Almost everyone arrives at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in the far south of Bali. Pemuteran is at the opposite corner of the island, in the north-west — roughly 150–160 km by road, which usually takes four to five hours. There is no rail and no direct public bus, so the journey needs a little planning.
There are three road routes: along the west coast via Tabanan, Negara and Gilimanuk; over the central mountains via Bedugul and the lakes, then along the north coast through Lovina; or through the western hills via Pupuan and Seririt. Drivers choose depending on traffic — the west-coast road is busy with trucks heading for the Java ferry, the mountain road is slower but beautiful.
The options, compared
| How | Time | Cost (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private driver or transfer | 4–5 h | ≈US$55–80 per car | Almost everyone; families and groups |
| Driver with sightseeing stops | 7–9 h | A little more than a transfer | Turning the journey into a day trip |
| Tourist shuttle to Lovina + taxi | 5–7 h | Budget | Travellers with light luggage and time |
| Public bus via Gilimanuk | 5–7 h+ | Cheapest | Adventurous budget travellers |
| Via Java: fly to Banyuwangi + ferry | 3–4 h from Banyuwangi | Varies | Travellers coming from Java |
1. Private driver or transfer — easiest
This is how most visitors arrive, and after a long flight it is worth it. A driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and takes you door to door in an air-conditioned car. Prices are per vehicle, so it is good value for two or more. Pre-booking fixes the price and avoids negotiating at the kerb. See the airport transfer we recommend, or ask your hotel — most Pemuteran hotels arrange cars too.
2. Make a day of it
Because the journey is long, many travellers hire a driver for the whole day and stop on the way. Over the mountains you can visit the lake temple of Ulun Danu Bratan, the Jatiluwih or Munduk rice terraces, a waterfall and the Lovina coast before arriving in Pemuteran in the late afternoon. A private driver for the day usually costs only a little more than a straight transfer.
3. Tourist shuttle and taxi
Tourist shuttle companies run scheduled minibuses from the southern resorts and Ubud to Lovina on the north coast. From Lovina, Pemuteran is about 50 km further west — around an hour by taxi or pre-arranged car. It is cheaper than a private transfer for solo travellers, but slower, and timetables change, so check the day before.
4. Public bus via Gilimanuk
Public buses run from the Mengwi (Mengwitani) terminal north of Denpasar along the west coast to Gilimanuk, the ferry port at Bali’s western tip. From Gilimanuk, a local minibus (bemo) or taxi covers the last 30 km east to Pemuteran. It is the cheapest option but slow and uncomfortable with luggage, and services thin out in the afternoon.
5. From Java: Banyuwangi and the Gilimanuk ferry
If you are travelling overland through Java, or visiting Ijen first, Pemuteran is one of the easiest places in Bali to reach. Ferries cross the Bali Strait between Ketapang (Banyuwangi, East Java) and Gilimanuk around the clock; the crossing itself takes about an hour, plus loading time. Banyuwangi also has a domestic airport with flights from Jakarta. From Gilimanuk to Pemuteran is about 30 km, or 40–45 minutes by car.
Remember that East Java is on Western Indonesia Time (WIB), one hour behind Bali. Carry your passport for the crossing.
Getting around once you are there
- In the village: hotels line the main road and the beach over a couple of kilometres. Walking along the sand is the nicest way to get between them.
- Bicycles and scooters: many hotels rent bicycles; scooter hire is widely available, but you legally need a motorcycle licence and an international driving permit, and insurance often excludes you without them.
- Day trips: almost every tour includes hotel pickup — the easiest way to reach Menjangan’s harbour, Lovina, the waterfalls or Ijen.
- Drivers: ask your hotel for a local driver for a half or full day; prices are fair and it supports the village.
Before you fly: entry paperwork
Most nationalities need a visa on arrival (available as an e-VOA online in advance), and Bali charges international visitors a one-off tourist levy. See the practical section of our Pemuteran travel guide.
Combine your trip
Most journeys to Pemuteran start in the south, close to Bali’s capital. If you have a spare day before or after the long drive north, our Denpasar travel guide covers the city’s markets, temples and museums.
If you take the mountain route, the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Jatiluwih are a rewarding detour west of Bedugul. Our guide to the Jatiluwih rice terraces covers tickets, walking trails and tours.
Pemuteran is also a handy starting point for East Java. After the ferry from Gilimanuk to Ketapang it is a long day on the road west to the volcano — see how to get to Mount Bromo from Bali. Many multi-day East Java tours also visit the waterfalls beneath Mount Semeru; our guide to getting to Tumpak Sewu compares the routes.
