Indonesia

The deep water trench on the eastern side of Bali heralds the beginning of Nusa Tenggara Islands (meaning Eastern Islands), which sprawl all the way to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Nusa Tenggara’s climate is far drier; supporting a brown landscape of scrub and bush, unlike the lush jungles to the west. Fortunately, the one thing Nusa Tenggara has in common with the rest of Indo is plenty of epic waves.

Lombok – Although Lombok is the same size as Bali and very close, it is much less touristed and more chilled out.  Lombok is also much better positioned and faces directly into the predominant swell direction. Bay after bay offers shelter from the winds. The best known wave in Lombok is Desert Point located on the southwest tip. It was voted “The Best Wave in the World” by Australian Tracks magazines readers, with incredibly long rides, tubing relentlessly and over a very shallow coral reef.

Sumbawa – Sumbawa has over 100km of surfing coastline, and the south west tip of the island has consistent waves reached overnight on boat charters from Bali. With waves like Scar Reef, Super Sucks & YoYo’s you are never short of world class waves. Over to the east side of the south coast you will find Lakey Peak, a perfect left & right A frame. Also here is the least crowded left hander Nuga’s & the barreling right Periscopes.

Sumba – Sumba is an east-Indonesian island, located south-east of Bali. The island has a small population and a dry tropical climate. In total, Sumba has more hours of sunshine than any other place in Indonesia. The land resembles South Africa or Australia, with scattered small villages and herds of cattle and buffalo. Sumba is off the beaten track. Transport systems and roads are infrequently used. Most hotels in main towns are simple, only catering for the adventurous. Beaches are long and clean, water is clear and abundant in fish, and there is great surf.

Roti & Sawu Island – West Timor is not known for its waves but Roti is! Roti is a small island of the south west coast which has many excellent offshore island reef breaks. Surf boat charters are the best way to explore this remote area. Roti’s world class break is Nemberala which is a long easy left point, also known as T-Land. Sawu Island is located further west with waves at Rai Jua  and Dana Islands.

For a decade and a half, charter boats have been plying the coasts of Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Savi and Roti. Surf camps have sprung up on the East and South Coasts of Lombok and the Lakey Area of Sumbawa is drawing ever greater numbers to these fascinating surf shores.

Lombok

• Desert Point - A long walled and incredibly hollow left hander that on its day can break up to 300 meters, growing in size from takeoff to end. Has been called the best left hander in the world, if you get it when it’s on you will never forget it! Best between 3-8 ft.
• Belongas Bay -This is a fairly typical Indo reef break. Nice and consistent with powerful long rides when the swell picks up. Sensitive to winds. It's better during the raining season with NE winds.  Two main peaks - The right: Good peaky right on the west side. Can be powerful. The left - At the east side of the bay. Doesn’t always work, but very good when it’s on.
• Air Guling - 2 breaks - a hollow shifty left, best at mid to high tide.
  A nice right with a fast inside section, best at low to midtide has reasonable protection from the wind.
• Gerupuk - This is a huge bay about 7 km east of Kuta, and on a big day it offers a few different breaks around the bay. It can handle any winds as it’s protected and surrounded by hills
• Inside Gerupuk Or Bumbang Bay -A right-hander, a fun wave suitable for all levels of ability breaking over flat reef or sand bottom. The big days of southwest swell can be a great time to surf it. This break is surf-able at any time of year, best on the incoming tide.
• Gerupuk Outside Or Gili Golong - A right-hander, good at mid to high tide. A huge wave and big take off at the point, then a long ride when you get to the inside section, which can be fast and hollow. Up to a maximum of 10 foot.
• Don Don - A right and left hand peak suitable for all abilities, can be a real fun break especially on a bigger swell, best on an outgoing tide.
• Pelawangan - Another right-hander that’s good for beginners, only on big days,
  it can get very hollow on the right tide.
• Ekas Bay - Is located on the east side of Kuta. A reef break, it has two spots.
• Outside Ekas - A good left-hander that breaks close to the entrance of the channel that can break for up to 200 meters on the right day.
• Inside Ekas - A fun peaky wave, a left and right hander, works with a bigger swell, the left from mid to high tide and the right from mid to low tide, hollow and barrelling on inside section. Can get very good when the winds are light, maximum 8 foot.
• Scar Reef - A long walled left peak where you drive into several backdoor sections all offering tube rides to write home about. Best between 2-10ft. There is also a smaller right hander on the inside reef on the bigger days.
• Super Sucks - Some say it’s the longest most intense tube they’ve ever ridden!! Breaking over a live coral reef, this wave reels faultlessly for 150 meters. Get pitted from takeoff to exit. No top turns here when it’s on! Best between 3-6 ft.
• Yo-Yo’s - Catches any swell. It consists of two rights, one a wedge peak breaking off a cliff face, the other a long walled right reef in the middle of the bay, usually surfed when everywhere else is small. Best between 2-6 ft but has been surfed at up to 12 ft and bigger.

