Things to Do in West Bali: A Road Trip Itinerary + Travel Guide

There are plenty of things to do in West Bali; even if it may be the least-visited part of the island, it has plenty of its own charm. I always say that each different part of Bali has a completely different vibe, and West Bali to me feels the most like authentic Indonesia. There aren’t many big West Bali attractions, but rather a different experience of Balinese lifestyle (and some awesome views).

Unlike Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu, and some of the other tourism centers, West Bali as a whole is mostly devoid of trendy cafes, yoga studios, bars, and other Western amenities (sparing a few). Most cities and areas in West Bali are home to villages, cheap Indonesian warungs, and beaches that range from seeing a few souls, surfers, and fisherman around to completely and utterly empty.

If you’d like to get off the Bali beaten track a bit, I highly suggest doing a road trip of West Bali. We wrapped around the coast from the south to the north, visiting surf towns like Medewi Beach on the way to West Bali National Park and Menjangan Island near Pemuteran.

Read on for details, and if you’d like to see our experience doing this exact itinerary to know even more about what to expect, check out my “West Bali” highlight on instagram.

What to Know Before a West Bali Road Trip

Make Sure Your Vehicle Can Handle It: Before you explore West Bali, I would make sure you have a proper scooter useful for road tripping. I’d make sure you have plenty of space inside the scooter to store things, enough to hold your bags and your friend/partner’s bags, and enough power to get you up a hill here and there. I would most highly recommend a good 150cc scooter like an NMax, PCX, or Lexi.

Some may rent a car, which is also completely fine! I am just more of a scooter-lover as it’s much easier to get around on thin roads and proper hidden gems in Bali.

Say Goodbye to Some Creature Comforts: There are a few cities in West Bali that have trendy Western-ized cafes, but most don’t. Chances are that you’ll eat local food more often in West Bali and frequent local warungs and even roadside bakso stands. Get ready for a more authentic Bali!

Be Prepared for Mosques: West Bali is much more Muslim than the rest of Bali (which is mostly Hindu). Given its proximity to Java (which you will see on the horizon for a lot of your trip), there will be a lot more mosques in areas you will stay and a lot more conservative clothing choices than Bali’s tourism centers. So, keep this in mind. Mosques all have 5 calls to prayer each day as well, including one around 5am, so maybe stay farther away from a mosque if possible if this will bother you. It is, however, mostly just a part of life as you travel around this region.

Winging it Can Be Harder: We ‘winged it’ for most of our West Bali Road Trip, but it was actually quite hard as a lot of the restaurants were closed and the accommodation was very few and far between. Some towns only had a few low-rated hotels and there were a few times we nearly ran out of daylight trying to figure out where to stay. So – I recommend planning ahead, at least for most of your accommodation, so you know where you’ll be staying. I’ll be linking the places we stayed and others we saw and can recommend.

Things to Do in West Bali in a Road Trip Itinerary

I suggest leaving from Canggu or somewhere on Bali’s southwestern coast. The first driving day may be a bit longer as you drive out west on a big highway that eventually runs along the coast.

Medewi Beach – Pulukan Area

Distance: 1.5 hours from Canggu

Along the Way: Views of Rice Fields on the Ocean

Medewi Beach is a logical first stop in any road trip and is one of the main things to do in West Bali. Getting here from Canggu will take just over 1.5 hours, so leave early, take it slow, and stop for a coffee and a view along the way.

The main area to stay in is called Medewi Beach, which is known for surfing and has a very keen surf community. This is one of the larger towns you’ll visit in West Bali, with more inhabitants and expats. You will see the name Pulukan on Google Maps which is the name of the greater area around Medewi.

Things to do in Medewi Beach Area

Surf

As I mentioned, this is a booming surf community. You can rent boars all over the place and take them out for a spin. The most popualr break is actually called Medewi Beach.

Beach Bars

There are some very cute beach bars along the water from Medewi Beach going West. From more high-end hotels to little woodenshacks with decorations made from palms and coconut, you can spend some time hanging along the water with a coconut or a bintang.

Enjoy Rice Fields on the Water

This part of the West Bali road trip has tons of beautiful rice paddies right on the ocean. Make sure to stop to take in some of these views as there aren’t many places in Bali you can see such a sight.

Bunut Bolong Ancient Banyan Tree

After leaving Medewi, there are a number of interesting West Bali attractions that you can visit on the way to your next destination. Firstly, Bunut Bolong is apparently the oldest tree in Bali and it’s situated just up a hill from Medewi.

