Selong Belanak is the beginner beach break of southern Lombok. Don’t be surprised if you come here day after day on that surf camp. It’s very protected, has easy waves, and an all-round lovely vibe. Here’s our complete guide to the town…
An introduction to Selong Belanak
Selong Belanak is a small clutch of warungs (local Indonesian kitchens) and hotels behind a long glowing beachfront in southwestern Lombok. Nowhere near as big and bustling as the new surf-town hub of the island (Kuta Lombok), it remains a sleepy place surrounded by cornfields and rice paddies. The wave here is PERFECT if you’re a total beginner – it’s slow, soft, breaks over sand, and really easy to access. But we sometimes recommend a stay here to more advanced surfers, too, mainly because there are some nice spots on the reefs of neighboring Serangan and Mawi beach, both of which are within reach by taxi or scooter.
It’s not just the surf that brings people, either. The chilled vibe, the local eateries, and a few cracking new hotels (which we’ll get to later) also play their part. This guide will offer detailed info on the waves you can expect to find in Selong Belanak (since 99% of people who travel this way are looking for waves), look at the top stays, and the best seasons to visit. Let’s begin.
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
Selong Belanak at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Selong Belanak?
Where is Selong Belanak?
The pint-sized town of Selong Belanak sits some 25 minutes’ drive to the west of Kuta Lombok, the main surf town in these parts, on the south side of the island as a whole. It’s tucked under a series of high coastal hills with a big horseshoe bay opening up to its front. Most people who come will pass through aforementioned Kuta town first, but there are some that come direct from the airport. For that, there’s a bit of a shortcut highway that chops the travel time down to 30 minutes or a touch more depending on traffic.
The surf in Selong Belanak
The main reason Selong Belanak is on the map of Lombok (and, we’re willing to bet, the main reason you’re reading this guide right about now) is because it has surf. There are waves both in the town itself and just outside, running the gamut from cruisy little ankle slappers that seem tailor-made for beginners to hollower walls for the intermediates and up.
Serangan
It’s possible to hitch a boat for 50k IDR across the breadth of the whole of Selong Belanak beach. That will take you to the surf spot known as Serangan, which is a whole different beast to the well-sheltered inside beginner break (see below). This one is a hugely popular wet-season spot that loves a head-on SE swell with big periods. The waves will hit the edge of the reef and peel off to the right like a point break, running for 100 meters or more into the deeper channel. Serangan can change from fast, hollowish walls when its over 8 foot to more cruisy longboard trimmers when it’s under 5. It’s for intermediates and up.
Selong Belanak Beach (Pantai Selong Belanak)
This is the break that everyone comes here for. It’s probably the easiest on the south coast of Lombok, and by quite a stretch at that. Wedged into the eastern end of a great bay that’s bisected from the open Indian Ocean by a series of hulking cliffs, the main spot is super protected from head-on S and SW swells.
The sets here need to do a whole load of work to bend in and refract around the reefs to make their way to the inside of the bay. When they arrive, they are typically little more than 2-foot rollers, even when the ocean is kicking out 15-foot bombs out back. On top of that, the whole thing breaks over a soft, sand bottom, there’s almost zero paddle out to be spoken of, and you can park right up on the bay. It’s a beginner’s dream. We have to say, it’s one of the main reasons we’d always recommend that a complete beginner choose a surf camp in Lombok over one in Bali; the spot is 20x nicer than Kuta Bali could ever hope to be.
Mawi Beach
Surfing the left at Mawi Beach is an unbelievable pleasure if you luck out and get a sunny day with nice 5-6 foot sets. This hidden beach has a real Robinson Crusoe feel to it, and churns out nice goofy rides that have two or three sections, one of them potentially hollow when it’s big enough. Sadly, the road is a little bit roundabout to get here from Selong Belanak town, so you’re looking at a drive of 20 minutes even though Mawi is only one bend in the coast away.
Where to stay in Selong Belanak?
Nice hotels have been popping up in Selong Belanak for some years now. The town’s rep as one of the leading beginner surf spots on Lombok has helped focus the spotlight a little, so you can now pick well-rated boho hotels with boutique rooms, and fully-fledged resorts with pools on the side of the Indian Ocean. Here are our two favorites.
SUKU Lifestyle Hotel
Our choice of stay in Selong Belanak today is always the SUKU Lifestyle Hotel. It’s a very sleek outfit, with a swimming pool set in an almost Moroccan courtyard. The rooms are uber-relaxing, with elements of eastern design that mingle perfectly with modern conveniences. The walk from the door of the hotel to the main beach is about 10 minutes, so you can be the first on the surf come morning.
Amber Lombok
If you’ve got stacks of cash to splash then you could stay in the brand-new resort across the way from Selong Belanak. It’s a lot closer to the waves of Serangan, but it’s a proper honeymoon hotel with a fantastic infinity pool that finishes right on the cusp of a reef-ringed lagoon. The rooms are cozy and inspired by the styles of the Greek Cyclades. If you can, plump for a sea-view villa because they’re the bee’s knees.
Now, if you wanted to surf in Selong Belanak but aren’t convinced that staying here is the right way to go (it can be a little quiet and disconnected for some), there’s always the option of a surf camp in Lombok. There’s a 90% chance that these will come via the beach break on the first day or two days to assess the beginners in the group. We’ve got a complete guide to the ones that we think are the best right here…
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…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 Selong Belanak?
If you’re planning on surfing in Selong Belanak then the chances are you’re on the total beginner end of the spectrum. There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. It’s just that it renders considerations about seasons just a touch less important, since the waves here hardly change that much depending on whether there’s a big SW or a small SE in the forecast.
That said, it is probably worth knowing a little about the greater Lombok surf seasons because those will come into play when you finally graduate from Selong Belanak to other waves, or if you’re traveling as a mixed skill-level group and want to sample some of the other nearby waves.
We have more info on all of that over on our complete guide to Lombok surf. For now, here’s a quick summary:
- Dry season (May-October) – The dry season is a byword for big and glassy surf across the central Indonesian islands. From Bali to Sumbawa, things almost double in size and increase in consistency when the rains cease around the spring. It’s the best time to surf for just about anyone, because you’ll get more days that work on the sands in Selong Belanak itself but also more barrels and clean wedges on the breaks that cover the whole of southern Lombok.
- Wet season (November-March) – Don’t underestimate the wet season in Lombok. It’s actually a very consistent time to surf, since there are certain breaks that have nice exposure to SE swells that dominate at this time. The downside will be unpredictable winds, which can pick up in the afternoon when it gets hotter. For beginners, though, there’s a wave maybe 5/7 days of the week in Selong Belanak, so you won’t be wanting for something to learn on.
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!
