About Lovina & North Bali

Lovina is an area between the 2 big cities in the north, Singaraja and Seririt, which is popularly called so, there is no Balinese who has Lovina as a birthplace. The name Lovina comes from the Lovina Beach Hotel, the pioneer hotel built in 1953 by Anak Agung Pandji Tisna.

It was the first hotel built in the area. When the Lovina Beach Hotel was handed over to his younger cousin in 1956, business declined and the Lovina Beach Hotel slowly lost its popularity. The center (Kalibukbuk) at the dolphin statue is also called Lovina or Lovina Beach.

In 1980, the provincial government of Bali built 2 beach houses to support the Lovina Beach Hotel. As the area became more popular in tourism, the name Lovina also became more famous and so the 7 fishing villages located here became an area with the name Lovina. As far as I know, there are different versions of the origin of the name. The Lovina Beach Hotel still exists and is also listed in the Hotels section.

As mentioned, Lovina originally consists of a row of fishing villages along the northern road in Bali, which have grown together under the influence of tourism. They are the following villages (from east to west) Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Banyualit, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus.

It is a quiet area with a black (lava sand) beach and a beautiful diving area, so don’t expect golden sandy beaches and beach hotels with deck chairs on the beach. There are restaurants, cafes, shops, dive centers and hotels.

The tourist center is located in the village of Kalibukbuk, which also has a beach promenade. In the center is the famous statue of a dolphin (this area is also known as Lovina Beach). Lovina is best known for its dolphins, which can be seen in groups early in the morning on the nearby reef. In contrast to the south, you can swim anywhere here because the current is calm and the sea is generally calm.

Lovina has grown in the last years to an area that has more to offer than just a black beach and dolphins, Lovina itself is not really interesting from a tourist point of view, but the north of Bali is a beautiful area to discover and this is perfectly possible with a stay in Lovina. The goal of this document is to share information that is hard to find, the information is from local people or is my own experience.

The north of Bali is underestimated, it may not have the white beaches of the south, but it has beautiful nature, waterfalls, rice fields, countless temples and mountains. Its reputation as a backpacker village has faded as there are now a large number of hotels ranging from cheap to very expensive. For the non-beach lover, there are plenty of alternatives. In Lovina (and beyond) there are many beach villas for rent.

Lovina and it’s famous Dolphins

Lovina is famous for spotting dolphins, some people also say chasing dolphins and sometimes (in high season) it might be true, but it also has something spectacular to watch these dolphins swim around in the open sea. Dolphins are intelligent animals and if they don’t like it they would swim a different route,

I personally think that dolphins play more with the people than the other way around and spotting dolphins is so much better than having them in a basin of salt water with a lot of chemicals or somewhere held in detention and trained to swim with people and to do tricks. That said, this “adventure” can also be arranged, as mentioned in the introduction, my neighbor has a boat that can take care of this and can accommodate a maximum of 5 people.

Get out of bed early because at half past six you have to be on the beach (at Starlight hotel) although it can also be later and it is also possible to be picked up at your hotel. The prices for spotting the dolphins and for snorkeling are in the table on the next page. It is wise to make an exact price agreement when you make the booking.

At 6 o’clock in the morning the sunrise can be described as spectacular, but it will also be busier with boats (especially in high season), and if you go later it is possible that you will not see any dolphins (never happened though to my experience) but it can also happen that you are almost alone and see a lot of dolphins, it is simply not predictable.

The dolphin trip can be combined with a snorkel trip, life jackets and snorkel goggles are available or just indicate in advance that they are needed. The prices for spotting the dolphins and for snorkeling are in the table on the next page.

Snorkelling in and around Lovina

You can also do some snorkeling in Lovina, there are several places where you can do this, and these pictures were taken in the coral reef in front of Adirama Hotel. Recently there have been projects along the north coast where they are putting structures on the seabed. The idea is to attract the fish.

