Beginner improver surf trip advice Bali/Peru/Sri Lanka

[JaySayegh89]

Hi there,

First time using this forum so excited to hear your advice

So I have Feb-July 2016 free and want to use this time to go surfing (and do a bit of climbing). Coming from the UK, I want to get away from cold waters and so I have been looking at:
Bali
Peru
Sri Lanka

I have not booked my flights so I can be persuaded on where to go depending on advice I get here, please suggest other places you think I could also look at. I've been doing research in the meantime too but always find it wayyy more helpful hearing from people.

I ride a 7"2 board and enjoy 2-3ft waves - meaning head high. Unfortunately I won't be taking my board with me as don't think its cost effective/could get stolen easily/correct me if I'm wrong please:)

Any help/tips will be much appreciated!

Thank you

Jay

[jaffa1949]

Wide spread there of locations. Climbing where else but Peru, the Andes beckon , + the full west coast with epic lefts! Not sure of the surf timing but the whole Pacific is your fetch!
Water can be cold Humboldt current!

Indonesia (Bali etc) epic volcanoes, most with well walked tracks, the best are active but quiescent ( could hold a surprise)
If you do the Rinjani trek on Lombok go with reputable guides!
Surf season April to October, Bali crowded.
Water warm
Sri Lanka, gentle surf great Jungle book adventures, , no mighty peaks but some epic tourist climbs with naked dancing girls carved in the rocks.
Water warm
You could try New Zealand seriously great climbs, hobbit surf teams and cool water depending on season.

[JaySayegh89]

Thanks there Jaffa!

Haha yes quite a spread I've got there as trying to assess my options. Thanks for all that information, really helpful. I am swaying towards Sri Lanka and then work my way towards New Zealand via S.E Asia .

I've been reading there are areas in Bali you can find that aren't crowded, would you agree with this? I mean I only want to surf 2-4ft waves, I don't think I can handle bigger waves. Or maybe skip Bali and head to NZ and spend more time there. If so, can you recommend surf locations too.

Thanks

[dtc]

If you are on your way to NZ, then there is always Australia as well. There is a fair bit of rock climbing, not so much mountain climbing. And a lot of surfing.

[Louisleluc]

I am new here not sure if should have open a thread but I have seen that OP was mentioning Bali so I will add also few questions here.

As explained here (https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25957#p189040) I am currently living in Vietnam but will move to Indonesia later this year with plenty of free time to surf.

I will be very likely located in Bali but I am open to other destinations if surfing options are greats. So here are my questions:
- Any recommendation for a good surfing School in Bali? I am still a beginner
- Is aiming to surf Uluwatu a realistic target for beginners? What I have seen here [ make me very envious but I am wondering about the access and the facilities around (surfing School / place to rent materiaL)

[Tudeo]

I will be very likely located in Bali but I am open to other destinations if surfing options are greats.

Hi Louisleluc,

Bali is great for surfing but very crowded. For a beginner this initially isn't a problem because u will ride the white water straight to the beach until u are more advanced. This u can do everywhere at the beaches, so u can avoid the crowds.
The problem starts when ur looking for better waves, these waves have a relatively small area for takeoff, that's where the crowd is..
The better the wave, the better the surfers it attracts. Better surfers have the skills to take the waves over the lesser surfers. Uluwatu being a world class wave will be very difficult because of the hard competition, u need a certain level of experience to enjoy a surf there.
But also an beginner/intermediate area as Batu Bolong located next Changgu is nowadays spoiled by crowds.
Learning to surf is great fun but not easy. Learning to surf in crowds is hell on earth.. If surfing is important for u and ur free to choose a location in Indonesia, maybe there are better (uncrowded) places to go.
Another downside of Bali is traffic, also too crowded, if ur located in Ubud u need to drive a lot for the beaches..

[Louisleluc]

Bali is great for surfing but very crowded. .

Thanks for these feedbacks

[surf patrol]

Canggu Batu Bolong is a great place to learn surfing. Is crowded but the crowd is friendly . Please check out this local school - competitive prices and good service .