Karang Sewu Beach, Gilimanuk: 7 Things to Know Before You Go

Karang Sewu Beach is about 300 metres from Gilimanuk ferry port and lies within West Bali National Park, but it is not a sandy beach. It is a stretch of old coral covered in fine silt and grown over with grass, bidara trees and mangroves on the edge of Gilimanuk Bay. These are the things that most often disappoint people or catch them unprepared.

Seven things before you go

• The fee is not settled. A Bali tourism account's promo video (January 2024) gave IDR 10,000 on weekdays and IDR 15,000 at weekends for domestic visitors, a Finns Beach Club guide records IDR 20,000 for foreigners, and some sites say it is free. Bring IDR 20,000 cash per person (checked October 2026).
• Come early. The main draw is sunrise from a wooden jetty that juts into the bay (Info Jembrana, August 2025). Late afternoon also works; the still bay water reflects the sky like a mirror.
• It is not a swimming spot. The bottom is coral and mud. For snorkelling or diving, Secret Bay in the same bay makes more sense.
• Rainy season means mud. The grass turns to sludge, and the walk from the road and back takes about 20 minutes. Wear sandals you do not mind getting dirty.
• Bring water. There are no warungs on the beach itself; meatball soup and cold-drink sellers are only near the entrance.
• Boats into the mangroves. Fishermen offer boat trips through the mangrove forest lasting under an hour. Prices are not published, so agree on one before you get in.
• This is a national park. Do not take coral, shells or plants, and carry your rubbish out.

How far is it?

About 3-3.5 hours from Denpasar (roughly 130 km), around 2 hours from Lovina and about 45 minutes from Pemuteran. From Ubud, allow 4 hours. So it makes most sense as a stop before or after the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry, or paired with the Gilimanuk Prehistoric Museum, a few minutes away.

If you arrive from Java late at night, staying in Gilimanuk or Pemuteran on an AccessiaPass hotel voucher makes sunrise on this jetty realistic without driving in the dark.

Location

• Map: View on Google Maps (it also appears on Google Maps as New Karang Sewu Gilimanuk)
• Booking: not needed; pay at the entrance if staff are there
• Instagram: search on Instagram
• Eat afterwards: Ayam Betutu Men Tempeh in Gilimanuk

It is quietest on weekday mornings; at weekends and during the Eid travel season, truck queues for the port clog the road into Gilimanuk.