The Holy Hot Springs or “Air Panas Banjar”

In the village of Banjar, 20 minutes drive from Kalibukbuk, there are hot springs in the middle of a flowering garden and it is a nice place to relax. The volcanic spring water is 37C. The sulphurous, healing for rheumatic diseases and skin complaints. Also if you are healthy of body and soul this is a good place to be.

The healing water pours out of the mouths of eight stone naga (mythical creatures) in the first pool. From there, it flows into a second bath as a massage jet up to three meters high, to come down in the third bath.
There is a small entrance fee of 20,000 rupiah, unfortunately you will also have to scan a QR code starting November 2021.

There are changing rooms and showers, and lockers are available. The water is nice and warm. Make sure you do not have new swimwear, as the water of the hot spring contains particles that can color your swimsuit a little orange. (Don’t go on weekends as it is very busy with locals, unless you like that). There is also a restaurant where you can get a drink and something to eat.

Banjar Buddha Temple

Not far from the hot spring is the largest Buddhist temple in Bali. In Bali it is called “Brahma Vihara Ashmarama”, it was built in 1969 and is located in the hills of Tegehe village (Banjar area), about 25 minutes from Kalibukbuk. From the temple there is a beautiful view over the coastal strip of Lovina. The temple is built according to Balinese architecture, but by the many statues and details it is really a Buddhist temple.

Recently, renovations have been completed and there are new statues and temples. In the back of the complex is the small version of Borobudur, the real one is located in the Yogyakarta area on Java and is used as a meditation room.

Because of this renovation there is a small entrance fee of 20,000 Rp, the sarong which is provided free of charge, you must never enter a temple in shorts or bare legs or bare shoulders, (this applies to all Balinese temples). There are new statues after the renovation of the temple, also the gate is new.

Because of this renovation there is a small entrance fee of 20.000 Rp, the sarong which is available free of charge, you must never enter a temple in shorts or with bare legs or bare shoulders, (this applies to all Balinese temples). There are new statues after the renovation of the temple, also the gate is new.

If you want to visit a temple, compare it to visiting a church where you are expected to behave normally. Both men and women can only enter a temple wearing a sarong. It is not allowed for women to enter a temple when they are menstruating. Respect the Balinese people and their culture and you will be treated accordingly.

It may be tolerated in the south, the north is not so affected by tourism that the people here are ok with the fact that tourists walk around not wearing a shirt, it is not appreciated. Topless sunbathing is also not appreciated, although the Balinese will never say anything, they don’t think it’s appropriate.

There are many waterfalls to visit in the north, the most well known is probably GitGit, these falls are a popular destination for tourists and are well visited, probably because all the tour operators will take the tourist there.

Other very famous waterfalls are: Banyumala waterfall, Labuhan Kebo waterfall, Melanting waterfall, Banyu Wana Amertha waterfall, Pucak Manik waterfall, Sambangan waterfalls (Aling Aling), Jembong waterfall and Sekumpul waterfall.

Munduk Waterfall

You can skip the Munduk Waterfall and before you buy the ticket take the road on the left and walk to 2 other waterfalls, the Labuan Kebo Waterfall and the Melanting Waterfall, these two waterfalls are less known and therefore much quieter with visitors. The two waterfalls are located further in the village of Gobleg, from Munduk waterfall it is a beautiful walk of +/- 25 minutes through the green nature, the entrance fee is 10,000 rp at both waterfalls.

You will first come across Labuan Kebo, the road to it is not too difficult and can be done, and if you look around you can see everything growing, cloves, coffee and nutmeg. Labuan Kebo has quite a few stairs down, on a path that is not very good and there is often no handrail, there is also 1 difficult point where you have to be careful, but once down it is very worthwhile.

You don’t have to cross the rickety bridge but you can stay on the left side of the water and walk towards the waterfall and if you want a refreshing shower you can do that too. Lovina North Bali

Melanting Waterfall

When you come up again at the Labuan Kebo waterfall, you can turn left and continue on the road, the road is already going down, then the stairs start and there are many of them.

