close at hand
cooking classes
These begin at dawn with a guided tour around a nearby market, where guests can choose fresh ingredients for the Indonesian feast they will learn how to create back at Amankila.
amankila bales
Tirta Sari bale is located up in the hills of East Bali offering spectacular views of rice fields, banana trees and Amuk Bay. Bale Abian Canang ('garden of offerings') is also set high on a hill overlooking coconut plantations and Indrakila Hill where Amankila is located. The ocean and coastal views stretch to Nusa Penida and even Lombok on a clear day. The scenic drive to Bale Abian Canang takes 15 minutes through a local village, Ulakan, where guests can glean insights into authentic Bali, as they see the locals going about their daily life.These bales are ideally placed as a picnic spot after a jeep tour, trek or cycle through the countryside.
shopping
Trips can be arranged to several Balinese villages famed for their crafts. In Sideman, textiles from Bali and all over the archipelago can be purchased in an idyllic countryside setting. In Tenganan, there’s more on offer than the rare double ikat cloth. From simple wood tables set out along the main town walkway, boys sell lontar-leaf calendars coloured with the resin of the macadamia nut. Painted wooden eggs, masks, bamboo hats and wayang puppets hang from shop walls. Baskets too are of the finest quality. In Kamasan, just south of Klungklung, a distinctive style of Balinese art is produced. Named after the village, Kamasan-style painting makes use of figures resembling the puppets of wayang kulit, Bali’s shadow puppet theatre. For generations, a number of goldsmiths and silversmiths have produced temple crafts and containers in the village of Budakling, at the foot of Mount Agung. In recent years, a few shops have also opened to sell jewellery. Handicrafts can be found in the village of Candi Dasa, just beyond Amankila.
tennis
Tennis is available in Candi Dasa, about five minutes from the resort.
trekking
East Bali offers some of the island’s finest trekking, ranging from walks through rural villages, tropical forest and terraced rice fields, to mountain climbs and temple visits. Amankila’s guides are experts on the local terrain.
mountain biking
Amankila provides a number of full-suspension mountain bikes for guest use. Countryside trips can be arranged to the many villages around Amankila. The downhill route leading to Sideman is among the most popular, passing terraced rice fields and ending at one of the island’s famed textile villages. Guides are available for personalised tours.