Gajah Mina Beach Resort, Balian: Who Should Stay?

The cheapest unit at Gajah Mina Beach Resort in Balian, Tabanan, is listed at Rp600,000 a night on its official site (a one-bedroom garden-view villa), and the largest, a three-bedroom villa with private pool, at Rp2.9 million. The resort has only 12 units in a two-hectare tropical garden in Lalanglinggah village, Selemadeg Barat, about 50 km from the airport.

The draw is the setting. According to its website, the resort faces a small black-sand cove flanked by volcanic rock, and the Balian surf break is about a 10-minute walk away. Secret Bay, the beachfront restaurant, serves French, Indonesian and Thai food. There is a pool, a spa room without air conditioning on the headland, and an open-sided wantilan on the cliff used for yoga and small group retreats.

Room Rates (official site, checked October 2026)

• One-bedroom garden-view villa: Rp600,000
• Superior Room: Rp700,000
• Honeymoon Suite: Rp1,100,000
• Two-bedroom garden-view villa: Rp1,200,000
• Two-bedroom ocean-view villa: Rp1,900,000
• Three-bedroom villa with private pool: Rp2,900,000

OTA prices are often lower. Kayak's page for the resort (checked 20 October 2026) shows a lowest rate around US$27 a night and averages of US$36-51, before taxes. The Hotels.com listing says breakfast is charged separately, an extra bed for children aged 5 and up costs Rp300,000 a night, and the airport transfer is Rp550,000 one way per car.

Who It Suits

• Surfers who want to be near the Balian Beach break without staying in the busy guesthouses at the river mouth.
• Couples who genuinely want quiet: there are no busy bars or shop rows nearby.
• Families or small groups who need a two- or three-bedroom villa at a sensible per-person price.
• Yoga or retreat groups needing an open space facing the sea.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who wants to walk to cafés and minimarts. Without your own transport, eating out mostly means the resort restaurant.
• Late-night arrivals. Reviews on Trip.com say the access road is dark with hardly any signs; ask for a map pin and, if needed, a pickup.
• Families who want children swimming in the sea. The beach is volcanic rock and Balian is known for surf; the pool is the safer place to swim.
• Anyone expecting freshly renovated rooms. Most photos on the website were uploaded in 2021, and the unit count is 11 on one OTA and 12 on the official site; ask about current room condition before paying.

If you want to compare Gajah Mina's rates with other resorts on Tabanan's west coast, check the stay vouchers available on AccessiaPass before booking direct.

Location and Contact

• Address: Suraberata, Lalanglinggah, Selemadeg Barat, Tabanan.
• From the airport: about 50 km; usually 1.5-2.5 hours depending on traffic on the Kediri-Tabanan road.
• Check-in: confirm check-in and check-out times on the official site or with the OTA you book through.
• Location: View on Google Maps
• Instagram: search Instagram

If you stay more than two nights, set aside an afternoon for Pura Luhur Srijong at Antap, a seaside temple about 15 minutes east.