Top 8 Surf Spots in Indonesia

You can’t simply claim to have surfed in Indonesia—that’s like saying you’ve hiked the Himalayas.

With an astonishing 99,082 km (61,567 miles) of coastline across 17,508 islands, much of Indonesia is blessed by the steady swells of the Indian Ocean and surrounded by volcanic reefs that create perfect barrels and tubes. This is the War and Peace of surf destinations.

Certain locations stand out among the rest. Pioneers found the iconic left-handers of Bali's Bukit Peninsula in the '70s, leading to its storied legacy. Java's G-Land has hosted legendary sessions from American surfing icon Kelly Slater, but there are still unexplored surfing treasures to discover—perhaps beneath the smoke-spewing volcanoes of Sumbawa or along the shimmering conch beaches of Sumba.

Here’s your ultimate guide to discovering the finest waves in Indonesia.

The Optimal Season for Surfing in Indonesia

Indonesia always offers surfable waves, but it’s the dry season that draws in professional surfers and surf photographers alike. From May to September, the waves originate from the deep southern Indian Ocean and strike Bali and Java at a perfect southwest angle.

This alignment is ideal for the cliffs and reefs of the renowned Bukit Peninsula and across the entire archipelago, particularly when paired with the offshore easterly trade winds. The wet season (October to March) is suitable for beginners and intermediates looking for less intense conditions.

Uluwatu: Bali's Premier Surf Destination

The name Uluwatu comes from a combination of Indonesian words meaning 'the end of the land' and 'rock.' The dramatic cliffs on the western side of Bali's Bukit Peninsula rise 70m (230ft) straight up from the crashing Indian Ocean, illustrating the meaning perfectly.

The robust limestone cliffs, paired with a shallow reef shelf, create ideal conditions for surf waves, particularly from March to September, when the dry-season south-southwest swells come in strong.

The outcome? Consistent sets of 15m-plus (5ft) waves that break to the left along the Balinese cliffs, offering five distinct surf breaks. The standout is undoubtedly Outside Corner, featuring powerful waves that encourage continuous turns. Further down, Racetracks delivers fast water into spinning barrels, while most spectators enjoy the show from the clifftop bars.

How to Reach Uluwatu: Take a 45-minute taxi ride from Bali's airport. After arriving, navigate down the steps to the beach, where a cave leads you to the paddle-out point.

Kuta Lombok: Plenty of Waves, Few Crowds

Kuta Lombok serves as the centerpiece of a region renowned for exceptional surfing. As Bali's breaks become increasingly crowded, Kuta Lombok is gaining popularity for its relatively uncrowded lineups and charming surf shacks.

The best way to explore is via daytime boat trips. They can whisk you away to Pantai Mawi, a stunning stretch of white sand featuring a powerful wedge reef break during mid and rising tides. Alternatively, you can visit Segar Reef, known for its infrequent but high-quality right-hand waves on smaller swells. And that's just the beginning of what the area offers.

Kuta Lombok stands in stark contrast to its namesake on the Isle of the Gods. Here, rugged mountains descend to untouched coastlines that resemble crumpled brown paper. Occasional power outages still occur, and the shoreline is dotted with groves of swaying coconut palms.

How to Reach Kuta Lombok: Take a direct ferry to Lombok's southwest coast or fly into Lombok International Airport, then arrange for a taxi to Kuta.

The Mentawais provide the perfect opportunity to catch a barrel

Ah, the Ments. A fortunate group of surfers has ticked this destination off their bucket lists, and rightly so. This archipelago, comprising over 70 islands, stretches along the southwest coast of Sumatra, blessed with constant dry-season swells that form exceptional breaks in the sandy bays.

With so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Siberut, located to the north, is the most accessible island, and many surfers find themselves drawn to the Playgrounds area, where gentle Beng Bengs blend with the thrilling barrel sections of Bank Vaults. Heading further south, you'll find Sipura, home to the legendary Mentawai wave known as Lances Right—a barrel so stunning it looks like it’s been pampered by a beautician as it peels perfectly.

This part of Indonesia is nothing like Bali and Lombok. You won't find any luxury hotels here, and roads are nearly nonexistent. Boat charters are the way to explore, mainly focusing on the plentiful resources of the northern islands.

Reaching the Mentawais: A ferry runs from Padang Bungus to Siberut in the north. However, a dedicated surf charter is the most efficient option, as you'll need to get rides to the various surf breaks regardless.

