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Jembrana
Wild West Bali (West Bali)
About Jembrana
Jembrana is Bali's quiet, rural west: coconut plantations, black-sand beaches and the long left-hand wave at Medewi. Part of West Bali National Park lies here, and the regency is known for makepung, races of decorated water buffalo pulling chariots. Few tourists make it this far.
Best for: Surfers, road-trippers & nature lovers
- Medewi surf
- West Bali National Park
- Makepung buffalo races
- Rambut Siwi temple
Jembrana at a glance
- Beach: Fair (2/5). Rocky black-sand beaches with strong surf; not for swimming.
- Nightlife: None (0/5). None.
- Prices: $ · Budget. Cheap: surf camps and simple guesthouses.
- To the airport: 75 km · 2½–3 h. By road to Bali airport (DPS), in usual traffic.
- Climate: Hot & humid · coast
Ratings
- Calm-water swimming: Poor (1/5)
- Surfing: Very good (4/5)
- Diving & snorkeling: Poor (1/5)
- Sunsets: Very good (4/5)
- Restaurants & cafés: Poor (1/5)
- Culture & temples: Good (3/5)
- Nature & landscapes: Very good (4/5)
- Yoga & wellness: Poor (1/5)
- Family-friendly: Fair (2/5)
- Peace & quiet: Excellent (5/5)
- Remote work: None (0/5)
- Walkability: None (0/5)
Rated from 0 (none) to 5 (excellent), compared with Bali's other areas.
Resorts in Jembrana
- Puri Dajuma Beach Eco-Resort & Spa: Jembrana, from about $100 a night
- Lost Lindenberg: Jembrana, from about $480 a night
Sights in Jembrana
- West Bali National Park (nature). West Bali National Park protects dry monsoon forest, savanna, mangroves and coral coast in the island's far west, and is one of the few places to see the rare Bali starling in the wild. Treks, birdwatching walks and mangrove boat trips are arranged at the park office at Cekik near Gilimanuk, and all need a ranger or licensed guide. Early mornings are best for birds.
Beaches in Jembrana
- Medewi Beach (beach). Medewi is a long beach of smooth stones and dark sand on Bali's southwest coast, known for a left-hand point wave that runs a long way over a boulder bottom. The wave is gentler than most Bali reef breaks, so it suits longboarders and improving surfers. Surf it early, before the onshore wind; the quiet fishing village has homestays and surf camps near the beach.
- Yeh Kuning Beach (beach). Yeh Kuning Beach is a long, wide shore of black sand in Yeh Kuning village, a few kilometers southeast of the town of Negara on Bali's southwest coast. It is a village beach rather than a tourist one: fishermen work from it, the sea temple Pura Segara Yeh Kuning stands beside the sand, and villages of the Jembrana district hold their melasti purification rites here before Nyepi. Waves can run high, so take care in the water.
- Kelapa Beach (beach). Kelapa Beach is the stretch of dark volcanic sand in front of the Kelapa Retreat hotel at Pekutatan in west Bali, backed by coconut palms and about 3 kilometers southeast of the Medewi surf point. It is part of a long, mostly deserted beach that runs east from Pekutatan for more than 10 kilometers, good for long walks and quiet sunsets. Waves pound the shore and currents can be strong, so swim only when the sea is calm.