14 Best Things To Do In Medewi | Bali’s Best Kept Secret
Bali has long been a popular destination for travellers, coming to experience the island life and surf the world-class waves off the southwest coast. But one place that hasn’t popped up on many tourists’ itineraries until now is Medewi.
On our recent 2 month trip to Bali, we chose to spend a week in Medewi thanks to a friend who raved about the surf and the laid-back lifestyle. And while the surf break is well worth a visit alone, we found loads of unique things to do in Medewi – making us wish we had stayed longer.
Medewi is located on the west coast, northwest of Kuta and Seminyak, and has yet to feel the full force of tourists. While it’s getting a little busier as travellers spread further north, you’ll still receive that friendly local vibe and find the streets bare of touristy trinkets.
If you’re searching for a quiet and more authentic experience in Bali, then you won’t want to miss Medewi. In this post, we’ll share all the best things to do in Medewi, from our favourite Warungs to eat at to off-the-beaten-path adventures into the mountains.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase of a product we recommend through one of our links, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you! This helps to support our blog and enables us to continue providing you with helpful tips and exciting adventures, so thank you 🙂
14 Epic Things To Do In Medewi, West Bali
Quick Tips For Visiting Medewi
- There is no Gojek or any other taxi options available in Medewi. Your best mode of transport is to hire a scooter or organise a driver through your hotel.
- Withdraw cash in one of the major towns such as Canggu, Ubud or Denpasar before arriving in Medewi. Reliable ATMs are scarce and many places will only take cash or charge a 3% fee for credit cards.
- The best time to surf at Medewi is between March and November, with the biggest swell between June and September.
- If you want to be as close as possible to Medewi Point Break, choose to stay at either Bombora Medewi or Umedewi Surf & Retreat.
- If you want to join some yoga classes, it’s best to organise this in advance as all the yoga studios operate on demand. Our top recommendation is Lia Bhakti Yoga.
- If you don’t have one, set up a Whatsapp account before leaving home. This is the main form of communication for all hotels and private tour companies.
- When renting anything in Bali, such as scooters or surfboards, remember to photograph their condition before use. This simple step provides solid evidence in case the operator attempts to charge you for damages that you did not inflict.
- 100,000 IDR equates to roughly $10 AUD
1. Surf The Renowned Medewi Point Break
If you’ve planned a trip to Medewi, there’s a good chance the first thing you want to know about is the surfing. Medewi is still relatively quiet, but it’s quickly gaining popularity. Although the surf break is not as crowded as other spots in Bali, you can expect to share the waves with around 50 people on a good day.
The main break is at South Medewi Point (right in front of the Bombora Resort) and is famous for being Bali’s longest left-hand point break. And it’s a damn good wave!
The wave at South Medewi Point breaks at two points. The break out on the point is very mellow, with long sweeping lefts that are perfect for longboard riders. An odd big wave forms well enough to ride all the way to shore, but there’s no hollowing so you won’t get pitted here.
The second break at South Medewi Point is right in front of Medewi Surf Homestay and this was my go-to. Generally a faster and steeper wave, you’ll find a better wall on the sets and beginner-friendly waves in between. This wave will be shared with some shredding locals and the intermediate surf school so it’s good etiquette to acknowledge you may be surrounded by learners.
With that said, the vibe out at South Medewi Point was extremely friendly – especially thanks to the locals who often gave up their wave to allow others a turn.
There is a less crowded break nearby at West Beach, which offers fun and punchy lefts and rights. Being a beach break, it is less consistent, but you’ll avoid the crowds. For more information on the surf breaks in Medewi, check out this post.
Surf Lessons and Board Hire At Medewi
You’ll find several small local shacks near the beach that offer board hire and surfing lessons. Board hire is generally 100,000 IDR for 24 hours and there is a wide range of board options. While you won’t get a pristine board for this price, they’re good enough to do the job and have a bit of fun!
Most of the board-hire shops also provide surf lessons, typically priced at around 400,000 IDR per lesson. While this may seem a bit expensive, you’ll get a one-on-one experience with a local expert who will not only help you improve your skills but also assist you in catching waves on the crowded point.
2. Take A Scenic Scooter Ride Through The Forested Hills
Medewi’s coastline is bordered by lush rolling hills and deep gullies, with winding roads weaving throughout the dense forest. This is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bali and experience the tranquil mountainside.
Grab a scooter and set off for the day, heading towards the many lookouts scattered across the ridgelines. The roads are narrow and winding, but you’ll encounter far less traffic compared to the tourist hubs of Bali. Just be careful while on the main road, which is frequented by speeding trucks.
3. Drive Through Bunut Balong
As you take a scooter ride through the beautiful hills behind Medewi, make sure to visit the small village of Manggisari to drive through Bunut Bolong.
