13 Great Things To Do In Medewi, Bali In 2024

Medewi is a small fishing village on the west coast of Bali, around 70km from Canggu, and generally, when people look for what to do in Medewi, the surf always comes up top!

It’s a popular spot for surfers and especially beginner surfers (like Jack and me) as it’s a beach break, meaning the wave breaks on sand rather than on a reef, therefore it makes for soft landings!

However, Medewi is also great for other reasons, it’s a quaint little village in comparison to the busy Canggu and feels much more Indonesian. By that, I mean, it has a nice and small, local community and is more traditional.

It’s a great escape from the madness that is Canggu! There’s the beautiful Bunut Bolong which is a famous fig tree and one of my favourite waterfalls in Bali to visit too.

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Searching for what to do in Medewi? Look no further; we’ve got you sorted with our top activities!

In this post, I’ll talk about things to do in Medewi and share our experiences while we were there. I’ll also cover topics like:

• Why I think Medewi is a great place to visit in Bali
• Cover all the things to do in Medewi and in the surrounding areas
• Give recommendations on where to eat and stay to make your trip epic!

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Is Medewi Worth Visiting?

One hundred per cent Medewi is worth visiting if you’re looking for somewhere more chilled and less crowded than other popular areas of Bali, such as Canggu.

Medewi is somewhere to head if you want some peace and quiet, there is usually a good buzz in the evening but as we visited during the back end of the pandemic it was super quiet. There are also a few good restaurants you have to check out (see below) and the price in Medewi is really good, it’s super cheap!

👉 Related Post: If you’re backpacking Southeast Asia, you will love Indonesia! Bali is really cheap, so it’s a great budget option for the backpacker. if you’re interested I have the ultimate 5-Day Bali itinerary perfect for budget travellers.

Jack and I loved our time in Medewi and recommend it as a place to visit, as it was one of our top destinations in Bali. So if you’re looking for somewhere new to chill, Medewi could be a winner! 

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What to do in Medewi

Discover all the fun things we did in Medewi while exploring the town and surrounding mountains! Just so you know, Medewi Point is where most people stay but it isn’t directly on the beach. You will need a scooter to get around, learn all you need to know about renting a scooter in Bali here.

1. Surfing

Our friend who we met in Canggu was already in Medewi surfing. She had visited a lot of different beaches around the island looking for the perfect spot before finally settling on Medewi.

Luckily for us, she had found the best surfing spot for us along Medewi beach – which was about 10 minutes scooter ride from Medewi Point (or 30 mins walk along the beach, but not advised if carrying boards)

Unfortunately, the walk from the hostel to the surf spot was past the Medewi fishing boats and it was not nice. There was a lot of rubbish laying around and some awful smells. It’s also quite a long way to carry the boards.

During our time in Medewi, we had a routine that began with a 7 am surf for a couple of hours. After we would stop at a little coffee shop just up the road from the beach- Wakey Wakey Coffee Shop – before heading back to the point. If we were feeling up to it we would do an evening surf too, life is beautiful sometimes!

👉 Related Post: We actually did start getting better at surfing, although it’s going to take a long time before we can say we are any good at it! After Bali, we visited the island of Lombok where we did more surfing. If you’re after surfing it’s a great place for learning for all levels!

2. Explore the Beaches

Getting to explore and experience traditional life in Bali was what we wanted most from our Bali road trip. Since we had already walked and surfed northwards from our hostel we wanted to go south along the beach. We had noticed colourful fishing boats in the distance and so these became our goal.

The north beaches are where we went surfing and to be honest, they were better than those in the south. They are very open and there’s not much built up around them – it’s like the jungle/rice fields meet the ocean in certain spots.

Note: The beaches in Medewi are a little difficult to get to unless you have a scooter or car. If you’re staying at Medewi Point it’s very rocky and there isn’t much of a beach! Or at least a nice beach, so, you will have to go on an adventure.

3. Walk Along The Coast

Heading south from the point it was a long walk which took us over two rivers. Both times we had to strip down to cross as the water came to our waists! Luckily, we were prepared and had our swimwear on!

We passed a few beaches which were nice with a combination of sandy beaches and driftwood beaches. It’s worth noting that Indonesia does suffer a pollution problem and Medewi was no exception!

4. Find The Fishing Boats

Since Medewi is a fishing village there are lots of fishing boats on the beaches. The ones directly at Medewi were not nice! The beaches were covered in rubbish and the smell was something else!

