Why honeymoon at Medewi as home of Baliās long left hand wave?
Medewi is a small fishing and surf village in Jembrana on Baliās quiet southwest coast and itās about 3 hours from the airport. Itās famous for one long left-hand point break that just keeps peeling and a black sand beach youāll often have to yourselves. There isnāt a single beach club in sight. So if crowded lineups in Canggu and sunbed queues in Seminyak arenāt your idea of a honeymoon then this is where weād send you.
Medewi, Baliās slow surf village
Most of Baliās coast is busy and polished and full of couples following the same sunset plan, but Medewi feels like the opposite. There are very few tourists here and the fishing boats on the sand still outnumber the visitors. One Saturday morning we watched the local surfers share the point with maybe six other people (try that in Uluwatu). Nobody is setting up photo swings or selling boat tours. All you really get here is the wave and the beach with green jungle hills rising straight up behind the coast road.
Away from the surf youāll find a sacred banyan tree thatās more than a hundred years old with a road running right through its trunk, and a jungle waterfall waiting at the bottom of 870 steps. After the busy south a few days here feel like one long and slow breath.
Where is Medewi?
Medewi belongs to Pekutatan district in Jembrana regency and sits roughly halfway along the coast road between the airport and Gilimanuk, which is the ferry port to Java. Donāt expect a village center, since the hotels and surf shops and warungs (small family-run eateries) are simply spread out by the road for a few kilometers on either side of the point break.
The drive from Ngurah Rai Airport takes about 3 hours and itās 2.5 to 3 hours from Canggu or Seminyak. That makes it too far for a day trip and itās the main reason Medewi stays so quiet. Weād fold it into a bigger loop around the west to make the long drive worth it, and our West Bali honeymoon guide covers the rest of that journey.
Best time to visit Medewi
Medewi gets its most consistent surf in the dry season from roughly April to October, just like most of Baliās west and south coasts, and the wave works best on a rising tide. If surfing is the main reason youāre coming, aim for those months. If youāre here more for the black sand and the peace and quiet, the wet season works fine too because the rain usually arrives as short afternoon showers instead of washing out the whole day.
The drive to Medewi
Take your time on the way. South of Tabanan the coast road winds past rice terraces and small temples and long empty stretches without another tourist car in sight. If you can spare an hour, stop at Balian Beach for a look at another quiet surf spot about 45 minutes before Medewi or head up into the hills to see Bunut Bolong on your way in. Just read the local legend below before you drive through it.
Getting around Medewi
Thereās no real public transport and the coast road is pretty much the only road, so book a private driver for the trip out and then use your hotelās shuttle or a scooter once you arrive. Most hotels will drive you to the point break and back for free. If youāre comfortable on two wheels, you can also rent a scooter in the village and ride out to Bunut Bolong and Juwuk Manis Waterfall on your own. Need a driver? Message us on WhatsApp and weāll arrange it for you.
Is Medewi right for you? Pick it if you want real and uncrowded surf-village Bali and youāre happy to trade nightlife for silence. If youād like some beach club energy first, spend a few days in Canggu or Seminyak before you head west.
Medewi honeymoon hotels
There are only a handful of places to stay and that helps keep Medewi feeling remote. You wonāt find a chain hotel or a resort strip here. Instead there are just a few very different properties dotted along the coast. Book early between April and October, especially if youād like to stay right at the point break.
-
2. Puri Dajuma Beach Eco Resort
Beachfront, Pekutatan West Bali, 5 min from Medewi Pointā„Check Availability
✓ Rated ★9.5 with 500+ reviews. → -
3. Bombora Medewi
Right on Medewi's surf break, West Baliā„Check Availability
✓ Rated ★9.1 with 300+ reviews. → -
4. LOST Lindenberg
Secluded black sand beach, Pekutatan, 10 min from Medewi Pointā„Check Availability
✓ Rated ★9.3 →
Where to eat in Medewi
Donāt come to Medewi for tasting menus. Eating out here means warungs and surf cafes and we love it that way. Most couples have dinner at their hotel and head into the village for breakfast or a lazy lunch after a surf. These three are the places that locals andĀ we would coming back to.
-
5. Avocado Resto
Medewi, West Bali -
6. De Jukung Cafe (Kedai Jukung)
Medewi, West Bali
Things to do in Medewi
Days in Medewi are slow on purpose. You surf in the morning and explore the hills when it gets hot, and then youāre back on the black sand in time for sunset. These are our favorite ways to fill the hours in between.
How to get to Medewi
From South Bali, Canggu or Seminyak
The drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours along the southwest coast road through Tabanan and Balian. With your own driver you can also stop at Bunut Bolong or Balian Beach along the way.
From Ngurah Rai Airport
Itās about 3 hours direct. If youāre combining Medewi with West Bali National Park, keep heading northwest along the coast instead of going back through Denpasar. The scenery is far better and you wonāt waste time backtracking.