The Melanting Waterfall is a very hard one (especially when you go back up) but also because the stairs are bad, sometimes they are very small or the height difference is just too big to make a normal step, after a while you come to the place where you have to buy a ticket (if there is one) also here the entrance is 10.000 Rupiah and the further you go down the more beautiful it gets, you see the most beautiful flowers on the way and the nature is beautiful but there are also the necessary natural obstacles.

Once you get down to the waterfall it is very worthwhile and there are many beautiful things to see along the way. What is also advisable is to bring a bottle of water with you because only when you go back up to Munduk you will come across a warung and it is quite a bit of climbing and walking.

Golden Valley Waterfall

It is not a big waterfall, but the walk to it is challenging, especially on the way back, but there is an eco-cafe here, so you can prepare well for the climb. During the walk, which goes straight down, you will see the most beautiful things.

It is not a big waterfall, but the walk to it is a challenge, especially when you go back, but there is an eco-cafe here, so you can prepare well for the climb up. During the walk, which goes straight down, you will see the most beautiful things.

After the stop with the waterfall in the background you have to go back and this way goes up steeply so you have to do some climbing. Then we follow our way and finally you come to the road that goes past the twin lakes, then the road down to Pancasari.

The long road to Bedegul you drive through Pancasari, near the local market on the right you see the sign Bali Bike Park, here you can rent bikes and do a bike ride in the area. If you drive in and follow the road to the end, you will come to a camping / recreation area located on the shore of the lake, this is a famous area for Balinese families and youth to camp there.

Buyan & Tamblingan Mountain Lakes

Also known as the Twin Lakes, this area near Bedugul is a tourist attraction (also for local tourism, many Balinese go camping on weekends), the road from Munduk gives a wonderful view of the two lakes and the surrounding mountains.

You can also do some excellent trekking through the surrounding “jungle”, it’s not really jungle more like a forest. There are local organizations that can provide more information, please check the website. There are also comfortable hotels in the area, for example the Danau Buyan Hotel.

Of course there are more hotels and hostels in the area. Depending on the time you can choose to have lunch in Bedugul, this area is famous for its strawberries and there are several restaurants serving all kinds of dishes where the strawberry is the ingredient, think strawberry milkshake or a pancake with strawberries.

The surroundings here are beautiful, you can choose to return to Lovina or take the road along the Gitgit waterfalls, you can also visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (better known as the Water Temple) or the local fruit market in Bedugul.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

The Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is a Hindu temple located in the Bratan Lake. It is a beautiful large park with many plants and flowers and a special giant tree. There are several temples. It has also become a tourist attraction, so it is best to go there early so that it is still quiet because when the buses full of tourists are dropped off, the peace is over, entrance 50,000 rp. It is located at an altitude of 1200 meters, so the climate is cooler and it can be cloudy in the afternoon.

The park around the temple has also been expanded, because when you walk past the temple, there is a kind of walking path along the lake, and there are also some restaurants.

The temple is dedicated to the goddess Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes and rivers. This lake plays an important role in the irrigation of the environment. The temple was built in 1633. It is spread over several islands. The Meru, with eleven roofs, is dedicated to Shiva and his consort Parvati. Buddha (as the reincarnation of Vishnu) also has a place in the Hindu temple of the gods. Lake Bratan is known as the “holy mountain lake”, the area is very fertile.

Bedugul Village & Botanical Garden (The Blooms Garden)

A bit further away is the town of Bedugul, here you will have a lot of local “Warungs” and the local fruit market is also nice to visit, the area is famous for the growing of strawberries which are on sale at the market, you can find all kinds of fresh fruit there.

The Flowers Garden is an attractive destination for tourists, especially local tourists who love flower gardens, and that’s what it is, a large flower garden and set up for the local tourists and school children with the aim of educating them about flowers, with many places where you can take selfies.

As for the foreign tourist, it might seem a bit fake, there is a (failed) miniature of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore and there are 2 windmills. It is nicely laid out and nice to visit and have been there, but that is different for everyone. The entrance fee is about 40.000 IDR.