Lombok Surf & Travel Guide for 2026
Lombok is often coupled together with Bali because the two places are just so close. But we really think the spots are significantly different on the surf front.
The Isle of the Gods (that’s Bali) has world-famous, pumping lefts that are crowd magnets. Meanwhile, Lombok’s breaks are far less busy much of the time, and come in a whole variety of shapes and sizes, from peaky beach breaks for beginners (we’re looking at you Selong Belanak) to hardcore barrels for the pros (Bangko-Bangko).
Kuta Lombok (no relation to Kuta Bali) is the epicenter of the Lombok surf scene. A burgeoning town filled with surf camps that’s transformed in recent years largely thanks to the opening of a nearby international airport, it provides access to all of the breaks on the south coast.
They’re spread between various bays that have exposure to the Indian Ocean, each usually coming with three or four different breaks, along with more heavy-going outer reefs for those after something bigger.
- 🏄 KuraSurf – KuraSurf is a boutique surf camp in Lombok, Indonesia, combining world-class waves, tropical island living, daily surfing, and a vibrant community atmosphere. View packages →
Lombok offers a balance. You will need to travel more to the waves and might even need to hitch a boat to the spot too.
The payoff? Hardly a another soul in the lineup if you’re lucky, along with a chance to score what’s sometimes hailed as the finest wave on the planet at Desert Point, but we’ll leave that for a whole other guide!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
>>This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Indonesia
Lombok surf at a glance
The good:
- Desert Point is one of the best waves in the world
- Great for intermediate surfers looking to progress
- Quiet line ups, especially compared to Bali
The bad:
- You will need to travel to reach the breaks
- You will usually need to get a boat out
Lombok surf spots
The vast majority of the prime Lombok surf territory is on the south coast of the island. This is the area that gets good exposure to the S-SW swell channels that power through the Indian Oceanin the dry season.
The region also happens to be beset by big rocky mountains and reefs, all broken up by huge bays, all of which helps to create the variety of waves that Lombok is slowly becoming famed for.
These are all the major spots, starting in the west and heading east.
Desert Point
All hail Desert Point. Also known as Bangko-Bangko, this is the spot that first drew surfer eyes to Lombok.
It’s an impeccable example of a proper Indo point break, harnessing the SW swell into a long and hollow left barrel that can run for 20 seconds or more. It’s for the pros only and really doesn’t work that often.
>>We’ve actually got a whole separate guide dedicated to surfing Desert Point – check it out
Belongas
The gorgeous and remote bay of Belongas is a huge cleft in the south shore of Lombok. It’s now a regular pitstop for boat-surf charters but we’ve not seen it busy often.
That might be because there are actually two breaks that work, a left on the far east side of the bay and a right on the western side. The first is the better wave, offering long, cruisy rides off a lippy peak. The second is the more consistent option, working on smaller SW swells. Wet season offshores from the north can really help Belongas get going.
Serangan
Serangan is a great wave on its day. One of the quieter waves in south Lombok, tucked west of Selong Belanak. It’s typically seen as a more intermediate and advanced wave, but it can be amazing for beginner groups on small swells because the reef is deeper than most around here.
Still, it is a reef setup, and has both left and right options, working best on low to mid tide, when the peaks are cleaner and more defined.
Sessions here can feel more low-key than the busier Kuta-zone spots, which is part of the appeal. Expect a more tucked-away, exploratory sort of surf rather than an easy learner wave. Early mornings are often the call if you want lighter winds and a less crowded lineup.
>>Read more about surfing Lombok’s Serangan right now (coming soon)
Selong Belanak
Selong Belanak is the best beginner wave on Lombok. Pretty, sandy, easy-going, the swell here is tamed by the framing of reefs to the north and south.
There’s a good, steady offshore from the east much of the dry season and the vibe is really nice in the water. The H2O is crystal clear and it’s perfect for practicing the paddle and pop on a foamie.
>>We’ve actually got a whole separate guide dedicated to Selong Belanak – check it out.
Mawi
Pantai Mawi is a very attractive, white-sand beach that has consistent dry-season swell from May to August. The A-frame wave is wonderful at mid to high tide. Low tide can be an ask, as the water pulls off a shallow reef bed and cuts can be common.
