Lovina, Singaraja, 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 comprised of several narrow stretches of black volcano sand. Lovina, like most of Bali, fills up with tourists from all over the world in August. It 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 yesteryear.

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 giong.

You can easily get to Lovina by bus from all parts of Bali, but it is along 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.

"Lovina Beach painting" in the morning 

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). 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 Menjanan 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. http://www.lovinadive.com/" hours="averages" price="US$55-$75 per day.

sunset at Lovina Beach

Spa - Lovina is lucky to have several spa facilities. While a little more low key than the spas to the south, the service is excellent and the prices, being much less than the opulent spas in the south, are an excellent value and well worth it. ''Agung's Spa offers body scrubs, facials, massage, etc. It is also the nicest spa facility in Lovina, though by Balinese standards it is much smaller and basic than what you would find elsewhere on the island. 'Bali Samadhi Spa [http://www.BaliSamadhi.com] (Tel. 081 338 558 260) in Lovina offers a variety of massages. One is called Rebalancing Massage a very nice mixture between therapeutic and well-being massage. Mandi Lulur scrubs are available including the yogurt mask.

One of restaurant above the beach

Eating and Drinking - '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. There are many good restaurants and bars listed on other pages in the site.