Transfer · Between bases
From Ubud to Amed, towards the reefs of the east
Amed is at the end of the eastern road, and Ubud is its most logical starting base: the transfer is shorter than from the airport, which takes about 2 h 30 to 3 h. It remains long, ends on a narrow coastal road and crosses a region where ride-hailing is scarce. With a driver and two well-chosen stops, this change of base becomes a fine day.
- Updated on
- Less than airport–Amed (2 h 30 to 3 h)
- 5 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
In brief
- Time: shorter than airport–Amed (about 2 h 30 to 3 h). Allow a day with the stops.
- Price: no official fare. Driver by the trip or by the day, price set in advance with the stops.
- Best time: leave in the morning, reach the coastal road well before nightfall.
- Good to know: in Amed, little ride-hailing and few ATMs; bring cash and plan the next leg.
From Ubud to Amed, the transfer is shorter than from the airport, which takes about 2 h 30 to 3 h. Book a driver the day before, leave in the morning, and stop at Klungkung or Tirta Gangga. No fare is official: set the price and the stops before departure.
The road leaves Ubud heading east, crosses Gianyar and Klungkung, follows the southeast coast then climbs towards Amlapura before going back down to the sea. The last section, from Culik to the villages of Amed, follows a narrow corniche. Both regions have their page: Ubud and Amed.
The 2-week and 3-week itineraries do this transfer in two parts, with a stage in Sidemen. That is also what the section on the alternative recommends.
The options to get from Ubud to Amed
A driver by the trip or by the day is the only really comfortable option over this distance: luggage loaded, stops possible, road known. Ride-hailing may accept the ride from Ubud, but not always. A scooter is for seasoned riders traveling light.
| Mode | Time | Indicative price | Who it suits | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver by the trip | Less than airport–Amed (2 h 30 to 3 h) | Set in advance | Most travelers | Large suitcase, no problem |
| Driver for the day | A day with the visits | Set for the day and the route | Those who want to stop on the way | Large suitcase, no problem |
| Grab or Gojek ride-hailing (car) | Similar to a driver | Shown in the app, if a driver accepts | Light travelers | Depends on the category |
| Scooter | A long day | Rental in Ubud | Experienced riders, with an international license | Backpack only |
Have them specify what is included: fuel, parking, waiting at stops, any entrance fees. A driver recommended by your accommodation in Ubud generally knows the eastern road well.
The transfer, hour by hour
A typical day: leave Ubud in the morning, stop at Klungkung, lunch on the way, visit Tirta Gangga in the early afternoon, then descend to Amed by the coastal road. Arrival in the late afternoon, in time for sunset at the Jemeluk viewpoint.
| Moment | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning | Leave Ubud, cross Gianyar |
| Late morning | Klungkung: the Kerta Gosa court of justice |
| Noon | Lunch on the way |
| Early afternoon | Tirta Gangga: pools and gardens of the water palace |
| Late afternoon | Coastal road to the village you chose, sunset at Jemeluk |
Even without stops, the road is long with children: bring water, snacks and plan a break halfway. The driver usually knows the clean warung and rest stops on the way; ask them to stop there rather than at souvenir shops where some touts earn a commission. If your hotel in Ubud allows it, settle the bill the evening before: you leave earlier.
The pitfalls of the Ubud–Amed transfer
The pitfalls: leaving too late and finishing on the corniche at night, piling up stops until you arrive exhausted, not planning the next leg from Amed, and forgetting cash. Lempuyang, often suggested on the way, can cost half a day of queuing.
- Leaving after noon: the end of the transfer, coastal and narrow, is done in daylight.
- Adding Lempuyang “on the way”: the queue for the photo can take half a day, as the Amed page points out.
- Arriving without cash: ATMs are rare in Amed.
- Not booking the next leg: from Amed, ride-hailing is rare. Arrange the next driver as soon as you arrive.
The smart alternative: a stage in Sidemen
Rather than doing Ubud–Amed in one go, spend two nights in Sidemen. Each of the two stages is shorter than the direct transfer, the valley brings the calm of the rice fields, and the Sidemen–Amed road passes Tirta Gangga. That is the route of the 2- and 3-week itineraries.
The first stage is described on Ubud → Sidemen. From Sidemen, the road to Amed is shorter than airport–Amed, along the east coast.
This stage has another advantage: it splits the day on the road into two mornings, and leaves two late afternoons free, one in the rice fields of Sidemen, the other by the sea in Amed.
Leaving Amed: to the south or the airport
From Amed, the airport is about 2 h 30 to 3 h away: never leave Amed on the morning of a flight. To reach Sanur and the Nusa Penida boat, leave early: the transfer is barely shorter than the one to the airport, and the boats stop in the late afternoon.
| Next leg | Advice |
|---|---|
| Early morning flight | Last night in Sanur, about 30 to 40 min from the airport |
| Evening flight | Leave Amed in the late morning, with a wide margin |
| Boat to Nusa Penida | Leave early: last boats from Sanur in the late afternoon |
| North coast or Munduk | Leave in the morning to arrive in the mountains before nightfall |
Book the next driver as soon as you arrive in Amed: the accommodation often takes care of it. For the north coast and Munduk, ask for a driver used to mountain roads, and leave early enough to finish the climb before the afternoon mist.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Ubud to Amed?
Less than from the airport, which takes about 2 h 30 to 3 h. With two stops, allow the whole day.
How much does a driver from Ubud to Amed cost?
There is no official fare. The price is set in advance, by the trip or by the day, stops included: compare at least two offers.
Should you book the driver for Amed?
Yes, at least the day before. Your accommodation in Ubud can do it, and the one in Amed can arrange the next leg, as ride-hailing is rare there.
Is it better to stop in Sidemen?
With ten days or more, yes: two shorter stages, two quiet nights among the rice fields, and Tirta Gangga on the road of the second one.
What is there to see between Ubud and Amed?
The Klungkung court of justice (Kerta Gosa) and the Tirta Gangga water palace. Lempuyang often involves a long queue: best avoided on a travel day.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
