10 Top Things To Do in Medewi, Bali [+ one to avoid!]

A hidden gem nestled along Bali's western coast, Medewi is a sleepy little surf town best known for its striking black sand beaches, legendary surf breaks, and laid-back way of life.

The coastal town offers a glimpse at what Bali was like a decade or two ago, with its rustic ocean-front cafes, stunning jungle scenery, peaceful waterfalls, and undisturbed temples. The locals were friendly and there were no streetside vendors selling tacky souveniers.

From our first visit to Medewi, we fell in love with its authentic, chilled-out vibe and natural beauty. Even as non-surfers ourselves, we discovered there were more than enough things to do in Medewi for a 2-3 day trip.

Medewi Map

Things to Do in Medewi

1. Go Surfing

If you're planning to visit Medewi, there's a good chance you're already well aware of the town's renowned surf scene. The area has several fantastic surf breaks, including Bali's longest left-hand break on Medewi Beach, with potential rides of up to 300m.

While gaining in popularity in recent years, the waves around Medewi are significantly less busy than popular tourist areas such as Canggu and Seminyak. Plus there are breaks suitable for beginners and more advanced surfers.

If you don't have your own board, plenty of places around Medewi Beach rent them for around 80-100,000 IDR a day. You can also get private surf lessons for around 300-400,000 IDR.

The best time to surf in Medewi is during Bali's dry season from May to September, with the largest waves in July and August. You can surf in the wet season too, but the waves are smaller and there's a higher chance of trash in the water.

There are several other surf breaks nearby too, including neighboring Yeh Sumbul and Pulukan Beach. Balian Beach sits around a 30 minute drive to the east of Medewi and is another popular little surf town.

2. Watch the Local Fishermen

Even if you're not a surfer (like us), the black sand and pebble beach at Medewi is still a lovely spot for a peaceful stroll while watching the fishermen go about their daily activities.

The sea around Medewi is a popular spot with local fishermen. You'll often see colourful traditional fishing boats heading out into the water on the hunt for reef snapper and yellow-fin tuna. At low tide, you may also spot locals gathering shellfish from between the rocks.

If you want to try fishing in Medewi for yourself, Bombora Resort can organise a half-day fishing experience with a local boatman. Their kitchen will even cook your catch for you at the end of your trip. Find out more here.

3. Relax by the Pool at Bombora Medewi

Unlike the soft white sands of southern Bali, the rough pebbly beaches around Medewi aren't ideal for sunbathing on. However you will find a handful of resorts and restaurants overlooking the beach that are perfect for lounging around in the sun, including our favourite, Bombora.

Bombora is a beautiful beachfront resort overlooking the famous Medewi surf point. Even if you're not staying at the resort, you can still use their on-site restaurant - Lefty's - and its small infinity pool with ocean views.

You can sit in the restaurant for free if you're eating or drinking, but there is a minimum spend for the first row of tables and the sunbeds by the pool.

Lefty's does a variety of Indonesian, Asian, and Western dishes. Prices are above average for the area but the quality is fantastic. There's also a great drinks menu and plenty of happy hour deals between 6-8pm.

The small infinity pool is a beautiful spot to soak up the sun while watching the surfers head out into the water. The restaurant is also well located for a sunset Bintang if you do visit later in the day.

4. Watch the Sunset on Medewi Beach

Talking of sunset, Medewi is in the perfect position for watching the sun disappear over the Indian Ocean each evening, lighting up the sky in a vibrant array of colours.

Grab a couple of beers from a shop and join the local surf crowd who tend to hang out at the back of the beach in front of Warung Gede most evenings. Or head to one of the local bars or restaurants, such as Lefty's at Bombora or KOKOS Kitchen & Bar, to enjoy dinner and drink.

5. Enjoy a Post-Surf Yoga Class

Medewi's peaceful and chilled-out vibe makes it a perfect spot to practice yoga - especially if you need to stretch and unwind after hitting the waves a little too hard.

A few places you can do yoga in Medewi include:

Things to Do Around Medewi

6. Swim In Juwuk Manis Waterfall

Take a drive through the scenic hills that sit just inland from Medewi until you find yourself at Air Terjun Juwuk Manis, a twin-stream waterfall hidden in a lush foliage-filled valley.

The waterfall cascades down over the craggy cliffs and into a small emerald-colored splash pool at the bottom. With no other visitors in sight during our recent visit, the pool was perfect for a peaceful secluded swim - a rare occurrence at most waterfalls in Bali.

