Indonesia is widely considered the ultimate surfing paradise, offering year-round waves, warm tropical waters, affordable living, and a seemingly endless variety of world-class surf spots.

From the bustling beaches of Bali to the pristine reefs of the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia offers surf experiences for every skill level. This guide covers the best places to surf in Indonesia, when to go, budget tips, and more to help you plan your perfect surf trip.

Why Surf Indonesia?

• Year-Round Waves

• Tropical Weather

• Cheap Food & Accommodation

• Wide Range of Surf Spots

• Unmatched Island Adventures

Whether you’re looking for soft beginner-friendly beach breaks or barreling reef passes, Indonesia has it all.

Best Places to Surf in Indonesia

Bali

Bali is the most popular surfing destination in Indonesia with famous surf spots like Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Keramas. The great thing about Bali is its versatility, having as many surf spots for experts as for beginners.

Read our complete surfing guide to Bali, Indonesia

In fact, advanced surfers will find challenging surfing conditions down in Bukit’s Peninsula while beginners can go further north to Canggu or Medewi to find mellow and fun waves. Bali is also a great place to surf in Indonesia for everything you can do beside surfing such as visiting temples, partying, hike a volcano or rejuvenate in the jungle.

Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands, in West Sumatra, provide some of the highest level surfing in Indonesia with perfect, challenging reef breaks and only a fraction of the crowds you’ll find in Bali. Every year, surfers from all around the world go to Mentawai Islands to improve their surfing in a perfect environment.

Read our complete surfing guide to the Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands are a bit harder to access than Bali or Java but the reward is totally worth it. Many surf camps and charter boats are located in the Mentawai to help you access some remote waves and provide food and accommodation. The only thing left for you to worry about is catching the best waves out there! 

Lombok

Lombok is Bali’s direct neighbor to the east and obviously gets the same unique swell exposure and consistency. Therefore, both of Lombok’s south and east sides are filled with amazing surf spots with only a fraction of Bali’s crowds which make the journey well worth it.

Read our complete surfing guide to Lombok, Indonesia

If there are many high level waves in Lombok like Desert Point and Mawi Beach, surfers can also find some gentle waves in Senggigi or even near Gili Islands where swells don’t reach as directly. For all those good reasons, Lombok is definitely a place to strongly consider on a surf trip to Indonesia.

Sumbawa

On the same stretch of islands called the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sumbawa comes right after Lombok and is another amazing place to surf in Indonesia. Sumbawa is typically more suitable for advanced surfers since most surf spots on the island are reef breaks which tend to offer quite radical surfing conditions.

Read our complete surfing guide to Sumbawa, Indonesia

One thing to note is Sumbawa is a massive island with two airports and two distinct surfing areas which are quite far away from each other. Therefore, you may want to stick with either West Sumbawa or the Lakey Peak region. In West Sumbawa alone, you will find at least a dozen of world-class surf spots such as Yoyo’s, SuperSuck, Scar Reef and Northern Rights

Java

Java is Indonesia’s most populated island but it also is a great place to surf in Indonesia. In fact, the whole south side of Java is exposed to consistent waves and many surf spots have made their way to become legendary. One of them is G-Land, on the very south-eastern tip of Java, which is one of Indonesia’s best waves. 

Although G-Land is probably Java’s most famous surf spot, there are still some other incredible waves on Java such as One Palm Point and Grajagan. Keep in mind that due to its high population, Java’s surf spots are often more crowded than others.

Sumba

Sumba is a hidden gem in Indonesia and has some incredible surfing opportunities with barely anyone in the water. The reason for this is Sumba is extremely remote and overlooked by the surfing community. However, a wave in Sumba called Nihiwatu is one of Kelly Slater’s favorite wave on Earth!

Read our complete surfing guide to Sumba, Indonesia

Best Surf Camps in Indonesia

Find a Surf Camp in Indonesia, Starting at US$120

8 Day Surf Evolution Surf Camp in Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
US$1,568, including:

• 2 surf sessions per day
• 2 times per day speedboat to go surfing
• Surf coaching and training
• Services of experienced surf guides or coaches
• Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner per day
• Coffee, tea, snacks, and drinking water
• 7 nights’ accommodation

Best Time to Surf in Indonesia

Indonesia offers year-round surf, but the April to October window is the best for most regions.

Budgeting a Surf Trip to Indonesia

Money-saving tip: Eat at warungs (local restaurants) and consider surf camps that include accommodation, meals, and lessons to keep costs low.

Getting Around Indonesia

• Domestic Flights: Fastest way to travel between islands like Bali, Lombok, Java, and Sumbawa. Expect to pay $40 – $150 per flight.

• Ferries: Cheap but slower. Useful for nearby islands like Bali to Lombok or Sumbawa.

• Scooters: Most common way to get around surf towns. Rentals cost around $4 – $8 per day.

• Private Drivers & Taxis: Affordable, especially if shared.

• Charter Boats: Essential for exploring Mentawai Islands and remote surf spots.

Tip: In the Mentawai Islands, most surfers stay in surf camps that include daily boat transport to waves.

Conclusion

Indonesia is a bucket-list surf destination for a reason. Whether you’re chasing barrels at G-Land, soaking up the Bali vibe in Canggu, or venturing to remote islands like Sumba, the options are endless.

For surfers of all levels, Indonesia offers an incredible combination of world-class waves, affordable travel, rich culture, and tropical beauty.

The post Ultimate Surfing Guide to Indonesia appeared first on My Wave Finder.

Indonesia is one of the world’s best surfing destinations, mostly due to the quality of its waves and surf spots. All those world-class waves are spread across several islands such as Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Java and Sumatra. 

