13 Best Things To Do In Pemuteran, North Bali 2024

Pemuteran is a fishing village on the edge of West Bali National Park in North Bali with tons of great things to do. We visited during our Bali road trip as one of our stops, deciding to stay a few days as it’s a great place to go scuba diving.

The town has been growing in popularity due to its fantastic scuba diving and national parks which surround it. With loads of things to do in Pemuteran and the fact it’s a much less crowded part of Bali, we think it’s a great place to visit.

Pemuteran is a perfect base if you’re planning to go diving around Menjangan Island, which is a super diverse, unspoilt environment where you can enjoy wildlife and marine life. We’ve done all of them and cherry-picked the absolute best. Here’s everything you can’t miss when you visit Pemuteran.

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Discover 13 Incredible Things To Do In Pemuteran Today!

In this post, I’ll talk about all the cool things to do in Pemuteran so you can plan a great trip. I’ll also share our experience getting to Pemuteran, the cost of our trip, a few places we enjoyed eating at and what we thought of the area.

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13 Best Things To Do In Pemuteran

We did end up spending a few nights in Pemuteran and luckily managed to find a divemaster to take us on a diver around Menjangan Island. We also did a lot of exploring and discovered some really awesome places.

In truth, if you’re looking for a relaxed location where you can enjoy wildlife, nature and mountain trails alongside beach days then Pemuteran might just be for you! Here are the best things to do in Pemuteran, Bali.

1. Mountain Trails

We took many hikes into the mountains along windy paths. Some took us to dead ends or places we didn’t want to go any further while others took us to temples and back round to the beach.

I couldn’t for the life of me tell you how we got there; we did have a little map that the guesthouse had given us but we still got lost numerous times, in a good way.

The views were stunning and we found enjoyment in being close to nature. There were a lot of birds flying around and we couldn’t hear any traffic, people or much else apart from the wildlife. We also didn’t see anyone else apart from a few farmers here and there – the good side of travelling during this time.

2. Scuba Diving

For the diving, we had to revert to searching online for a dive company instead. We managed to find a few companies and sent some messages and eventually found a good deal for scuba diving around Menjangan Island.

The dive was great and included all the equipment, lunch, park entrance fee and boat hire!  We were the only ones diving which was great for us but not so good for them I guess.

3. Menjangan Island

We saw lots of marine life while diving around Menjangan Island. There was a beautiful green turtle nibbling at the coral, a nudibranch, a few puffer fish, a squat lobster and a scorpion fish just to name a few!

The coral was magnificent as well, there was so much to see, all different colours and sizes fanning out into the depths. We swam into a cave and flowed with the current until it was time to surface.

Between dives, we had time to explore Menjangan island and although it was hot it was still a beautiful, deserted place. We did only manage a quick walk though as it was very hot!

4. Snorkelling & Boat Trips

If scuba diving isn’t your thing, you can always try snorkelling. The great news is that the coral surrounding Menjangan Island is not too deep. In fact, you will be able to see a ton of incredible marine life quite close to the surface.

Snorkelling around Pemuteran is a great thing to do. To reach Menjangan Island you will have to arrange a boat transfer and pay a park entry fee, you can do this via a tour operator.

5. West Bali National Park

Something I had very much been looking forward to was a hike around West Bali National Park and unfortunately for us, it was disappointing. I’m not too sure but we think we didn’t actually go into the correct area as it was hard to find someone to take us in and we were on the wrong side of the road to the reviews we had read.

For me, it was too humid and very sticky! There were lots of mosquitos munching away on us and the path was extremely overgrown. This meant we were climbing over foliage which in turn meant getting covered in ants and scratches.

I think maybe we went at the wrong time of year as well. We have heard people say great things about this trek and so maybe it was just our luck!

Even so, we did try to make the most of it. There were some areas of beauty especially when we reached the top of a large hill. The view was spectacular and we were in high hopes of spotting the black monkeys (the reason we did the hike).

However, we weren’t so lucky and there were no monkeys to be seen. We did see some huge trees, lizards and a few deer prints at the river bank, we also heard the monkeys…

6. Pemuteran Beach

Before Covid, this beach was up there as a good one to visit in Bali. Further out of town, the jungle literally comes all the way to the beach, so you get a beautiful natural green backdrop. And, since Pemuteran beach is very long and relatively undeveloped outside of the town it was mentioned as one of the best things to do in Pemuteran.

