Tulamben is a coastal village halfway between Ubud and Kuta. From both areas, you can easily take a three-hour drive to this quiet fisherfolk enclave. While Tulamben may not seem as impressive on land, it’s a completely different story when you explore it underwater. A good many attractions that make this area famous has to be dived down for. The most iconic of Tulamben’s attractions is the US cargo ship Liberty, which has since transformed into one of the most popular dive sites in the area. It is popular to divers and snorkellers alike because of how easy it is to reach. You can just wander off a little from the rocky coastline and you’ll find Liberty’s wreck full of new corals. If you take the time to explore Tulamben, there are plenty of things that you’ll enjoy from this quiet and simple village. Here’s a running list of the best things to do in Tulamben, Indonesia.
1. Dive down to the US Cargo Ship, Liberty (from USD 54.0)
The US Liberty is a 120 meters (393 feet) American cargo ship that was torpedoed by the Japanese during World War II. Because of its size, the ship was abandoned or never retrieved by the US Government, so it was left stranded on Tulamben. Nature had other plans for it though because when Mount Agung, the active volcano that sits over the village, erupted in the 1960s, the ship was pushed back into the sea. Since then, nature has reclaimed it with a rich coral life using the ship’s body as a steady host. Inside the ship, you’ll find plenty of interesting species such as scorpionfish, hawkfish, pufferfish, trevally, anthias mills, breams and batfish. The Liberty is ideal for beginner to experienced divers as the ship gradually slopes down from a shallow depth of 3 meters (10 feet) to 30 meters (98 feet). The waters of Tulamben almost always offers excellent visibility all year round.
Snorkeling Package at Tulamben USAT Liberty Shipwreck
Duration: 9 hours
2. Hang out in the beautiful Tulamben Beach
In contrast to the soft, powder-white sand of Bali’s western coastline, Tulamben’s shore is proliferated with volcanic boulders that spewed out during the eruption of Mount Agung in the 1960s. These boulders are smooth and become great tools for grounding and walking therapy. Walk barefoot and feel invigorated by the shore’s textures. While many use Tulamben Beach as just a jump-off point for diving, the tree-lined beach is also a great spot to spend an afternoon in if you want to make an easy day out of it. Bring a picnic basket, a book, and some wine. Wait for the sky to turn orange during Bali’s golden hour.
Tualamben Beach
Address: Tulamben, Karangasem Regency, Bali, IndonesiaTulamben, Karangasem Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
3. Check out the morning market in Tulamben Village
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A large part of living and travelling in Tulamben is admittedly dependent on the ocean. This said the locals have adjusted their commercial businesses to cater to the times in between diving and sleeping. Of course, you can’t be diving 24/7, can you? If you check out Tulamben’s village, you’ll find many new offerings. For instance, there’s Rumah Pohon or the Batu Dawa Treehouse. They’ve replicated some parts of Borobudur in this private complex with two treehouses and high swings. It’s a great place to hang out with new friends, get a few beers in an alfresco setting, and see the magnificent Mount Agung in the west. From a distance, you’ll also see the coastlines of Amed Beach and Tulamben Beach in the east.
Tulamben Village
Address: East Bali, Indonesia
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Savor the wellness in Matahari Spa
Matahari Spa is found in Matahari Resort. The spa uses natural ingredients in your massage sessions, ingredients such as natural virgin coconut oil and herbs. The signature aromatherapy body massage is called Harmony, a 120-minute body session that starts with a foot massage followed by a body scrub using green tea, coffee grounds, or coconut depending on what your preference is. You’re eventually cooled by an aloe vera and cucumber conditioner, and you end your massage with ginger tea and cookies. Who wouldn’t want to doze off with a full-body session like this?
Matahari Spa
Address: Jl. Kubu-Abang, Tulamben, Kubu, Karangasem Regency, Bali 80853, Indonesia
Website: Matahari Spa
Opening hours: 6:30am - 10:30pm (daily)
Price: 60 USD
5. See the whale sharks up close (from USD 109.0)
Whale shark sightings in Indonesia have become a rare feature. However, in Tulamben, you can spot one or two juvenile ones, about 4 meters (13 feet) long, swimming sometimes in the USS Liberty wreck or in the many coral gardens around the island. You can also try to head on to Menjangan Island to try and spot some of them. While spotting whale sharks are still a “right place at the right time situation”, it’s most likely you’ll see them in Tulamben compared to the rest of Bali and Indonesia. If not, there are other sightings to look forward to such as hammerhead sharks and mola-mola- sunfish.
Certified Wreck Diving at Tulamben's USAT Liberty from Padangbai
Duration: 7 hours
Discover the underwater treasures of Tulamben
For many years, this tiny village in East Bali has only been known to a select subculture of divers and ocean enthusiasts who saw that there was more to this quiet fisherfolk village than meets the eye. Whether you’ll be diving to see the famous US Liberty or exploring other shipwrecks and underwater gardens, one thing’s for sure. You need a steady home to come back to after a tiring day under. Enjoy the many options on where to stay in Tulamben, Indonesia.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
-
-
12 Things To Do In Ubud At Night - Updated 2024Stephanie Anais
Create an account to