If you want to see a beautiful part of Bali far from the crowds of tourists in the island’s southern beach towns, why not consider a trip to Pemuteran?
Pemuteran is an area of outstanding natural beauty and it’s on the doorstep of the national park here in Bali too.
If you’re wondering what to expect when you get to Pemuteran, our guide will help you plan your trip with ease.
Where Is Pemuteran?
Pemuteran is on the North Coast of Bali not far from the West Bali National Park. It’s about an hour’s drive from Buleleng which is one of the more popular destinations in this part of Bali.
How To Get To Pemuteran?
Assuming you’re coming to Pemuteran from South Bali or Ubud, the best way to get here is going to be by private car. It’s a long drive to Pemuteran from that side of the island and a Grab or Gojek is likely to be prohibitively expensive.
The roads in this part of the island are not great and we’d strongly advise against riding a scooter out this way. It will be extremely tiring and the risks of an accident are very great. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Pemuteran?
There’s no best time of year to visit Pemuteran and, in fact, even in the wet season, it tends to be pleasant and cool in this part of the island
The area doesn’t get as many tourists as it might and you certainly won’t find yourself fending off crowds at most of the local attractions.
However, in keeping with all things in Bali, you will almost always get the best experience at any destination by exploring in the early part of the day, the later you leave it, the more people will be awake and joining you.
Is There An Entrance Fee At Pemuteran?
Pemuteran is a village area on the coast and there’s no entrance fee for Pemuteran. Some of the individual attractions in Pemuteran do an attract an entrance fee but you can wander the village and the surrounding areas without paying a cent.
What To Expect In Pemuteran
Pemuteran’s key visitors tend to be divers. It’s an easy divers’ starting zone in Bali and it’s very close to Menjangan island and has artificial reefs offshore too.
The surrounding countryside is hilly further inland and there are opportunities for mountain climbing and wandering around waterfalls.
Nearer to the coast, you will find a surprising number of vineyards and there are plenty of opportunities for oenophiles to do some fairly low-cost tasting sessions too.
The sunset over the sea is amazing and, particularly, because you can see the volcanoes on the neighbouring island of Java on a clear day.
The beach itself is black sand but one of the most attractive examples of a black sand beach on the island. You won’t be hassled to buy things on this beach and you can rent a sun lounger and umbrella for the day for about 50,000 IDR ($3.50 USD or $5 AUD).
Pemuteran is a place where people come for some peace and quiet and to recharge their batteries after a stressful year at work. The only thing missing here is any real nightlife, though there are plenty of bars where you can enjoy a late evening drink, you won’t find any beach clubs or discotheques.
What To Do In Pemuteran
Pemuteran has plenty of incredible attractions either in the village or just down the road. These include:
West Bali National Park & Menjangan Island
Pemuteran is often considered to be the gateway to the West Bali National Park and, in particular, to the diving site of Menjangan Island within the park’s boundaries.
Menjangan island is home to wild deer and is quite picturesque but once you dive into the waters here, you’ll be blown away by the incredible marine life in the underwater world around the island.
Taman Pura – The Underwater Temple Garden
This is an underwater world with an artificial reef that is now home to dozens of species of corals. The statues provide a platform for the corals to grow on and they look awesome when you are under the water.
Any of the local dive schools can sort you out with the diving gear and transport to enjoy Taman Pura and if you’re not, yet, PADI qualified they can teach you too.
Diving And Snorkelling
The whole area around Pemuteran is an absolute treasure for diving and snorkelling. Bali’s oceans are rich with aquatic life and you can find corals, sharks, rays and much more under the waves.
It’s also a very safe part of the world to dive in as the weather is reasonably predictable and the best dive spots are close to land.
Biorock Project
This is the world’s largest artificial coral nursery and it spans a stretch of over 300 meters in length. Everyone is welcome to snorkel at the Biorock Project and it is absolutely beautiful.
If you want you can even sponsor some baby coral and help contribute to the long-term well-being of this ambitious project around Pemuteran.
Diving opportunities are also available here but you must be fully PADI qualified and there’s no bending the rules on that. The centre can arrange lessons if you want.
Stroll Through Pemuteran Town
Pemuteran is a charming Balinese village with real character and it’s a lovely experience just to wander through the streets of the town and explore.
You won’t find the usual lines of souvenir stands and pushy salespeople, you’ll find family-run stores and warungs and people enjoying being alive.
Island life occurs at a different pace from life outside in the wider world and Pemuteran is an amazing place to discover the difference and see what the “real Bali” was like long before the tourists arrived.
Pemuteran Beach
Pemuteran Beach is one of our favourite black sand beaches in Bali. It’s amazing. Walk along it barefoot and you’ll feel the textural changes before you see the sand colours shifting before your eyes.
Much of the black sand here is powdery and super soft beneath your feet. It’s the yellow sand which can get a bit rougher with rocks, pebbles and shells.
