Complete Surfing Guide to Lombok, Indonesia

Summary

The surf in Lombok is nothing less than glorious. Often forgotten due to the forever increasing popularity of its neighbor Bali, the island of Lombok remains a little hidden gem that has also been experiencing a steep climb in tourism lately. Whether it is to visit the Gili islands, climb Mt. Rinjani or surf Desert Point, people slowly realize how pretty and diversified Lombok is.

As far as surfing goes, the main region to aim for is on the south side of the island. Desert Point is a bit on its own at the south western tip of Lombok and should only be an option for the most experienced surfers. This wave is one of the best break in the world but also a very dangerous one.

Safer options are Mawi, Gerupuk and Ekas which are all located around the Kuta area. Although they are less dangerous than Desert Point, they remain some very challenging waves for intermediate and advanced surfers. Beginners will want to head to the west side of the island at Senggigi or Mataram.

All in all, Lombok is a very good option for a surf trip that will be a bit further away from the crowd without sacrificing any surfing quality. For an even more remote experience hop over to Sumbawa, the real hidden gem of Indonesia.

When to go

The best time to surf Lombok is from April to October which represents the dry season with favorable SW swells. November to March will be rainier and the swell turns a bit more southerly which is good for the whole south side of Lombok.

Where to stay in Lombok

Kuta Lombok is a great place to stay and base yourself on a surf trip to Lombok. It offers great access to many breaks, as long as you are able to rent a motorbike or scooter to get around.

On a Budget : Roy Homestay and Ocean View Villas are both lovely and simplistic homestays which cost about $6/night for a double room!

Best Value : Mana Retreat and Mandalika, two lovely and very affordable resorts.

High-end : Kumbara Villas and Villa Alasa are both amongst the top resorts in Kuta Lombok…

Getting there

There are two options to get to Lombok. Either fly into Bali and take the ferry to Lombok which runs multiple times per day or fly right into Lombok depending on the price difference.

Safety/things to know

• For more information about visas and required travel documents.
• Unlike Bali, Lombok’s religion is Islam. Respect all Muslim laws and traditions. Alcohol can be found but not as easily as it is on Bali.
• Moderate Malaria risk

Surf spots in Lombok

Desert Point

Desert Point is a long, challenging barrel that has been tackled by the world’s best surfers and featured in countless surfing magazines. Located on the very south-western tip of Lombok, this wave should be left to experts only as it is very critical and breaks on shallow reef.

• Wave direction : Left
• Bottom : Reef
• Best tide : Low
• Skill level : Advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Gerupuk

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Reef
• Best tide : Mid to High
• Skill level : All levels
• Optimal swell direction : S
• Optimal wind direction : NE

 

 

Mawi

Located 20-25 minutes from Kuta, Mawi Beach is one of Lombok’s most popular break due to its incredible consistency. It is nicely sheltered from the wind and catches most of the swell when other breaks are small or flat. Mawi works on any tide but the wave will be slightly different going from left to right and becoming more hollow. 

• Wave direction : Left and right
• Bottom : Reef
• Best tide : All
• Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Ekas

Located in east Lombok, Ekas is in a very nice bay that catches most southern swells and offers waves for all skill levels. Ekas Inside will be slightly more gentle than the Outside break but both will remain fairly challenging. 

• Wave direction : Left and right
• Bottom : Reef
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : SE