Lombok’s best surf spots - The best waves and where to find them

Lombok’s southern coastline, lashed by strong Indian Ocean waves, is the island’s surfing mecca, made up of a series of spectacular bays and quiet beaches. Kuta remains the gateway to the best of Lombok surfing for beginners and intermediates, while each of these burgeoning surf spots have developed their own unique surfer-centric communities.

There are surfable waves year-round although for wave quality and consistency, the dry season is the best bet. For travellers, the surf camps in Kuta and around provide hassle-free variety of several spots to surf along the coastline. For those who prefer to go it alone independently, nothing beats an early morning with a long barreling wave all to yourself. Here are our top picks for surfing Lombok:

Selong Belanak

Selong Belanak is a great spot for the beginner with the added advantage of being one of the most scenic beaches on the island. Expect a long arc of sugary white sand and a laid-back vibe despite its growing popularity. It is in a sheltered bay between two hills so the waves are consistent and not too challenging, thus perfect for the first-timer. There are surf instructors, board rental and plenty of small warungs to grab a bite to eat.

Tanjung Aan

East of Kuta lies Tanjung Aan beach, another in a seemingly never-ending series of eye-catching bays along this rugged coastline. It’s a good all-round spot for confident beginner to intermediate surfers with left and right handers that break over the reef in the middle of the bay. There is also an offshore break around the headland. Tanjung Aan offers more picture-perfect scenery between the headlands and the unique ‘Batu Payung rock. It’s one of the few spots for serious high tide rainy season waves.

Gerupuk Bay

A large inlet comprising several bays, Gerupuk’s five main surf breaks are suited to beginners and intermediate surfers. Expect pretty reliable waves is for a faster learning curve. There is a vibrant surfer community here. It can get quite busy as the Kuta based surf camps head here most days, especially for the popular Inside Right surf break. The Don Don break is also fairly sheltered and pretty consistent, even during the rainy season. If not joining a surf camp, there are several quirky homestays in the immediate area. This allows serious surfers the opportunity to ride out to the waves early morning or late afternoon and so avoid the crowds.

Ekas Bay

The waves of Ekas Bay are arguably the most versatile in Lombok, appealing to surfers of all levels. It is also surfable year-round. The whole area is made up of immaculate yet undeveloped white sandy beaches. This is helped in part by its distance from Kuta and relatively remote location. Access to the waves is primarily by boat from Awang harbor. The two main waves are situated on the western edge of Awang Bay. Between them, there are varied sections for virtually every ability level. For those who want to try something a little different, take a short ride south to Kaliantan Beach for Lombok’s best kite surfing.

Desert Point

The south coast is Lombok’s surf central but miles away on the isolated southwest coast is the legendary surfing mecca of Desert Point. This is the go-to spot for hard core pro-standard riders, as one of the finest left hand surf spots on the planet. The Desert Point surf break is unpredictable and some seasoned surfers will happily hang around for days waiting for that perfect wave. When the right conditions eventually arrive, the long barreling waves are like nowhere else. This is strictly for fearless, expert surfers only.