What Banjar Hot Springs Is
Banjar Hot Springs, known locally as Air Panas Banjar, is a set of natural sulphur hot springs in a jungle garden near Banjar village, roughly 20 to 30 minutes west of Lovina. The water rises warm from the ground, carries a faint mineral smell, and feeds a series of stone pools set among tropical planting. It is one of the easiest half-day trips on the north coast, and one of the few that asks nothing of you but a swimsuit.
The setting does most of the work. The pools sit in a shaded garden of frangipani, palms, and dense green, with carved stone spouts feeding water from one tier down to the next. After a steep waterfall trek or a pre-dawn boat trip, an hour in warm mineral water is the natural counterweight.
This is a relaxed place, not an adventure. Families come, older travelers come, and anyone wanting a slow morning comes. The Buddhist monastery Brahma Vihara Arama sits close by, which makes the two an easy pair.
The Pools
The springs are arranged in tiers, with water flowing downward from the source through a sequence of stone bathing pools. The upper pool is the warmest, fed directly where the water emerges. From there it spills into lower pools through carved stone spouts, several of them shaped like nāga, the serpent figure that runs through Balinese stone carving.
The most photographed feature is a row of these spouts pouring from a height into one of the lower baths. Standing under them gives you a steady, heavy stream across the shoulders and back, which is the closest thing here to a massage. The flow is firm, so brace before you step under.
The water is mineral-rich and slightly sulphurous, warm rather than scalding, and clear with a faint cloudiness from the dissolved minerals. The colour of the stone, dark and softened by moss and age, gives the whole place a worn, lived-in feel that newer thermal complexes never have. It looks like it has been here a long time, because it has.
There is space to sit on submerged ledges around the edges, and the pools are shallow enough to stand in comfortably. This is somewhere to soak and linger, not to swim laps.
How to Get There
Banjar village lies roughly 20 to 30 minutes west of central Lovina by road, along the coast and then a short way inland. A private driver or a scooter is the practical way in, as there is no convenient public transport that drops you at the gate.
By car, the drive is straightforward and mostly flat until the final approach, which climbs gently toward the springs. Scooter riders will find the route easy by north Bali standards, with the last stretch narrowing through the village. From the parking area, a short walk on a paved path and a few steps brings you down to the pools.
Coming from the south, Banjar is the far end of the long mountain crossing through Bedugul, so most visitors reach it as a day trip once already based on the coast rather than as a stop on the drive up. For how that drive works, see getting to north Bali, and for the wider area, the Lovina area guide. To arrange a driver from the coast, message Northbound on WhatsApp.
What to Bring and Know
You will be getting in the water, so wear or pack swimwear. Changing rooms are available near the pools, though they are basic, so it is simpler to arrive with your suit on under your clothes.
Bring a towel. The garden is shaded and the air is humid, so you dry slowly. Sulphur water has a habit of lingering on skin and lightly marking pale or delicate swimwear over time, so older swimwear is the safer choice over anything precious. A dry bag for your phone is worth having near the spouts, where spray carries.
A few points of etiquette keep the place pleasant for everyone. This is a calm, shared space, so keep noise down and let others have a turn under the main spouts. There are warungs by the entrance for a drink or a snack after, and a small fee may apply to use the changing or shower facilities on top of entry.
Worth bringing:
- Swimwear, worn under your clothes to skip the changing room
- Towel and a change of clothes for after
- Older swimwear, since sulphur can mark delicate fabric
- Dry bag for your phone near the spouts
- Cash for entry, lockers, and the warungs
- Light footwear with grip, as wet stone gets slippery
Combining With Lovina Dolphins or the Monastery
The springs sit a short distance from Brahma Vihara Arama, the largest Buddhist monastery in Bali, set on a hillside with rice-terrace views, a quiet stupa, and gardens that reward a slow walk. The two make a natural morning together. The monastery asks for modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered, and sarongs are usually available at the entrance.
A common pairing runs the monastery first, while the morning is cool and the light is good for the hillside views, then the springs afterward to soak. Both sit close enough that you move between them in minutes by car or scooter.
The other natural pairing is with the dawn dolphin trip. Boats leave Lovina before sunrise and are usually back by mid-morning, which leaves the rest of the day open. A soak at Banjar is an easy second act once you are off the water and want to slow down. The full breakdown of the boat trip is in the Lovina dolphins guide.
For a longer day, the springs also fit on the way to or from the highlands. If you are heading up to Munduk, Banjar makes a sensible warm-water stop before the climb into the hills.
Best Time to Visit
Come in the morning. The springs open early, and the first hour or two are the quietest, with locals and a handful of early travelers rather than the tour groups that arrive mid-morning. The light through the garden canopy is softer then, and you will often have a full pool to yourself before the day fills up.
By late morning and into the early afternoon, the pools draw their largest crowds, especially in the dry season and on weekends when Balinese families visit. If a quiet soak is the point, an early start is the single thing that makes the difference.
Banjar works year-round. The springs are warm regardless of season, and the garden setting means light rain is no obstacle, in some ways it adds to the place. In the rainy season, November through March, an overcast morning can be one of the most atmospheric times to visit, with mist hanging in the planting and few other people around.
Practical Notes
Details below are subject to change. Confirm current rates and hours locally before you go.
- Entry fee: (to confirm)
- Opening hours: (to confirm)
- Facilities: Changing rooms, showers, and lockers near the pools; a small extra fee may apply.
- Food and drink: Warungs at the entrance for snacks and drinks after your soak.
- Driver from Lovina: (to confirm)
- Best arrival: Early, before the mid-morning tour groups.
- Payment: Bring cash; card payment is not reliable at the gate.
- Footwear: Wet stone is slippery, so something with grip helps around the pools.
FAQ
Is Banjar Hot Springs worth visiting? Yes, especially as a relaxed half-day to pair with something more active. The setting, natural sulphur water in a tiered jungle garden, is genuinely lovely, and the carved spouts give a good shoulder soak. It suits travelers wanting a slow, easy morning more than anyone after an adventure.
How much is the entrance to Banjar Hot Springs? (to confirm). There may also be small additional charges for lockers or shower facilities. Bring cash, as card payment is not reliable at the gate.
How do you get to Banjar Hot Springs from Lovina? By road, roughly 20 to 30 minutes west of central Lovina. A private driver or a scooter is the practical option, since there is no convenient public transport to the gate. From the parking area, a short paved walk and a few steps bring you down to the pools.
What should you bring to Banjar Hot Springs? Swimwear, ideally worn under your clothes, plus a towel and a change of clothes for after. Bring cash for entry and the warungs, and a dry bag for your phone near the spouts. Older swimwear is wise, as sulphur water can mark delicate fabric over time.
Are the Banjar hot springs natural? Yes. The water is naturally heated and rises warm from the ground, carrying dissolved minerals and a faint sulphur smell. The pools and carved stone spouts that channel it are built, but the source and the warmth are natural.
Planning a day around Lovina? Message Northbound on WhatsApp, north Bali is the home ground here.