Lovina is one of those places in Bali that feels refreshingly low-key. It’s home to one of the best natural hot springs, Banjar Hot Springs, and a handful of experiences that make it well worth a stop.
Known for its quiet, sandy beaches and relaxed pace of life, it’s a world away from the busier parts of the island.
The area is often associated with early-morning dolphin boat trips and its laid-back coastal vibe, but there’s more to Lovina than just the sea.
Just inland, you’ll find the peaceful Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist Monastery, and a little further south lies one of my favourite spots in North Bali, the Sambangan Secret Garden, where waterfalls and jungle trails steal the show.
In this guide, I’m sharing my knowledge of the Lovina hot springs, including how to get there, when to visit, and what you can expect.
✈️ HOW TO MAKE TRIP PLANNING EASY?
I’ve created the All‑In‑One Digital Travel Planner as a simple way to keep your trip organised. Track bookings, plan your days, manage your budget, and tick off checklists. 🤗
At a Glance: Visiting the Banjar Hot Spring
The Banjar Hot Springs are one of the most relaxing attractions near Lovina and a popular stop on a North Bali tour.
Set among jungle-covered hills, the warm, sulphur-rich pools are simple, affordable, and perfect for slowing down after a day of exploring.
- Dress code: Swimsuit with sarong or T-shirt recommended
- Location: Near Lovina, North Bali
- Water temperature: Around 38°C
- Best time to visit: Early morning (before tour buses arrive)
- Facilities: Changing rooms, toilets, small stalls, optional private jacuzzi
- Price: 20,000 IDR per adult and 10,000 IDR for kids
🌟 My top pick >> Visit Bali’s more offbeat cultural sites on a private full-day tour to the north: Handara Gate, hike to a waterfall, visit Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist Monastery and take a dip in Banjar Hot Spring.
How to get to Lovina Hot Springs Bali
Banjar Hot Springs are best reached by scooter, car, or taxi. The drive from Lovina takes around 20 minutes and is very straightforward using Google Maps.
Guided North Bali tours are another easy option if you’re short on time.
🏨 Accommodation // Where To Stay In Lovina // 9.0+ ratings
Budget-friendly: Hotel Shri Ganesh | Mid-Range: Balinda Rooms & Villa | Luxury: The Lovina
Is Banjar Hot Springs Worth Visiting?
Yes, Lovina Hot Springs are absolutely worth visiting, especially if you’re exploring North Bali or passing through Lovina.
Hidden within the mountains and surrounded by a lush tropical jungle, these Bali hot springs were one of my favourite stops on my Bali road trip.
It’s one of those places that feels both relaxing and interesting, rather than just another stop on a checklist.
I really enjoyed my time here. Soaking in the warm, sulphur-rich water after days of driving and exploring felt incredibly soothing, and the jungle surroundings added to the calm atmosphere.
It’s not a luxury spa, and it doesn’t try to be: it’s simple, local and refreshingly unpolished, which is exactly what makes it special.
If you visit early in the day, before the tour buses arrive, it’s surprisingly peaceful and easy to enjoy at your own pace.
Combined with its affordability and natural setting, Lovina Hot Springs Bali makes for a genuinely memorable stop and a great way to slow down during a Bali road trip.
❤️ FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS!
I hope you’re finding this guide helpful! Follow me on Instagram (@abigailcarolina.dalton) and Facebook for daily stories, travel tips and photo dumps!
Your support means the world to me. Thank you 🤗
Mini-Travel Guide: The Banjar Hot Springs
The journey here was even more beautiful than the coastal road I’d been following since leaving Pemuteran. A visit to the hot springs is one of the best activities to do while exploring north Bali.
What To Expect From Banjar Hot Springs
When you arrive at the Lovina Hot Springs, you’ll find a selection of warm pools that anyone can enjoy. The natural temperature is around 38°C, which is said to have healing properties, and honestly, it just feels great.
The water flows into the pools through stone spouts carved into dragon heads (which is pretty cool), while other pools are filled via metal pipes.
A few important things to know before you go:
- You must wear a swimsuit, but I’d strongly recommend a sarong or T-shirt rather than a bikini. Bikinis can feel a little uncomfortable here and are slightly frowned upon.
