3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia- 5/28- 6/15/2024

Day 15- Abang Jungle Park-6/10/2024

Abang Jungle Park is very new and still largely undiscovered, not a lot of people are aware of this park and when we got there were barely any visitors.

Our tour guide then drove us to Abang Jungle Park, and getting there already felt like part of the adventure. When we arrived at the entrance, we had to transfer into a jeep to reach the park itself. The road was extremely rough, steep, rocky, and deeply rutted from rain, clearly passable only by a sturdy 4WD vehicle. The bumpy ride made it feel remote and untouched.

Set high in the hills, the park is surrounded by dense forest and wide-open views that stretch toward Mount Agung and the coastline on clear days. Instead of feeling commercial or crowded, the atmosphere is quiet and raw, more about nature and scenery than attractions.

The park feels like it’s still finding its identity, a place focused on viewpoints, fresh air, and the sense of standing above the landscape rather than being immersed in crowds.

That emptiness actually adds to its charm. Being there with few people around and the jungle stretching out in every direction, made it feel like a hidden stop, one of those places you visit before it appears on everyone’s itinerary.

The mountain in front is Mount Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, which often anchors views in this part of eastern Bali. From Abang, it can appear especially powerful, rising behind valleys filled with rice fields. Depending on the angle, you may also catch glimpses of Mount Abang, a lower but prominent mountain nearby, which adds to the layered, mountainous feel of the scene.

From Abang Jungle Park, the view opens up in a dramatic way. The mountains rise all around, their slopes wrapped in lush, dense forest that feels almost endless.

In the distance, we could see lots of mountains dominating the horizon.

A huge moutain covered in a lush vegetation.

In the center you can see layers upon layers of rice terraces that look like staircase carved into the hillsides. The combination of forest, farmland,gave the view incredible depth.

The park is clearly designed to frame this landscape, with several photo platforms placed thoughtfully against the scenery. The first spot features a white split gate, echoing traditional Balinese temple gates and perfectly framing the mountains beyond.

At the park, there were a few staff members who helped take photos for us at the white gate. One of them used a clever trick. holding a small mirror or reflective surface just below the camera to create the illusion of perfect water reflections beneath the gate. The result was surprisingly beautiful, making it look as if the gate was floating above a calm pool, with the mountains and sky mirrored flawlessly below. It was a simple technique, but it transformed the photo, adding a dreamy, almost surreal quality that matched the dramatic landscape surrounding us.

We passed by a beautiful spot with a rectangular patio that extended over the forest, wide open and slightly dizzying, making you feel suspended above the trees. 

The way it is set up it seems like the patio is floating in the air.

From the rectangular patio, we had a clear view of Mount Agung, though its summit was hidden behind thick, drifting clouds. The clouds wrapped around the upper slopes, giving the mountain a mysterious, almost moody presence.

Just below it, we could also see Mount Abang, smaller but still prominent, emerging clearly from the landscape. Seeing the two mountains layered together, one partially veiled, the other fully visible, added depth to the view and made the scene feel especially dramatic and atmospheric.

Farther along, a square platform sits high above the jungle, cleverly cut so a tree can grow straight through it, an intentional reminder that nature is meant to be accommodated, not removed.

At each photo spot, there is a staff member that will help take pictures.  They know all the tricks and they basically, tell you how to pose.

All these poses are from the staff member telling me what to do.

I usually do not like to pose for pictures but since I am here, I just follow his instructions, and the pictures are actually pretty nice.

From above, as we walked around the park, the view drops dramatically into the valley below. You can see clusters of houses scattered across the hillsides, their rooftops nestled among trees and small patches of farmland.

The villages look quiet and compact from this height, emphasizing how rural and spread out life is in this part of eastern Bali.

Beyond the valley, the landscape opens even farther, and the land gives way to a wide stretch of blue water. What you’re seeing is the Lombok Strait, the body of water that separates Bali from Lombok.

From high viewpoints like Abang Jungle Park, the strait can look almost like the open ocean, especially on clear days when the horizon seems endless.

Standing on top of the hill, we looked out toward the vast blue of the Lombok Strait, the sea stretching far beyond the valleys below. Right at the edge of the hill, the park has built a large wooden boat on stilts, with stairs leading up to it. Perched high above the ground, it almost looks as if it’s floating in midair, suspended between the forest and the sky.

The boat feels symbolic, like a vessel ready to sail, even though it’s anchored to the hillside. From up there, with the wind, the open horizon, and the distant ocean in view, it creates a powerful sense of imagination and freedom. It’s both playful and dramatic, perfectly positioned to blur the line between land and sea, making the moment feel surreal and unforgettable.

Another spot to take a picture with all the moutains in the background.

We paused at a cafe inside the park for a freshly cut coconut.

We are now done with our visit and leaving the park.

Met up with our drive to take us back to where we parked our car.

Our tour guide took us to Bliss cafe in Amed and the food was really good.  I had the grilled fish that was caught this morning, and Hoa and our tour guide had the Pepes Ikan, a grilled fish in banana leaves cook in Balinese sauce.

The food here is really good and you can tell the fish is very fresh.

Next,  we checked in our hotel and we just both take it easy around the pool.

From the pool area, there’s a simple door that leads straight out to the Bali Sea, making the transition from hotel to the sea feel effortless and unexpected. This stretch of coastline is known for its calm waters, volcanic black sand, and strong fishing traditions.

Out on the beach, the black sand created by ancient volcanic activity and makes a striking contrast with the sea. A white dog stretched out on the shore seemed perfectly at ease, enjoying the warmth and quiet rhythm of the place, like it belonged there as much as the waves themselves.

To the right, the line of colorful boats pulled up along the shore added even more character to the view. These are traditional fishing boats, often painted in bright blues, reds, and yellows. They reflect Amed’s identity as a fishing village first and a travel destination second. Together, the calm Bali Sea, dark sand, vibrant boats feel like a simple scene, authentic, and deeply connected to daily life by the water.

NEXT... Day 15-Dinner at Sunset point Amed(coming soon)