How does a whole kingdom become something of a hidden gem in Bali? Well, when it’s in West Bali, it’s a long way from the airport and thus, sees far fewer visitors.
And yet it offers some of the most unique cultural experiences on the island and if you love traditional Balinese culture, you’re sure to love spending time in this part of Bali, Indonesia.
And that’s not all this tranquil setting has some of the best natural beauty of the island too and Bali’s countryside and scenic landscapes and surrounding coastline are all awaiting you in Jembrana Regency.
Our guide will help you find a unique and authentic experience in Jembrana Regency that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Where Is The Jembrana Regency?
The regency is in West Bali and it makes up the majority of this side of the island along with West Bali National Park.
How Do I Get To West Bali And The Jembrana Regency?
This regency is very easy to get to using the coastal route from the beach towns of Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, and Uluwatu.
However, you’ll probably want to hire a car and driver if you want to explore the Regency as there’s no doubt that because it’s quite remote and the attractions are spread out, getting around using Grab and Gojek is going to be challenging to impossible.
We don’t recommend hiring a scooter as though there’s less traffic in the regency, the roads are often in substantially worse states of repair and accidents remain very common.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Jembrana Regency?
This regency is a large part of Bali and you can explore it all year round with no significant disadvantages.
However, we should note that waterfalls tend to be more fun towards the end of the rainy season when the rivers have the highest volumes of water.
Whereas, diving and snorkelling are better in the dry season as rain can reduce the visibility under the water.
Otherwise. the usual caveats apply – the rainy season is hotter and more humid, but apart from the Christmas to New Year Period, it’s off-season and you’ll find your time on the island is more affordable as are your flights to get here.
It’s important to remember that you get 8 hours of sunshine, on average, each day in this season, it doesn’t rain all day, every day.
Conversely, it’s cooler in the dry season, and it rains less but it’s going to be more expensive and the more popular parts of the regency will see more tourists (including locals) and you may experience the occasional crowd.
One thing tourists should know before they explore any part of Bali is that if you reach a temple, one of the villages or any other interesting location early in the morning, there will be fewer visitors than at other times of day and this remains true in this regency.
However, for now, this corner of Indonesia rarely sees so many travellers for this to matter much.
What’s The Jembrana Regency Like?
The regency is spread out over a large area of coastline and countryside. It’s full of pretty villages, parks, rice fields, and wonderful people.
It’s a place that people tend to visit to get away from the busy touristy parts of Bali and that means there’s not much in the way of partying here.
Most of all, this area functions as the gateway from the South to West Bali National Park and most people will visit the regency on their way to the national park.
Is Jembrana Regency Safe?
Yes! In fact, it may be one of the safest parts of Bali. The only risks here are petty crime such as bag snatching and even those are minimal.
How Do You Get Around The Jembrana Regency?
This is a fairly remote part of Bali and, for now at least, there are no guarantees that you will be able to get a Grab or Gojek driver.
That means if you really want to explore this part of Indonesia, you will need:
Private Car & Driver
Hiring a private car and a driver isn’t expensive. It costs around 500,000 IDR and that’s about $35 USD or $50 AUD.
This includes the car, the driver and fuel to take you from location to location.
It is customary to give a small tip at the end of the day and to pay for a driver’s meal (though they don’t have to eat with you, it’s fine to give them some cash to go to a warung while you dine).
Rental Scooter Or Car
The alternative is to drive yourself and we don’t recommend that you drive a scooter anywhere in Bali.
It’s too easy to get into an accident and it’s too hard to be fully road-legal for most visitors. That means if you get into an accident – you can end up with a huge medical bill and permanent impairments to your life.
In fact, the road is often called “The Highway of Death” by locals.
Driving a car is easier, but why bother? It’s not much more to include a driver and fuel and then you can look out at the villages of Bali while someone else does the hard work.
Where Can You Stay In Jembrana Regency?
This part of Bali has plenty of nice places to stay including:
Amanuba Ersadeva Resort – a very pleasant resort in the rainforest with amazing views of the area.
Hotel Segara Mandala – this hotel has an excellent restaurant and is very central if you want to explore the villages and highlights of the regency.
Tunjung Sari Villa – an amazing villa complex right on the seafront. The breakfasts are great and this place is super cheap.
Taman Wana Resort Palasari – a nice 4-star resort near the Palasari Dam and with a fabulous pool area.
Melaya Beach Resort – a nice beachfront resort in Bali with lovely ocean views and exceptional service.
Where’s Good To Eat In The Regency?
Many of the best restaurants in the regency are around the coastal main road and you won’t have to explore too far to find a great place to eat including:
Warung Jepun – this Balinese restaurant does amazing Nasi Campur, Ayam Betutut and Lawar. It’s very nicely decorated too.
Bull’s Coffee Negara – a great coffee shop that serves excellent coffee and snacks.
Warung Babi Guling Bu Komang Delod Cargo Negara – a great spot for some of Bali’s famous babi guling. It’s also very cheap.
The Holy Tree Kitchen, Coffee & Surfshop – this restaurant is right on the beach and it’s all about surfers, expect tasty and large smoothie bowls and the like.
De Jukung Cafe – very close to the beach, this village restaurant does a nice mix of Asian and Western cuisines.
Lesehan Taman Pesisir Perancak – is one of the best seafood restaurants in the area, but a little tricky to get to. We think it’s worth the effort.
Rumah Makan Tegal Dadong – this ikan bakar restaurant has its own fishing pool, and some lovely gazebos for outdoor dining. Go in the evening for lovely live music too.
Unique Highlights In This Region
There’s more to this region than picturesque landscapes and some of the most unique things to experience in the regency include:
Buffalo Racing (Delod Berawah) – Makepung Racing, Buffalo Racing, Bull Races, call it what you will, this is one of Bali’s wildest and most exciting traditions and it’s unique to this area.
