The waves in Bali still come despite the island having been on complete lockdown since mid-March. No tourist visas. Fewer surfers. Nobody spending money. It went from 300 + planes arriving every day, with surfers and visitors swarming beaches and warungs across the island to a near ghost town. It’s been a rough beginning to 2020, although there are more waves for those lucky enough to still be here.
Bali isn’t the easiest place to avoid the crowds unless you know a few off the grid or even secret spots around the island. And while most Bali surf breaks on this website are well known within the surfing community, surfers continue to keep their secret spots well under the radar. But, the longer you hang out with locals or the more you explore the coasts, the better chance at finding them.
For those of you lucky enough to stay on the island or who have recently made your way here, I hope this guide will help you find some epic Bali surf.
Before the Storm
There’s plenty jam-packed into this article, including:
Now, when there’s word of a big swell coming to Bali, adrenaline and excitement fill the island. Surfers keep their eyes glued to weather maps, and decoding the perfect combination of height, period, and direction becomes priority. Once figured out, you can be sure to find the best surfers at the right spot at the right time.
What Season Is The Best Time to Surf?
Most swells make their way from the Antarctic and can generate good surf year-round. But Bali’s two seasons determine where these waves will break. The general rule is; the east coast is the best place to surf during the wet season and the west coast of Bali is best to surf in the dry season.
Since everyone wants to visit Bali from June to September (Dry Season), the popular breaks get crowded. To avoid this, you must find breaks off the beaten track or come during the wet season.
Surfing Bali in the Dry Season
During Bali’s dry season the best waves can be found on the west coast between Kuta and Uluwatu, the western coastline provides the biggest and best swells generated by south-east winds.
Bali Surf Spot Guide for West Coast
Bingin
Bingin is perhaps Bali’s most perfect wave. It’s consistent, predictable and one of the ‘easiest’ waves to get barreled.
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Bingin
Minimum level: Intermediate
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 8ft Head high to double overhead. Barreling left over the reef
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Perfect barrels; A tight take-off opens up to a hollow left, on a mid-low tide for about 50 meters
Best season for surf: Dry season from April to November
Address: Jl. Pantai Bingin, Pecatu, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia (Map here)
MAP
Nyang Nyang Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Nayang Nayang
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 2-6ft
Ideal swell conditions: SE
Highlights: The long trail there keeps the crowds away, there’s plenty of sea life out whilst you’re in the water
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Nyang Nyang Beach, Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Uluwatu, Bali.
Google map here
Padang Padang
The waves here challenge even the most advanced surfers because the waves are super-fast and break left over a sharp shallow coral reef.
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Padang Padang
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 6ft to 12ft
Ideal swell conditions: SE
Highlights: Regular (and amazing) barrels
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
MAP
Sanur Reef
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Hyatt Reef
Minimum level: Experienced
Waves (Swell Range): South Swell, 3 to 6ft right-hander.
Ideal swell conditions: S swell with west winds at high tide
Highlights: Known to break best on larger swells (double overhead)
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Geo Map It:
Tukad Balian
Balian produces some of the biggest waves in Bali although it’s good for both intermediate and advanced surfers. Balian had consistent long fat waves for goofy footers. Here the Balian river flows into ocean and creates strong riptides.
MAP
Impossibles
A popular surfing spot for the advanced surfer who enjoys solid waves and getting barrelled. Located in the beach resort of Pecatu, 30-minute drive from Legian.
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 4 to 8ft
Ideal swell conditions: S
Highlights: Doesn’t get overcrowded, long reef, with long swell and conditions are suitable for all tides
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
MAP
Uluwatu
The swells are fast and powerful. Ulu’s is a wide reef offering 5 different peaks that break different according to the tide. These main 5 waves all break left down the reef.
Bali Surf Spot Guide for 5 different breaks at Uluwatu
1.Temples: Longest Paddle, Less crowded
2.The Bombie: Needs Large swell and high tide
3.The Peak: In front of the cave, consistent waves
4.Outside Corner: Big swell low tide for experienced surfers.
5.Racetracks: Best at low tide but gets super shallow on a super sharp reef
MAP
Kuta Beach
Smaller and less aggressive, this beach break attracts beginners as well as advanced surfers.
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Kuta
Minimum level: Beginners
Waves (Swell Range): 1-8ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Good beach to learn
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
MAP
Brazilian Eloy Lorenzo Juniors ride
Surfing Bali in the Wet season
If you absolutely dislike crowds or want to relax between sets without having to fight over the next wave, then come during wet season.
During this time of year, the winds change direction but surfers can still find decent waves along Bali’s west coast. The waves are typically smaller and break left. But during monsoon season, the best waves can be found on Bali’s east coast where the winds are strong and the swells produce nearly perfect regular footed waves.
