where to go surfing in indonesia, or somewhere else. now.

[bestsurfingspot]

Hey Guys!
Just like to introduce my self. My names Jay from over in the uk.
where do you think the best surfing spots in Indonesia is? And why?
Also best form of transport to get there.?

[jaffa1949]

Wide spread question jay, depends in Indonesia there is every kind of wave you could want, from deaths head coral reef slabs toand barrels beynd belief, short board waves longboard waves mellow stuff and places where you want to avoid getting a reef tattoo! Then lefts or rights, there are over a thousand islands some planes fly to and spots you can only access by boat. There are ferries to remote idyllic islands there are camps both feral and resort level , in the Mentawais most resorts access at least twenty breaks. Other spots mainly one but it can be epic!
What sort of wave is best for you?
the answer in short is How long is a piece of string?

[bestsurfingspot]

Thanks for your reply Jaffa.

Well iv done quite a bit of traveling through Indonesia. Im in love with the place. But id like to know what islands people prefer. Iv done Java, sumartra sumbawa. Im looking for some new spots to hit up .. Fast hollow barrels ?? wheres your favorite wave?

[jaffa1949]

My favourite spots in Indonesia I'm keeping to myself as they are not well known , but you want fast hollow barrels, Indonesia abounds with them!
I've been going to Indonesia since 1979 and I've seen the harm and benefits surf tourism has bought to many spots.
Once Uluwatu was
The spots 'm going to tell you are well known and have a group of imported and local highly skilled devotees.
All these spots require your A game barrel riding skills
Java has Gland with its various breaks the easiest being Tiger Tracks and Apocalypse and Cimaja for rights, Lombok has Desert Point, The Mentawais Rifles Kandui, Macaronis and a feast of others all these are findable in various books. You've also got Nias and Lagundri.
You've done Java, Sumatra and Sumbawa, so where have you surfed?

[bestsurfingspot]

So you have plenty of experience of the Indo culture then!
Well me and my friends have been though is a better work than DONE.
We drove from Bali through to Sumatra over 4-5 month period a few times we have done it.
We have found quite a few spots as well that we dont kiss and tell about really, until now over the past few years its slowly coming out. Im sure you have heard about the last secret spot in indo ? Thats what they called it!

I would say java is one of my favorites islands especial near turtles! Other wise super suck in Sambawa is just unbelievable..

Next year we are off to travel the french Polynesian islands ! Have you had any experience other there?

[jaffa1949]

No haven't been to any French Polynesian Islands, the closest I've come is Melanesian in Vanuatu.
Had some good surfs there off the beaten track and I expect the same would be in New Caledonia (Except unlike Vanuatu the reefs are offshore )

Vanuatu if you go looking take some Kustom ( tribe gifts) of tobacco and Kava to offer as custom requires to the tribe chief to enter his lands and surf his reef ( the reefs are seen as village resources).
Trespassing is not appreciated an can provoke violence. Spend a little time helping the village kids have a surf on your boards after Kyustom and who knows what other areas may be shown to you.
One important thing brace your stomachs if you go to a village and you are invited to a Kava bar, ,do drink Kava and share the food , not doing so is considered rude!
Learn Bislama ( pigeon English) easy as and use that. EG Helicopter is mixmasta bilong Jesus Christ
Vanuatu is interesting as it was both British and French at the same time before Independence. beyond Indo primitive outside main towns and transport will be difficult be well prepared with a good set of survival and self medical skills to cover yourself. Waters beyond the main areas are tiger sharky. Outer island equals an extreme trip no mod cons. seasonal, local swell catching and long period swells from the southern oceans to wind through cyclones off Australia generate swell too. Serious malaria and other tropical diseases, but good and totally uncrowded outside of Port Villa.

New Caledonia French expensive needs boats to outside barrier reef passes , only one or two places known where surf gets to the beach. Off the beaten track , kustom is required and adventure may turn up surf.

I'm glad to see you really made the Indo trek. It is such a worthwhile way to go, it shows the variety of the people and cultures so much better. Often you are much more appreciated as a bootlace explorer than a cashed up tourist.