Java's G-Land features left-hand waves stretching as far as the eye can see

The surfing potential of G-Land was uncovered during a legendary expedition led by Californian Bob Laverty in 1972. It took two pioneering Indonesian surfers through lush jungles, watched by Javan tigers, to find a location that is now regarded as one of the best in the world.

Let the geography speak for itself: G-Land is situated at the tip of Java. This concave bay wraps around a wide point, consistently receiving southern swells that create continuous opportunities for drop-ins, leading to left-hand barrels and waves that make high-quality goofy-footed surfers drool.

Similar to Uluwatu, certain areas here are exceptional. Money Trees is renowned for its expansive walls that transition between green rooms and open faces. Nearby, you'll discover Launching Pads, a powerful wave capable of reaching triple overhead heights.

How to get to G-Land: Fast boats now operate from Kuta Bali directly to Grajagan, located on the opposite side of the bay from the G-Land surf breaks. Many local surf camps provide private transfer services as well.

Canggu boasts a plethora of surf breaks suitable for every level.

The passionate champions of professional surfing might dismiss Canggu's inclusion on this list. Yet, there’s no denying the remarkable ascent of this trendy town along Bali's southern coast.

Canggu has firmly secured its status as the digital nomad capital of Southeast Asia (sorry, Chiang Mai), a rise largely fueled by its surf scene. The area features about three or four key surf spots along the cinnamon-hued beaches, offering peaky lagoons with lefts, rights, and waves perfect for longboarding, unlike the towering breaks of Uluwatu.

While morning and evening sessions can become quite crowded, this has contributed to a laid-back vibe, making Canggu an ideal playground for surfers of all skill levels. Plus, there are oat-milk flat whites and organic avocado toast waiting for you after your surf session.

How to get to Canggu: Traffic in this part of Bali can be quite chaotic—anticipate about an hour's taxi ride from Denpasar airport to cover the 13km (8 miles) to Canggu.

Sumbawa is a surfer's paradise divided into two distinct areas.

Certain areas of Sumbawa bear such a striking resemblance to the iconic southern coast of Bali that it's hard to believe this island is only now starting to gain traction in the surfing world. And it certainly doesn't disappoint.

Two distinct regions offer fantastic surf. The western half caters to the likes of Kelly Slater, featuring shallow, cheese-grater reefs that harness powerful swell pulses into spots like Yo-Yos and Super Suck, perfect for serious surfers seeking airtime and tight barrels. In contrast, the eastern side is more secluded and less demanding, peaking with the impressive A-frame at Lakey Peak.

A downside of Sumbawa is its susceptibility to seasonal changes, unlike Lombok and Bali. The prime time is the early dry season (May to June), when southwest swells hit head-on, complemented by favorable easterly winds.

How to reach Sumbawa: The most common access point is via a ferry from Labuhan on Lombok's east side. There’s also air service to Sumbawa Besar from Bali, but be prepared—Sumbawa is remote!

Sumba boasts upscale hotels situated near perfectly formed reef breaks.

There's a bit of controversy on Sumba, where the ultra-modern NIHI hotel has laid claim to the island's top surf break. If you have around $8000 to spare, you could enjoy a villa overlooking that flawless, peeling left wave, gaining the luxury of a prime position in the lineup.

However, Sumba offers plenty of reasons to be recognized among Indonesia's premier surf destinations, even without its flagship wave. There's the powerful left-hand river mouth at Pero, the varied breaks of Miller's Rights, and the challenging walls of Five-O, popular with free surfers riding shorter boards.

The dry season outshines the wet season here, making May to September the best time to visit. On the eastern side of the island, there's a growing selection of surf camps, which is where we'd suggest heading for easy access to multiple surf spots.

Traveling to Sumba: If you prefer not to spend several days on a ferry, you can fly directly to Tambolaka Airport from Denpasar, with daily flights available during the peak dry season.

Desert Point is truly for the seasoned surfers.

It requires a bold attitude to conquer this formidable wave. The drop-ins are steeper than the rugged slopes of a Javanese volcano. On larger days, they plunge directly into barrels, demanding that you grip your board's rail for balance as you race down the line, sometimes for over thirty seconds before being spat out. A jagged, razor-sharp reef runs directly in front the entire time.

Desert Point is renowned as one of the best left-hand waves in Indonesia – a notable title given the presence of G-Land and Uluwatu! Its inconsistency keeps it from being as popular as those other spots. Strong southwest swells alone won't cut it; the point needs more favorable conditions like offshore winds and increased swell size.

How to reach Desert Point: First, travel to Lombok, which requires at least a 45-minute ferry ride from Bali's east side. From there, you'll need a 4WD transfer to the southwest, often along unpaved roads.