What we love about the Unspoilt East Coast

Seminyak in the South and Ubud in the Centre of Bali, where many foreigners have their homes, can be a little bit fast paced when one has a busy lifestyle. 
After a week of social entrepreneur seminars, daily yoga sessions, business meetings and good-bye dinners we are off for the rougher but oh so beautiful and unspoilt side of Bali.
Our journey starts in Ubud by motorbike and we are going south targeting Amed, a fishing village on the East coast of Bali looking for serenity, ocean views, lush nature and culture. It's a 3h drive by motor bike or car.

Our first stop is Tenganan village, where we like to explore some craft production for our online shop realizing the production we were looking for are somewhere else. This village is a quaint demonstration of the traditional Aga culture, the first people of Bali, and worth a visit if you are into indigenous cultures and crafts, especially double woven Ikat sarongs.

Further along the coast we stopped in Candi Dasa, a famous tourist town with nice hotels , our favourites are the perfectly managed Alila Manggis and Amankila in nearby Manggis village. Candi Dasa itself is not really exciting nor are the beaches but it is surrounded by spectacular lush palm fringed rice fields and Mount Agung, a spectacular volcano that can be seen from many places and we find mesmerizing to watch from a cliff at sunset. Great views are from Amed and Nusa Lembongan. Furthermore a few km out of Candi Dasa town a white sandy paradise beach with little beach huts that sell grilled fish and coconuts can be found.

After a quick lunch stop we continued our journey through the breathtaking hills around Amlapura, home of the Tirta Gangga Water temple, that we are planning to visit the next days. We can see Mount Agung in its full size and magnificence behind palm lined rice fields. So amazingly beautiful, it takes our breath away. Stop here for pictures!

After another hour we arrive in Amed, a low key fishing village that became touristy in the past years. 
It is well know for its diving and snorkelling but we love it for its laid back vibe and stunning cliff views and beautiful scenes on the beaches that are mostly covered with colourful fishing boats.

What we love to do in Amed:

• Jump on a fishing boat at 4:15 am when the fishermen drive their boats for an early morning hunt. They usually have no issue taking you on board against some fee (e.g. 60,000 Rp) and explain you the process. Please note the boats are not very comfortable to sit on so bring a pillow or just bear the rough life of a fisherman for a few hours. They return around 7:30 am with their caught fish. This is also a nice scene to watch and take pictures of if you can't wake up that early.
• Just relax in your bungalow perched on the cliff and watch the ocean, meditate or do yoga, write a life plan or journal, switch off , read a book
• Savor some delicious food in Sails with a beautiful ocean view, our favourite restaurant in the area as it emphasises hygiene, no MSG and usage of olive oil in its food. The Mahi-Mahi is delicious, so are the pastas and all seafood dishes.  
• Ride your scooter or car through the picturesque fairytale landscape to Amlapura and visit the Water temple Tirta Gangga. Dip in the holy waters there for some splash in the heat.
• Enjoy a in Amed rarely available real cappuccino in Palm Garden Hotel and swim in the sea in front.
• Just treat yourself with an original Magnum ice cream for a fraction of the price back home in one of the mini markets.
• Have an early sundowner in a cliff bar
• Snorkel or dive after the still existent intact corals, but please be mindful with the fragile maritime environment.
• Listen to the crashing waves from your room. 
• Visit a school on Saraswati Day, the day of knowledge, to see how the books get purified. Just follow Balinese people in their traditional ceremony clothes into their village. Please be mindful and wear a sarong as a minimum. 

Would you like to add Amed to your travel itinerary ? Let us know and we help you to plan. select hotels for you according to your budget and taste and activities as well as WOW locations to make your stay unforgettable.