During my extended Bali itinerary, I discovered a quiet, relaxed and naturally beautiful beach. Balian Beach is on Bali‘s unspoilt and uncrowded west coast. It quickly became one of my favourite beaches in Bali. Here is my guide to the best places to stay and things to do in Balian Beach, Bali.

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Quick overview of Balian Beach, Bali

  • Balian Beach is on Bali’s peaceful west coast, far from the tourist crowds
  • The area has a laid-back atmosphere and authentic Balinese village feel
  • It’s 1.5 hours from Ubud and two hours from the airport
  • This black sand beach is famous among surfers for its excellent waves
  • It’s also a centre for yoga fans who love its teacher training centres
  • Accommodation is limited to only a few beachfront hotels and authentic guesthouses
  • There’s no nightlife here – just tranquil evenings watching spectacular sunsets over the Indian Ocean
  • Day trips to Tanah Lot temple, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and the Bali Butterfly Park within easy reach

What you need to know about Balian Beach, Bali

Balian Beach is in the village of Lalanglinggah in the district of West Selemadeg. It has 19,000 inhabitants and runs from the coast inland to the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.

Located in the Tabanan Regency of Bali, it’s named after the large Balian river that flows into the Indian Ocean. It is 1.5 hours west of Ubud, 1.5 hours north of Canggu and two hours from Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport by car.

Balian beach’s off-the-beaten-track location means you won’t see many tourists here. When you arrive, you’ll find a quaint coastal village with surf shops and relaxed restaurants, known in Bali as warungs. Unlike much of the rest of Bali, there is hardly a soul around except for the locals.

Things to do in Balian Beach, Bali

Balian is known as a destination for surfing, kite-surfing and yoga. It is the perfect place, thanks to its super-chilled ambiance.

Yoga is a great way to ease tired post-surfing muscles. In Balian, you can find daily yoga classes at the large studio in Pondok Pitaya Balian Hotel. They offer lessons for all levels of students, as well as yoga teacher training. Another popular place to go for yoga in Balian Beach is Balian Spirit Yoga.

The waves and tides at Balian Beach are strong, so swimming is not recommended. This is mainly a surf beach – if you want to swim, head to calmer beaches like Sanur or Nusa Dua.

Balian Beach is a beautiful, wild and totally peaceful place to be. The area’s fine, volcanic black sand and pebble beaches are surrounded by palm trees, cliffs and large craggy rocks. There are many scenic walks to be enjoyed around here.

On Balian beach, you won’t need to look far to find an incredible selection of beautiful seashells.

In the evenings, you will see serene and colourful sunsets, as Balian Beach sits on the west coast of Bali. These spectacular displays range from vibrant oranges and reds to calming purples.

My experience at Balian Beach

Some of the caves around Balian Beach are home to bats and monitor lizards. I unexpectedly found a different kind of wildlife at the mouth of the River Balian and its smaller stream inlets across the beach.

One day, by one of these inlets, I saw something glistening on the ground. Looking closer, I could see that it was actually hundreds of thousands of tiny baby crabs wriggling across the sand. There were so many of them, it was hard to comprehend.

These embryonic crabs weren’t harmful in the slightest. You could scoop them up with your hands and they would gently crawl out to continue their journey. It was really something special to experience.

Meeting the friendly locals in Balian

One thing you will notice about Balian Beach is how warm and welcoming the local people are. Tourists are not as common here and the villagers will often greet you with a smile and a wave. There is little crime here so you will feel safe.

While searching for somewhere to stay for the night, I was lucky enough to meet Nyoman, the Village Chief. Nyoman kindly enquired at the beachfront resorts and found us a room at Gubug Balian Beach Bungalows. He even transported me there on his motorbike so I didn’t have to carry my heavy bags.

He described the perks and challenges of his six-year role. They involve dealing with the demands and issues of the villagers and the government. Originally planning to retire, his contemporaries thought him the perfect man for the job so they voted him in. Nyoman is so friendly, kind and knowledgeable, I could totally understand why.

These are the best places to stay in Balian

Being a relatively quiet and secluded place, there is only a small selection of accommodation in Balian Beach. Here are my picks of the highly-rated hotels, villas and guest houses.

