The deserted West Bali Beaches...
The West Bali beaches are mostly located on the main road of Gilimanuk to Tabanan. The road can be really busy. Nevertheless it is worth the trip just to see the beautiful deserted black volcanic beaches and the wonderful rice field and mountain views.
West Bali Beaches -- Soka Beach
Soka Beach is not what you expect and when we were looking for it, we even passed it. It is not really a beach, but more a huge restaurant with a garden that faces the sea.
This restaurant is mostly visited by huge tourist buses and travellers from Java. It is actually one of the first restaurants you come across when you are on your way to Denpasar from Gilimanuk, the harbor where the ferries from Java arrive.
Anyway, if you want to go to the beach you have to pay an entrance fee. I asked the guard if we could go to the beach. But he explained that the area is mainly a garden with places to sit and have a picnic, the beach is, however, not accessible. So we decided to skip it...
About 50m towards the west we found a nice piece of beach. Turn left on the first road you see after passing the restaurant. The road looks pretty steep but is accessible by motorbike.
Peace and quiet at this beach...
The beach has black sand but looked beautiful with the row of palm trees. I’m not sure if it is safe to go swimming though. There seemed to be a strong current when we were there. The beach was deserted and we didn’t see any swimmers or surfers.
But it is a wonderful and quiet place to relax and to take a break if you are passing by.
West Bali Beaches -- Balian Beach
Balian Beach is a hidden treasure if you are looking for a place where you can experience total privacy, relax and enjoy your holiday with you and your partner, or with your surfboard.
When we were there it was really quiet, all you could hear was the wind rustling through the palm trees. There were no sellers along the beach and everybody seemed to mind their own business. A very relaxed atmosphere...
It is a bit difficult to get there, since there are no signs. Take the main road of Gilimanuk to Tabanan and if you arrive in Lalang Linggah keep your eyes peeled for the Gajah Mina sign. Right next to the sign is a narrow road that takes you straight to the beach.
There is a lot of accommodation to choose from ranging from luxurious villa’s to much cheaper bungalows. The restaurants are beautifully located with a full view over the ocean.
Enjoying a snack...
We had a great relaxing time at the Garden Café. It was perfectly located under the shade and the sea breeze made it a great place to cool down, drink great pineapple juice and eat delicious banana pancakes.
Balian Beach is a good surf spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. There are left and right breaks at the river mouth. They say that if Kuta beach is having a 1m or 2m swell, then Balian is 3m or 4m.
The Balian river, located along the coconut plantations is a great spot to go for a swim. In the dry season the river becomes a blue lagoon where you can take a refreshing dip.
One of the many quiet West Bali beaches...
If you explore the beach more you might be able to find little caves, tunnels and bays. So if you are lucky you might find a fantastic patch of beach all to your self.
Balian Beach is definitely worth a visit and if you go, you should spend the night (or more) to experience it to the fullest.
West Bali Beaches - Medewi Beach
With its rocky beach, Medewi is probably the less attractive of all West Bali beaches. People who come here come for one thing only: to surf.
We arrived at Medewi Beach late in the afternoon and at that time there was a small crowd of spectators eating mie-kuah from a warung nearby while watching a couple of surfers catching waves.
Despite its low-key atmosphere this beach has the longest point break in Bali and is known for its long left hand wave that offers rides around 200-400 meters long. So its kind of a surprise that there isn't a stream of surfers coming here every day.
There is a few accommodation along the road leading to the beach. Starting first with small homestays and ending right at the beach with the huge Medewi Beach Cottages that looks a bit run down.
Medewi Beach is a perfect escape from other surf beaches in the south. It is a long trip to get here, but if you have the time its a great place to surf while hanging out with the local surfers.
West Bali beaches -- Pemuturan beach
Way up in the north-western part of Bali you can find Pemuturan with its resort beaches and secluded beaches.
Since the water is very calm and the underwater world still very good these West Bali beaches are mostly popular for snorkeling and diving...
Unlike the southern part of Bali the beaches here are quiet. Only guests staying at the resorts can be found here and in the low season its all in low numbers.
Besides jumping in the water straight from the beach with your diving or snorkeling gear you can also drive more towards the western part of Bali where you can find Menjangan island, just of the coast.
Walk straight into the water from your resort...
If you really want to see some magnificant underworld water then this is the only place to go in Bali. The coral is just gorgeous here. We had been in Amed already and were not very convinced when the boatman said that Menjangan is even better...
But once in the water we were stunned...
Menjangan, for the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Bali.
Travellers who travel to Bali often do not go this far and therefore there is less action here than in South Bali. But if you are searching for a wonderful tropical destination then Pemuturan beach and the nearby Menjangan is definitely worth the trip.
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