Bali Surf Spot Guide For The East Coast
Nusa Dua
This break produces heavy regular-footed waves and you can expect double overhead barrels on bigger days.
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 4 to 8ft
Ideal swell conditions: S
Highlights: Doesn’t get overcrowded, long reef, with long swell and conditions are suitable for all tides
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
MAP
Hyatt Reef
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Hyatt Reef
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 6ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Great learning spot for beginners, with soft, slow waves. Three different surf spots, with something for everyone
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Address: Jl. Duyung, Sanur, Denpasar Sel., Kota Denpasar, Bali 80716, Indonesia
Google Map here
Keramas
The waves are powerful here and attract more advanced surfers. In addition to lots of sea urchins and sharp shallow coral reefs
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Keramas
Keramas is no longer a “secret” spot, but still produces the perfect playground for steep drops, long barrel sections, and some of the most powerful surf in Bali that breaks over a shallow section of volcanic rock.
Wave Type
Volcanic Reef
Wave difficulty
Experienced
Wave direction
Right
Kedungu
Less crowded than most spots, Kedungu’s waves are fun, long, mellow and easy to surf on smaller days. But when swells pick up it can become a difficult wave for some beginners.
Yeh Gangga
Just North after Kedungu you’ll find a more difficult spot for intermediate to advanced surfers depending on the swell. Here you will find a beach break and volcanic black sand. You can expect fun 5 footers powerful enough to get you barreled on a good day and is generally recommended for smaller swell days.
Medewi
Left break -good for any level of skill depending on the wind this place is usually smooth and fat.
Bali Surf Spot Guide For Medewi
Waves (Swell Range): 2ft to 9ft, average size 2-3ft
Ideal swell conditions: S-SW
Highlights: Longest left-hand point break on the island
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Pantai Batu Bolong Street, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Google map here
Green Bowl
Nice little trek to the beach, expect strong currents and rip tides
Minimum level: Intermediate to advanced
Waves (Swell Range): 1 to 5 feet
Ideal swell conditions: W – NW
Highlights: less crowded
Address: Jl. Bali Cliff, Ungasan, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Google Map here
Suluban Beach
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 12ft, average wave size 3-5ft
Ideal swell conditions: WE
Highlights: Loads of barrels, perfect left and right-hand breaks, consistency
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Google Map here
Batu Bolong
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Batu Bolang
Minimum level: Beginners
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 10ft
Ideal swell conditions: SW
Highlights: Mellow waves, perfect for longboarding, and newbies
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Address: Pantai Batu Bolong Street, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia Google Map here
Echo Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide to Echo Beach
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 4 to 8ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Consistent with fast tubes, lefts, and sometimes, a shorter, right-handed wave
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Canggu, North Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Google Map here
Balangan Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Balangan Beach
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): 4 to 15ft
Ideal swell conditions: SW
Highlights: Good for surfing all tides!
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Address: South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia Google Map here
Jungut Batu Beach @ Nusa Lembongan
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan, Jungut Batu and Mahana Point
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 8ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Easy paddle, closer to the shore and good low tide breaks
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Geo track it: Gg. Nusa Indah, Jungutbatu, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia Google Map here)
Razors @ Nusa Lembongan
Waves (swell range): long left-hander
Ideal swell conditions: S–W swell with SE trade winds
Best season to surf: dry season. (May-Oct)
Geo track it:
Lacerations @ Nusa Lembongan
Waves (swell range): right-hand barrel
Ideal swell conditions: 5 foot S-W swells with SE trade winds
Best season to surf: dry season. (May-Oct)
Geo track it:
Mahana Point @ Nusa Lembongan
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Mahana Point
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 10ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Got a nice steep pocket for breaking into and not into the reef
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Sep)
Address: Lembongan, Nusapenida, Klungkung Regency, Bali 80771, ID
Google Map here
Shipwrecks @ Nusa Lembongan
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Shipwrecks
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 10ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: The line is filled with all level surfers, so no need to feel intimidated in the water.
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Gg. Nusa Indah, Jungutbatu, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Google Map here
No Man’s @ Nusa Lembongan
Bali Surf Spot Guide for No Man’s
Minimum level: Intermediate
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 4ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – SW
Highlights: Smaller swell and waves
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Gg. Nusa Indah, Jungutbatu, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771, Google Map here
Playgrounds @ Nusa Ceningan
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Playgrounds
Minimum level: Intermediate
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 10ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Good for all surf types; short boarders, longboarders and bodyboarders, gnarly right with an epic open tube time
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Gg. Nusa Indah, Jungutbatu, Nusapenida, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80771 Google Map here
Balian Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Balian
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 12ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: There’s often big swell here with nice long, powerful left, where the swell at other west coast beaches may not be as big.