Gubug Balian Beach Bungalows

One of the best places to stay in Balian if you’re on a budget are the Gubug Balian Beach Bungalows. I stayed here and loved it.

Located 20 metres from Balian Beach, it has friendly staff and an outdoor swimming pool. Each of its modern, peaceful and air-conditioned rooms are en-suite and have a flat-screen TV. It benefits from fast and reliable WiFi, which isn’t always easy to come by in Bali.

Through your room’s French windows, you can enjoy delightful views across the resort’s tropical gardens or over the sea. A complimentary breakfast is served every day on your room’s private terrace or balcony.

Check the latest availability and prices of Gubug Balian Beach Bungalows here.

Yama Balian

Another excellent beachfront option is Yama Balian, a boutique hotel popular with surfers and yoga practitioners. The property has comfortable rooms with traditional Balinese design elements, an outdoor pool and a restaurant serving Indonesian and Western cuisine. Guests love its location directly on the beach, making it easy to check the surf conditions each morning.

Istana Balian

A superb alternative is Istana Balian, which has an outdoor pool, stunning views and free high-speed WiFi. Guests love the great food served in its on-site restaurant.

All of its air conditioned, en-suite rooms come with a private terrace, a flat-screen cable TV, DVD player, a minibar and coffee and tea-making facilities.

Gajah Mina Beach Resort

Meanwhile, the Gajah Mina Beach Resort is set in gorgeous gardens and has a private beach. There’s also a yoga room and spa where you can indulge in a Balinese massage.

Its traditional-style villas and suites have a minibar, as well as a balcony with garden or sea views. The resort’s Naga Restaurant serves French, Indonesian and Thai cuisine.

Pondok Pitaya Balian Hotel

Another popular beachfront accommodation option in Balian is the Pondok Pitaya Balian Hotel.

It has an open air pool and an on-site restaurant. The fan-cooled rooms are stylishly designed with rattan and bamboo interiors. Each has a private terrace and seating area overlooking the gardens.

For the latest deals on accommodation on Balian Beach, explore the map below:

This is the best place to eat and drink in Balian Beach

Opposite the Gubug Balian Beach Bungalows is Deki’s Warung, a hidden gem in this part of Bali. This modest satay restaurant overlooking the sea quickly became my favourite haunt.

Here you can sip your drink while watching surfers and kite surfers tackle the waves. In the evening there is live music from local guitar bands, which is a lot of fun.

Another good place to meet the villagers is at the area’s small street market. Here, you can buy cheap meals and play board games in the evenings.

Delightful day trips from Balian Beach

Ten minutes’ drive east of Balian Beach is the Luhur Srijong Temple. This Hindu temple is a nice place to spend an afternoon paying your respects in its calm surroundings and touching its healing holy water.

Tanah Lot temple

For a fantastic day trip from Balian, take time to visit the famous Tanah Lot temple, which is a 75-minute drive south along the coast. This is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple on an island rock formation off the west coast of Bali. It is a cultural icon and tourist attraction for photography.

Book a spectacular guided tour of Tanah Lot temple directly from your hotel, here.

Bali Butterfly Park

If you are a nature lover, you can also take a day trip to the Bali Butterfly Park. It’s an hour’s drive east from Balian Beach. This park is dedicated to the research, breeding and preservation of butterflies. Here you can see rare species of butterflies including the birdwing butterfly, the swallowtail and the great Mormon.

Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest

A short drive from the Bali Butterfly Park is Alas Kedaton. This is a small forest, temple and animal sanctuary, where you can find many free-roaming monkeys.

Go surfung in Canggu

Meanwhile, the popular hipster beach resort of Canggu is just south of Tanah Lot, where you can feast on organic food in boho-chic cafes and learn to surf.

Visit the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

The famous Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is 75 minutes by car northeast of Balian Beach and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is well worth a visit.

Avoid the queues when you visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace and more UNESCO sites on this full day tour.

These are the cheapest and best ways to get to Balian Beach

One of the reasons that Balian is so blissfully quiet is because it’s off the beaten track. Here’s how to get to and from Balian Beach.

By scooter or motorbike

If you’re arriving by scooter or motorbike, take the road along the west coast, the Jalan Raya Denpasar to Gilimanuk.