Reaching the waterfall requires a 15-minute walk down a steep but well-built stairway (870 steps to be exact) from road level. You need to pay a small fee of 5,000 IDR per person to visit.

7. Drive Through Bunut Bolong

En route to Juwuk Manis Waterfall, don't miss the opportunity to drive through the unusual Bunut Bolong.

Bunut Bolong is an enormous centuries-old banyan tree that has a natural tunnel through its base. The gap is big enough for bikes and some smaller cars to pass through, but larger vehicles will need to follow the swerve-around lane.

Balinese Hindus believe the tree to be sacred, so you'll find two shrines at the bottom and a temple just across the road.

On either side of the tunnel, there are also several small local warungs and viewpoints where you can enjoy some stunning views over the surrounding valleys.

8. Take the Kids to Alas Utama Medewi

Alas Utama Medewi is an unusual little nature park and family-friendly tourist attraction just a 10 minute drive from Medewi Beach.

The park sits at the bottom of a jungle-filled valley and requires you to jump in a 4x4 truck from the main road-level parking area to reach it.

Once you arrive, you'll find an Indonesian restaurant with plenty of riverside seating, a small heated kids' swimming pool, a playground, several photo spots including a swing, and a canal offering inflatable kayak rides.

We'd seen photos of the kayaks online, which is what made us head to the park in the first place - we're big watersports lovers. But once we arrived, we realised it wasn't quite the epic jungle adventure we envisioned.

Rather, it was a 3-minute kayak ride guided by a member of staff down a very short manmade canal. In other words, an activity intended for children!

This didn't stop us from having a go, with both us and the local staff member giggling throughout the entire experience. But honestly, we wouldn't recommend grown adults go out of their way to try it.

However, if you are in Medewi with children and looking for a fun place for them to let off some steam and enjoy the great outdoors for a few hours, Alas Utama is a lovely little spot.

9. Visit Rambut Siwi Temple

Just west of Medewi, Pura Rambut Siwi is a large Hindu temple perched on a cliff above the ocean, with amazing views over the area's black sand beaches on one side and lush rice paddies on the other.

Along with the better-known Tanah Lot near Canggu, Rambut Siwi is one of several important "sea temples" that form a chain around the coast of Bali and offer spiritual protection for the island.

These sea temples were established by a Javanese priest called Dang Hyang Nirartha. It's believed that Nirartha gifted a lock of his hair to the temple, which is how it gained the name "Rambut Siwi," which translates to "worship of the hair."

Rambut Siwi is the largest temple in west Bali, with several different shrines and beautiful gardens to explore. It's also less known than many other temples in Bali, offering a far quietier and more peaceful experience.

Entrance to the temple as a tourist costs 40,000 IDR, which includes the use of a sarong and some information about the site.

10. Go Canyoneering at the Blue Gorge

If you're looking for something a little more adventurous to do around Medewi, check out this canyoneering adventure with local company Adventure & Spirit, which takes you through Tabanan's amazing Blue Gorge Canyon.

I went canyoneering here back in 2022 and it's still one of my favourite experiences in Bali to date. The half-day trip has you trekking, jumping, repelling, ziplining, sliding, and swimming through thick untouched jungles and the gorge's vibrant blue/green waters.

Even with my fear of heights, the instructors were extremely supportive and it was a truly unforgettable experience.

The canyoneering adventure starts and ends at their Tabanan Base Camp (here), which is around 45 minutes from central Medewi or 20 minutes from nearby Balian Beach. It includes all safety equipment, two experienced instructors, plus breakfast before the trip and a homemade lunch afterward.

Things NOT to Do in Medewi [BONUS]

Nature Tourism Green Cliff

Nature Tourism Green Cliff was one of those attractions that we had high hopes for but were left thoroughly disappointed.

What we had seen online was a cool treetop walkway above a steep valley with amazing views and plenty of colourful photo props. But what we found was an old abandoned wooden structure that had long been left to rot and had become somewhat of a death trap.

Not only did we have to run past two unfriendly dogs to get to the staircase, but once we reached the top, we found that the entire walkway was completely falling apart. There were huge holes in the floor, cracked steps in the staircases, and entire poles missing in the guard rails.

Granted the view was nice. But after no more than a minute at the top, we gave up on the idea of walking to the other end and returned the way we had come.

The walkway is clearly no longer being managed or maintained, and in our opinion, it should be demolished or shut down properly.

If you value your safety, don't bother with this dangerous Medewi attraction.

Where to Eat in Medewi

Where to Stay in Medewi