- If you don’t have a sarong, wearing a T-shirt is very common and totally acceptable.
- Soap is not permitted in the pools.
- Don’t wear white. The sulphur in the water will stain your clothes yellow and likely ruin them.
Opening hours: Banjar Hot Springs is open daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, except on Nyepi (Silent Day).
Pro tip: I visited early in the morning, and it was still relatively quiet, with only a handful of people in the main pool. If you want to avoid the crowds and tour groups, aim to arrive early — by midday, it gets much busier.
⭐ BOOK: Visit Bali’s more offbeat cultural sites on a private full-day tour to the north: Handara Gate, hike to a waterfall, visit Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist Monastery and take a dip in Banjar Hot Spring.
Spa & Massage
Banjar Hot Springs also offers a private spa and massage service, although it’s worth knowing that the “spa” is essentially a private jacuzzi rather than a full spa setup.
You can book the jacuzzi for 15,000 IDR per hour (£0.80 / $0.96), which is incredibly affordable for a bit of extra privacy.
When I visited, the massage service wasn’t available, but according to their website, they offer a traditional massage or body scrub for 75,000 IDR per hour (£3.96 / $4.81) — which is kind of unbelievable value.
That said, we actually loved the smaller pool even more. It had water pouring from a pipe high up the wall, creating a surprisingly powerful natural massage thanks to gravity alone.
It was the perfect spot to stand under and work out a few stubborn shoulder knots without paying for a massage.
Enjoying this blog? All my content is free, but I do spend a lot of time in coffee shops. If you’re finding my content helpful and would like to buy me a coffee, I’d love that! Thank you 🤗
Changing Rooms & Shower
There are changing rooms and showers on site, though they are outdoors (not private). I found them to be comfortable and safe.
If you want to use the toilet, you will have to pay an additional 3,000 IDR (£0.16/$0.19). Make sure to bring small change with you.
Lockers
There are lockers at these Bali hot springs that you can rent for 5,000 IDR (£0.26/$0.32) if you want to store your valuables.
I didn’t use them as it seemed pretty safe, and locals were leaving their belongings on the side.
It was quiet when we visited, though, so if it is busy, I would recommend you use a locker.
Banjar Hot Springs entrance fee
The entrance fee to Banjar Hot Springs is now around 20,000 IDR per adult and 10,000 IDR for kids; still incredibly affordable for soaking in natural thermal waters.
This typically does include access to the basic changing rooms and toilets, but things like lockers may be charged separately once you’re inside.
There are a few small stalls dotted along the entrance selling clothes, crafts and swimwear. I managed to pick up a beautiful tie-dye dress for 50,000 IDR (£2.64 / $3.21) after some negotiating.
Is there a restaurant at the Lovina hot springs?
There is a restaurant on site where you can order a wide variety of Western and Indonesian food. Some recommendations are calamari tempura, egg rolls and fried chicken in a garlic sauce.
The restaurant is quite large and looks over the main pool.
🚑 DON’T FORGET TRAVEL INSURANCE!
SafetyWing is a fantastic travel medical insurance that is super affordable and great for backpackers. You can purchase a policy before or after your travels begin. 🤗
Healing Benefits Of Banjar Hot Springs
The water that flows through Banjar Hot Springs is often referred to as holy water by locals.
It has a deep green colour and a faint sulphur smell, and is rich in minerals, with a reported 26% sulphur content. It’s this mineral-rich water that gives the springs their reputation for healing.
The benefits commonly associated with soaking here include:
- Stress relief: The warm water helps relax tired muscles and encourages you to slow down, making it incredibly calming.
- Skin conditions: The sulphur is believed to help soothe issues such as eczema, dermatitis and acne. My skin definitely felt softer afterwards.
- Improved circulation & metabolism: The heat encourages better blood flow, leaving you feeling loose and relaxed once you step out.
- Joint and muscle pain relief: Often recommended for aches, stiffness and conditions like arthritis, especially if you stand under the water spouts or soak for a while.
Is Lovina Worth Visiting?
Lovina can be worth visiting, but it really depends on what you’re looking for and where you choose to stay.
It’s also conveniently located for visiting Banjar Hot Springs, the peaceful Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist Monastery, and nearby waterfalls, such as those in the Sambangan Secret Garden area.