Generall a more advanced wave because the spot is highly exposed and powerful.
>>Read our full guide to Mawi Beach right here
Air Guling
Just one bay around from Kuta Lombok is the right-hand reef at Air Guling. It’s a fairly regional Indo-style reefy that peels into the center of the bay from a rocky point.
Good consistency on south and southwest swells but the E trade winds don’t work quite as well as in other Lombok spots further along to the west, so it has a tendency to get crumbly after the dawn. On bigger days before the wind is on it, this one can get hollow and fast.
There’s also a left hander at Air Guling that breaks on top of reef on the opposite side of the bay. It’s less surfed but can be almond-barrels on its day.
>>Read more about Air Guling right here
Segar/Seger
The Segar reef in front of the beach of the same name is a veritable swell magnet. It pokes enough out from the bay of Kuta to get pretty much anything that the Indian Ocean can throw at it, meaning it’s often too big to surf. On the flip side, smaller days feed lovely right-hand walls into the spot, which are great for good intermediates and up.
Tanjung Aan
If you’re towards the beginner/improver end of the spectrum then there’s a very good chance that you’ll surf Tanjung Aan more than once during your stay here.
An A-frame wave with a long right and sharper, steeper left breaks in the very heart of a truly idyllic bay lined by white sand and framed by lush hills. It’s a real peeler that moves slow, so you can try stuff out and not be thrown off the line.
Deep water makes it accessible. Pay for a ride to the wave cos the paddle is farther than it looks.
Tanjung made headlines in 2025 becuase the gvt came in and ripped all the warungs down to make way for a big hotel. It’s looking sad these days.
>>We have a complete guide to Tanjung Aan right here
Gerupuk
Gerupuk is a whole bay with a handful of surf spots on offer. It’s now among the best bases for surfers, since there’s a small village right by the boat port where you can board and head out to surf everything from big outside reefs to nice all-level A-frames.
The downside is that it’s BUSY. People come from Kuta Lombok on surf schools all the time and many of the spots, esp Inside, are now clogged up.
Here’s the lowdown on a few of the breaks you’ll find here:
- Gerupuk Inside – A quality wave that has good consistency. It’s a boat ride from the village on the far eastern side of Gerupuk Bay. Semi-fast offs put you on a sectiony right hander with some hollow potential. Jsut good fricking fun all day long. Sadly, it’s now a stomping zone for surf camps so is busy as hell. Flying boards galore.
- Outside Right – The Outside Right is a beefier version of Inside (see above). It’s on the outer part of the bay (hence the name) and gets mightily large when the swell picks up. The drop in here is challenging but the reward is a huge face that thins as it hits the reef. There’s also a left that’s
- Outside Left – The least-surfed of all the Gerupuk breaks, this one’s a pretty nice left hander that sucks up lots of swell whenever there’s south in the compass direction. It’s a good place to find yourself alone and practice ripping on the goofy side, not to mention bag a few barrels since the waves can get nice and hollow with an offshore. Kick out at the right time, folks – the endzone here is on jagged reefs. Good intermediates and up only usually.
- Don-Don – Don-Don is an A-frame peak that offers the mellowest, rides in Gerupuk. It’s usually quite busy but that’s because it’s the easiest to reach from the port in the village. Soft and great for logs.
>>We’ve actually got a whole separate guide dedicated to surfing in Gerupuk Bay – check it out.
Ekas
Ekas is one of south-east Lombok’s more rewarding surf zones, with a couple of distinct setups that suit different moods and skill levels.
Outside Ekas is the more serious wave: A swell-sucking, semi-fast, sometimes-hollow A-frame that needs proper swell to light up and can handle size well.
Inside Ekas is the friendlier option, a long left that peels deeper in the bay and offers more room to settle into turns.
>>Read our complete guide to surfing in Ekas
When to surf in Lombok?
The dry season, that’s May to September, is the best time to surf in Lombok. But really there’s surf all year round, with wet-season swells hitting different beaches and offering something a bit better for beginners…
Like Bali, Lombok surf is generally better quality and more reliable in the dry season months. They run from May to August and see bigger and more consistent groundswells on longer periods hit the south and west coasts of the island. They are better months for more advanced surfers, as the waves are generally bigger and this is the time of year when you can expect Desert Point to be pumping more often.