Look out for a broken surfboard on the left-hand side of the road with Balian written on it. Follow this road (Jalan Pantai Balian) for around five minutes and you will arrive in the village.

It’s easy to find free parking here. Outside Deki’s Warung is a good option if your accommodation doesn’t have parking available.

By taxi

If you’re travelling between Balian beach and the airport, I recommend you take a taxi so you arrive on time. Balian beach is two hours’ drive by car to Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport.

There are plenty of taxi drivers who will offer to take you to Balian beach. To save money I recommend taking one of the government-run Bluebird taxis.

By local minibus

Alternatively, for a fraction of the price of a taxi, you can travel to Balian by bemo.

This is a local minibus that operates roughly every 50 minutes. Luggage is piled high and the service stops to pick up passengers along the way.

Bali beaches

My experience travelling by bemo

Travelling by bemo is interesting to say the least. Blaring from my bus’s small TV in the front were Balinese pop videos, which the driver was captivated by. As a result, the bemo was crawling at a snail’s pace down the road, with cyclists overtaking us. In front of me a Balinese lady was vomiting into plastic bags, which she’d then throw out of the window. Lovely. But it’s all part of the fun and great to experience the local way to travel.

I travelled to Balian Beach from Pemuteran. I stopped to change bemo at the bus station in Gilimanuk, close to West Bali National Park.

Here, I tucked into a tasty and affordable lunch of bakso, a spicy meatball noodle soup. The guy serving it was happy to don his cap and strike a pose for my photo.

Frequently asked questions about Balian Beach, Bali

Where is Balian in Bali?

Balian Beach is on Bali’s west coast in the Tabanan Regency, about 1.5 hours from Ubud and two hours from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The beach sits in the village of Lalanglinggah, which you’ll find by turning off the main coastal road (Jalan Raya Denpasar to Gilimanuk) when you spot a broken surfboard with “Balian” written on it.

What is there to do in Balian Beach?

Balian is mainly a surfing destination, with consistent waves that attract surfers from around the world. You’ll also find daily yoga classes at several studios including Pondok Pitaya and Balian Spirit Yoga. The area is perfect for scenic coastal walks on the black sand beach. Day trips to nearby attractions like Tanah Lot temple and Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are also popular activities.

Is Balian Beach good for swimming?

No, swimming at Balian Beach is not recommended. The waves and tides here are strong, and the currents can be dangerous for swimmers. This is primarily a surf beach rather than a swimming beach. If you want to swim safely, it’s better to head to the calmer beaches further south in areas like Sanur or Nusa Dua.

Is there nightlife in Balian Beach?

Balian has no nightlife scene. This is a peaceful village where evenings are spent watching sunsets, enjoying live music at Deki’s Warung, or relaxing at your accommodation. If you’re looking for bars, clubs, and beach clubs, head to Canggu (about 1.5 hours south) or Seminyak, which are Bali’s main nightlife destinations.

How do I get to Balian Beach from the airport?

The easiest way is by taxi, which takes about two hours – if you can find one of the local Bluebird taxis this will be cheaper than the private hire taxis. If you’re on a strict budget, you can take a local bemo minibus, but this takes considerably longer as it stops frequently along the route. Many visitors also rent a scooter for the journey, which gives you freedom to explore the surrounding area during your stay.

Final thoughts on Balian Beach, Bali

In recent years, so many of Bali’s most famous destinations have become over-commercialised and overrun by tourists. Balian Beach feels more like authentic Bali before the crowds arrived.

This is not the place to come if you want luxury spas, trendy beach clubs or an Instagram-perfect café on every corner. Balian is for travellers who want authenticity over convenience, who’d rather watch baby crabs scuttle across volcanic sand than fight for a sunlounger, and who appreciate the simple pleasure of eating at a local warung.

Balian won’t be off the beaten track forever. But for now, it remains one of those rare places in Bali where you can still experience the island’s natural beauty and genuine hospitality without the tourist infrastructure that tends to dilute both. If that sounds like your kind of destination, book your accommodation soon, before everyone else discovers this hidden gem.

Now, explore more of this wonderful island in this complete Bali itinerary.