When I visited, Lovina felt very quiet and a little rundown, which I’m sure was largely down to travelling at the tail end of the pandemic. I also stayed in the town centre rather than along the beachfront, which definitely impacted my experience.
Choosing accommodation by the sea or just outside the main town seems to make a big difference here.
That said, Lovina isn’t somewhere I’d recommend for travellers looking for atmosphere, nightlife or a strong village vibe.
Now that travel has fully picked up again, Lovina likely feels very different, and I’d be open to revisiting, especially as a short stop on a Bali road trip rather than a longer stay.
If you’re deciding where to base yourself in Bali, there are other places I personally enjoyed more, like the sleepy fishing village of Amed on the east coast.
Related post: If you’re heading to Bali on a backpacking trip, check out my 5-day Bali itinerary, which balances quieter spots with must-see highlights.
Must-Visit Attractions Near Lovina
While exploring Lovina, I discovered a handful of nearby places that were well worth the short drive. These spots made my time around Lovina far more memorable and are ideal if you’re using the area as a base or passing through on a Bali road trip.
Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist Monastery
Reaching the Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist Monastery meant riding up through small mountain villages, with beautiful views stretching all the way to the ocean.
The monastery itself is tucked into the hillside and offers some truly panoramic views.
The entry costs 40,000 IDR per person and gives you access to both the monastery and its beautifully kept gardens.
There’s plenty to wander through, from quiet meditation spaces and small pavilions to carved stone statues, water features and peaceful corners perfect for sitting and taking it all in.
⭐ BOOK: Venture away from the usual tourist crowds and visit beautiful sights on this tour, including Handara Gate, the Lovina hot springs, a beautiful waterfall, and a Buddhist monastery.
Gitgit Waterfall
We also visited the popular Gitgit waterfall while staying in Lovina.
It’s about 50 minutes away from Lovina beach and is an awesome 35-metre waterfall with great tropical views – the highest in Bali.
It’s 20,000 IDR to enter. Be sure not to get conned at the parking lot.
There’s a path which leads down to the waterfall with a few stalls selling local souvenirs. You will find toilets there, but no lockers, so watch out for your belongings!
Sambangan Secret Garden
Separate from this trip, I also visited Sambangan Secret Garden, home to Aling Aling Waterfall, which is around 25 minutes from Lovina and absolutely deserves a place on your list.
Aling Aling Waterfall is incredible, and hands down my favourite waterfall experience in Bali. The main waterfall drops around 30 metres, surrounded by dense tropical jungle, and it’s genuinely impressive when you first arrive.
What really sets this area apart, though, are the smaller waterfalls nearby, where you can rock slide and cliff jump if you’re feeling adventurous.
There are a few different activity packages available, depending on what you want to do, with prices generally ranging from 250,000 to 500,000 IDR per person.
Resources For Bali
Is it your first time visiting Bali? We’ve written lots of useful posts to help you plan your trip. You can check them all out on our Bali Page here, but below are some of our most popular articles:
- Read this post if you’re interested to learn more about climbing Mount Batur.
- I visited Komodo Island; here’s what I thought.
- Don’t forget the ancient temple sites like Tanah Lot.
- Bali is an affordable island to visit.
- After Bali, we headed to Bukit Lawang to search for orangutans.
- You might be interested in visiting Nusa Lembongan and Uluwatu.
- Another superb attraction is Campuhan Ridge, and the Kajeng Rice Field walk in Ubud; is Ubud also a town worth visiting?
End Note: Banjar Hot Springs, Lovina, Bali
Banjar Hot Springs turned out to be one of my favourite stops in North Bali.
It’s simple, affordable and completely unpretentious, the kind of place that doesn’t try to be anything it’s not.
Soaking in the warm, sulphur-rich water surrounded by jungle after days of exploring felt genuinely relaxing and restorative.
If you’re passing through Lovina or road-tripping around the north of the island, Banjar Hot Springs is absolutely worth the stop.
Go early, take your time, and enjoy it for what it is: a calm, local experience that offers a lovely pause from the busier parts of Bali.
Thank you for reading my post. You can find my latest stories and articles on my blog homepage here. Follow me on Instagram (@abigailcarolina.dalton) and Facebook to see what I’m getting up to and where my upcoming trips are.
