Two hours southwest from the chaotic and ever-changing streets of Bali’s famed Southern coastline you’ll find Medewi. An authentic fishing village with a humble charm and a point break surf spot that offers the longest wave on the entire island. 

While Bali’s tourism endlessly strives for bigger, better and busier streets to bludgeon its culture, Medewi has never lost its relaxed rhythm. Surfers and locals alike compare it to the Bali of yesteryear, an unspoilt wave rich paradise preserved and beloved by those lucky enough to stumble upon its shores. 

The simple life, pure and true. Good waves, good people and days measured by the wrinkles in your sun-soaked smiles rather than the number of completed ticks off your travels to-do list. Expect no, fancy high streets filled with Italian coffee shops, French bakeries and Japanese wagyu joints but instead a glimpse into Bali before the madness ensued.  

With the help of a few local legends we’ve created a complete guide to travelling medewi. Whether you want to know the best budget places to stay, the tastiest warungs to eat at or some local surfers tips into when, where and how to surf this famous surf spot stay tuned.

Surfing Medewi 

What is Medewi’s main surf spot like?

A long, mellow wave that smoothly crumbles for over a kilometre down the point break until it eventually reaches a beach break that closes out over glossy black stones. 

This is one of the best intermediate waves in all of Indonesia. While you are unlikely to find a barrel here there are very workable sections, a long shoulder and occasionally steep walls too. This creates the perfect practice grounds  for perfecting manoeuvres and an unavoidable lesson in the importance of staying close to the pocket of the wave. 

What are the best conditions to surf Medewi? 

• Offshore (East- Northeast Winds) 
• Often the winds turn cross shore throughout the day so an early morning session is your best bet for glassy conditions 
• South-Southwest Swell
• Best at high tide but works with all tides
• Any Size from 1ft to overhead 

Is Medewi still uncrowded? 

Luckily the 2-3 hour drive from Kuta and the scolding black sand sun bathing deterrent still keeps most crowds at bay. However more surfers are discovering the appeal of this area and the line ups are getting busier and busier. It still in no way compares to the free for all madness of Canggu, Kuta and Uluwatu but it is rare to have a good day without 10+ surfers in the water. 

The silver lining here is that the main point break is by no means the only spot in the area. In fact there are at least 5 nearby spots which have empty line ups and rippable waves. 

What are the best surf spots near Medewi?

It’s no secret that Medewi beach hosts some of the longest lefts on the island, but if you are fed up of the crowds or wanting a more challenging ride there are plenty of surf spots near medewi that offer some surfing solitude among perfect A-Frames 

Pantai Rambut Siwi

A black sand beach with countless peaks but limited crowds. The ride is less consistent but you won’t have to fight off 20 surfers to catch a single wave.

Pulukan Beach

Literally on beach away from Medewi lies Pulukan Beach. When there’s a large southerly swell a hollow A-frame opens up in the centre and a right hander that can be found in the river mouth. Pulukan Beach is often exposed to the oncoming swell creating heavier surf for the more advanced surfers in the water.

Kliener Surfspot (Pangkung)

An extremely sheltered bay that on it’s day can be a long boarders dream. You will find very few surfers in the water here as it’s fallen off the radar of most travelling surfers, but you’ll have to be patient as it needs a heavy swell to be at its best.

Balian

A little further afield you’ll find the Balian. An intermediate wave that captures any trace of swell without drawing in the crowds. Unlike most of Bali the waves break over very deep reefs so you can face the hollow sections free of fear. Overall, a great spot for perfecting your barrel riding technique without getting a coral caused Staph infection.

What hazards are there surfing medewi? 

Beware of the slippery rocks and urchins

This rocky slip and slide humbles both professionals and novices the same. Take a fall and you’ll hear an infectious eruption of laughter come from the Fisherman’s wives who take great amusement at spectating the stupid tourists clambering over slippery algae covered rocks, and urchin filled sea beds to play in the waves. 

Perhaps we should leave the reef boot shaming to one side for once and save ourselves the embarrassment and pain here. Urchins and bare feet don’t mix. You can rent a pair at Aga Living or from many of the surf schools in the area for just 30,000 IDR a day. 

The shore break 

Watching from the shore the beach break looks super inviting and fun, but be careful. The height of the rocks can be really uneven when you get into the shallows. I’ve watched as beginners and even intermediate surfers ding their boards and fall directly onto taller rocks that are hidden just below the surface. 

The sharks – Wait, are there Sharks in Medewi?

