A curated short-list of the quieter things to do in Lovina and the north — from sunrise dolphin tours to hidden waterfalls.
Lovina is the only coast in Bali where wild spinner and bottlenose dolphins greet the dawn by the hundreds. Our private dolphin tour begins at 5:30 AM, a short walk from your villa, aboard a traditional jukung crewed by a local fisherman. We keep a respectful distance, ask that engines are cut early, and time the trip to avoid the crowded main pod.
The reef off Lovina is one of North Bali's quietest. Unlike the crowded south, here you can still drift alone above staghorn coral and clouds of butterflyfish. We offer guided half-day snorkeling trips to the house reef and full-day private boats to Menjangan Island, a protected marine national park.
North Bali's waterfalls are its best-kept secret. Gitgit is the classic — a single 40 m ribbon of white water in a jungle amphitheatre. Sekumpul, an hour inland, is often called the most beautiful in Indonesia — seven cascades fed by a volcanic river. Aling-Aling rewards the brave with natural rock slides and leaps into deep, cold pools.
North Bali is home to some of the island's most photogenic temples. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan floats on the edge of a crater lake. Brahma Vihara Arama, the island's largest Buddhist monastery, is a study in silence. We arrange private, respectful visits with a temple sash, a sarong, and a guide from the village.
Air Panas Banjar is a trio of sulphur-rich natural hot-spring pools fed from deep beneath the Munduk volcano. A short drive inland, the springs sit in a quiet walled garden of frangipani and stone-carved nagas, and are best visited in the cool early evening.
The best restaurants, cafes, and markets in Lovina — the short-list we actually send to our guests.
Restaurant · Signature seafood and fine dining, a short walk from the estate.
Cafe · Artisanal coffee and organic brunch in a quiet courtyard.
Beach Club · Cocktails and the best uninterrupted sunsets on the north coast.
Restaurant · Balinese seafood the way the locals still cook it.
Market · Small, local, and very Balinese — best after sunset.
Shop · Hand-blended oils, teas, and jamu by a local herbalist.
Our dolphin tour uses a single traditional jukung per guest group, with engines cut early and a respectful distance kept from the pods. We time trips to avoid the main crowded runs. No dolphin is ever fed, touched, or chased.
Gitgit is the closest and most iconic. Sekumpul, often called the most beautiful waterfall in Indonesia, is about an hour inland. Aling-Aling has natural rock slides and deep jumping pools for the more adventurous.
The Lovina house reef is a 2-minute drive from the estate. For pristine reef, we run private half-day boats to Menjangan Island, a protected marine national park.
Approximately 3 hours by private car. We can arrange airport transfer, including a mid-route stop at a temple or café of your choice.