Sanur surf has one ace: A barreling bowl of a right hander that’s arguably the finest wave on the island on its day. It’s as fickle as they come though, so expect a waiting game. This guide will also reveal the nearby breaks that are within walking distance or a quick drive.
An introduction to Sanur surf
Sanur is usually seen as a resort area for families looking for the classic Bali hotel-beach combo. It sits on the east coast, and anyone who’s surfed the Isle of the Gods will know that’s the least consistent coast going. Even for the east coast, there’s a bit of a swell shadow cast here by Nusa Penida et al that means this one rarely goes off like its bro up the shoreline in Keramas does.
But there are still some great waves, and one in particular that keeps the crews coming back – a barreling right hander that’s hollow as honeycomb, arguably the best expert right in the whole region. That needs lots of things to align to really fire, but the joy is that it’s a wet-season doozy that picks up creeping SE sets when the Bukit is often onshore and small.
Go south along the bending shores towards Serangan and you’ll find a number of other surf points, including one or two that are good for beginners. There will be crowds when Sanur is giving it keg-factory side but other than that it’s generally a quieter place to surf than Bukit. There are oodles of top-class hotel resorts backing the beach for those looking for some luxury.
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Sanur surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Sanur?
Where is Sanur, exactly?
Sanur is sort of the beach resort of Denpasar, the Balinese capital. It strings up the side of the Bali Sea directly facing Nusa Penida to the east. Most consider the Sanur resort strip to last all the way from Mertasari Beach in the south to Pantai Padang Galak past the main marina area. One of the great things about the location is just how accessible it is. A 30-minute taxi from the Ngurah Rai International Airport will get you here and there’s rarely the same awful traffic that plagues the way to Canggu and the western shores.
Sanur surf spots
There are a couple of surf spots to know about in Sanur. The main one is that pumping right-hand reef that’s a corker when the stars align. Other reef breaks beckon to the south, along with a couple of all-level breaks for wet-season surfing.
Sanur (or the Sanur Reef)
When Sanur is on, it can beat any wave in Bali – Ulus and Padang Padang included. The secret ingredient is medium to massive S-SE swells in the wet season with little to light offshores from the west. It’s rare that all comes together but if it does then this is a fabled Isle of the Gods right hander that pleases any regular foot ripper out there, with barrel sections, backdoors, and cutable shoulders that roll on for a nice distance.
It’s super important that you catch the tide just right. Too high and there’s too much water on the reef and it gets fat and looses that hollowness. Too low and it’s downright dangerous, especially as you lip out onto coral in nothing deeper than paddling water. Be VERY careful of that – it’s one of the most injury-making spots on the Island.
Localism is rife here. Folks will wait on this break like waiting for Christmas. They don’t take kindly to maverick paddle outs. It’s not for beginners.
Tanjung Sari
Catch Tanjung Sari at the southern end of Sanur beach at a full low tide and you’ll get a sucky barrel that fizzes over very shallow coral. Wait for the water to push on some and the whole thing mellows only a touch to offer something a bit more makable for most folks, with some split sections and good power on SE-S swells to that we think make it a great practice spot for intermediate improvers normalizing the coral rides of the tropics. The paddle from the beach itself can be gnarly, so get a boat to give you a life out back.
Serangan
You can see the Serangan from the south end of Sanur beach. However, it’s actually a separate island, so you need to drive around and over a bridge to get there, making the journey about 15-20 minutes in normal traffic. The area is largely protected now thanks to its population of sea turtles. It also has one well-exposed southeast-facing break that is a cracker in the wet-season. It’s a multi-peak place that spreads over the reefs in front of Pantai Serangan, the main beach. All levels are catered to and there are the occasional hollow shoulders for more experienced riders. Moreover, the water is often clean and clear – a gift in Bali where pollution is now rife.
We’ve got a full guide to surfing in Serangan
Where to stay when surfing in Sanur?
Sanur has been gathering big chain hotels for about 20 years now. We don’t really like them all that much, but it does mean that the region is great for family surfers (or families with one surfer) who want the R&R or a resort and some surf on the beach out front. Anyhow, here are places that we really like in Sanur…
Anindya Homestay
A super-highly-rated and frankly gorgeous hotel that’s right on Sanur Beach, the Anindya Homestay manages not to be a huge chain hotel with no character, which is something special in Sanur. Rooms are clean, the welcome is lovely, and the pool is just right.
ARTOTEL Sanur Bali
ARTOTEL Sanur Bali is towards the south end of the bay but still within walking access of the Tanjung Sari reef break. We mention it here because it’s a cool spot for couples and has one seriously nice infinity hotel.
Athena Villas Sanur
Couples looking for a romantic and private pad of their own can choose the Athena Villas Sanur. These self-contained pads are proper Bali, with polished concrete and small splash pools you don’t have to share. They are a short walk from the main surf breaks but close to loads of restaurants and shops on the main road.
Step-by-step guide to planning your sanur surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the sanur surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Sanur?
Sanur is one of the few spots in Bali that bucks the trend and works best in the wet season – that’s between November and March. The dominant swells bend a little more S or SE during that time, taking the action off the left-hand points of Uluwatu and others and pushing more up through the gap between Bali and Lombok. That’s precisely where you need it to send the Sanur Reef into overdrive, preferably combined with small W offshore. Sanur will work some days in the dry season (May to August) but it needs huge swells that will probably close up the Bukit and send everyone and their dog this way.
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!
