 to 4 m down. The bay is sheltered and usually calm.
Go early in the morning, around mid to high tide, when the water is clearest and the beach is quiet. At very low tide, watch for sea urchins near the middle of the beach. Expect a small parking fee and nothing else.
The Jemeluk viewpoint
On the coast road above Jemeluk Bay
A lookout on the road over the bay: the jukung, the wooden outrigger fishing boats, pulled up on the beach below, and Mount Agung behind. It is free. Go at sunrise or late in the afternoon.
The Japanese wreck
Banyuning, near the eastern end of the coast
A small wreck, about 20 m long, a short swim from the pebble beach at Banyuning. It lies in roughly 2 to 12 m of water, so you see it well from the surface. Nobody is quite sure where it came from, and it may not be Japanese at all.
Go in the morning at mid to high tide: at low tide it sits very shallow, and in a big swell it gets surgy.
Lipah beach
Lipah, a few minutes on from Jemeluk
A dark sand beach with reef from 1 to 8 m straight off it, easy for beginners at high tide; the sheltered east side is calmer. It is one of the busier beaches, with sunbeds and snorkel gear to rent.
The water is often glassy early in the morning, and the wind usually picks up by midday.
The Liberty wreck at Tulamben
Just past Amed: 15 to 20 minutes by car or scooter
A US Army cargo ship, torpedoed in January 1942, beached at Tulamben and pushed into the sea by Mount Agung's eruption in 1963. It is about 125 m long and lies 30 to 40 m off a stony beach, its shallowest parts only a few metres down, so snorkellers see a lot of it.
Go before 8:30a, before the dive groups stir up the water, and wear hard-soled shoes for the stones. There is a small entry ticket.
See Amed sea salt being made
Purwakerti, the village our courts are in
Amed's salt is still made by hand. A couple of dozen farming families dry seawater in troughs cut from coconut trunks, mostly in the dry season, and the salt is protected as a Geographical Indication.
You can see it being made beside the fields, and buy some. Check locally when it is open before you go.
Try freediving
Jemeluk Bay
Jemeluk is one of the best-known places in Bali to learn: calm, sheltered water, a drop-off close to the shore and fixed lines to train on. Several schools teach courses there.
Yoga
Along the coast road
There are classes at hillside studios and at some of the hotels. Ask where you are staying what is on this week.
Play pickleball in the jungle
Purwakerti, 5 minutes from central Amed
That's us: four courts in the jungle, two of them covered, so they are playable in the rain. If you have never played, there's a free 30-minute intro every day at 4:30p, with a coach, paddles and balls included. Just turn up.
Open play follows, 5:00-9:00p every night, for every level. Come any time, leave any time; our staff help match people into games.
Get directionsMore about the courtsAlready play? Make a weekend of it
Day trips from Amed
Tirta Gangga
30 to 35 minutes inland
A royal water garden built in 1948: pools, fountains and stepping stones across the water. Go early, before it fills up.
Lempuyang temple
About 30 minutes away
The temple with the "Gates of Heaven" photo. You park and take a shuttle up, then get a queue number for the photo, and the wait is often 2 to 4 hours, so people arrive before sunrise.
A sarong is needed, even over long trousers, and shoulders covered. The reflection in the famous photo is a mirror held under the phone; Mount Agung behind it is real.
Climb Mount Agung
From the south side of the mountain
Climbs start on the south side of the mountain, not from Amed. There are two routes: the shorter one ends on the crater rim, around 8 hours there and back; the longer one goes to the summit, around 12 hours. Both are hard, and sunrise climbs set off around midnight.
A licensed local guide is required, and the mountain closes for some ceremonies and after volcanic activity.
Waterfalls near Amed
About an hour away
There is no waterfall worth the trip in Amed itself (see below). The nearest good ones are Yeh Mampeh at Les, on the north coast, one of the tallest in Bali, a short walk in; and Gembleng at Sidemen, three small cascades with pools.
Questions people ask
Is Amed worth visiting?
If you like the sea and a slow pace, yes. The snorkelling starts at the beach, the coast road runs under Mount Agung, and the evenings are quiet. The trade-offs: it is about 2.5 hours from the airport; the beaches are dark sand and stones rather than white sand, so reef shoes help; there is little nightlife; and there are few ATMs, so bring some cash.
Where is the Amed sunset point?
For a free sunset, go to the Jemeluk viewpoint on the coast road, where the sun goes down behind the hills and Mount Agung.
Is there a waterfall in Amed?
Not one worth the trip. Amed is on the dry side of Bali. The nearest good waterfalls are about an hour away: Yeh Mampeh at Les on the north coast, and Gembleng at Sidemen.
How do I get around Amed?
The coast road is long, more than 20 minutes from one end to the other. Most people rent a scooter; otherwise ask your hotel for a driver. Grab and Gojek don't reliably run in Amed, so don't plan around them.
What can I do in Amed when it rains?
The wet season runs roughly November to March. Two of our four courts are covered and playable in the rain, and there is a free intro every day at 4:30p if you have never played.
Where should I eat in Amed?
There are warungs and restaurants all along the coast road, and your hotel or dive shop will have favourites. There is no restaurant or cafe at our courts, but there are cold coconuts and cut fruit at reception.