Around it
A Bukit afternoon, then kecak
Surf beaches, a paragliding flight, the beach itself and seafood in Jimbaran: how to fill a south Bali afternoon before the kecak on Melasti Beach.
Choose a night on Melasti Beach ↗Quick answer
The kecak takes an hour at sunset, so the afternoon is yours. On the Bukit Peninsula that can mean a surf lesson at Balangan, Jimbaran or Dreamland beach, a tandem paragliding flight over the cliffs near Pandawa Beach, or simply time on Melasti's white sand before the benches fill. Jimbaran Bay, at the neck of the peninsula, is known for grilled seafood if you want dinner afterwards.
Time on Melasti Beach itself
The beach is worth arriving early for in its own right. The regency's tourism page describes white sand framed by high limestone cliffs, calm patches of water suitable for light swimming, and cafés and beach clubs around the bay, while detikBali mentions shaded seating, umbrella and chair hire, and a rock fill along the shore to hold back erosion. Find the show entrance before you settle in, so you know where to be.
A surf lesson in the afternoon
The beaches of Pecatu, at the Uluwatu end of the Bukit, have long been popular with surfers, and lessons there suit both first-timers and improvers. The two-hour lesson offered on the booking page takes place at whichever of Balangan, Jimbaran or Dreamland beach has the best conditions that day, with a certified instructor, a board, a rash guard and reef shoes, plus photos and videos for groups of two or more. It is not suitable for children under nine. Book a slot that leaves time to shower and drive to Melasti.
Paragliding over the cliffs
Paragliding is done from Timbis cliff, over the coast near Pandawa Beach, a beach in Kutuh village once called the secret beach because cliffs hid it from view. The tandem flight on the booking page lasts about fifteen minutes in the air within a three-hour outing that includes transfers, with a pilot who holds international certification. It is not for anyone afraid of heights or above the weight limit given on the booking page. Pandawa also has its own kecak stage, so you will see the form is at home on this coast.
Uluwatu Temple
If you have not yet seen Uluwatu Temple, it is a natural partner to an evening on the Bukit, though not on the same evening as Melasti, since both kecaks start at sunset. The temple stands on the edge of a cliff some 70 metres above the sea at the south-western tip of the peninsula, and it is one of Bali's sea temples. Visit it on another afternoon, keep sunglasses and phones out of reach of the macaques, and come back to Melasti for the beach kecak.
Dinner in Jimbaran
Jimbaran, the fishing village at the neck of the peninsula, is known for its seafood stalls: you pick live seafood and it is grilled for you, generally over coconut husks rather than charcoal. It makes a good end to a Melasti evening if you have a driver, since the show finishes after dark and Jimbaran sits south of the airport, at the neck of the peninsula. Book a table on busy nights, and keep the beach fee and parking money separate from dinner money.
Pacing the day
The Bukit is hilly, with its beaches tucked below cliffs, so one activity plus the show makes a comfortable day. A morning or early-afternoon surf lesson, a long lunch, an hour on Melasti's sand and then the kecak works well. Paragliding relies on the sea breeze, so give it a flexible slot and keep the kecak, which cannot be moved once booked, on a date you are sure of. Pack repellent and a layer for the evening whatever you choose.
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