Ferry to East Java
Medewi makes a handy stopover if youāre continuing to Ijen or somewhere else in East Java. Gilimanuk is about 1.5 hours further west and ferries to Ketapang in Banyuwangi run 24 hours a day and the crossing takes 45 to 60 minutes. Foot passengers can buy tickets at the port, but booking ahead on the Ferizy app saves you the queue on holidays and long weekends.
Before you go: Medewi etiquette and safety
Medewi runs on fishing village time and a few local habits will make your stay a lot smoother. The point is a working surf spot with a strong local crew, so learn the lineup etiquette before you paddle out or ask a local for a quick heads up. When you swim, stay inside the marked zones and go where the locals go because the currents outside them are strong.
ATMs get hard to find once you leave the main road, so stop at a cash machine in South Bali before the drive. If you visit Pura Rambut Siwi (the clifftop sea temple west of Medewi) remember to cover up with a sarong, and most hotels will happily lend you one. And about Bunut Bolong,when we ask theĀ local belief, they said newlyweds shouldnāt pass through the tree together because it brings bad luck to the marriage. Most honeymooners take the road around it just to be safe.
What to pack for Medewi
The shops in Medewi are mostly simple warungs, so bring everything you need before you arrive. Think reef safe sunscreen and mosquito repellent plus a sarong for temple visits and a rash guard or boardshorts for the surf. Pack some cash in rupiah and a dry bag for the beach, and donāt forget a power bank and offline Google Maps for the long drive.
Surfing Medewiās point break
Medewiās left is much longer and gentler than Baliās reef breaks and that makes it a great place to actually improve your surfing instead of just watching from the beach. New to point breaks? Book a lesson and a soft top board through your hotel instead of renting blind, as a real point break is safer with someone who knows it. Comfortable on a longboard? Bring your own or rent a mid length board locally as the wave rewards long and smooth lines. Already confident? Paddle out at first light before the wind picks up.
And if youād rather have the memories than the sore shoulders, ask your hotel to book a surf photographer for one morning. Youāll finally be in the photos yourselves and that beats another staged sunset shot. Want a surf and stay plan built around the two of you? Message us and weāll put it together.
Frequently asked questions about Medewi
Can Medewi be done as a day trip from Canggu or Seminyak?
Technically yes, but it's roughly 5 - 6 hours round trip just driving, which leaves little time to actually enjoy it. It works far better as a one or two night stopover than a day trip.
Is the beach at Medewi safe to swim, given it's a surf spot?
There's a real rip current outside the marked areas, especially near the point itself. Swim where locals and hotel staff point you to, not just anywhere along the black sand.
Is there phone signal and wifi in Medewi?
Signal is patchy once you're off the main coast road, and thins out further near the waterfall and inland villages. Download offline maps before you leave South Bali, and don't expect fast wifi outside your hotel.
Is there a hospital or clinic nearby if something happens while surfing?
The nearest proper clinic is in Negara, about 30-40 minutes east, and the closest hospital with real emergency capability is back in South Bali, 2.5-3 hours away. Most hotels can arrange transport, but it's worth having travel insurance that covers medical evacuation given the distance.
Is the tap water safe to drink in Medewi?
No, not directly, this is true across Bali, not unique to Medewi. All the hotels on this list provide bottled or filtered drinking water, but don't drink from the tap even to brush your teeth if you're prone to a sensitive stomach.
Is there a risk of dengue or mosquito-borne illness around the waterfall or rice fields?
It's a genuine, if low, risk anywhere in rural Bali with standing water nearby, more so than in the drier surf-village stretch itself. DEET repellent and covering up at dawn/dusk near the waterfall and rice paddies is a sensible precaution, not a reason to skip it.
Where to go after Medewi
West Bali National Park
Since youāre already this far west, the national park is the natural next stop. Menjangan Islandās coral walls and the Bali starling breeding center are both less than two hours further up the coast, and our West Bali National Park honeymoon guide will help you plan it.
Balian Beach
Short on time? Balian is another laid back surf village about 45 minutes closer to South Bali with the same easygoing feel and no beach clubs either. Itās an easier detour if the full drive to Medewi doesnāt fit your plans.
Kawah Ijen, East Java
Crossing to Java at Gilimanuk? Then Ijen is right on your way. Its turquoise acid lake and the pre-dawn hike to see the blue fire make a dramatic change of pace after a few slow days in Medewi and our East Java honeymoon guide explains how to plan it.
We are Olivia & Dirk
Hi! We have put together this website with a lot of care, based on our own experiences as well as the experiences of our BaliHoneymoon.com team. As a couple, we have lived in Bali for the past 8 years, and we fell in love with the island. We have visited every corner of Bali, especially the romantic places ;-). While our articles do contain affiliate links, you can trust us to recommend only the experiences that we love.
We can help make your honeymoon perfect:
š§” Check our Bali honeymoon packages for a stress-free romantic honeymoon.
š§” Let us design a personalized custom honeymoon itinerary based on your interests.
š§” Book unique romantic experiences with us.
Read more about BaliHoneymoon.com and our local Bali-based team.
Instagram
Tiktok
Pinterest
LinkedIn
