Indonesia surf guide

Surfing West Bali

Medewi and Balian, long lefts and slow village days.

2 waves · Best May-Sep · Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced · From $43 a day

Bali has waves for every level, lots of places to stay and eat, and the best transport links in Indonesia. For most people it's the easiest place to start.

LevelsBeginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Best seasonMay-Sep

RegionBali

Daily budget$43–169

The waves at West Bali

MedewiBeginner / Intermediate

Left Point · Best Apr-Oct · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, E offshore (mornings)

Medewi is a slow left point in west Bali that peels over round boulders and sand for 200 to 400 metres. It's one of the longest rides on the island and a very good wave for longboards and mid-lengths.

Go early. The land breeze keeps it glassy until mid-morning. It handles up to about 6ft, when it gets more push and the rides get even longer.

The village is a Muslim fishing community with a few guesthouses and warungs overlooking the point, and rice fields behind. It's about two hours from Canggu, so most people stay a night: surf the evening, sleep near the point and surf again at dawn. Booties help on the boulders at low tide.

Full guide to Medewi

BalianIntermediate / Advanced

Left & Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, E-NE wind, mid tide

Balian is a rivermouth in west Bali with black sand and shifting peaks, lefts and rights. The banks change after every wet season and every big swell. It's bigger and less predictable than Medewi, further along the coast.

It picks up more swell than Canggu, often by a couple of feet, and is best in the morning at mid tide. It goes from fun 3ft days to heavy 8ft walls. The best peak is often away from the main group, so look along the beach.

The village is quiet, with villas, a yoga place and cafés but no nightlife. After heavy rain the river turns the water brown for a day or two, and it's best to stay out then. The currents get strong when it's big.

Full guide to Balian

Where to stay in West Bali

Both are tiny farming villages, book somewhere within walking distance of the point because there's no ride-hailing out here. Bring cash (ATMs are limited), and expect early nights: the west coast is about waves, not scenes.

Surf camps in West Bali

We are adding local camps we trust to this page. Run a surf camp or surf house here? We would like to hear from you.

List your camp

Before
you go

Book ahead

Bali runs on flexibility: outside July-August you can book stays days ahead. Peak season (Jul-Aug) and famous surf stays (Komune, Bingin cliff houses) deserve 1-2 months. Flights: 2-4 months out for the good fares.

The water

International-standard hospitals in Denpasar (BIMC, Siloam), the best medical backup in Indonesian surfing. Clean reef cuts properly and keep an eye on them, because they get infected quickly. Dengue exists: repellent at dusk. Tap water: no.

Who it suits

Jan-Feb on the west coast (onshore, rain, river runoff after storms). The Kuta-Legian party strip if you actually came to surf. Riding a scooter without an international licence: there are police checkpoints on the roads tourists use.

Money

ATMs everywhere in the south, but carry small notes (10k/20k IDR) for warungs, parking and beach vendors. Skip airport money changers; use bank ATMs and refuse 'dynamic conversion'.

Best time to surf West Bali

West Bali works best around May-Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PrimeGoodQuiet

Bali or Lombok? Compared for surfing

Getting to West Bali

The scooter is the default surf vehicle; ride-hailing apps cover the south, and a private driver unlocks day missions. Traffic is the main problem, so plan your sessions around rush hour.

Scooter rental

$5-8/day

110-160cc automatics available on every corner in Uluwatu and Canggu, most with surf racks. You legally need an international driving permit, police checks are common on Sunset Road and the Bukit climb. Monthly rates drop to $60-90. Always test the brakes and photograph existing scratches before riding off.

Gojek / Grab apps

$1-3 per hop

Indonesia's ride-hailing apps are cheap, cashless and everywhere in south Bali. Bikes for solo hops, GoCar/GrabCar for luggage. Some beach villages have local-driver-only zones where app pickups are restricted. If a pickup zone is blocked, walk 200 m to the main road and re-pin. Boards don't fit in app cars, so for surf trips you'll need a scooter or a driver.

Private driver (day hire)

$40-55/day

An air-con minivan with driver and fuel included, up to 6 people. The standard way to reach Medewi, Keramas on a dawn strike, or the volcanoes. Agree the full itinerary and price before setting off. Split four ways it's barely more than app rides, and the driver waits while you surf.

Bluebird metered taxi

from $0.50/km

The only taxi brand that reliably runs the meter. Ignore the 'transport? transport?' crowd and look for the bluebird logo, or order through the MyBluebird app at the same rate. From the airport, walk to the official taxi counter for a fixed-price coupon instead of negotiating.

Fast boat to Nusa Lembongan

$20-30 return

30-40 minutes from Sanur beach with operators like D'Camel, Rocky or Scoot. Morning crossings are calmer; boards travel for a small surcharge. Hotel pickup in south Bali is usually included. Book the way out and leave the return open, in case the swell changes your plans.

Beyond the surf

Rambut Siwi sea temple

Culture

A clifftop temple complex ten minutes from Medewi, overlooking black sand and empty surf. One of west Bali's holiest sites and almost tourist-free.

Balian river mouth

Nature

Black volcanic sand, a jungle river meeting the sea and a village that still moves at farming pace. Very different from south Bali, and plenty of people end up staying for weeks.

West Bali National Park & Menjangan