Balian Beach – How to get there
Road conditions in Bali are notoriously hazardous and I recommend hiring a shuttle or taxi for the 1.5 hour drive from Kuta to Balian. A licensed bluebird taxi, driven by a friendly local named Ketut, took us from Kuta to Balian for $40 USD or about 390,000 IDR.
The winding road and potholes can make for a rough ride, so consider taking some motrin before the trip. (My girlfriend got motion sickness on the drive). Balian is a half-mile (800 meters) south of Lalang-Linggah, which is on the main road 6 miles (10km) west of Antosari. [see map below] [facebook_like_button]
Things to do in Balian
Although Balian is a relatively small village, there are plenty of fun things to do.
- Walk along the beach and watch the local fisherman cast their nets near the river mouth at low tide.
- Relax at the ocean-side pool at Pondok Pitaya. Enjoy a few cocktails while watching the surfers on the waves in front of the hotel.
- Participate in a yoga session at the Shankari Retreat. See below for more info
- Explore the nearby palm groves and rice paddys.
- Make a pilgrimage to one of Bali’s lesser-known temples: Purah Rambat Siwi.
- Surf… there are no shortage of waves in Balian. You can also take a day trip to Medewi, on of the longest left hand waves in the world. See below for more info
- Attend a mekepung, one of West Bali’s infamous bull races.
- Chill, relax, read that novel you’ve been meaning to finish, take photographs of the picturesque Balian coastline.
The pool at Pondok Pitaya
Accommodations in Balian
Everything from a private villa to a resort to a classic Bali home stay can be found in Balian. When I was in Balian I noticed that several small home stays were being built on the road leading into the village, so there are certainly many places to stay.
- Balian Beach House ($$$) – I stayed at this beautiful two-story home with my girlfriend. The Balian Beach House is located right on the main road (and only road in Balian) and is walking distance from the beach [see map below]. The upstairs room has an amazing view of the ocean and the surrounding Balinese landscape. The downstairs room, which is adjacent to the dining room, has a bunk bed and twin bed. The dining room opens up to a small deck near the front of the house. It’s a perfect place to eat lunch, drink a bintang and forget all of your worries.
- A friendly Australian ex-pat named Michael runs the place and is super helpful. Michael, who has been living in Balian for over 10 years and speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia, told me about all of the fun things to do in the area. The rate for 2 people is $80 USD per night, or $500 USD per week and includes laundry and maid service. More information can be found here.
- Pondok Pitaya ($$) – Located right on the beach, Pondok Pitaya’s pool and bar were one of my favorite hangout spots in Balian. There are a variety of rooms ranging from $10-50 USD. Large groups can rent a private bungalow while solo travelers can hunker down in a dorm room with a fan.
- Made’s Home Stay ($) – If you’re looking for an affordable, traditional Balinese homestay, this is the place for you. The beds are clean, but the mattresses is hard. Expect a western toilet and cold showers. Made and his wife live in a small hut near the entrance of the property. Made’s wife cooks delicious banana pancakes for breakfast every morning, which is included in the nightly rate of $15 USD. [telephone: 0361 0812 399 353]
Surfing Balian Beach
This area of Bali has a lot fewer surfers than the Kuta area or the Bukit Peninsula, and therefore, you can find yourself getting a lot more waves.
Balian owes it’s A-frame waves to the river that empties into the ocean here. Over thousands of years, the runoff from the river has eroded the bottom and created a deep channel that allows for an easy paddle.
The break picks up a lot of swell and offers a gentle left, the right is a bit shorter and less powerful. Like Medewi to the north, Balian can be described as a long boarding wave because it never seems to get top-to-bottom.
Unfortunately, the river that creates Balian’s perfectly shaped waves also pollutes the lineup after a heavy rain. Do not surf after a heavy rain or when the water is exceptionally murky. Bull sharks patrol the river mouth waiting for debris and food to flow into the ocean. In April 2011, an Australian tourist was attacked while surfing in murky water.
Balian Yoga
Yoga is favorite activity of Balian visitors, and yogis travel from all over the world to visit the Shankari’s Bali Retreat. Located on the main road just outside of town and adjacent to the sacred Sungai Balian (Balian River), the retreat the beautifully crafted idea of an Australian ex-pat.
Enjoy a post-surfing yoga session while listening to the trickling of the nearby river and inhaling the sweet smell of Balinese incents. Like-minded individuals spending weeks, or even months here, will tell you about their spiritual journey.
Balian Bali Photos
View from the upstairs floor of the Balian Beach House
Room at Made’s Homestay
Me and my Girlfriend – Balian Beach House
My girlfriend Brynne on the Beach in Balian
Map of Balian, Bali
Click on an icon to discover locations around Balian.
Hey man,
Sounds like a pretty chill place… doesn’t seem crowded in your pictures at all. I tried surfing in Panama and, well, I need more practice.
Cheers!
I haven’t been to Panama yet, but I plan on going there next summer, hopefully I’ll get some waves!
Hey , I am staying in balian beach house with a few mates we are going there to surf and have done abit before can stand up and produce some turns how is surf for beginner / to intermediate there ? Can you rent boards there aswell as bringing by plane is expensive thanks do any info Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Balian Beach is probably the best place to learn to surf in Bali. The wave is very mellow, and not too powerful. There are lots of beginner surfers at this break.
I believe you can rent boards right on the beach, or from one of the hotels along the beach. It will be MUCH cheaper than bringing your board on the airplane.
Have fun and let me know if you have any other questions!
You have been doing a lot of great writing evan! It’s great to see travelgrom come together.
Thanks Brynne! I hope you have been keeping a journal of your travels!
pernah coba berselancar di KUTA ? atau nusa dua ?