Balangan Beach is one of Bali’s most scenic spots, featuring a gorgeous half-kilometre stretch of golden sand between vegetated limestone cliffs. Locally referred to as Pantai Balangan, there’s a reef just off the coast that creates one of the longest left-hander breaks on the island.

This surfing paradise attracts wave riders from around the world, who enjoy most of the south-western Bukit coastline, together with Balangan’s sister breaks of Dreamland, Impossibles, Padang Padang, Suluban and Uluwatu further south.

Balangan Beach in Bali - one of the highlights of 11 Secret Beaches in Bali and 10 Best Viewpoints in Bali (Read all about Bali here)

photo by Magul (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

Getting to Balangan Beach 

Balangan Beach shares the same vicinity as Dreamland, set only a kilometre apart and separated by a small headland that serves as the famous signature Hole 15 of the New Kuta Golf Course. Players get the best bird’s eye-view over both beaches and the ocean horizon from here. 

The coastline is accessible down the namesake Jalan Pantai Balangan, which is about a 7-km ride west from the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park or 20 km south from the main hub of Kuta. Cheap parking fees apply for motorcycles and cars.

The beach is only a dozen steps down from the cliff, but it’s a good idea to head up the hills beforehand and take a peek from the vantage point for great panoramic angles. The golden stretch of sand meets the vast blue ocean, and you can see the surfers having fun in the breaks at a distance. Those into photography will love to linger on for the dramatic sunsets from above.

photo by Tom Booth (CC BY 2.0) modified

Good to know about Balangan Beach

The sea is swimmable here, but bear in mind that it’s predominantly a surfer’s playground and there are no lifeguards on duty. Several thatch-roofed and stilted warungs (traditional local food stalls) and cafés dot the eastern side of the coastline, where surfers usually refuel between their thrills. 

The best time to come with a surfboard if you’re a pro is around the dry season (between May and September) when south-westerly winds create from swells ranging from 1 metre up to over 3 metres, which can roll on for a good 500 metres.

Non-surfers can enjoy the view and the coast itself, with parasol-shaded beach beds available for rent. At low tide, the reef near the limestone cliffs reveals exotic seaweed covered rock formations and pools, offering even more dramatic sunset angles. 

Great budget accommodations are available around Balangan Beach, which mostly feature rustic styling with modern amenities.

photo by celebrityabc (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

Balangan Beach in Bali

Location: Jalan Pantai Balangan, Jimbaran, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Ari Gunadi | Compulsive Traveller