Sumbawa

This region of Sumbawa can get surf all year round.  The peak swell period is from April to September but October to March can also offer perfect clean conditions with light winds. There are 5 world class surfing waves situated in the same bay directly in front of Aman Gati Hotel.

• Lakey Peak – Voted # 33 in the Top Waves of the World. An intense hollow right & left-hand A frame, with the left generally being longer, the right can fire on the proper swell direction. Lakey Peak has a guaranteed backdoor for those with the balls to pull in. Best at 5-8 foot that holds all sizes and goes off at mid-tides, and the left can provide some deep barrels to be surfed at low tides if the swell is big enough.
• Lakey Pipe - is on either side of 'The peak' a popular wave amongst the body boarders and 'No-mans' which is suitable for the more extreme surfer. A short, but very hollow barrel that often pinches shut. Better from mid to high tide. ‘The beachey’ only breaks in the lagoon with the big swells and is more suitable for the less experienced surfer.
• Lakey Left - Across the channel from the peak. With right size swell and direction this normally sectiony wave can line up and provide deep barrels.
• Lakey Right - A few hundred meters down the beach. A short, bowling right-hander that breaks into a deep-water dent in the reef. Some fun barrels. Holds only to about 8 foot.
  Periscopes – Voted # 44 in Top Waves in the World. A fun righthand wave at the eastern end of a long reef that sticks way out into the bay, Periscopes can offer a high, tight barrel over a relatively safe reef platform, and a clean exit into a channel. Only a short paddle out and better at high tides with glassy or N (offshore) winds. Blown out by dry season trades. Holds only to about 8 foot. About a mile walk up the beach from the surf camp.

Sumba

The islands of Nusa Tenggara, including Sumba, are peaks of a mostly submerged mountain chain, so the waters immediately off the southwest coast of Sumba are deep. Swell generated in the Southern Ocean or the Indian Ocean approach at full speed and the first thing that swell hits are the coral reefs of Sumba.

That makes Sumba surf powerful and often challenging. The tidal range here is as much as eight feet, which is more extreme than most of Indonesia, and changes the character of the waves every few hours.  High tide can be quite user friendly, then 4 hours later the low tide may challenge even advanced surfers. In general, Sumba is for intermediate to advanced surfers.

Timor & Roti

The surf on Roti is consistent and offshore, there are a variety of lefts and some good rights when the trades aren't too strong.  Waves suit all standards, ranging from mellow to hollow.

You will most likely make base at Nembrala, the longest and most consistent left in the area.  From here you have the choice of about 6 other waves (lefts and rights) within a 2 hour radius.

Warm but rarely overly hot temperatures, gentle sea breezes and some overnight rains temper the dry season from May - October. The average temp is 28’C.

November - April is the wet season so generally can get late afternoon showers.  This tends to be a nice relief from the heat and humidity.

Water temps are generally 28’c year round. Boardies and rashy, or a shorty is recommended for protection against the reef.