Amed Beach is not one beach. Amed is a village on the north-east coast of Bali, in Abang district, Karangasem regency, and the tourism trade uses its name for a 14 km stretch of coast that takes in several other villages: Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Lehan, Selang, Banyuning, Aas and Kusambi. Most of the beaches along it are black volcanic sand, because Mount Agung is close behind.
A coastline, not a single cove
The dark sand is volcanic. Wikipedia says many beaches in the area have it because the coast sits near Bali’s largest volcano, and one 2026 guide adds that the shoreline was largely shaped after Agung’s 1963 eruption, when lava flowed into the sea.
Amed was once a salt coast. Wikipedia records traditional salt fields on the beaches up to the 1980s. Then fishing nets and tourism arrived together, and locals broke up the reef in front of Amed village for building material. The beach there shrank by about 100 metres and the salt fields went with it. What remains is a slow fishing coast, and traditional jukung boats still sit along the sand.
The sea has had some protection since 2017. A stretch of coast starting about a kilometre east of Amed, running to Bali’s easternmost point, became a marine protected area.
Which bay to choose
Jemeluk is the busiest bay, but it is a pebble beach of grapefruit-sized stones, not sand. Our Jemeluk Bay guide covers the statues and the dive wall.
For a sand beach, go to Lipah, about 3 km south of the main Amed area. An April 2026 guide describes soft black sand, a sheltered bay and no entrance fee. The seabed drops from about 2 metres to about 10 metres some 30 to 40 metres out, and that is where the bigger coral and fish are. Turtles are possible but not guaranteed, with the best chance before 9am. A full snorkel set costs Rp 50,000 to Rp 70,000, and sunbeds are about Rp 50,000 for the day.
The Japanese shipwreck in Lipah bay, at Banyuning, is about five minutes from Lipah. Wikipedia notes that it is now broken open but rich in species.
Getting there and what to bring
Amed has no single centre, so you need transport. From Ubud it is about 80 km and 2.5 hours; from Sanur 81 km and 2 hours 45 minutes; from Kuta 97 km and 3 hours; from Nusa Dua 107 km and 3 hours. Grab and Gojek do not operate in Amed and taxis are rare, so book a driver ahead or rent a scooter. A private car from Denpasar costs roughly Rp 900,000, according to an October 2026 guide. If you would rather not drive yourself, see tours from Amed.
Bring cash, because ATMs are limited and not always reliable. Reef shoes are useful for the black sand and rocky entries.
The water is calmest early. By midday the local wind tends to pick up, making the surface choppy and cutting visibility. Staying overnight avoids the long drive back; our guide to where to stay in Amed covers the options, and the list of things to do in Amed fills the rest of your days. The wreck dive at the USAT Liberty at Tulamben lies about 12 km north-west of Amed village.
