About Lovina - North Bali

Lovina Beach is a 12 km stretch of coast to the North West of Singaraja in North Bali. It is several resorts rather than one. It is comprised of several narrow stretches of black volcanic sand. Lovina, like most of Bali, fills up with tourists from all over the world in August and Australians at Chrismass. Lovina is a nice break from the bustle of the South. These days the mix of tourists is mainly families and couples rather than the backpackers of previous years..

Kalibukbuk is the largest and most developed village but it is just two streets of hotels, bars, restaurants, and dive shops running down to the beach. There is a wide range of accommodation and restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes. There are two clubs and several bars, but the nightlife is generally low key and easy going.

You can easily get to Lovina by bus from all parts of Bali, but it is a long ride from the East or South. Getting your own car with or without a driver ( I don't recomend without!!) is a much easier way to get to the North. Bemo’s are the local public transport buses and they ply all the local routes. Again it is much easier to hire a driver and car for any longer journey. You can travel from Kuta in less than 3hrs and from the airport or Sanur in about 2.30hrs. You will travel through (Pura Ulun Danau) Bedugul and could go the pretty way through Munduk if you are not in a hurry. So you could stop to take in the temple, lakes and rice paddies on your trip and make a day of it.

Sightseeing trips are easy to organise either with drivers on the street or through your hotel. Some sugestions are:

Air Banjar Hot Springs - Located west of Lovina, Air Banjar (or Panjar) is an enchanting hot springs with stone carved mouths gushing water among a lush garden setting. A nominal entrance fee is charged. Go in the morning if you want some peace and quiet, you will have the place to yourself if you get there before 9am.

DolphinTrips - These trips leave early each morning and are great fun for the kids, despite the critiscism that the boats tend to outnumber the dolphins. Prices are fixed by a dolphin cartel, they are around 50,000 (4 euro). 

Snorkeling is possible on the reef just offshore from Kalibukbuk in the mornings around 10am. You will need to hire a boat for this and it costs about 50,000 per head (includes gear, although your own will be a better fit). Snorkeling and scuba diving trips leave from Kalibukbuk for Menjangan and other north shore dive spots. There are several dive operators based out of Lovina that operate daily dive trips to Menjangan Island, Tulamben and Amed, as well as night dives from the local shore. "Spice Dive" are based out of Lovina and offer day trips to all of the dive spots on the northern shore. Guides are available in a variety of languages and multi-day discounts are available.

Eating and Drinking - Lovina offers various restaurants with local and international cuisines. 'Kakatua' in Kalibukbuk is one the most popular with tourists and not without reason. The menu is varied, the staff friendly and you can see the food being prepared and cooked from fresh ingredients. Also the Thai restaurant "Jasmine" is a perfect address for delicious and affordable dining at Kalibukbuk - Lovina.

Tours and Attractions in and around Lovina

Singaraja
Singaraja is the former captial of Bali. Its a city with hosptials, pharmacies, various banks, and many markets where you can be impressed with colors and smells of Balinese food. Singaraja is home of the Gedong Kirtya library, maintaining the famous lontar manuscripts and much Balinese literature. The harbour of Singaraja shows signs of Dutch colonialism with its old storage houses.

Git Git
A 40 meter high waterfall. A path of about 1 km filled with souvenir warungs and shops where you can buy cheap clothes takes you to one the most breathtaking waterfalls in Bali. Sit down there and relax with the sound of the water, falling in xthe bouldered river.

Diving
Lovina is an ideal place to stay to discover the underwater world of Bali. There are many Padi certified diving schools who can learn you to dive. Menjangan Island is one of the spots near Lovina where one can discover the colorful underwater world. Amed and Tulamben (wreck dive) are within reach as well.

Snorkeling and Fishing
Many of the local fishermen can take you for a snorkeling or fishing trip in Lovina. There is enough to see or fish at the local coral reef. You could even try spear fishing.

Dolphin Watching
At 6 o'clock in the morning you can take a local boat to see the doplhins in front of Lovina.

Buddhist Monastery
In the hills of Banjar is the Buddhist monastery. It it is in fabulous location is very peaceful and the decoration is beautiful Go there just to see it or meditate a while and return refreshed.

Hot Springs
In Banjar you can visit the famous Hot Springs with sulphurous water and large water sprouts. Great time to go go is before breakfast miss the crowds and the hassle of the local (tourist) market and take you breakfast on your return to Lovina fully refreshed. Alternatively make a dy of it and do the Full Lovina Tour.

Bali Temples
Bali has many many temples, each with their own meaning. East of Lovina you can find Beji Temple in Sangsit is dedicated to the Rice Goddess, Jagaraja temple remembers battles with the Dutch. To the west of Lovina is Pulaki Temple, is crowded with monkeys who are considered descendants of Dewa (God). Ulundanu Temple is located near Bedugul.

Botanical Gardens
Large garden complex with many statues and flora.

Air Sanih
A curling road takes you to Air Sanih, a natural fresh water pool. A few kilometers from Singaraja.

Munduk
In Munduk you find many pitoresque rice terraces, and you can do some jungle trekking there.

National Park
In the West National Park you can be trekking through one of the most natural places in Bali. There is much flora and fauna to be seen, amongst others the endangered Bali Starling. Guides are available.

Lakes Tamblingan and Buyan
Great views of volcanic lakes, with plantations of flowers. You can even buy strawberries there.

Lovina Tour
This is a full day trip and can include visit to Pura Ulun Danau at Bedugul, visit the market and travel to the Botanical Gardens. After a walk around the gardens return via the wonderful scenery of Munduk and collect some sample of local grown coffee. Finish off by visiting the Buddhist Temple and Hot Spring.

Lovina Nightlife
In Lovina there are cosy bars where you can enjoy a cocktail or a Bintang beer and life music. Most famous bars are ZigiZ, Poco Bar and Planet Lovina.

Sports At Lovina beach you can do Para sailing, waters skiing and kneeboarding.

Just Drive and see if you rent a motorbike or car its really worth to just start to drive around the villages around Lovina and try some of the small roads. You will be surprised what you can see there. You probably run into a marriage, ceremony or cremation somewhere, where people will invite you to join, if you are daring enough to step towards them. Try one of the Warungs in the villages and eat and drink what the Balinese daily eat.