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Address: Lalanglinggah, West Selemadeg, Tabanan Regency, Bali 82162, Indonesia
Google Map here
Blackstone Nusa Dua Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Blackstone
Minimum level: Advanced/Pro
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 5ft
Ideal swell conditions: SE
Highlights: Soft waves, perfect for beginners to learn
Best season for surf: Wet Season (Oct-Apr)
Address: Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Google map here
Dreamland Beach
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Dreamland
Minimum level: Beginners
Waves (Swell Range): 2 to 10ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Mellow waves, beautiful surroundings
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Jl. Pantai Balangan No.54, Jimbaran, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia Google Map here
Kedonganan Beach @ Jimbaran
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Kedonganan
Minimum level: Beginner
Waves (Swell Range): 3 to 5ft
Ideal swell conditions: W
Highlights: Beach break and no reef to worry about.
Best season for surf: Dry Season (May-Oct)
Address: Kedonganan, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Google Map here
Airports Right and Left
One of the first surf spots you’ll see when you flying into Ngurah Rai International Airport, accessible by boat,
Bali Surf Spot Guide for Airports
Minimum level: Intermediate
Waves (Swell Range): 2-4 ft
Ideal swell conditions: S – W
Highlights: Less crowded;
Afulu
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left-break
Ideal swell conditions: SW swell with NE winds during all tides
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time
Coordinates:
Asu
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left break
Ideal swell conditions: W swell with E winds during all tides
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time
Coordinates:
Dipi
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left and right break
Ideal swell conditions: S swell with NW winds during mid-tide
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time
Coordinates:
Hilisataro “Rock Star”
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): right break
Ideal swell conditions: S swells with NNW winds during mid-tide
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time)
Coordinates:
The Point
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): right-break
Ideal swell conditions: SSW swell with N winds during all tides
Highlights:
Best season for surf: Year around
Coordinates:
Indicators point
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): right-break
Ideal swell conditions: Works best in offshore winds from the northeast during high-tide
Highlights: West Java is an exposed reef break that has reliable surf
Best season for surf: May-Oct (Dry Season)
Indicators point A reef breaks right. Sometimes crowded. Lots of sea urchins, riptides, pollution, sharks, and rocks.
Coordinates:
Secret
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left-break
Ideal swell conditions: SW swell with NE winds during all tides
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August
Coordinates:
The Machine
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left-break
Ideal swell conditions: SSW swell with ENE winds during high-tide
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time
Coordinates:
Walohiu
Minimum level: All levels
Waves (Swell Range): left-break
Ideal swell conditions: SW swell with NE winds during mid to high-tide
Highlights:
Best season for surf: May-Sept or in some years it’s April-Oct August= hammer time
Coordinates:
Surf Breaks in Java
G-land
Minimum level: Experienced
Waves (Swell Range): left-break
Ideal swell conditions: S SW swell with SE winds during mid to high-tide
Highlights: consistent waves all through dry season- bring booties
Best season for surf: Dry season; April – October
Coordinates: 8.7258° S, 114.3626° E
Hazards: sharp shallow reef, and sea urchins, bring booties
Where is G-Land?
G-Land is located on the southern tip of the island of Java. At the far end of a peninsula facing west into the Indian Ocean. It’s situated near Taman Nasional Alas Purwo.
Closest surf camp:
How to get to G-Land from Bali?
- Option 1: Take a 2hr fast boat from Kuta, Bali.
- Option 2: Drive 7 hours including a 4-km ferry ride to Ketapang, located in East Java from the Western tip of Ba
Cimaja
Minimum level: Intermediate
Waves (Swell Range): right-break
Ideal swell conditions: SW swell with N winds during high-tide
Highlights: consistent waves all through dry season- bring booties
Best season for surf: March – October
Coordinates: 6.9306° S, 106.4907° E
Hazards: Sharp Rock shelf, shallow cobblestones
Where is Cimaja?
Cimaja is a small village in the West Javan regency of Sukabumi. About 8 km, or a 15-minute drive, west of Pelabuhan Ratu.
How to get to Cimaja from Bali
Cimaja Surf Spots
Indicators, Karang Cibang Haji Known as Karang Haji -6.9614° S, 106.4200° E, Cikembang, Sunset Beach – Also known as Karang Hawu, Samudra, and Loji Point
Other Nearby Surf Breaks closest to Indicators point:
- Closest break Cimaja1 km
- Second closest break Karang Haji – OceanQueen Hotel4 km
- Third closest break Samudra 6 km
- Fourth closest break Loji 10 km
- Fifth closest break Baya Reef 27 km
Check out other articles about surfing here: Surfing Culture in Bali
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