Amed accommodation from AU$40

The area is most famous for activities in its diverse, thriving and virtually untouched underwater world. Ever thought of trying your hand at freediving? Give it a go under the supervision of professionals from schools in Amed. There aren’t many places that will send you home with stories about paradise and freediving beside coral walls. Jemeluk Bay is a favoured site for training, and some schools add in sessions with seaside yoga – quite a combo!

Of course, scuba diving is where Amed really shines, and its best dive sites are the wreck of the USAT Liberty in Talemben Bay and the smaller Japanese Wreck further east in Banyuning. Both rest in shallow water after being sunk during World War II, becoming ideal hosts for soft corals and good places to catch glimpses of rare sea life. If you’re really lucky, a whale shark may pop by to say hello.

You don’t need a scuba license to fall for Amed though; in fact, many of its dive sites are shallow enough for snorkelling. Even then, just exploring the different villages and quiet beaches here will give a look into what life is like for the Balinese before the rise of tourism in the area. No one can claim that its stretches of volcanic sand, lined with outrigger fishing boats and overlooked by Mount Agung don’t offer true relaxation.

That said, the area isn’t completely untouched by tourism. Most restaurants here have leapt ahead to serve western and watered-down Balinese dishes, but more authentic preparation can be requested and the locals are starting to catch on with their smaller, often family-run businesses where you’ll be greeted with a smile. It also goes without saying that the seafood here is very fresh. Transportation has improved since the turn of the century but is still rare. Buses are easier to find in the mornings and the best way to get into and around Amed is via hired car and driver or a rented motorbike.

So wot are you waiting for? Book from our list of Amed accommodation and cheap flights to Bali to experience what the island was like before it become Indonesia’s most popular destination.