Be careful down by the rocky shores though as there are quite a few spiny sea urchins to be found there. You should only swim in marked areas in the black sand parts of the beach to be safe.
Visit The Turtle Project
The Turtle Project is one of many projects dedicated to helping sea turtles in Bali to overcome the effects of overfishing and accidental injury.
It’s a very small project run by volunteers and they regularly release baby turtles into the wild. Go and visit and see if you can lend a hand.
Trek Table Stone Hill (Batu Kursi Hill)
Oddly, there’s no stone table on this hill (though it does resemble a stone table sort of) but there is a stone chair!
It’s a very pleasant trekking area with excellent views over Pemuteran and out to sea. We’d recommend going in the early morning or early evening for golden hour and because it can get pretty darned hot in the middle of the day.
Climb Bukit Bardadari Pemuteran
This is a nice hiking area in the foothills of the local mountain range and it’s set up to ensure you get great views.
There’s an onsite cafe where you can buy reasonably priced food and drinks too, you certainly won’t go broke visiting Bukit Bardardari Pemuteran.
See Pandya Art Gallery
This is a relatively new art gallery in the area that sells handicrafts from Bali and Java. Their selection of Batik work is excellent and it’s very reasonably priced.
We like the collection of local wood-carved pieces and shells too.
Experience Atlas South Sea Pearl Farm
This is a pleasant oyster farm where you can wander around and enjoy a presentation on how pears are made.
You do have the option to buy pearls once you’ve finished the free tour but there’s no pressure to buy whatsoever. It’s a lovely experience.
Pura Pemuteran
This is a lovely hillside temple that offers nice views over the village. If you go down the side of the temple it leads to a set of stairs that will take you up the hill to a series of additional temples.
You will need to make a donation and rent a sarong to go into the temple grounds but that’s not expensive and it is worth it.
Where To Stay In Pemuteran
There are plenty of nice places to stay in Pemuteran and the hotels and resorts in town are often great value for money when compared to other parts of Bali. Some of our favourites include:
Adi Assri Beach Resort & Spa – this isn’t in Pemuteran itself, it’s the only resort inside the national park. It’s not the greatest place to stay but it gives you access to the only one of Indonesia’s national parks in Bali.
Taruna Pemuteran – is just a short walk from the beach and Bali Diving Academy this is a great place to enjoy the black sand beaches and it has free WiFi too. The room rates are very cheap and it’s incredible value for money.
Sun Suko Boutique Retreat – this is a stunning four-star resort that has the best views of the mountain overlooking Pemuteran going. It’s not far from the beaches either. We felt like we’d gone home, the staff were so friendly when we stayed here. There is a nice private pool here too.
Tirta Sari Bungalows & Spa – a nice set of private villas with beach access and a decent pool area. The onsite restaurant is pretty good and there’s air conditioning in each room, even though you probably won’t need it.
Kalyssa Beach Bungalows – lovely villas near the beach with huge rooms and each comes with a private pool. There’s nothing like sitting out by the pool here with an ice-cold beer and realizing how good life can be. It’s not expensive either.
Taman Sari Resort – this may be the most attractive 3-star hotel in Bali and the pool area alone is worth spending a night here for. It has beachfront access, an excellent breakfast and the service is very good too.
Where To Eat In Pemuteran
There are plenty of great places to eat in Pemuteran including:
La Casa Kita – is an awesome pizza place that makes amazing stone-baked pizzas in a beautiful green garden area. The local cat is incredibly friendly too and happy to keep you company while you eat if you want him to.
Warung De’Lekong – this is our favourite restaurant in Pemuteran. It’s the epitome of Indonesian excellence. The food is first-rate. The cocktails are fabulous. The portions are huge. The service is great and it’s cheap too.
The Sage Bali – this is the best vegan restaurant in North Bali and they also do a range of non-vegan dishes to please every palate. The theme here is Mediterranean and it makes a nice change when you grow a bit tired of Indonesian cuisine.
Warung D’BUCU – this fabulous warung does a mixture of Balinese and International food and their fish fingers are superb as is the tum ayam. We were really impressed with the chocolate volcano for dessert which feels absolutely right for a pudding in Bali.
Warung Muslim Pak Haji – this isn’t the biggest restaurant in Bali and it can’t handle large groups but the grilled fish is amazing and the grilled tempe is also very good. The prices is very low and the portions are decent sizes.
Warung Prapat Sari – a charming eatery with some of the nicest staff in Bali. The emphasis at this warung is on local seafood and the mixed seafood platter is super tasty. You can’t go wrong here and it’s not expensive.
What To Do Near Pemuteran
The area around Pemuteran may not see all that many tourists but if you love an adventure, this area has tons of things to see and do and you won’t be fighting through crowds at any of them. We love all of these places:
Sumberkima Beach – this is a true hidden gem outside a small fishing village and it feels like “real Bali”. You’re not likely to run into any tourists here but there are facilities for kayaking, diving and snorkelling. The beach itself is a beautiful black sand beach and it’s pleasant enough to walk along.