Bunut Bolong is a magnificent banyan tree that is believed to be centuries old and features a natural hollow at its base. The hollow is large enough for a road to pass through, allowing you to drive beneath the enormous tree.
On either side of the tree, you’ll find small Warungs that offer a bite to eat. There are also several lookout spots that you can wander between, admiring views of distant forested hills and the coastline far below.
This is the perfect spot to rest and rejuvenate before continuing your mountain journey to Juwuk Manis Waterfall.
4. Swim In Air Terjun Juwuk Manis (Waterfall)
Take a beautiful winding drive into the hills above Medewi to visit Air Terjun Juwuk Manis, a twin cascading waterfall hidden in a dense gully.
A set of almost 1,000 steps leads you beneath towering banana trees and other native rainforest species to the Juwuk Manis Waterfall. The waterfall plunges over jagged rocks in two streams, dropping into a milky blue pool below. Verdant cliffs ride on either side of the pool, providing a beautiful oasis for a secluded swim.
To get to Air Terjun Juwuk Manis, you can follow Google Maps which will take you to a sign between buildings that points to the start of the steps. When we visited in January 2024, you were required to pay 50,000 IDR each. A lady will come out and provide you with an admission ticket once you’ve parked your scooter.
5. Embrace The Culture At Rambut Siwi Temple
If you’re looking for more of an authentic temple experience – where you’re not walking with hundreds of other travellers – then you must visit Rambut Siwi Temple. The temple overlooks the black-sanded beach and the lovely local caretaker will provide you with a sarong before guiding you through the grounds.
The caretaker was very friendly and took pride in his role at the temple and the surrounding area. He showed us various plants and flowers that grew around the grounds and shared some insights about the temple’s history. Afterwards, he left us to explore the temple grounds on our own and insisted we stick around for a beautiful sunset.
To visit Rambut Siwi Temple, you will pay 40,000 IDR per person – which includes the sarong and the tour of the grounds. In comparison, this temple is cheaper and a much better experience than the Tanah Lot Temple near Canggu, which was 60,000 IDR per person and dense with tourists.
Photography and videography are allowed throughout the temple grounds, but they kindly request visitors refrain from entering the sacred worshipping areas. There are no vendors throughout the temple, just peace and quiet and beautiful views of the coastline and the farming fields.
6. Dine At A Local Warung In Medewi
One of the main reasons we love Medewi is thanks to its off-the-beaten-path nature. However, when it comes to finding places to eat in Medewi, the options are not as abundant as in Canggu or Ubud. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great Balinese meal.
Scattered throughout Medewi, you’ll find an array of Warungs that pride themselves in good food at affordable prices.
Our absolute favourite place to eat was Rasta Cafe. What made this place so special was the incredibly welcoming and friendly nature of the owners and staff, along with the peaceful setting in the quiet hillside of Medewi. Oh and of course, the great food!
Our second choice is Nal’s Kitchen, located just north of the Pulukan Rice Paddies. Nal’s Kitchen takes on a beach shack vibe backed up by delicious Balinese cuisine. As soon as you set foot inside this Warung, you can instantly tell this is a favourite amongst long-term travellers and locals alike.
7. Practice Yoga By The Beach
Medewi offers a peaceful and tranquil escape from the bustling streets of Ubud and Canggu, making it the perfect destination to unwind with a unique yoga session.
Although there are no fixed yoga schedules in Medewi, small classes are organised through WhatsApp at the various yoga studios. This provides a more personal and exclusive experience which, in our opinion, adds to the allure of yoga.
We opted for a sunset beach yoga session with Lisa from Lia Bhakti Yoga, specifically designed for surfers. We couldn’t recommend Lisa highly enough, she made the time to construct a class tailored to our small group of 3, which focused on our individual needs.
During the session, Lisa incorporated meditation, flow and active yoga, with a focus on our upper body and shoulders. She concluded the yoga session with a beautiful candlelight setting while we watched the sunset over the ocean.
Lisa’s classes aren’t conducted in a set studio. Instead, she holds her practices at several rooftop locations and beachfronts around Medewi. We suggest booking in advance to ensure availability for your desired class, which costs 150,000 IDR per session. You can find a list of her planned classes here.
Here is a list of other yoga studios that you can also reach out to in Medewi:
Note: All of the yoga classes held in Medewi operate by demand so to ensure the class is going ahead, book in advance via Whatsapp.
8. Dine At The Bombora For Sunset
If you aren’t already staying at Bombora Medewi, you must visit for dinner to experience the incredible sunset over Medewi Surf Point while you eat.
Bombora’s restaurant, Lefty’s, is a mid-range dining experience that offers a little bit of everything. We stayed at Bombora Medewi for a week and tried just about everything on the menu. Our favourite dishes were their wedges, the traditional Balinese cap cay and the Laksa.