Wild Banteng – this is a form of wild cow and it’s found in the forests of this regency.
Pristine Beaches – lower tourist numbers mean cleaner and better-maintained beaches.
Negara – this small town is the capital of the area and has a wonderful local culture that hasn’t been overridden by the tourist dollar, yet.
Rambut Siwi Temple – this gorgeous cliff-top temple is a huge attraction for the region and needs to be seen to be believed.
Palasari Dam – Bendungan Palasari Dam is one of the most attractive spaces in the region and a great place to get some gorgeous photos.
Gilimanuk – the gateway to Java, the town has some excellent snorkeling and dive spots as well as its famous harbour.
What To Do In The Regency?
And that’s not all, there are plenty of other amazing things to see and do here:
Bunut Bolong – a spiritual place with an extraordinary banyan tree.
Alas Utama Medewi (AUM) – spectacular views and places to take excellent Instagram photos.
Pulukan Beach – a pleasant beach with not much sand but some great surfing.
Air Terjun Yeh Buah – a dramatic waterfall in the countryside that sees almost no visitors. It’s a great spot for influencers to get perfect photos.
Mount Merbuk – this majestic mountain and Bali’s third largest volcano is often overlooked by climbers in favour of Mount Batur or Mount Agung but if you want a peaceful ambiance and a relaxed atmosphere for your climb, this is a much better spot to visit.
Air Terjun Yeh Messe – a pleasant enough waterfall that’s fairly easy to get to and makes for some cool photos.
Wisata Gelar River – an attractive spot that’s a bit challenging to get to with a great bridge over rapids.
Pura Jagatnatha Jembrana – a pleasant Hindu temple with some amazing statures.
D’ABIANsy Waterpark – a small local water park catering to under 12s. No lifeguards though.
Negara Palace – a museum to the royal family of this regency.
Bendungun Benel – a famous beauty spot by an inland lake.
Belimbingsari – a cultural village that welcomes visitors and has a uniquely Christian take on life on the island.
Pantai Baluk Rening Beach – a pleasant beach with a nice boardwalk for cycling or walking on.
Yeh Embang Village – one of the prettiest parts of the area. Great for hiking.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church – there are Hindu temples everywhere in Bali, but this extraordinary church is the best example of Catholicism on the island.
Access To West Bali National Park
Perhaps, the biggest draw to this regency is that it’s right next to Taman Nasional Bali or West Bali National Park. This is the only national park on the island and it covers a fairly substantial chunk of West Bali.
It’s the ideal destination for leisurely walks in the countryside, a place where you might catch a glimpse of wild boars or the Bali Starling (Bali’s most famous and most endangered native species).
Most tourists visit West Bali National Park for diving around the coral reefs at Menjangan Island but there’s a lot more to experience if you hire a guide and go hiking in the wild.
Is There Any Nightlife In Jembrana Regency?
One thing that you’re not going to find much of in the regency is nightlife.
In fact, apart from the occasional hotel bar or warung staying open late, there’s nothing in the way of nightlife in this regency.
For many travelers, this makes the area a real hidden gem when they’re looking for a break from the partying and noise in the beach towns of Bali.
However, for others, this might mean that they only visit this part of West Bali for a day or two as part of a longer holiday.
Is There Anywhere For Shopping In Jembrana??
This is a place that people visit for cultural immersion in the local culture or to enjoy the breathtaking views of the countryside or for the crystal clear waters and excellent snorkeling around small-town life.
There are shops and stores in the regency but there’s nothing that you’d make a special visit to shop at.
In fact, because this Western part of the island doesn’t see as many visitors as the other parts of the island, things can be slightly more expensive here too.
FAQs
Is Jembrana Worth Visiting?
Yes! We think Jembrana is one of the most unique cultural experiences on the island and the rice fields, beaches, and buffalo racing make for a fabulous holiday destination.
If you think it might be a little quiet for you, you could always combine a visit here with another part of Bali.
Is It Better To Visit Jembrana Or Canggu?
They’re so different that they’re going to appeal to different types of visitors.
Canggu is the most popular spot on the island and that’s because it has a great blend of things to do, places to stay, amazing restaurants and, of course, FINNS, the world’s best beach club.
However, Jembrana is far more chilled and laid back. It’s full of traditional Balinese villages and somewhere you just kick back and relax or go swimming or for a walk in the forest.
Instead of choosing between these two locations, we’d advise you to stay in each location for a few days and get the most out of what Bali has to offer.
Is There Much To Do In Jembrana?
Yes! While the Western part of Bali might not get as many year-round visitors as the beach towns do, there’s still a lot to see and do in the regency.
As you can see from the list above, you won’t be bored with this hidden gem.
Is Jembrana Better Than Ubud?
For some the village of Ubud is the ideal destination for cultural experiences on the island but we have to note that Ubud has become very developed in the last few years.
There are still yoga studios, gorgeous temples and other sites in Ubud that are worth visiting, but if you want a quiet more spiritual experience then heading to West Bali might be a better idea.
You’ll find that the regency is a quiet, authentic experience with plenty of places to see and do such as Bunut Bolong, Palasari Dam, buffalo racing, etc. and it’s not far from the national park and some excellent coral reefs.
Is Jembrana Near The West Bali National Park?
Yes, this regency is essentially the gateway to West Bali National Park if you approach from the South coastal road.
Final Thoughts On This Hidden Gem In Bali
Jembrana Regency is a genuine hidden gem in West Bali and it’s a place that everyone should visit before it becomes part of the mass tourism on the island.
It’s the perfect spot for long lazy days, experiencing traditional Balinese villages, cultural immersion, gorgeous beaches, majestic natural beauty and much more.