I can almost hear the Aussies laugh at this comment but as a Brit traumatised by jaws and easily psyched out by unknown ocean splashes I thought this was worth a mention.

Watch out for the Lorry drivers

Not at all surf related but if you do decide to take a stroll along the narrow path adjoining the main road or hire a bike be mindful that the lorry drivers will not move out your way, slow down or otherwise attempt to not run you down if you get in there way. 

Where to stay in Medewi

Aga Living £20-£30

This is everything you could want from a surf camp/ surf staycation. Watch the surf from your balcony, chat to the local surfing legends who run the place, or even sort a lesson with them. Much of this article is actually written from their insider tips. The rooms themselves are ridiculously large, clean and comfortable with each having its own dedicated wifi router so you’ll have no trouble sending those post surf pictures to your jealous friends back home. 

Bombora £40-£50

This beachfront eco resort is just about as luxurious as you can get in Medewi. And when they say beach front man they mean it. At high tide you could pretty much dive into sea directly from their infinity pool. They have 12 recently refurbished rooms which also sit a couple metres from the water.

Mai Malu – £15

For the price you really can’t go wrong here. Yes you don’t have the ocean view but you are paying next to nothing for a clean, sizeable room with a large double bed just 100m from the beach. Not to mention you are staying at the best restaurant in Medewi too. 

Umadewi £40-50

A stylishly revamped accommodation with both pool and sea view rooms. This place is luxury and then some. If you have the money to spend there is no better place to relax when you are all surfed out! 

Best places to eat in medewi 

Mai Malu – Most popular restaurant in Medewi

Just a short walk from the main break you’ll find Mai Malu and the warm welcome of their family run restaurant. The best value for money food we had in all of Bali. Tenderloin steak, with mushroom gravy, mashed potato green beans for 70k, tuna steak with lime , creamy mashed potatoes for 60k, and a delicious Balinese coconut fish curry for just 50k. 

Rasta Cafe – Most local food in Medewi

Despite being further from the beach this is one of the most popular restaurants in Medewi. They cook up a range of Balinese and Indonesian dishes using fresh ingredients and traditional recipes at an affordable price. You have to try the fish cooked in banana leaf or Nasi Campur for authentic flavour or taco Tuesday if you want to try something more familiar. 

Warung Gede – Best seafood restaurant in Medewi

If you want a true taste of the ocean head to Warung Gede which sits directly on the beach overlooking the surf. There fish and shellfish options change with that days catch but if you see the plate of garlic king prawns that is what you should order. Of course all the fresh fish and shellfish also cooked to perfection on the bbq giving a smokey flavour that’ll keep you coming back for more. 

The Holy Tree Kitchen – Best breakfast in Medewi

Our go to coffee and breakfast spot in Medewi is The Holy Tree Kitchen.  Everyone raves about the smoothie bowls here and once we tried it we understood why, so fresh and moreish or for something savoury you can’t go wrong with their avocado on toast. The thought of their freshly ground coffee got me out of bed early almost every morning. 

Is Medewi worth it? 

How affordable is Medewi? 

Medewi is incredibly cheap in comparison to many tourism hotspots of Bali like Kuta, Ubud, Uluwatu and Seminyak. If you are a budget backpacker or a surfer watching their wallet Medewi is the ultimate value for money location to get the most out of your cash. 

Most restaurants and Warungs in Medewi can cost next to nothing but still be incredibly delicious. Almost all our meals cost around 100k per person for food and a Bintang. 

While accommodation offers affordable beachfront rooms with breakfast included for as little as £15 a night. If you are really on a budget you can find even cheaper. We paid £26 for a room at Aga Living and it would easily have a price tag of £100+ a night if it was located in one of the more famous beachfronts in Bali.

What’s good about Medewi?

+ve The Longest Wave in Bali

+ve Extremely affordable 

+ve Still Uncrowded 

+ve Great Value For Money Hotels 

+ve Authentic glimpse into Balinese life

+ve Beautiful Balinese countryside

What’s bad about Medewi?

-ve Slippery entrance into the ocean

-ve Limited Non surfer activities 

-ve Pretty Remote location 

-ve Murky Water 

-ve The litter 

Medewi beach has a serious trash problem. As soon as you step foot on the sand you will see plastic everywhere you look. While much of the rubbish isn’t exclusively caused by tourism we contribute to it and must work together to create a solution.

After every surf walk back to your hotel please pick up as much rubbish as you can. Not only will it help restore the beach over time but it might just seemed a clear message about the importance of our coastal environments to locals who may not of benefited from the same environmental education.