Day trip · from Canggu
Amed in a day from Canggu: Jemeluk, Lipah and the Tulamben wreck
From Canggu, Amed is at the other end of Bali. You can go for the day, swim over the coral of Jemeluk and Lipah and see the Tulamben wreck, but you spend more time on the road than in the water. This page explains how to do it, and when to give it up. The times given here are indicative.
- Updated on
- 4 min read
- By Kylian Dev
In short
Facts as of · sourced figures
You leave Canggu before dawn and reach the Amed coast during the morning. Snorkelling at Jemeluk then Lipah while the sea is calm, lunch, then Tulamben in the early afternoon for the wreck, on the way back. You return to Canggu in the evening, often after dark.
Contents
Key points
- Indicative times: traffic in the south and in Denpasar makes the outward trip vary a lot.
- The airport to Amed is published at roughly 2 h 30 to 3 h; from Canggu, you also have to cross the south.
- The Amed bays first, calm sea in the morning; Tulamben in the early afternoon, on the way back.
- For most travellers, a night in Amed beats this round trip.
Canggu is on the south-west coast; Amed, a string of fishing villages at the foot of Mount Agung, is on the north-east coast. Tulamben and the Liberty wreck are a little further north, on the main road.
On the programme: Jemeluk, Lipah and Tulamben. The road is described on airport to Amed, the reference route to the east coast.
The day, indicative times
- 5 amLeave Canggu with the driver, ahead of the southern jams.
- 8:30 amJemeluk: snorkelling from the beach, sea still calm.
- 10:30 amLipah: a second reef, at the end of the bay.
- 12 pmLunch facing the sea.
- 1 pmTulamben: the Liberty wreck, snorkelling, if the sea allows.
- 2:30 pmLeave for Canggu.
- 6 pmArrival in Canggu in the evening, depending on traffic.
How the day runs
You leave Canggu before dawn and reach the Amed coast during the morning. Snorkelling at Jemeluk then Lipah while the sea is calm, lunch, then Tulamben in the early afternoon for the wreck, on the way back. You return to Canggu in the evening, often after dark.
At Tulamben, the afternoon is not the best time: the sea is less calm and the groups have already been through. It is the compromise the distance forces on you.
Who it suits
- Confident swimmers with only one day to see coral in Bali.
- Groups sharing a driver who accept a very long day.
Who it does not suit
- Children: the road is too long for a few hours in the water.
- People prone to car sickness.
- Anyone passing through Ubud: the same day from Ubud is much shorter.
Getting there: crossing the whole island
No Canggu to Amed route is published on this site; the reference is the airport to Amed, roughly 2 h 30 to 3 h, plus getting out of Canggu and Denpasar. The hard parts: the south at rush hour, the towns of the east, the winding coast road, then all of it again after dark on the way back.
- Car with a driver: the only option for such a distance.
- Scooter: rule it out for a same-day round trip.
- Set the departure time the day before: a few minutes lost at the start are paid for in traffic jams.
What you see
The reefs of Jemeluk and Lipah, which start a few strokes from the beach, then the Liberty wreck at Tulamben, whose upper part can be seen snorkelling in calm seas. You do not see the Amed coast at sunrise, nor Tirta Gangga, nor the inland villages.
Jemeluk
Coral a few metres from the edge; masks for rent on the beach.
Lipah
A calm reef at the end of the bay; pebbles and little shade.
Tulamben
The Liberty wreck, right off the pebble beach.
If the sea is rough when you arrive, do not force it: look at the water from the beach, ask the mask renters whether getting in is possible, and keep the snorkelling for another time rather than swimming in murky, choppy water.
What you pay for, and what you do not
The driver for a day of this length is by far the biggest item, to be negotiated by stating the distance and the departure time. On site, mask rental, parking at some beaches and, if needed, the Tulamben porters. Prices are given on site. Access to the beaches is free.
| Item | Paid? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Canggu ↔ Amed | Yes | Give the departure time and the three stops |
| Mask, fins | Yes | Rented on the beaches |
| Porters at Tulamben | If needed | For diving gear |
| Parking | Sometimes | Depending on the beach |
| Beach and reef access | No | From the beach |
Mistakes to avoid
The main mistake is leaving Canggu late: you reach Amed as the wind picks up and get back in the middle of the night. Others: walking into the water barefoot on the pebbles, standing on the coral, and driving yourself back, tired, on unlit roads.
- Leave before dawn, or do not go.
- Water shoes for the pebbles, never your feet on the coral.
- Keep an eye on fishing boats coming into the bays.
- Leave the night driving to the driver.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amed in a day from Canggu reasonable?
It is possible but exhausting: more time in the car than in the water. A night in Amed is better if your trip allows it.
How long is the drive?
The site publishes the airport to Amed at roughly 2 h 30 to 3 h; from Canggu, add the crossing of the south. As much on the way back.
Can you see the Tulamben wreck snorkelling?
Yes, the upper part, in calm seas, from the beach. In the afternoon, visibility is often poorer than in the morning.
Is this day trip suitable for children?
It is not advised: the road is too long. With children, leave from Ubud or sleep in Amed.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 27, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