While you’ll pay a little extra compared to the other restaurants further up the road or the Warungs nearby, the extra cost is worth the incredible sunset vistas and good food.
9. Catch A Sunset From South Point
If you’d rather stick to the local Warungs, but don’t want to miss the sunset from South Point – the most popular place in Medewi to watch the show which is located right in front of Bombora.
This is a highly popular spot to end the day and you’ll likely share the experience with other like-minded people. You’ll find a drink stand and some picnic tables on the point, plus an ice cream stall at Bombora.
10. Rejuvenate With A Relaxing Massage
There isn’t anything better than a rejuvenating massage after a few big sessions in the surf. Several nearby resorts offer in-house massages and wellness packages, but the best place to get a massage is at Magic Hand.
This is a local Balinese business that operates on the beach just north of South Medewi Point. For an hour-long massage, you’ll pay just 100,000 IDR (as of January 2024) and they’ll get into every sore muscle you have!
If you’d rather have the full treatment that comes with visiting a resort, check out Puri Dajuma Eco Resort. They offer a range of spa packages and are located right on the beach 10 minutes south of South Medewi Point. However, expect to pay between 325,000 IDR and 655,000 IDR.
11. Explore Medewi’s Surrounding Beaches
For most travellers who venture to this little slice of heaven in Bali, the allure of secluded beaches is sure to be high on your list of priorities.
The great thing is, when you explore Medewi, you’ll come across large sections of coastlines that stretch as far as the eye can see – with little to no people around! With such peace and quiet, you can find a secluded beach to have a lovely picnic or witness one of Bali’s beautiful west coast sunsets all to yourself. It’s an experience you’ll likely not find anywhere further south.
While there are several other surf breaks near Medewi, we were unable to come across any surf spots that could rival the exceptional quality of the two main breaks found at South Medewi Point and Pulukan Beach.
Note: The amount of rubbish you may find on the beaches is quite shocking and can really impact the setting. However, we noticed that the main beach in Pulukan, right next to the river mouth and around the fishing boats was the worst. This is an unfortunate and rather sad fact that you will have to face when you visit Bali.
12. Visit the Pulukan Rice Fields
Similar to many other destinations in Bali, Medewi boasts its own collection of rice paddies. While there is a much more conventional beauty found at the mountainous rice terraces in Ubud and Munduk, what sets these rice fields apart is their unique proximity to the beach – giving them a distinct charm that you won’t find in the typical mountainous paddies.
All of the farmers are lovely and as you wander through the paddies you are sure to be greeted with nothing but smiles and friendly gestures as they go about their day.
To discover the Medewi rice fields, make your way to Pulukan Beach, continue along the road past The Holy Tree Kitchen, and head towards Wakey Wakey Coffee.
If you want more out of your experience, take a look at this tour offered by Bombora. Not only will you learn about the rice fields, but you will also have the opportunity to work alongside farmers in planting them.
13. Make Coconut Oil With The Locals Of Medewi
If you are looking for a truly authentic thing to do in Medewi, you should check out Ratna and Sup’s coconut oil-making class.
In this class, you will be shown the traditional Balinese methods of making coconut oil and also how every section of the coconut is used. And the best part is, you get to keep the bottle of coconut oil you make.
This unique experience takes two hours. By the end, you’ll gain knowledge about why coconuts are a staple in Indonesian homes. You can book the tour here through Airbnb Experiences.
We were sad to miss this local experience due to being sick and having to cancel. However, based on the positive reviews we would highly recommend this unique experience to anyone interested in learning more about Balinese culture.
14. Witness The Ngurah Rai Monument
You may have noticed that the Balinese love their statues and one of the most intriguing ones can be found off the beach in Pekutatan. The Ngurah Rai monument stands mighty amongst the waves in front of the Puri Dajuma Beach Eco Resort & Spa.
The concrete monument is of a boat and two men – one of whom is Bali’s greatest freedom fighter, Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai. The monument was erected in the spot where Ngurah Rai landed in 1946 with a force of freedom fighters planning to overrule the Dutch colonial forces.
At low tide, you can walk out in the water to get a closer look at the unique monument. For more information about the famous colonel, you can read about him here.
Final Thoughts
We chose to visit Medewi solely for the promise of good surf breaks that boasted far fewer crowds compared to the South Coast. But we left with a far more well-rounded experience that has made us keen to book another visit to Medewi.
If you’re after an authentic Bali experience away from the chaos of Kuta and Seminyak, then you will love Medewi. This is by no means a complete list of things to do in Medewi either, but the best source for extra ideas is the locals. Strike up a conversation with the friendly residents and learn more about their coastal village.
Happy Adventuring 🙂
