Balian BeachAbout Balian Beach
Balian Beach is a black-sand beach where the Balian River meets the Indian Ocean, just below the village of Lalanglinggah on Bali’s west coast. It is around 1.5 hours’ drive north-west of Canggu, traffic permitting: far enough to escape the south’s crowds but close enough for a day trip, and many surfers stay several days.
The river divides the beach in two, and local maps sometimes label part of it Gajah Mina, but everyone simply calls the area Balian. Guesthouses, villas and small warungs line the lane that drops from the coast road to the sand, many with sea views, and a few simple cafes look straight out over the break. There are no big hotels, shops or nightlife, which is the appeal.
Balian is not a swimming beach. Currents are strong, the waves are powerful and the water near the river mouth is often murky from run-off, so leave the sea to surfers and enjoy it from the sand. Sunsets over the ocean are excellent from the beach or the cafes above it.
Surfing at Balian Beach
Balian is one of the most consistent breaks on Bali’s west coast and works at most tides. Swell meets a rounded seabed built up by the river and peels both ways. The inside peak and the main left are the more forgiving waves, suited to competent intermediate surfers, while the right is steeper and more powerful and comes alive on bigger swells. Complete beginners are better off taking lessons on the gentler beaches of the south.
The line-up gets crowded, especially at weekends and in the dry season, and boards can be rented on the beach. The west coast is at its best from about May to October, when the dry-season winds blow offshore in the mornings; in the wet season onshore winds and river run-off make conditions messier.
Weather & Climate near Balian Beach
Balian Beach's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1761 mm/year), wettest in January.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 23° - 30° | 27° | 298 mm | overcast | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.4h |
| February | Good | 23° - 30° | 27° | 243 mm | overcast | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.3h |
| March | Very Good | 23° - 30° | 27° | 197 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.0h |
| April | Very Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 118 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.8h |
| May | Excellent | 23° - 30° | 27° | 102 mm | some cloud | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 2.0 very high | 11.6h |
| June | Excellent | 22° - 30° | 26° | 72 mm | some cloud | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.5h |
| July | Excellent | 22° - 29° | 25° | 60 mm | some cloud | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.6h |
| August | Ideal | 22° - 29° | 25° | 30 mm | some cloud | 82% | 3.0 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.7h |
| September | Excellent | 22° - 29° | 26° | 82 mm | mostly sunny | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 11.9h |
| October | Excellent | 23° - 30° | 27° | 135 mm | some cloud | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.2h |
| November | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 183 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.0 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.4h |
| December | Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 241 mm | overcast | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.5h |
How to Get to Balian Beach
Balian lies just off the main road between Denpasar and Gilimanuk, about 500 m below Lalanglinggah village. Most visitors come by private driver or scooter, and public buses on the Gilimanuk road will stop at Lalanglinggah on request. Continue west on the same road for the long left-hand point break at Medewi, or stop at Tanah Lot on the way back south.