Enjoy, my journeys now are to less frequented Islands and strange places > Thanks for realising my poke as what it was, and showing you and your friends are traveling well!

[Aqualife]

Same as Jaffa - will not tell you my favourite waves in Indo - I like Sumba and Banda Aceh and I will leave it at that.
As for French Polynesia, it is super super expensive, so financially you will be in a whole world of pain and unless you got mates there and/or speak fluent French and/or absolutely rip (and I mean razor sharp reef and very very shallow fast breaking waves )- then it will be a very difficult trip. The locals can be super nice if you speak French, have a whole lot of respect and pull your head in and you need to be able to surf well (on that note, if you liked Supersuck, then you should be semi ok). There are a hell of a lot of spots where it's invitation only (by a local) or they won't let you paddle out, I am dead serious.
The main island is fairly accessible. For everything else you need a boat. The paddle outs to the reef are often around 1km, so your fitness needs to be good too.
In the Pacific, there are a hell of a lot easier and friendlier and cheaper places to surf (Samoa/Fiji/Tonga), so I am not sure your reason for going there. The islands are beautiful but it's a tough place to crack. Good luck. Oh and you need a good medical insurance. I got flown out of there a few years back after a few days in hospital (crash on reef), the bill came to around $65K. Lucky I had insurance.....

[dtc]

I guess Borneo (sorry, cant remember where you just went) didnt involve a reef crash...how was it otherwise?

I'm guessing the Banda Aceh is probably off limits nowdays with the political stuff, not that I've ever looked into it.

[Aqualife]

Hi DTC,
You know, I seem to have the habit to only crash on reef and get hospitalised in places that either are terribly expensive, extremely remote and/or have third world hospitals with blood spatters on the wall and no medication (Tahiti, Indo, Mauritius, Easter Island so far...)
Borneo got canned, going to Indo instead in Sept.
Banda Aceh - was there in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, no probs, it's a lot tamer than people think. No one there either. Met Rizal Tanjung and his brother (filmmaker) and a whole crew of pros there in early 2008. They know what's good!
Indo is the only place where you can for years and years and years and never seem to be able to run out of new waves to surf.

[rambler]

@jaffa ... I completely understand what you're saying and warning me for and you are right but as I have more time then money I will have to do stick to my budget and don't mind to rough it if needed ... but once again thanks I know now that it's possible and the conditions to expect

@aqualife ... Yeah Aceh sounds good what would be a good time to go? And Krui is definitely on my list ... I'll be arriving in Indonesia in January and thought about starting in Batu Karas and work my way up north as the rainy season mellows down ...

[sam lhoknga]

lhoknga is a good place for surfing. i will recommend you to stay at http://lhokngariverside.com/. the people is very friendly and the waves are very good for all level.

[jaffa1949]

lhoknga is a good place for surfing. i will recommend you to stay at http://lhokngariverside.com/. the people is very friendly and the waves are very good for all level.

Even though it is a self place advertisement, it shows what is beginning to happen for the areas around Bandah Aceh, they do need outside travelers to bring money to their area to aid recovery from the Boxing Day Tsunami.

If you go to any Indonesian areas take your best manners with you and you will be welcomed, Bandah Aceh is an area of strong Muslim faith ,part of which is genuine hospitality. Respond with your best manners and you will see this hospitality.

Manners here include appropriate modesty in dress and behaviour. Sobriety and gentle speech. Respect of family and beliefs.
Enjoy

[Aqualife]

Hey,
I am not a fan of wet season travel in Indo - it's just too hard and messy. I personally wouldn't go to Sumatra before early April. The wet season goes from south to north and also east to west, so you will follow the rain, so I would actually travel east to Sumbawa and Sumba and Timor, as it's gets drier there and more deserty, so in Sumbawa you get incredibly good waves in February already and it doesn't rain all that much.
The wet season is all out of sync anyway. In Indo right now and it's only September and we have been getting a fair amount of rain already.

[Jackrichard03]

The best place to surf in Indonesia is Krui surf coast of Southern Sumatra. You can easily find enchanting waves to surf upon there.... Just Google Sumatra and you will find many places to go for and surf.