Pulaki Temple – a gorgeous temple that looks out over the Indian Ocean. A 10,000 IDR donation must be supplemented with a 12,000 IDR sarong hire fee to go inside. Watch out for the roaming packs of monkeys inside, like monkeys everywhere in Bali, they can get a bit larcenous if you leave stuff around to tempt them.
Pura Melanting – an exceptionally lovely temple where tourists will need to don a sarong and make a small offering to be admitted. It’s worth it, though, and the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning.
Pura Kerta Kawat – this is a very beautiful temple that is very popular with Balinese people but sees very few tourists. It’s quiet and ideal for some meditative moments.
Gili Putih Sumberkima – this is a very small secluded and uninhabited island that you’re free to hire a boat to visit. It’s a pleasant place and you can include it on a trip to Menjangan Island if you’re booking a tour out that way. The beach which spans almost all of the island is soft white sand and quite lovely.
Banyuwedang Hot Spring – a lovely hot spring that sees very few visitors, it’s a bit remote even for locals to use it. There are showers, toilets, and even a restaurant onsite here.
Waterfall Pengumbahan – you need to engage a local guide to have any hope of making the 2-hour trek to this waterfall. Pick somebody up in the local village and make sure to bring drinks and snacks. It’s an area of exquisite natural beauty which rivals the national park and anything in South Bali a pure hidden paradise.
Air Terjun Sumberkima – this waterfall requires wading through streams to get to but it’s so worth it, it’s one of the most beautiful places that we’ve ever seen and we guarantee that if you make it, you’ll have it all to yourselves. There’s not even any plastic trash in the area as it’s place near the Northwest Coast means it’s far from polluters of any kind.
Mount Merbuk – this is a great place for hiking though we’d recommend that you hire a local guide. It’s not a popular hiking area and that means not so many facilities, take lights, drinks, snacks, etc.
Air Terjun Yeh Mesee – this is an extremely tall waterfall and though it’s a bit of a pain to get to, it’s worth the effort. In fact, many locals think it’s the tallest waterfall in Bali and though there’s no official measurement, we think that they might be right.
Wisata Gelar River – this river high up in the mountains is clean and fresh and there’s a nice wooden bridge over the top. You can go swimming in it and the water is always a pleasant temperature, cooling without being cold.
Hatten Wines Vineyard – this is a pleasant and slightly unusual experience for Bali. It’s a vineyard that operates full tours of the operation (for only 100,000 IDR) and wine tasting. The wine is quite expensive but it’s also much better than the wine in the supermarkets in Bali.
Pantai Karang Sewu – a lovely beach with a long wharf ideal for taking pictures on and for jumping off into the ocean. It’s an amazing area for snorkelling and there are local dive operators if you want to dive or learn to dive. There are quite a few fishermen in this area too and you’re welcome to join them if you want.
FAQs
Is Pemuteran Worth Visiting?
Yes! In fact, we’d say go to Pemuteran just for the joy of visiting Bali Barat National Park but the gorgeous black sand beaches of the Northern Coast are also worth your time and there are plenty of other attractions in the area too.
If you love hidden gems, bird watching, snorkeling, finding peace and quiet, spending time in nature, beautiful beaches, diving in calm waters around coral reefs, wild deer, spa treatments, etc. then you’re going to love Pemuteran.
Where To See Wildlife In Bali?
You can find wildlife all over Bali, particularly in the jungle and rice fields. There are two zoos and a safari park where you can find wild creatures too.
However, the best place to see wildlife in Bali is at West Bali National Park an area of unparalleled beauty on the North Coast that is unspoiled and relatively undeveloped.
What Is The Cleanest Beach In Bali? What Is The Most Pristine Beach In Bali?
Many people might point at the white sand beach of Nusa Dua, but that’s not really the case – the shallow waters around that beach are kept clean by the hotels and resorts that line the shore.
Whereas, Pemuteran’s Beaches are clean because much of the floating garbage in the ocean doesn’t reach Pemuteran and there aren’t enough tourists in Pemuteran Bay and Pemuteran Village to add any significant amounts of pollution.
How To Book A Holiday In Pemuteran?
Whether you want to stay in Pemuteran or visit on a day trip, we recommend that you contact the Bali Res Centre.
That’s a local travel service that can ensure you get the best deals on your flight, your hotel, a private car, a day trip, etc.
Final Thoughts On Pemuteran, Bali
Pemuteran is one of the most unspoiled locations in Bali. It’s on the doorstep of the West Bali National Park and provides access to areas of amazing natural beauty.
It’s a long way from the beach towns of South Bali but we think it’s very much worth visiting. If you want to find peace and quiet and enjoy the beauty of the real Bali, why not get to Pemuteran before everyone else does?
