The peaceful seaside village of Pemuteran lies along the North West Coastline of Bali. Only a few hours drive away from the hustle and bustle of the busy south coast of Bali, yet it is only just now beginning to share the spotlight with it’s southern cousins. Pemuteran is a place that features serene beaches, crystal clear waters, award winning reefs and views that seemingly run forever.
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Sitting approximately 150km from the southern tourist hotspots means that a trip to Pemuteran is either going to be a long day out, or plans need to be made to stay for a night or two. We suggest the latter, as there are a lot more things to do and see at Pemuteran than might be expected. Also take into account that the drive over the mountains to the north shore will see you pass through the tropical center of Bali. This in itself is enough to entice anyone to stop and taste the region, so you are most likely going to want to set aside enough time to do so.
Pemuteran itself has a wealth of things to do, both in the village itself and in its immediate surrounds. It is also a great spot to base yourself to see and do activities that would otherwise be considered “remote”. So sit back and have a read as we go over 8 reasons that you should be planning a visit to Pemuteran as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
- The Diving In Pemuteran Is World Class
- Take A Hike Up Batu Kursi
- Visit Gili Putih Sumberkima
- Explore West Bali National Park
- Take A Trip To Mount Ijen
- Pemuteran Is The Friendliest Place On The Island
- It’s The Perfect Stopover Point
- The Secret Is Out
The Diving In Pemuteran Is World Class
The amount of both scuba diving and snorkeling available in the Pemuteran region is incredible. Described by many to be some of the best diving available on the island of Bali, it has enough to please any level of diver. Ease of access and quality of dives are only two of the factors that make Pemuteran the perfect underwater adventure.
Diving in Pemuteran can be as diverse as wading into the water off the beach directly in front of your resort, to coral diving on the outer reef. Discover the world famous Biorock project, an artificial reef right off the main beach of Pemuteran that consists of an amazing display of coral and sea life. Take a boat to Menjangan island where spectacular wall dives are awaiting you, along with the clown fish, sea horse, parrot fish and lion fish. There are simply no limits to what you will find on a dive trip to Pemuteran.
Take A Hike Up Batu Kursi
Batu Kursi is a hill behind the village of Pemuteran that has the most amazing views. A short hike of only about 30 minutes, the trail is actually a series of concrete stairs that lead to a temple on the peak. The stairs are utilized every day by those that are heading to the temple, but also by locals and tourists alike as they make the climb to witness the incredible views.
The head of the trail to Batu Kursi can be found at the rear of Pura Pemuteran, at the very end of Jalan Pura Pemuteran. Pay a small donation to the attendant before heading around behind the temple to start your climb. Best times to hike up Batu Kursi are early in the morning, or in the late afternoon in order to catch the extraordinary sunset over the volcano’s of Eastern Java.
Visit Gili Putih Sumberkima
Gili Putih Sumberkima is a small strip of sand island located just off Pemuteran. Having become famous recently on social media, it has also become somewhat of a mecca for tourists seeking the “desert island” experience. Consisting of white sand and coral remains from the surrounding reefs, it is the perfect place to getaway from it all and relax in the solitude that an island in the middle of nowhere can provide.
Gili Putih Sumberkima can be reached by hiring a local fisherman to take you to the island. No tours exist to the location at this stage, but the locals are well aware of where it is. Just head down to the local fishing village and ask around. If you have any issues, then hit us up here at Trekindonesia.com and we can provide you with the number for one of the local fishermen who speaks English and is more than willing to help out.
Explore West Bali National Park
West Bali National Park encompasses the entire North West corner of the island of Bali and covers approximately 190 square kilometres. Consisting of several extinct volcano’s, it stretches all the way to Menjangan Island. With this amount of land area available, there is plenty of hiking to be done, with Mount Patas and Mount Merbuk dominating the entire park.
Besides the marine life and diving that is available within the park, it is also a mecca for bird watchers. Over 160 species of bird have been recorded in the park, including the near extinct Bali Starling. Also found within its borders are wild cattle, barking deer, wild boar and Leopard cats. The park was also once home to the Bali Tiger, however despite rumors there have been no confirmed sightings for about 80 years. But then again, who knows?
Take A Trip To Mount Ijen
Mount Ijen is a volcano with a difference. It is located on the Eastern most end of the island of Java, and is only a short trip from Pemuteran across the ferry from Gilimanuk. A relatively short hike by volcano standards, it is a once in a lifetime experience, and a natural phenomena that has to be seen to be believed.
What makes Mount Ijen amazing is the high levels of sulfur it produces. This has a double effect in the crater of Ijen, where its world famous “Blue Flame” can be seen at night time. This is caused by the clouds of sulfuric gas that literally float around inside the crater coming into contact with the extreme heat emanating from fissures in the crater. The gas burns blue, and can only be seen in the dark.
The second effect is the lake that dominates the crater itself. The acidic levels are so high as to be fatal to human contact. Keep your distance and wonder in the beauty of such a place. Most of the hiking to Ijen is done at night in order to see the blue flame, and timed to meet the sunrise which in itself is spectacular. So do yourself a favor and head on down to the ferry, because a trip to Ijen is worth it!
Pemuteran Is The Friendliest Place On The Island
Of course, in such a welcoming place as Bali, this would be in dispute. Having said that, though, it seemed to us that we have never been to a place with such friendly locals.
Getting lost anywhere is just a side effect to travelling. In the village of Pemuteran it seemed to happen more often than not, with small gangs that were so narrow that you don’t even notice them, and twists and turns in the back blocks that get you all turned about pretty easily. In Pemuteran, though, this was not a hassle. Simply because of how friendly the locals are. No matter where you are, riding down any street will have you constantly waving and calling out greetings to friendly locals, especially children, who just want to say hello. We struggled to think of another place quite like it.
The other great example of their nature was how helpful they were at our accommodation. We chose to stay at Umma Bali, which cannot be recommended enough, and no matter what we needed, nothing was a hassle. This was to the point that they would make phone calls just to find out something for us, even when not asked to do so. On one occasion, they even rang the local airport to get permission for a guest to fly his drone. Above and beyond!
It’s The Perfect Stopover Point
Pemuteran is located only a short distance from the ferry at Gilimanuk. Day after day, locals and tourists alike are making the journey from southern Bali to Java by road, sometimes as far as Surabaya, Jogja and even Jakarta. The journey is long, and Pemuteran provides the perfect spot to stop for a layover.
Not just an overnight layover either, although that is just as handy. Why not call in and put your feet up for a few days, relax and enjoy the surrounds. It is a tropical paradise after all, and why just pass through when there is so much on offer?
The Secret Is Out
That’s right, the secret is out. This is no longer the sleepy little village on the other side of the island that no one has ever heard of. The rise of social media combined with improved roads around Bali have seen Pemuteran start to appear on everybody’s radar.
So if you like peace and quiet, great diving or hiking, then get to Pemuteran now. You will not regret it.
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