Bunut Bolong is situated next to a temple and a 500m downhill hike to a ‘holy water’ river. The tree is used in ceremony where participants wash in the holy water, pray at the temple, and then (and only then) walk through the tree as a form of cleansing and rebirth.

You can’t miss it when driving as you will have to drive THROUGH the tree! It’s quite spectacular and a quick stop, that is unless you’d like to try the downhill hike to the stream that an attendant recommended to us. We didn’t make it the whole way as we had our bags, but if you can do this in the morning before checking out of your accommodation you should do it!

Jembrana Green Cliff

Jembrana Green Cliff (“Nature Tourism Green Cliff” on Google Maps) is a hilltop viewpoint which is also not far from Medewi Beach. At this attraction there are some wooden walkways constructed at the top of a viewpoint which overlook the green hills of West Bali facing the ocean. There are some photo spots set up and amazing views all-around.

Where to Eat in Medewi Beach

Bombora – Bombora is a hotel, pool, and restaurant right on the point at Medewi Beach (near the surf break). It’s a popular spot for surfers to check the waves with a fresh juice, or for people to stay with a view of the break from their balcony. The food here is great and more Western than a lot of places you’ll find.

Nal’s Place – Nal’s Place was a fantastic find of a restaurant, recommended to us by some friends who spent lockdown in Medewi. They have a colorful and beautiful restaurant space with a VERY affordable and diverse menu. From Nasi Campur to a Chicken Parm, they have tons of options here and you definitely won’t spend much.

Rasta Cafe – Very well-rated Indonesian Cafe that we didn’t get a chance to visit but wish we had.

Where to Stay in Medewi Beach

Bombora

Bombora is, as I mentioned above, directly in front of the main surf break in Medewi. It’s a nicer place but worth a splurge to be right in the center, at one of the best restaurants, and on the beach. View Booking Link Here

Umedewi

These are lovely beachfront villas which are also right on the surf break. View Booking Link

Jembrana/Negara Area

Distance: 40 minutes from Medewi

Along the Way: Plenty of Stops Outlined Below!

Negara is the next big town down the road in West Bali, in the Jembrana Regency. To be honest, there’s not much in the city at all besides little shops and houses, so we wouldn’t recommend spending too much time in Negara itself besides maybe stopping for lunch on the way to the coast.

Things to do in Negara Area

Mangrove Forests

There’s a huge delta just south of Negara with incredible mangrove forests. They’re really thick and quite spectacular, but really just as a drive-by and not too much of a stop rather than for photos.

Huge Colorful Fishing Boats + Perancak Sunset Point

If you drive to ‘Perancak Sunset Point’ on the coast of Negara, you will be able to see the HUGE, COLORFUL, GAUDY fishing boats that head out into the sea each evening a few hours before sunset. They stay in the huge canal that opens up to the sea at Perancak Sunset Point, but go out fishing each day using 6-8 engines per boat for power. They’re quite spectacular and are worth checking out!

If you are around for sunset, this place was not named ‘sunset point’ for nothing! It’s got a great sunset angle where you can watch the boats. There’s also a colorful restaurant at the point to stop for a bite.

Beach Next to the Homestay

Make sure to check out the beach if you stay at Segara Urip Homestay. You can get there from the property, and as you’ll be a bit further up the coast, you can swim in much calmer water with no waves. You might be able to spot some water buffalo taking a dip like we did!

We also noticed fisherman here fishing in a very unique and different way, which entailed pulling huge nets out of the water by hand with a line of about 8 men. We saw lines of men pulling in unison all the way down the beach, and many of them were happy to have me take a photo of them and show me their craft. It was beautiful!

Kurma Asih Sea Turtle Conservation Center

You MUST visit the Turtle Conversation Center while in Negara, and you might be lucky enough to let some babies into the sea! Some turtles lay eggs from October-December, some in August, and some in March-April, and incubation is 50 days. Ideally you’d want to be here around 50 days after any of the months I mentioned before. This way, you might be able to see some baby turtles hatching (or help them out of the ground), see them improving their swimming skills, or actually let some lil guys out into the ocean!

I must say it was one of the most joyous experiences I can remember – seeing tiny turtles open their eyes for the first time, swim for the first time, or lay out some little guys and watch them ferociously race toward the open water and get swept up by the sea for the ultimate freedom. I can’t recommend it more… wow! We passed by in October.

Roses Peak

Roses Peak looks like it would have been a fun viewpoint in its hay day (or maybe after covid, who knows). There are some swings, a fun moon to pose with, and a trail up the hill with a lot of viewpoints so you can see over the top of the jungle all the way to the sea.

If you have time, it’s a nice view driving up here, but don’t prioritize it as it’s not quite run-down.