However, the ones to the south (far away) took us an hour to reach and the fishing boats which were a myriad of vibrant colours and sizes, there were people selling and cooking fish over bonfires adding a fresh cooking scent to the decaying fish dotted along the beach, which we found quite amusing!

After passing the boats we coincidently ended up at Dajuma Eco Lodge & Spa. A pretty resort and we decided to stop for some food before turning back.

5. Visit Dajuma Eco Lodge & Spa

On our last day, we were lucky as the sun was shining all day. We decided it was time to visit Dajuma Eco Lodge & Spa! Having reached the resort we enjoyed the pool and the views before grabbing lunch.

Just before sunset, we moved to the front of the resort to watch it, we had the ocean as a backdrop. It was a brilliant golden peach colour which lit up the whole sky!

There were storm clouds brewing in the distance and the odd speckle of rain but it was perfect. If you’re thinking about what to do in Medewi then plan an evening at Dajuma Eco Lodge and Spa there to watch the sunset too!

6. Find the Ngurah Rai Monument

You will notice it on the beach in Pekutatan, this is where Dajuma Eco Lodge and Spa is, in fact, you can see the monument while dining at their lodge. It’s a concrete monument which kind of looks like a beached boat on the rocks outside the resort!

However, it’s not. The monument commemorates Bali’s most celebrated freedom fighter who planned to expel the Dutch colonial forces. At low tide, you can walk right up to the memorial which is regularly painted before being celebrated on Indoensias Independence Day – 17th August.

7. Head To The Mountains

If you’re looking for a fun thing to do in Medewi a morning exploring the surrounding mountains is a must. The views are unbeatable as you wind along the mountain paths and there are a few places worth stopping by such as the sacred fig tree, temples and a small, but lovely waterfall.

8. Discover Rambut Siwi Temple

We didn’t visit this temple although have heard it makes for a great cultural thing to do in Medewi. It’s a 16th-century Sea Temple about 20 minutes away so could be good to visit when you’re exploring the mountain paths.

The shrine is built at the cliff, similar to that at Uluwatu and is one of the biggest and most important temples in the area! You can walk around the temple complex between 8 am and 5 pm but make sure you wear a sarong.

The entrance fee is 20,000 IDR and a 5,000 IDR for parking.

9. Bunut Bolong

Bunut Bolong is a giant fig tree rooted on either side of a road leaving an archway for people and vehicles to pass through. When we got there we stopped for a small break although there isn’t much around only a small warung, before taking some photos.

Bunut Bolong is actually a collection of giant fig trees even though it appears as one. It is an amazing host to wildlife having its own ecosystem, on inspecting it we could see orchids, bromeliads and ferns!

FYI: Bunut is the local word for fig while Bolong is the local word for a hole, aka Fig Hole!!

The journey along the road was absolutely stunning with fantastic views over the mountains. Thinking back on this I am so grateful we decided to go on a road trip as we have seen some breathtaking views.

10. Juwuk Manis Waterfall

There are so many wonderful waterfalls in Bali and one of them is close to Medewi. The number one thing you have to do in Medewi is to visit Air Terjun Juwuk Manis waterfall.

After leaving Bunut Bolong we continued up the mountain road for another 25 minutes before we reached the entrance. The journey again was fantastic, meandering along the mountain road however, this time the trees opened up and we could see all the way to the sea!

When we reached the entrance, which is poorly signposted, we didn’t have any clue how far down it was going to be but the steps just kept on going. We soon realised it was going to be a difficult trek back up!

Eventually, we reached the bottom and found one of my favourite waterfalls in Bali, it helped we had it to ourselves! It was not very big but the scenery made up for what it lacked in height.

Hop In The Natural Pools!

This also meant we could swim in the natural pools! The water was aqua blue and turquoise surrounded by smooth natural boulders creating a truly lost-in-the-jungle feeling.

Jack and I ventured downriver hopping over boulders and submerging ourselves in the pools. We found another smaller waterfall 40 meters away but couldn’t go any further for fear of being swept away! The current was super strong, especially with the changing levels however it created little ‘jacuzzi’ like areas which we made the most of.

Note: The walk back was a leg-shaking 864 steps, we counted! A bonus to the climb was the incredible views however, I would suggest spraying up with insect repellant as we got attacked pretty much straight away! 

11. Pulukun Rice Paddies

There are rice paddies all around Medewi! If you’re riding up the coast from Canggu you will drive past lots and if you’re heading to the beach for a surf you’ll drive through them. The Pulukun Rice Paddies in particular are pretty cool because they go all the way to the ocean.

