Amed Bali

Amed was traditionally dependent on salt panning and fishing and despite the arrival of tourists, it has retained that feeling so is a place where people stay for weeks at a time.

Amed lies on the north-eastern tip of Bali, about two hours drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport or hotel in Nusa Dua and Kuta. Amed is accessed by turning east at the village of Culik which lies on the main east coast road from Karangasem to Singaraja.

The black sand and fishing boats of Amed is famous for its beaches, lined with traditional outrigger fishing boats. There is quite coarse black volcanic sand at Amed village beach. As you move further east (and away from Mount Agung), the beaches have softer sand and become more of a mid grey-brown in colour. The prettiest bays are probably those at Jemeluk and Lipah but the whole stretch of coastline is very attractive.

Salt production is a declining but still important industry in this area. As you drive along the main coast road through the villages you will see large open drying pans crusted with salt crystals. Those little boxes of gourmet Bali salt crystals you see in delis all over the world probably started their long journey from these very pans.

Jemeluk Bay with Mount Agung in the distance. Most people come to Amed as a getaway, including expats from other parts of the island. It is a favourite honeymoon destination for tourists and is very popular with divers and snorkelers. Day trips to local places of interest such as the water palace at Tirta Gangga and Bali’s most sacred temple, Besakih, can easily be arranged. Mount Agung with lots of trekking options is just 30 to 40 minutes from Amed.

Traditional outrigger boats are available for fishing charters from the main beaches in the Amed area. This normally involves early morning trolling for mackeral.

Have a traditional massage on the beach. Women from the local villages are always on hand for an invigorating massage, especiallly so at Lipah Beach. Enjoy nature and go with the wind on a traditional sailing boat for diving, fishing, exploration, dolphin watching, snorkeling or just swimming and relaxing.

Amed has some good snorkeling within metres of the shore. A reef follows the majority of the coastline and is quite close in. Due to the limited number of visitors to the area, the sea life is healthy and abundant. Amed reef (depth12-22m), with many different kinds of sponges and gorgonians , is home to everything from lobsters, shrimp and goby sets to blue spotted rays and schools of barracuda.

There is a wide selection of hotels in the area and more are appearing all the time. Most tend to be quite small and intimate and built by westerners in partnership with local Balinese. The hotels are well spaced out though so you feel that you have your own private space. There are few TVs in the hotel rooms, so bring a good book to read or better still, spend your time getting to know the locals. The pace of life is very slow and relaxed in Amed, the people are friendly and they have time!

There are also several hotels at the village of Tulamben to the north of Amed which are intended specifically for visitors intending to dive the wreck of the USS Liberty. These establishments are normally affiliated with a dive operator or run their own operation.