Wisata Puncak JR Viewpoint

We didn’t make it to this viewpoint as we went to Rose’s peak instead. They’re both super close together as the crow flies, but take 30 minutes to get to from each other because of some deep canyons. If you go, let me know if this viewpoint was better… I have a feeling it might be.

Mount Merbuk

Mount Merbuk is one of 5 main volcanoes in Bali and quite a tall peak, so I feel it needs a mention as one of the things to do in West Bali. I’m not entirely sure how to hike it, but I’m sure there’s a way!

Where to Stay Around Negara

We don’t recommend staying IN Negara as we couldn’t find any affordable and well-rated hotels (many were closed when we were there but you might have better luck).

Segara Urip Homestay

We followed a local recommendation and ended up staying the night at Segara Urip Homestay, and couldn’t have been happier. Their rooms are nice, the price was great, it is right on the beach (which is LOVELY at sunset), and they have an affordable restaurant on-site.

Where to Eat Around Negara

Segara Urip Homestay – If you stay here, they have very decent Indonesian Food.

Warung Makan Jepun – This is a well-rated warung just outside Negara city. They have outdoor tables next to a rice field.

RM Padang Restu Bundo – We didn’t get a chance to visit this little hole-in-the-wall Padang Restaurant but it was next on our list.

Belimbingsari Area

Distance: 30 minutes from Negara

Along the Way: A few stops on a mountain detour

Things to Do in Belimbingsari Area

Bedungan Palasari/Waduk Palasari Dam

This is a small yet beautiful dam with a green mountainous background. If you are in the area it’s worth a look and maybe a picnic with a view!

Kampoeng Palarejo Selfie Spot

This is a tiny little ’selfie spot’ area run by a family. By ’selfie spot’ I mean a super cute and colorful area with different frame setups for photos. From cute benches and swings to little structures and a treehouse, you can pay 10k to get in here and go wild with photos! This is also worth peeping into for a few minutes if you are in the area.

Catholic Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus

This is… wait for it… a CATHOLIC CHURCH in BALI! The more you think about this, the stranger it is… and it’s even more fascinating when you see this thing. It’s a crazy combination of Balinese/Hindu architecture and what would look like a church in Europe. I don’t know my architecture well enough but I can definitely tell you I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Melaya Area Beach

The Melaya province seems to run from about Belimbingsari to Gilimanuk, and has an AMAZING UNTOUCHED beach the whole way down. We stayed in Putri Kori (below) and walked along the beach from there.

This beach was really unique because it’s truly the only time in Bali we have felt the area was truly untouched, seen hardly any other humans, and really saw the wild jungle growing right up to the sand. The water here is SO clear. There aren’t many waves OR coral reefs (just good old soft sand as far as you can walk -where else in Bali has that???? Nowhere I can think of), and the water is calm. It’s great for walk and a swim and a frolic.

Where to Stay in Belimbingsari Area

Nicer/Elegant – Taman Wana Resort Palasari

Taman Wana Resort is just across from the dam mentioned above. This is one of the most unique places to stay in West Bali with a number of stone and thatch rooms overlooking a lake in the jungle (pictured above).

We actually ALMOST stayed here. We visited the property and tried to negotiate to a deal with them, but ended up going to the place below. I would stay there in the future for a night, but at the time it wasn’t really the vibe we were looking for as it was very empty and a bit eerie. In normal times I’m sure it would be lovely – the pool was amazing!

Fun/Cheaper – Putri Kori Villa + Resort

We ended up at Putri Kori instead, and loved it. They have 5-6 big bungalow rooms around a pool (with some cheaper rooms in the back). Everything here was SO colorful, with pool floaties, colored bean bags, and bright umbrellas. The owners were absolutely lovely – A German man and Balinese Woman – and SO hospitable.

They are most likely the only place in Bali that serves authentic German Food as the owner Andres has a stock over from Germany. We had a great meal and time here and walk along the totally deserted beach. As I mentioned above, a walk along the beach in this area is a must – you’ll have it ALL to yourself.

Gilimanuk

Visiting Gilmanuk is definitely one of the things to do in West Bali… but that doesn’t mean you should. 😛 And quite frankly I do not recommend it! Gilimanuk is really not much more than a port town with a tiny village, even tinier warungs, and some fun-looking clothes shops (the one thing I might recommend is checking these out for cheap clothes).

Things to Do in Gilimanuk if You Must

There are some nice views of Java and the volcanoes, and of West Bali from a park in the corner of town called Taman Siwa. This park actually has a cool statue of Shiva, and if open (it wasn’t when we visited) a blow-up obstacle course on the water.