Where we surfed in Medewi is exactly where the rice paddies are and you can sit at the beach and look over them. It’s best to go early morning and late afternoon as that’s when the paddies of Pulukan are at their prettiest.

I’ve put a map at the bottom of this page for you guys with all these activities to do in Medewi!

12. Yoga & Meditation

No trip to Bali is complete without some time for yoga and meditation. Whether you’re a newbie yogi or have been doing it for years, there’s nothing better than taking a moment at the beach to ground yourself.

Medewi has a long stretch of calm, relaxing black-sandy beach which is perfect for meditation. You can take a class or go at it alone, but be sure to take full advantage of the fresh air and the sound of the waves breaking and connect with nature.

13. Sea Fishing

Although Jack and I didn’t do the sea fishing, Medewi is actually a really good place to go. You can either arrange a trip with a tour agency or if you’re feeling adventurous why not ask a local fisherman to take you out on his boat?

We did this during our week in Amed (which is another fishing village on the east coast of Bali) and had an amazing time! From that trip, we negotiated something in the region of 250,000 IDR to 300,000 IDR ($20.00/£16.00) for two people. 

👉 Related Post: Amed was one of our favourite places in Bali and I recommend anyone who is heading to Bali to visit the village. It’s the perfect spot for snorkelling and scuba diving as it’s in a sheltered bay. For more things to do in Amed click here!

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Things To Do In Medewi Activity Map

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Who Should Visit Medewi?

Medewi is small. There is not much to do in the town itself, most of the action happens at Medewi Point which is where the majority of the hotels and restaurants are, although they are starting to spread out. I recommend staying close to the point too.

Medewi is the place to go if you want to surf. It’s also one of the best places to go to get away from the chaos in south Bali and experience a more traditional surf holiday in Bali.

As we wanted to practice surfing, we dedicated most of our time to the surf. This meant we were getting up at 7 am to take the truck – which we rented from the guesthouse – to drive down to the beach.

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Resources For Bali

Is it your first time visiting Bali? We’ve written lots of useful posts to help you plan your trip. You can check them all out on our Bali Page here, but below are some of our most popular articles:

• Read this post if you’re still wondering if Bali is worth visiting for your next holiday.
• It’s an affordable country, but there are always ways to save more money while travelling in Bali.
• You might be interested in visiting a few other locations. We enjoyed Ubud and Canggu, but my favourite was Amed.
• There are also a handful of popular attractions to visit, such as Banjar hot springs, Kajeng Rice Fields in Ubud, the sunrise hike to the top of a volcano and the famous Melukat purification ceremony.
• You might also like to read about the best Tanah Lot temple tours and the best Bali bike tours the island has to offer!

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Recommendations For Eating In Medewi, Bali

There were a few places we enjoyed eating at during our time in Medewi. If you’re reading this and thinking about where to eat we recommend making a stop at a few of these places:

• Mai Malu: My favourite dish all week has to be the Balinese fish curry from Mai Malu.
• Nal’s Kitchen: They do a really good seafood soup.
• Wakey Wakey Coffee Shop: Try their banana bread, it’s to die for!
• Kedai Jukang: Great for pizza and really cheap.
• The Eco Lodge: Great for a pool-side day and the wifi is fab too.

FYI, the beach break is down the same road as Nal’s Kitchen and Wakey Wakey, plus they do the most scrumptious, moist, chocolate chip banana bread for only 10,000 IDR (£0.55)!!

Conversion Rate: 20,000 IDR = £1/$1.39

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Funny Story

Medewi was our first stop during our Bali road trip and we planned our days to be full of surfing (of course) and exploring the local area, unluckily for us, we left Canggu at the worst possible time and got completely soaked in the torrential rain which soon followed our departure!

We knew there might be some rain and were therefore prepared physically for the downpour, however, I can honestly say, mentally, I was not! We left during the rainy season (maybe not one of our finest moments) and the thunderstorm soon followed.

Having no other option but to push on we donned our waterproof ponchos and securely wrapped our backpacks in their covers. With the rest of our belongings safely tucked away inside black bin bags we set off. It was a very wet two-hour ride before we reached Medewi.

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Conclusion: Things to do in Medewi

I hope you have enjoyed reading our post on what to do in Medewi! Surfing in Bali has now become one of our favourite activities alongside scuba diving. It looks like Jack and I will be travelling around Asia seeking out the best scuba and surfing spots! Next, we headed to Pemuteran for jungle treks and scuba diving!