The wet season (from November to March) certainly isn’t bad at all. The waves will drop a foot or a few in size and the offshores might not be so common, but breaks like Mawi and Gerupuk usually look the perfect fit for improving intermediates and beginners.
Where to stay in Lombok?
Surf camps in Lombok
I’d say the majority of people surfing here are on an organized surf camp. Aside from Bali, Lombok is the most popular place to do that in Indo really.
It’s down to the fact that you often need a boat to travel between the breaks that are listed here. That means either negotiating with local fishermen to drop you there and back every single time, or biting the bullet and booking onto an organized surf camp.
We much prefer the latter choice because that will also buy you a bit of local knowledge and LOADS MORE.
To be honest, the surf camps that are here right now are pretty darn epic. They look lovely, usually have pools, and almost always make use of local surf tutors to keep it ethical.
Check our full guide for the full whack of picks. Here’s a taster.
- Xanadu Surf & Yoga – Realm real quality. This package takes place in a very sick camp in Kuta Lombok, complete with its own pool and hangout garden. It includes daily yoga practice and up to two tutored surf lessons per day.
- Surf and Yoga Lombok – If yoga is the priority then this one does the job nicely. Yes, there’s more yoga-ing than surfing but that’s the deal.
>>Read our full guide to the best surf camps in Lombok
Hotels in Lombok
Lombok has some really, really good surf hotels.
Every time I go there I check Booking.com and there’s like another 10 awesome spots that I really wanna visit. Time’s too short, eh?
Anyway, the point is there are lots of great options these days.
What I really like is that not all of them are in Kuta Lombok town, either. You could now go and stay in Gerupuk village, in Ekas, or even near Air Guiling. The benefit would be you’d get to wake up early and beat everyone to the wave in the morning – waves that DEFINITELY DO get busy.
Here’s a look at a selection of some places we think stand out and why, broken down by location.
Surf hotels in Kuta Lombok TOwn
- Porter Jungle Hotel – A gorgeous boutique option l in the hills behind the town. It’s about 15 mins to the main center but that’s a bonus, not a bad thing. Great views, retro-cool rooms. Love this spot.
- Mad Monkey Kuta Lombok – Kuta’s surf-party hostel boss mode. Come here to drink, surf and meet people. I’m not that young anymore.
Surf hotels OUtside of Town
- Ombak Resort at Ekas – A charming Indonesian resort on the bluff above Ekas Bay. Walk down to surf some cracking lefts before the surf camp people get there in the morning.
- Innit Lombok – A really interesting surf and lifestyle hotel in Ekas. Pretty idyllic and beautifully designed. Would probably be a top choice for couples on a honeymoon – you get lux service and Ekas inside/outside on the doorstep.
How hard is surfing in Lombok?
What’s great about Lombok is that it covered a whole range of surf levels. At the top end of the spectrum, you have breaks like Desert Point. That’s a bone-crunching reef left that’s solely for the proper pros. On the other end of the spectrum, there are cruisy beach breaks like the ones at Selong Belanak.
Filling the void between them are oodles of truly great intermediate-level waves – especially the whole chocolate box at Gerupuk. Those are the predominant break in these parts and the reason that we tout Lombok as an intermediate haven. Well…those plus the fact that the shoulders here give you time to manoeuvre in a way you could only dream of over on busy Bali.
Naturally, the seasons also play their part. The dry season will be much bigger and much more powerful. It’s really the ONLY time that Desert Point will go off. The wet season (November-March) remains good but is smaller and mellower overall.
Travel basics for Lombok
Where is Lombok?
You can literally see Lombok from Bali. It’s the next isle over. Well…it would be were it not for the teeny-tiny Gili Islands and Nusa Penida in between. Let’s just say that it’s the next major island over from the Isle of the Gods.
Spanning just over 4,700 square kilometres, it’s slightly smaller than its compadre. Like Bali, though, it’s got the Indian Ocean just to the south and west (hello, waves), while long, strangely shaped Sumbawa (another surf hub) is just over the straight to the east.
How to get to Lombok
There are only two ways to arrive in Lombok: By air and by sea (this is an island, remember?).