Let’s have a look at Indonesia’s 5 best waves and surf spots…

To find the best surf spot for you, try our WaveFinder search engine!

Nihiwatu, Sumba

Nihiwatu is without a doubt one of the best surf spot in Indonesia, despite being severely underrated and unkown to most surfers on the planet. This is mostly due to the fact that Nihiwatu is on the remote island of Sumba, a true Indonesian gem. The wave itself is a perfect left-hand point break in the likes of Uluwatu, with only a fraction of the crowd.

Read our complete surfing guide to Sumba, Indonesia

Uluwatu, Bali

Uluwatu is a well-known surf spot on the island of Bali and is often considered as Indonesia’s best wave. However, this reputation comes with a cost…Uluwatu is probably Indonesia’s most crowded surf spot, making it hard to find several rides on a good day. The rides you do get will be remembered for a lifetime.

Read our complete surfing guide to Bali

G-Land, Java

G-Land, on Java’s east side is a long and reputable left-hand point break offering endless rides and perfect tube riding opportunities. On smaller days, even learners can enjoy G-Land to make their first few steps on the inside peaks. G-Land should definitely be considered as one of Indonesia’s best waves and surf spots.

Lance’s Right, Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands are often referred to as the world’s surfing mecca, having some of the best and most consistent surf spots on Earth. Lance’s Right is definitely one of those waves and deserves to be considered as one of Indonesia’s best waves. This radical reef break is a true barreling machine that offers perfect top to bottom tubes on a daily basis.

Read our complete surfing guide to Mentawai Islands

Desert Point, Lombok

Desert Point, on the island of Lombok is also considered as one of the best waves in Indonesia and has a worldwide reputation for being a fast and treacherous surf spot. At Desert Point, if you don’t have enough speed to make a section, you will most likely end up on a sharp reef that won’t forgive. However, if you do make it though the tube and out, the adrenaline rush is unforgettable. 

Read our complete surfing guide to Lombok

The post 5 Best Waves and Surf Spots in Indonesia appeared first on My Wave Finder.

With year-round swells, sunshine and Bintangs, Indonesia is probably the world’s best surfing destination, period. For years now, surfers of all levels come from around the globe to chase some Indonesian perfection and catch waves all day, everyday.

Indonesia is huge and you will find waves pretty much anywhere that is exposed to the Indian Ocean. However, if you are gonna pick one spot for a surf trip, it has to be one of the 10 following places.

1.  Uluwatu, Bali

Uluwatu is a world-class wave located on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula right by the cliffs of Uluwatu. This reef break produces long and perfect left-hand waves that can go on for as long as a few hundred meters.

Uluwatu is also a great place to settle and enjoy wonderful Balinese sunsets or go visit the Temple for a little cultural escape.

Find a Surf Camp in Uluwatu, starting at US$581

2. Desert Point, Lombok

Desert Point is definitely Lombok’s best wave, by a mile! This fast and hollow reef break is an absolute race track that is super challenging even for the best surfers out there. Lombok is Bali’s neighbor to the east and both islands are only a short ferry away from each other. Sometimes, simply by going to Lombok, you will skip some of the Balinese crowds while still getting the same swells.

Read our complete surfing guide to Lombok, Indonesia

3. Lakey Peak, Sumbawa

Read our complete surfing guide to Sumbawa, Indonesia

Right after Lombok comes Sumbawa, just another ferry away. This island is more remote, less crowded and less developed than Bali and Lombok. Sumbawa also has GREAT waves! The island is pretty wide and has two separate airports and surfing areas. Lakey Peak is on the east side of Sumbawa and is a fantastic A-frame reef break.

4. Mentawai Islands, Sumatra

Read our complete surfing guide to Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands have dozens of world-class reef breaks that make this archipelago a true surfing mecca. Although the Mentawais are more remote and hard of access, the hassle is totally worth it and most trip to the Mentawais turn out to be the surf trip of a lifetime!

5. Padang Padang, Bali

Padang Padang is another flagship surf spot on Bali, located in Bukit’s Peninsula. This left-hand wave is a hollow reef break, perfect to practice some barrel rides or simply play with a long and steep wall.

6. Yoyo’s, Sumbawa

Yoyo’s is a super consistent wave located in Sekongkang Bay, which is known for being a swell magnet. The bay is positioned in a way to catch any swell from the south-west and produce perfect waves. Yoyo’s is a right-hand reef break that works better in the morning from mid to high tide.

7. Mawi Beach, Lombok

Another nice wave on Lombok is Mawi Beach which is probably the most consistent surf spot on the island. Mawi works at all stages of the tide and breaks left and right, making it a really fun surf spot. Mawi Beach is located about 25 minutes from Kuta and a few other breaks are on the way.

8. G-Land, Java

G-Land, on the island of Java is another world-class left-hand point break that produces a perfect, long and sometimes hollow wave. Good news is G-Land is on the very eastern tip of Java which makes it just a small journey from Bali.

9. Scar Reef, Sumbawa

West Sumbawa is very rich in waves and Scar Reef is another gem of a surf spot that can be found in the area. This punchy reef break is very critical and thrilling for the barrel lovers! Scar Reef isn’t too far of SuperSuck which is another iconic reef break in West Sumbawa.

10. Nihiwatu, Sumba

Nihiwatu is not a very known surf spot compared to the rest of our list, but believe it or not, it is one of Kelly Slater’s favorite wave in the world! The island of Sumba is right beneath Sumbawa and is a very raw and underdeveloped Indonesian island that is perfect for the most adventurous surfers out there. Nihiwatu is just a perfect left-hand wave, mostly uncrowded and super consistent.

Read our complete surfing guide to Sumba, Indonesia

The post 10 Best Waves and Places to Surf in Indonesia appeared first on My Wave Finder.