– ESCAPE THE CROWDS –
AN INDEPENDENT TRAVEL GUIDE
Medewi
From Bali's longest lefthand break and breezy yoga shalas, to a pretty twin waterfall and a sacred tree, there is plenty to see and do around (and love about) Medewi.
Medewi
Airport
Most guidebooks write Medewi off in just a few lines. "Medewi is not noted for its beach but its long left-hand wave. There is little else here," they say. But here's the thing: they're wrong. Medewi – and her increasingly popular neighbour, Yeh Sumbul – are brilliant destinations for surfers and travellers wanting to escape the crowds.
We've seen it over and again: Medewi has a way of creeping into your soul and so many travellers who stay more than three nights in this village find it very, very hard to leave. Surfers might say it's because of the point break, Bali's longest left-hand wave. Those who appreciate quiet places might stay for the vast stretches of wild beaches, while others might stay for the beachfront massages which, at under US$8 for a 60-minute session, will leave you basking in bliss for hours after. Or perhaps it's for the genuine hospitality at the many homestays here, and the Bali kopi, which seems to taste even more delicious when drunk at one of the warungs along the beachfront in the early morning.
When getting to know the Medewi area it's easiest to divide it into five sections: the surf point, the paddies, Yeh Sumbul, Pulukan and Pekutatan.
The surf point
For surfers the point is the biggest drawcard, where rides of more than 300m are possible on Bali's longest lefthand break. It's a great place to hang out and watch the ocean action – from surfers to the fishing boats that make their dramatic entry to the sea here each day – and there is a range of beachfront restaurants and warungs here.
The beach at the point
The beach at the surf point and along the curve into the bay is extremely rocky. From the paddle-out point stretching east towards the right-hander and Pulukan, the beach is sandy and flanked by a palm grove and paddies. The surf point is a popular spot for fishermen and often at low tide people gather shellfish from between the rocks.
Beachfront hotels and restaurants at the point
The closest you can get to the beach without getting your feet sandy is Warung Kayu, one of our favourite places to come for an early morning coffee or sunset Bintang. Bombora is a luxury surf hotel that's right at the point (their restaurant has excellent views of the surf); Homestay Gede is also right on the beach; it has a popular restaurant, as well as very simple rooms. Find more places to eat here, and a wider selection of where to stay in Medewi, here.
The paddies
This section of Medewi is on the inland side of the busy Denpasar-Gilimanuk road. There are many homestays up this road (and Dewi and Rasta Cafe, our favourite Medewi eatery), and it's well worth exploring the paddies around this area.
Yeh Sumbul
If you stand at the surf point and look across the bay, you'll be looking onto Yeh Sumbul. In recent years many small hotels and homestays have opened here but still, it's a quiet area that's surrounded by paddies. There is surf along here – a sandy beach break that is quite forgiving for beginners. Out here you'll also find Wakey Wakey, a Canggu-style coffee bar that serves delicious snacks and excellent coffees, at very reasonable prices.
The beach at Yeh Sumbul
The beach at Yeh Sumbul is sandy, but usually littered with rocks that have washed across from the rocky Medewi side of the bay. It feels quite moody and dry here – a grey-sand beach that's exposed to wind, and with a few clusters of leggy pandan trees giving shade to cattle along a coastline that was once dominated by paddies, and now has some villas and small hotels creeping in. From Yeh Sumbul the beach stretches 20km west – in varying shades of grey, interrupted occasionally by small rivers and always flanked by farmlands – all the way to the big river mouth at Perancak.
Beachfront hotels and restaurants at Yeh Sumbul
The Holy Tree is a popular daytime cafe that sits on the edge of Yeh Sumbul beach. Also overlooking this beach are Wide Sands Beach Retreat and, the farthest along Yeh Sumbul, Bali Tiger Hideaway – both are very affordable accommodation options. Find more places to eat here, and a wider selection of where to stay in Medewi, here.
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Medewi: local advice
Medewi
Airport
Airport to Medewi: 90km
Travel by car: about 3,5 hours
Cost: Rp600,000 with a driver
Medewi
Airport
Airport to Medewi: 90km
Travel by car: about 3,5 hours
Cost: Rp700,000 with a driver
Know this...
...if you drive here yourself
The road from east Bali out here is not great: it is often busy with overloaded trucks and risk-taking buses, and we do not recommend driving out here at night if you're not familiar with driving in Indonesia. If your flight lands in Bali after midday, we suggest you chill out and spend one night closer to the airport before leaving for West Bali the next morning. If you choose to drive straight through to Medewi, expect to arrive about 4,5 hours after your plane lands. If you're looking for a driver, please head to the "how to get here" page.
...if you surf
Medewi has the longest lefthand break in Bali, but there's a right-hander here too. To get to the right-hander, walk south along the beach, just over the first river. It's really rocky at Medewi so take along your reef-boots, or hire a pair once you get there. Ask one of the local surfers where the paddle-out channel is – this will save you (and your board) from navigating the rocks. The "things to do in Medewi" button will take you to the surfing page, where you'll find more details..
...if you need to get laundry done
There is a small laundry on the road to the beach. Drop your clothes off here in the morning and they'll usually be ready early evening.
...if you're a light sleeper
There are many mosques in the Medewi area, and they all sound the call to prayer five times a day. If you're a light sleeper and a late riser, you'd probably appreciate having a set of ear plugs on hand, as most of Medewi's accommodation is within earshot of a mosque.