There’s also a tiny walking trail called Karang Sewu that would probably walk over water in the rainy season, but was bone dry when we went. You might have better luck.

We had a tiny cheap warung meal from Kantin Jawa (and I mean tiny) but I hear that Gili Seafood is actually amazing – it was closed when we went.

West Bali National Park

Next on the list would come West Bali National Park. The entrance is closer to Gilimanuk, with a road that wraps all the way around the stubby peninsula. The entrance fee to get in is 200k, and the National Park is famous for trekking and for Menjangan Island, which is great for snorkeling and scuba diving.

It would be tough to do both in a day, but it’s fun to trek and do some wildlife spotting in West Bali National Park mainland. Keep your eyes out for 2 types of deer (one small and one large), white starling birds, and the famous black ‘ebony leaf’ monkeys who are only found here and in Java. You might be able to do some trekking up some small hills in the national Park.

A few big tips for visiting West Bali National Park

1. The road is TERRIBLE. Be prepared and don’t leave cameras in the scooter because they will get shaken up. It may be better in a car, but still bad and BUMPY.
2. Don’t go to the beach until you turn the northwest corner of the park. The beaches near Gilimanuk are gross and slimy, with sand fleas and creepy crawlies and urchins in the water. But when you pass the temples, there are lovely reefs.
3. GO EARLY if you want to see a lot. You’ll spend a lot more time driving than you think.
4. Bring binoculars or a good camera lens to spot wildlife with – namely monkeys, deer, and birds!

Menjangan Island

Menjangan Island is a small island off the coast of West Bali National Park. The island is well-known for its snorkeling and scuba diving, with incredible reefs and wildlife.

Scuba here is not cheap, however…. for 2 dives you will be looking at around 1.2-1.3m IDR or more, as it is pricer to begin with and also includes entry to the National Park (200k).

Important Notes about Menjangan Island

I was extremely mislead when first visiting here because I thought that everything with the name ‘Menjangan’ was actually on the island itself. I was very wrong. Everything to do with Menjangan island is actually on the closest coast of Bali (nearer to Pemuteran, technically called Pejarakan but everything calls itself ‘Menjangan’) and in fact there is not much at all on the island itself.

There are NO dive centers, resorts, or homestays on the island itself. Many hotels and resorts in Pejarakan will organize your tours to Menjangan Island – boat trips, scuba trips, snorkel trips, and even trekking in West Bali national park.

Even the “Menjangan Dynasty Resort” is on the Bali mainland – I was convinced that it too was on the island itself but actually it just has a view of the island. Make sure to check the location of where you want to stay.

Where to Stay to Visit West Bali National Park

Menjangan Hill

This is an awesome option as it is CHEAP, has a fantastic view, and is quite close by to everything. It’s not in central Pejarakan but its worth a few extra minutes for this view.

Menjangan Dynasty Resort

This is a fancy glamping resort with a view of Menjangan Island. It’s one of the more unique places to stay in West Bali but it’s definitely more of a splurge.

The Menjangan

This might be the most well-known hotel/resort in the area. It’s the closest to the actual National Park/Menjangan Island and is also home to a starling reserve and wildlife park that might as well be part of the National Park itself. It’s quite a massive resort area with different lodges, pools, and restaurants.

Permuteran Area

Lastly but NOT least, Pemuteran is one of the main things to do in West Bali. This is one of the largest towns in West Bali and one of the few places you can find some cute cafes, restaurants, bars, and LOTS of dive shops.

The main things to do in Pemuteran are go to the beach and scuba dive. The dive shops here are a bit farther away from Menjangan island, but most of them still dive at Menjangan for a cheaper price. There are also some underwater sculptures in Pemuteran that were submerged to create coral reefs – these are also popular to dive.

We dove with Dive Concepts here and had a great experience. Read more about Scuba Diving in Bali here. we loved the restaurant “The Local Hero’ here.

Where to Stay Around Pemuteran

Sumberkima Hill Retreat

We loved our stay at Sumberkima Hill Retreat at the end of our West Bali road trip, providing us with a bit of comfort after a lot of winging it and staying in smaller places. Check out our article on staying at Sumberkima Hill or view it online below.

From here, you can continue towards Lovina and Singaraja, or you can take a fun windy road back through Gitgit and check out some waterfalls, rice fields, and more! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about things to do in West Bali!

Check out more Bali Content:

Nusa Penida Beaches – Most Unique Places to Stay in Bali – Uluwatu Food Guide – Ubud Restaurants with a View – Bali Bamboo House Accommodation – Things to do in Amed – Unique + Boutique Places to Stay in Uluwatu – and more!