However, for us, the walk along the beach was also a little disappointing or maybe sad is a better term. Everything was completely shut with a lot of places in ruins. The pandemic had been unkind to this village. There was a lot of rubbish; plastic and nappies were washed up on the shore which was heartbreaking to see. We didn’t stay to chill on the beach.

7. Turtle Hatchery

On a more positive side, during our stroll along the beach did find a turtle hatchery which has been saving turtles for over two decades! It was still operational and we even got to see two-day-old hatchlings! They will keep them for forty-five days before releasing them.

8. Kayaking

Although we didn’t do this I have read that the mangrove-fringed Bay of Sumberkima, close to Pemuteran. Metaformosa, an NGO that operates in the area, runs kayaking trips there.

9. Spa, Yoga & Meditation

Pemuteran is a well-known health and spa location in Bali, probably because of its peaceful surroundings. There are a handful of traditional spa facilities offering the essence of Balinese wellness from acupuncture and famous Balinese massages to yoga and meditation.

In truth, if you’re heading to Pemuteran a fun thing to do is to make time for a day wellness program. Offered by most of the resort spas you can expect morning yoga sessions combined with a spa treatment of your choice.

If it’s just a yoga class you’re on the hunt for check out Hill Yoga & Spa at Sumberkima Hill where you can join a Hatha Yoga drop-in class.

10. Hot springs

We actually visited the Banjar Hot Springs when we were in Lovina, the next destination on our trip but in truth, you could also do a day trip from Pemuertan. These hot springs were our favourite in Bali. They were the more traditional sort, not made to be pretentious and loved by the local community just as much as tourists.

Think hot springs in the jungle, surrounded by lush greenery and a number of different pools. A deep green, sulphur-rich volcanic water which is naturally warm.

👉 Related Post: Fancy visiting the Banjar Hot Springs in Lovina? We loved and have written a guide so you can know everything about how to plan your visit.

11. Buddhist Monastery

Afterwards, why not make a visit to the largest Buddhist monastery in Bali? We really enjoyed walking around Brahmavihara-Arama Monastery which has incredible views down to the ocean. 

The entry price was 40,000 IDR p/p which we thought was really good and included access to the monastery and gardens.

We stayed for a while enjoying the views and exploring the grounds as there is quite a lot to see while walking around too. The gardens are large and beautifully landscaped.

👉 Related Post: If you’re not heading to Lovina and want to visit both the hot springs and monastery on a trip by yourself, your best bet is to rent a scooter in Bali. Find out everything you need to know about renting scooters in Bali here.

12. Pemuteran Temples

Bali is well-known for its ancient temples and with a gentle Hindu/Buddhist religion dominating the island it’s only fair that you visit some of their holy temples. In Pemuteran there are a few temples worth mentioning: The Pulaki, Pabean and Segara Temples.

Nestled from the hills to the sea you can explore these temples on your own or through a number of well-known tour companies, however, remember to always be respectful and cover your knees and arms.

13. Vineyard Tours

Wine in Bali? Really? It’s true and although we didn’t get the chance to visit the Hattan Wine Vineyards it’s certainly somewhere I wish we had!

Hatten Wines is Bali’s original winery, founded by Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa in 1994. Incredibly the climate is dry enough in North Bali to grow grapes and the award-winning range showcases both international and heritage grape varieties, all grown in vineyards on Bali!

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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 to find out why you should visit Indonesia and not just Bali!
• How long are you spending in Bali? This 5-day itinerary is perfect if you’re on a short trip.
• Find out how to hike Mount Batur, Bali’s most popular volcano.
• Head to Komodo Island, one of Indonesia’s most famous islands.
• Read this post if you’re interested in visiting Bukit Lawang, the best place to spot wild orangutans.
• If you’re in Bali for a while, head to Amed; it’s a great village to visit with tons of activities.
• Uluwatu, Ubud and Canggu are other locations we enjoyed in Bali.

