Bali to Amed by Helicopter
Skip 2–3 hours of road: east Bali, Mount Agung and the black-sand coast in 25–35 min.
Pick-up area · Amed & east Bali
Helicopter Amed East Bali: 25–35 min Instead of 2–3 Hours on the Road
The road from Ngurah Rai Airport to Amed takes 2–3 hours. Helicopter Amed East Bali flights cover 71 km in 25–35 min, from $2,300 one-way for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests. We can land at an approved site near your villa, dive resort or hotel on the Karangasem coast, or you meet the helicopter at a pad, and the quote names the exact site. Send the date, guest count and the name of the bay you are staying in.
- Airport by car2–3 h
- Airport by air25–35 min
- One-way from$2,300
- Mount Agung10–15 min away
The east coast
Helicopter Amed East Bali: Guests, Coast and Flights That Fit
Amed is a string of small fishing villages and bays on Bali's north-east coast, in Karangasem. The beaches are black volcanic sand and grey pebbles, painted jukung outrigger boats lie on the shore, and Mount Agung, 3,031 m, fills the sky to the west. The coast is a base for divers and freedivers, with the dive coast of Tulamben a short way to the north-west. Candidasa and the Padang Bai harbour lie to the south.
The people who stay here are divers, couples who want a quiet corner, retreat groups and villa renters. They share one problem: Amed is the far end of Bali from the airport. A helicopter closes that gap, and three plans use it:
- Straight from the airport. Land at Ngurah Rai after a long flight and be in Amed in 25–35 min. The Bali to Amed route has the details.
- A day out. The Batur caldera is 13–20 min away, Nusa Penida 20–25 min, and Candidasa 11–15 min.
- On to Lombok or the Gilis. Gili Trawangan is 15–25 min across the Lombok Strait, and Lombok airport 25–35 min.
Pick-up and pads
Helicopter Pick-Up Near Amed: Sites, Pads and the Drive
We do not land on Amed's beaches. They are working fishing beaches, where the jukung boats go out before dawn, and a helicopter there would be unsafe and unwelcome. What works is an approved site near your stay: a dive resort with grounds, a flat clearing on a villa estate, or open ground that a landowner agrees to lend. It needs roughly 25–30 m of flat, clear ground, and the operator has to clear it. We confirm the site before you pay.
The other plan is to meet the helicopter at a pad elsewhere, but from Amed that means 2–3 hours of driving to the airport. In places this remote, the first or last leg is the reason the helicopter pays for itself, so the sensible plan is to fly the long stretch and use a car only for the last few kilometres. The exact pad or site is written in the quote.
Flight times
Flight Times and One-Way Prices From Amed
From the Amed coast to eight places that east-coast guests ask about.
| Destination | Distance | Air time | One-way helicopter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Agung | 17 km | 10–15 min | from $950 |
| Candidasa | 22 km | 11–15 min | from $1,000 |
| Kintamani | 37 km | 14–20 min | from $1,300 |
| Ubud | 48 km | 20–25 min | from $1,750 |
| Ngurah Rai Airport | 71 km | 25–35 min | from $2,300 |
| Nusa Penida | 51 km | 20–25 min | from $1,750 |
| Gili Trawangan | 42 km | 15–25 min | from $1,550 |
| Lombok International Airport | 83 km | 25–35 min | from $2,300 |
On a coast this far from the base, a one-way fare is close to a return, because the helicopter flies home empty and that leg is priced in. Distances are straight lines and times are airborne only. If it waits an hour for your return, add $300; Amed to the airport and back that way is about $2,600. Method: price page.
Flights to book
Four Flights to Book From Amed
Airport to Amed or back
One-way from $2,300 · 25–35 min
The transfer that replaces 2–3 hours of road. Land at an approved site near your bay, or fly out to catch an onward flight.
Mount Batur caldera
30 min tour from $1,150 · whole helicopter
From the black-sand coast to the crater, lake and caldera wall. Amed to Batur is 13–20 min in a straight line, so the tour starts and ends close by.
Amed to the Gili Islands
15–25 min · from $1,550 one-way
Gili Trawangan across the Lombok Strait. Landing sites on the Gilis are limited, so the exact site is cleared first. Read the Bali to Gili Islands route.
Nusa Penida from the east
30 min tour from $1,150 · whole helicopter
Kelingking, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay in one flight, 20–25 min from the Amed coast.
