West Bali National Park

West Bali National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat) is Bali’s only national park, covering roughly 190 square kilometres of land and sea at the island’s north-western tip, across Jembrana and Buleleng regencies. It protects a mix of habitats rarely seen elsewhere on the island, dry monsoon forest, lowland rainforest, savanna, mangroves, coastal lagoons and coral reefs, and it feels a world away from Bali’s busy south.

For most visitors the highlight is Menjangan Island, a small uninhabited island within the park surrounded by wall reefs that offer some of Bali’s best snorkelling and diving. On land, guided treks and birdwatching walks explore forest trails where you might see deer, macaques, monitor lizards and a remarkable range of birds.

What to see

The park was first protected as a nature reserve in 1941 and declared a national park in 1984. It is best known as the last wild home of the Bali starling (jalak Bali), a critically endangered white bird with blue eye patches that exists naturally nowhere else; breeding and release programmes are helping the population recover. Menjangan’s reefs feature steep coral walls, sea fans and reef fish in calm, clear water. Mangrove areas around Gilimanuk Bay and Teluk Terima are rich in birdlife, and Prapat Agung peninsula has savanna and forest trails.

How to visit

• Register and pay entrance fees at the park office in Cekik or at Labuan Lalang jetty, where boats leave for Menjangan. Park tariffs were revised under Government Regulation 36/2024.
• Trekking inside the park requires an official guide, arranged at the park office.
• For Menjangan, book a boat and snorkel or dive trip through a Pemuteran or Labuan Lalang operator; boat, guide and park fees are often bundled.
• Stay in Pemuteran or the resorts near Gilimanuk to avoid a very long day trip.
• Bring cash; card facilities are limited.

Etiquette & dress

This is a conservation area: stay on trails, don’t feed wildlife, and never collect coral, shells or plants. Snorkellers should avoid touching or standing on the reef. Menjangan has sacred temples, including one with a large Ganesha statue; wear a sarong if visiting and don’t climb on shrines. Carry out all rubbish and use reef-safe sunscreen.

Bring insect repellent, sun protection and plenty of water, the dry western forests get hot, and facilities inside the park are basic.

Because the park is remote, few tourists make it here, which is exactly its appeal. Mornings bring the best wildlife activity and the calmest seas for the boat crossing to Menjangan, so plan to start early and leave the afternoon for relaxing in Pemuteran.

Combine it with

• Pemuteran village and its Bio-Rock coral restoration project.
• Lovina for dolphin watching, about 1.5 hours east.
• Pura Pulaki, a seaside temple with monkeys, near Pemuteran.
• The ferry crossing at Gilimanuk to Java.