A new airport has opened in the last five years and that means there are now short-haul connections from right across Southeast Asia right to Lombok itself. That’s been really helpful, because you no longer HAVE to go via Bali or Jakarta to get in.
If you’re already on Bali then the boats can an easier and a cheaper option. They run regularly to Lombok from the port of Padangbai (to get to the Senggigi surf region on the west coast) and the Benoa Marina near the Bukit. You can book those directly on 12Go.
Most boats go to Teluk Kodek Port (also known as Bangsal) on the northwest side of the island. It’s about two hours in a taxi from there to Kuta Lombok, the main surf town. One warning: The ride can be rough, esp in wet season.
It’s also possible to pre-book transfers from the port and airport before you arrive. Check the offering here (from the boat port) and here (for the airport). We can’t reccomend doing that enough. The area outside of the ferry arrivals is the Wild West. Drivers hasseling left, right and center. It’s so much nicer to be able to fob them off and have someone waiting for you. The airport isn’t so bad, but pre-pay prices do tend to be the same so it hardly makes a difference.
Things to do in Lombok when you’re not surfing
Lombok isn’t one of those surf islands where everything begins and ends at the beach. Step away from the waves and you’ll find volcanoes (super fricking high ones), jungle waterfalls, quiet villages, and some of the prettiest little islands in Indonesia to boot.
- The Gili Islands – A trip to the Gilis is the obvious first move. There’s three: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. They string off Lombok’s northwest coast and are easy to reach by boat, either from Bangsal or on organized day trips from Senggigi and Kuta Lombok. Gili T is the liveliest of the three, with beach bars, dive shops, snorkel trips, and a bit of a party scene. Gili Air is more relaxed but still has enough going on for a night or two. Gili Meno is the quiet one, better for couples, empty-beach wandering. I personally go Air every time. Love the vibe. Stay at La Siesta Eco Bungalows – I loved them.
- Hike Mount Rinjani (do the three-day option if you have time) – This volcano dominates northern Lombok and is one of Indonesia’s great multi-day treks, with routes that climb up to crater rims, hot springs, and views over Segara Anak lake. It’s not something to treat casually, though. This is a proper mountain hike, usually done over two or three days with guides and porters, and the season matters. Rinjani is typically closed during the height of the wet season, often from around January to March.
- Waterfalls – The north of Lombok has the most famous pair: Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep, both accessed from Senaru on the lower slopes of Rinjani. Sendang Gile is the easier one to reach, while Tiu Kelep involves a longer jungle walk and a river crossing, but rewards you with a huge, misty amphitheatre of falling water. Closer to central Lombok, Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu are better options if you’re staying around Kuta and don’t want to spend the whole day driving north.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Hey love the info. I’m at intermediate (at the beginning of it) I am coming over to indo from may to September and wanting to spend a fair chunk of time in Lombok area. Obviously peak season in Bali and indo then. I was wondering what the winds are like around that time? Cheers
Hey! Glad you like the site! Great time to come Lombok. Winds are variable can can pick up as it heats up in the day. You might find there’s a lot more S wind May-Oct but the south coast of Lombok has decent setups for that – off the top of our head: Gerupuk Inside, Ekas. Honestly, the best thing to do would be to book onto a surf camp. That way, they’ll take you out to a spot that’s working no matter what – the locals know the coastline here better than anyone and they’ll find a wave even if it’s not looking so good.
Hey, found the post super helpful so thanks! but I’m considering coming to Lombok in early December, as an intermediate/advanced surfer, just not sure wether the waves will be worth the trip over or not since many sites seem to say different things about the wave size during the wet season, so basically wondering what sort of size waves you can generally find during December (any overhead or double overhead or normally more waist/chest high) and how consistent the waves are (since only visiting for a couple of weeks), Thanks!
Hey. We’d say go! Obviously waves and good swell size can’t be garenteed but the wet season can actually be really great in Lombok. Lots of spots – Ekas Out, Gerupuk Out, Mawi, Serangan – stay pretty nice throughout the Nov-March period. You MIGHT get skunked but it’s unlikely. Plus, with this part of Indo, you always have the option of shifting over to the east coast of Bali where it’s in season.