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Getting To Pemuteran

Pemuteran was the second stop on our Bali road trip after Medewi, a laid-back surfing village. It’s really easy to get to and you can either go by yourselves on a scooter or car rental by following the coast north or cutting through the middle of Bali. We took the coastal road.

✅ It’s also possible to arrange a private transfer from anywhere in Bali using an online service. From the airport to Pemuteran it should cost around $35. You can also easily visit Pemuteran on a day trip!

I was excited about scuba diving around Mejangan Island as we had heard how beautiful the corals and marine life were in the area. We were also looking forward to trekking around the West Bali National Park!

However, plans change and we decided to – at the last minute – visit the island of Java for the famous Mount Ijen sunrise trek!

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What Was Pemuteran Like?

We actually visited Pemuteran not at the best time for the activities we wanted to do. When we got to Pemuteran, it was so quiet with most of the shops shut, including the dive shops! This was a little worrying as we had gone there to dive…

However, it was because of covid. We had left during the back end of the pandemic and some of these smaller, less frequented towns of Bali were almost empty of tourists.

Nevertheless, we made our way to the homestay which, although basic, turned out to be a nice bungalow for us to recoup. We were also given a traditional Balinese breakfast which we hadn’t tried anywhere else!

✅ Hotel Shoutout: Angga Guesthouse is set down a narrow farm lane with mountain lanes. It felt completely isolated from the main town and is a truly great budget place to stay if you’re looking to reconnect with nature.

Once we got settled in and got talking to the locals it was really sad to hear the stories of local businesses that were struggling or had to close shop. We went to one place which, since it opened hadn’t seen any customers.

That being said, after we sorted everything out we really enjoyed our time in Pemuteran and it is somewhere in Bali we would revisit. If you love the outdoors and nature and want to experience more traditional Bali then Pemuteran is a good place to visit.

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How Much Does A Trip To Pemuteran Cost?

We stayed in Pemuteran for 5 days and made the most of our time there. In the end, once we had sorted our diving and tours and weren’t worried about missing out we really enjoyed the tranquillity which Pemuteran holds.

Conversation Rate: 20,000 IDR = £1/$1.39

Eg. Costs From Out Trip In Pemuteran (2022)

• Angga Guesthouse (5night)- £35/$41/ IDR700,000 inc. breakfast
• Lunch (Warung x2)– £4.80/$5.73/IDR 95,000
• Scuba diving – £51/$60 / IDR950,000
• West Bali National Park Trek – £5/$6 / IDR100,000

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Places To Eat In Pemuteran

We mostly ate in the hostel and since we had breakfast there we didn’t eat out too much but there were a few places that we enjoyed visiting.

Kubuku Eco-dive and Restaurant

Our favourite was Kubuku Eco-dive and Restaurant. They are located down a small dirt track but have an amazing staff who were really excited to see us. We were the first customers since opening!

It’s a great place to do work if you’re a digital nomad or need to use good Wi-Fi in Pemuteran. They have an upstairs deck area with loads of seating and a bar with views looking out to the mountains.

Eco Taste Cafe

We loved Eco Taste! It’s a great cafe located in the heart of Pemuteran. They roast their own Balinese coffee but also have a selection of delicious meals. The prices are very reasonable with a great variety of dishes from Balinese to Western.

What makes this place so wonderful are the friendly staff (who speak great English) and the eco and community-centred approach the cafe focuses on – which we loved! They also had great Wi-Fi so it’s a top spot to head and get some work done over a morning coffee!

Manik Rasa Warung

Our favourite local warung was Manik Rasa. The owner was really friendly and so happy to see us, again he hadn’t been getting much business, by no fault of his cooking!

We enjoyed the local Balinese dishes we came to love and the warungs are always the most cost-effective way to eat out in Bali. You’ll pick up a meal for as little as $2.30/£2!

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Conclusion: Things To Do In Pemuteran

Even though we had some bad experiences in Pemuteran we did enjoy the majority of our time there and I put most of it down to Covid and the struggles the local community was having.

I would love to go back now that the world is recovering and Bali is again busy with tourists, hopefully, the influx of tourism has helped businesses get back on their feet. I do feel that Pemuteran has a lot of positive things to offer and would make for a great stop on any Bali itinerary.