Road or air
Amed by Road Versus by Helicopter
Typical daytime estimates for a start on the Amed coast. The helicopter is priced for the whole aircraft, so the price per guest falls with the group size.
| From Amed to | By road or boat | Helicopter air time | One-way, whole helicopter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ngurah Rai Airport | Car 2–3 h | 25–35 min | $2,300 |
| Ubud | Car about 2 h | 20–25 min | $1,750 |
| Kintamani, Mount Batur | Car about 1.5–2 h | 14–20 min | $1,300 |
| Gili Trawangan | Drive to Padang Bai, then a fast boat about 2–2.5 h | 15–25 min | $1,550 |
| Lombok airport | Drive to the Bali airport (2–3 h), then a scheduled flight about 40 min | 25–35 min | $2,300 |
| Nusa Penida | Drive to Padang Bai or Sanur, then a boat | 20–25 min | $1,750 |
For four guests the airport transfer works out at about $575 each. A taxi costs far less; the helicopter pays back in the 2–3 hours it returns to your day.
Landing
Landing at a Villa or Dive Resort in Amed
Amed usually has fewer wires and tall buildings than the south, which helps. The scarce thing is flat ground: many villas stand on steep hillsides above the bay, and a sloping terrace cannot take a helicopter. A level lawn at a dive resort, a cleared plot on volcanic ground or a quiet field inland is more likely to work.
Wind comes off the sea, and the pilot chooses the approach into it. We also plan around the fishing launches, so a landing does not coincide with the boats going out at first light. Public beaches and temple grounds are never used. See how villa and hotel landings are approved and the villa landing guide; for a wedding by the water look at helicopter weddings.
Divers
If You Dive in Amed: What to Check Before You Fly
- Ask your dive operator about flying after diving. The usual dive-industry guidance for a flight after a dive is a wait of 12 to 18 hours. A short coastal flight stays low, but the rule is your dive operator's, not ours. Tell us your last dive when you book.
- Leave tanks and weights with the dive centre. A soft bag with mask, fins and regulator counts toward the weight limit; the hold is small.
- Pack wet kit in a dry bag. Wet neoprene in a small hold adds weight and smell.
- Send the weights of every guest. Combined weight decides the aircraft class in Bali's heat.
Timing
Best Time to Fly From Amed
Mornings are best. From 07:00 to 10:00 Mount Agung is usually clear and the low sun lights the black sand and the dive coast. Mountain cloud builds from late morning, more so from November to March. Afternoon showers are possible in the wet season, and April to October is the clearest.
Agung is active. Its eruptions from 2017 to 2019 closed Bali's airport several times, and alert levels can change routes or move a transfer. We check the bulletin the day before; our guide to volcano flights and ash advisories explains the levels. Peak weeks, July and August and Christmas to New Year, need ten to fourteen days' notice.
Booking
How to Book a Helicopter to or From Amed
Message the place, the date and the direction
Name the bay or the resort, say whether you fly to Amed or from it, give the number of guests and rough weights. Add flight numbers if you connect at the airport.
We check the site and price it
The quote names the landing site or pad, the aircraft class and one price. Private landing sites can take a few days to clear.
A deposit holds the slot
Reserve the slot with a deposit. How to pay is explained in the quote.
The day before, we confirm
We check wind, cloud and the Agung bulletin and confirm the pick-up time. If the flight cannot go safely, we move it or refund the part not flown.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does a helicopter take from the airport to Amed?
About 25–35 min in the air over roughly 71 km, against 2–3 hours by car. Allow another 15–20 minutes at each end for the briefing and shutdown.
How much is a helicopter to Amed?
From $2,300 one-way for the whole helicopter, up to 4 guests, about $575 each. The empty helicopter's flight home is already in the fare. A same-day return with a one-hour wait starts at about $2,600.
Can the helicopter land at my villa in Amed?
Possibly, if the villa has roughly 25–30 m of flat, clear ground, the owner agrees and the operator clears the site. Many hillside villas do not. Send us the name and a photo of the open area and we say yes or no before you pay.
Can I fly over Mount Agung from Amed?
Agung is 10–15 min from the coast and flights follow the route allowed on the day. Alert levels can close the summit area. We do not land on the volcano or in temple grounds.
Can I bring diving gear on the helicopter?
Soft bags with a mask, fins and a regulator, yes; they count toward the weight limit. Tanks and weight belts stay with your dive centre. Also ask your dive operator about flying after a dive.
What is the best time of day to fly in east Bali?
Between 07:00 and 10:00, when Agung is clear and the air is calm. Flights run in daylight only, from sunrise to sunset.
Fly to or From Amed: Send the Date and the Bay
Tell us which bay or resort, the direction of travel, how many guests and what the bags weigh. We answer the same day: the landing site, the aircraft class and one price.
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