Lahangan Sweet: The Best Bali Photo Spot Without the Crowds

I’ve been to Bali several times — so many that, somewhere along the way, I’ve actually lost track of the sheer number of times I’ve been. And honestly, slowly and slowly, the island has started to lose its charm for me.

Especially in South Bali, as well as Ubud, there’s little magic left to be found, as mass tourism has begun to eat away at everything that once made me love this island so deeply I, at one point, thought about making it my home.

But as everything else has fallen a bit in my eyes, Amed, Bali remains my favorite place on the island, one that still has the heart of Bali beating in it.

I still love Amed just as much as I did on my first visit back in 2015. Even though nearly a dozen years have passed, Amed is still mostly the same, only slightly more developed.

The development is not a bad thing in my opinion: there are notable changes, but it seems sustainable enough to manage the demands, which are not overwhelming.

While I typically spend most of my time in Amed underwater, as this is home to some of Bali’s best diving, I do try to have a few land days to properly enjoy the beauty of North Bali.

I spent two weeks in Amed on one of my visits, and my favorite part above-water was my visit to Lahangan Sweet. I was surprised to love it this much — after all, it’s basically a purpose-built viewpoint made for photography, something I normally shun, as I’m really not the selfie type.

But this is more than your average Insta spot: this viewpoint tucked into the hills of East Bali has unreal views of the eternally beautiful Mount Agung. Plus, it’s just a 30-minute drive from Amed… and just a short distance from the Insta-famous “Gates of Heaven” at Pura Lempuyang, where you can wait upwards of two hours just for a single photo.

But here’s the cheat code: you can get a nearly-identical photo at Lahangan Sweet with a micro-fraction of the wait… read on to learn how!

How to Get There

The easiest way to reach Lahangan Sweet is by hiring a private driver from Amed. It’s a short and straightforward trip, and drivers in the area are very familiar with the route. I paid about 250,000 IDR ($15 USD) for a half-day driver, since we made a few other stops.

If you’re already comfortable renting a motorbike and riding in Balinese road conditions, then sure, you can also take your own motorbike. The roads are mostly manageable, but the final stretch gets a bit rough, so again, only drive to your licensing and experience level.

If you’re not staying in Amed, another option is joining an East Bali tour that includes Lahangan Sweet along with nearby highlights. This East Bali tour visits Lahangan Sweet and leaves from popular spots like Ubud and Sanur.

Admission, Hours, and Cost

Entrance to Lahangan Sweet is very affordable and definitely worth it for all that you get!

Admission costs just 30,000 IDR (about ~$2 USD) and parking is only 5,000 IDR (~$0.50 USD). There are some add-ons you might want to pay for, such as a jeep ride up to dirt track road 50,000 IDR (~$3 USD) roundtrip, and the swing photo experience for 100,000 IDR (~$6 USD).

The walk from the parking area is about 600 meters each way, with a slight uphill section toward the end. When I visited, it was cool enough that the walk felt easy and peaceful. However, if it’s muddy or you’re short on time, the Jeep is an easy backup choice.

It’s open from 6 AM to 8 PM so it’s easy to visit for sunrise, sunset, or any time in between.

You also actually can camp here overnight and rent a tent and all the things you’d need for a good night’s sleep here (sleeping bag, pillow, etc.) if you want, but I haven’t done this or verified costs, so you may want to text them on WhatsApp to inquire further: +62 852-9816-1172

What to Do and See There

The main draw here is the view! On a clear day, you’ll get a stunning, unobstructed look at Mount Agung in all its volcanic glory, framed by jungle greenery and the wildness of East Bali.

There are a few different photo spots scattered around:

• A split gate / candi bentar, similar to what you’ll see at Pura Lempuyang or Handara but without the chaos and crowds. It’s a stylized one designed for photos, and someone will be there to help you get the mirror-style photos that you’ll find at Gates of Heaven.
• Treehouse-style platforms overlooking the valley (this was my favorite part!)
• Scenic viewpoints with Mount Agung in the background

I also have to shout out the super lovely staff, who’ll offer to take photos for you at different spots, including mirror shots at the split gate and helping you get photos on the treehouse platforms if you are traveling solo and don’t have someone to help you take photos.

They don’t charge any sort of fixed fee, but tipping is generally expected. I’d suggest a tip of at least 20,000 IDR (~$2 USD) since they genuinely take their time to help you get great shots and spend quite a bit of time with you getting things just right.

If you want something a bit more extra, there’s also the swing experience where they’ll harness you in and help take photos of you while you’re swinging. There’s an extra charge and this is by no means mandatory, but if you really like those style of photos, you can definitely do it here and it’ll be way cheaper than anywhere else.

In my opinion, Lahangan Sweet is the place to go if you want some of the iconic “Bali photos” without dealing with high prices, crowds, and long wait times. If you’re staying in Amed or exploring East Bali, it’s an easy and surely a worthwhile stop.

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.