Lipah Beach may not be one of the most famous beaches in Bali but it’s a great spot for diving, snorkeling and much more.
It’s the only truly sandy beach in Amed, as the other beaches all have rocks on the beach, and you will find it has excellent hotels and restaurants within walking distance.
Our guide to Lipah Beach will tell you all that you need to know about this part of the island:
Where Is Lipah Beach?
Lipah Beach is in East Bali near Amed. It’s one of a series of beaches that run down the coastline in this area.
Address: JMXM+HMJ, Jl. Raya Lipah, Bunutan, Kec. Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
How To Get To Lipah Beach?
Assuming you’re staying in the area, then you can easily walk to Lipah Beach (particularly if you’re at the Vienna Beach Resort) which is located right on the beach.
If not, you can take a Grab or Gojek or hire a private car and driver to get to Lipah Beach. You may have to wait a little while to get a Grab or Gojek home from here but it won’t be for very long.
When’s The Best Time To Visit Lipah Beach?
We’d opt to visit Lipah Beach in the dry season. While we don’t believe there’s ever a bad time to visit Bali. This beach is a place for snorkeling and diving, and if the weather is a bit stormy, you won’t see the fish or the corals in the sea off the coast because the water will be too cloudy.
Is There An Entrance Fee At Lipah Beach?
There’s no entrance fee to this beach and you can go snorkeling without paying any fees in the shallow water around the beach and the reef pair at either end. Fishing is also fine from the beach and you can pull fish out of the bay without any sort of license.
However, if you want to go out to the nearby wreck and go diving, you will need to rent a boat, and diving equipment and you will need to be PADI certified. The easiest way to go about this process is to contact one of the dive schools in the area.
What To Expect At Lipah Beach
Lipah Beach is quite typical of the beaches in this part of Bali and you can expect:
Reef Fish And Marine Life
On the left side of the beach, there’s a reef but it’s not in great condition. We’d recommend that if you’ve got a short time to spend at Lipah Beach you focus your efforts on the right side of the beach.
Both sides are easily accessible from the shore and you can go snorkeling over either reef without a need for a boat.
The fish you will see in the sea in this part of the island are awe-inspiring and the corals are beautiful.
Black Sand
A lot of people seem to dislike black sand beaches but this is a very attractive beach that looks amazing as the sun rises and the light reflects off the beach.
Boats
There are lots of fishing boats and boats for hire in the area around the beach. This idea for exploring the reef and snorkeling further out from the coast.
Swimming
This is a nice beach for swimming and the water is generally calm and there are very few waves as they’re broken up by the reefs.
Where To Eat Near Lipah Beach
There are some excellent restaurants in this area and you won’t have to go too far from the beach to enjoy some very tasty food:
Warung Agung Amed – this place has an amazing aquarium and live music at night. The food is tasty too.
Sails – a solid pan-Asian restaurant with a varied menu and nice views of the sea.
Green Melon Warung – one of the most popular spots in town, this warung does local and international fare.
Bukit Lipah Vegan – it’s a bit of a walk from the beach but this warung is all about the plant-based lifestyle.
Gusto Resto & Cafe – if you’re in the mood for a great pizza, this restaurant won’t disappoint. The food is first rate and they often provide free appetizers too!
Where To Stay At Lipah Beach
Lipah Beach has plenty of accommodation in the vicinity and you can easily find a place located near the sea without spending a fortune.
Vienna Beach Resort
The Vienna Beach Resort is the only hotel with direct access to the black sand of Lipah Beach. It’s a simple 2-star hotel that is very reasonably priced.
The breakfast at the Vienna Beach Resort is very good and included in the room fee. It’s ideal to set you up for the day before some snorkeling on the beach or diving offshore.
Some other nice hotels in this part of Bali include:
Hillside “Chalet Di Lipah” – a simple holiday villa with a lovely pool and amazing views of the ocean.
MATHIS Lodge Amed -there’s a pick-up point for this hotel on the beach but the complex is located in the mountains above Amed. It’s a wonderfully peaceful place.
Local Living Home Stay – a very basic local homestay, ideal for a night’s rest after a day of snorkeling on the reef.
Puri Wirata Dive Resort & Spa – an attractive 3-star hotel with its own dive school and dive masters.
Things To Do Near Lipah Beach
There are plenty of things to do in the area around Lipah Beach including:
Selang Beach – there are some rocks on this beach but it offers amazing access to the local corals located just offshore and divers will love getting out of the shallow water and exploring under the surface of the ocean. It’s rich with various types of species of fish and other marine creatures and it’s very nearby to the famous wreck too.
Jemeluk Beach – this is a nice beach with black sand and it’s popular with folks who love to snorkel and dive. However, when the tides roll out you may discover a little trash on the shore at this site. As with other beaches on this island, you will find that this beach is quickly cleaned up by locals and by high tide, you will be amazed at how clean it is.
Aquamarine Beach – this is one of the most remote beaches on the island but it’s easily accessible and you can go snorkeling in the amazing aquamarine waters which a generally calm all year round. At low tide, you can enjoy a peaceful walk along the shore. This is a great spot for relaxing on the coast with almost no waves or tourists in sight.
Japanese Shipwreck Point – this is the most famous diving spot in this part of Bali and there’s no doubt that it’s famous because it’s awesome. If you want to spend time swimming around a real shipwreck and enjoying the marine life in this part of the island, you won’t want to miss this.
Batu Manak Lighthouse – some visitors here seem to be a touch confused and think the lighthouse keeper is homeless. He’s not, he lives in the lighthouse and maintains it. He will also let you climb the lighthouse for a super view of the area for 50,000 IDR. Just head up to the second floor and he will meet you there.
FAQs
Where Is Padang Beach?
Padang Padang Beach is found on the Bukit Peninsla in South Bali. It’s not far from Pecatu Village which is not far from Uluwatu.
Where Is Balangan Beach?
Balangan Beach is in South Bali and is also near Pecatu Village on the Bukit Peninsula around Uluwatu. It’s often considered to be one of the prettiest beaches in Bali.
Why Is The Sand Black In Amed?
The sand around Amed is black because it’s made up mainly of volcanic rock particles. There is a little coral mixed in, but when the island’s volcanoes erupt, they discharge large amounts of rocks onto the shoreline and into the water.
They then get ground up under the surface of the ocean and are deposited back on land as sand.
Where Is Amed Beach Located?
Amed Beach is in the area around Amed in East Bali. It’s a popular spot for diving, boat trips, snorkeling, fishing, and enjoying the interesting life on the seabed.
Its location is quite a way from the other beaches and beach towns in Bali and this beautiful area is still something of a hidden gem.
Final Thoughts On Lipah Beach Bali
Lipah Beach is something of a hidden gem on the island of Bali and if you love exploring under the surface of the waves and the seabed, it’s one of the best beach locations here.
It’s a safe place to enjoy dive spots and the majestic nature of the marine ecosystem.
