Simeulue surf is just making a name for itself. To be fair, it’s been hard, what with the Ments to the south. This one’s south coast is a corker, though, with reef breaks for lots of levels that we think will make it a stand-out in years to come.
An introduction to Simeulue surf
Simeulue, Simeulue, Simeulue – remember the name. The northernmost of the Sumatran barrier islands in western Indo, this little number is beginning to make a real name for itself. Some of that is down to an all-new flight link to Medan on the Sumatran mainland. Most of it is because of the sheer, sheer quality of the surfing that’s to be had.
Forget the north side of the island for a minute because that region is still essentially unchartered. The south coast alone holds over 12 major breaks that could rival the stuff of the Ments. And we don’t say that lightly. From the freight train walls of Thailands on one side to the hollow pipes of Teabags on the other, there’s tons and tons to enjoy, all of it without any of the crowds or hassle of Bali.
The surf scene here is laid-back and friendly, with a small but welcoming local surf community. You’ll find a few surf camps and accommodations near the breaks, providing essential amenities for surfers. The island’s remote nature means that infrastructure is basic, so don’t expect luxury resorts.
We would add that plumping for a surf camp on Simeulue is a fine option because navigating the long, winding coast roads – not to mention the open ocean straits – to various breaks is likely to be the biggest challenge in this land of uncrowded peaks and all-level surfing.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Indonesia
Simeulue surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Simeulue surf?
Where is Simeulue?
Simeulue lies to the west of Sumatra and is part of the Aceh province. Simeulue is positioned approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) off the northern coast of Sumatra and can be reached by boat or a short flight from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra.
This is one of the westernmost points in Indo, which should say something to anyone who knows that the dry-season swells are SW and VERY consistent. AKA – Simeulue is one of the great swell magnets of the country!
The south coast of Simeulue is where the action is at. There, plus the channel that pushes up between the island itself and the outer isles of Tapah and Mincau.
Simeulue surf spots
Simeulue is actually shockingly undiscovered when it comes to surfing. We’re certain that there are miles of shoreline up the west coast that hold secrets – potentially epic ones. But there’s no denying that it’s the south shore, from Dylan’s around to the isles that host Thailand (the break, not the country – see below) that is the jewel in the crown.
Thailand
A true performance left hander that breaks on the side of a small rock off the coast of southeastern Simeulue, Thailand does draw a crowd because of the way it can hold barrels for over 50 meters at a time. When we say crowd, that means about 10-20 surfers max on Simeulue – this ain’t Bali, remember? On the best days, the reef here offers very neat, deep tubes that you can really get sunk into and look through the tunnel back down the line. A real experience and a darn fun wave.
Alus Left
Mellow marshmallow sets filter through in the center of Alus Bay to offer up what’s probably the best of the beginner spots on the whole island. This one’s a great little playground for folks just emerging from the whitewash and looking for something that will let them practice on green waves that won’t throw you about or tumble you around. It’s a left and it’s really forgiving, breaking largely on nothing but sand.
Alus Point
There needs to be some size in the swell – like, at least 6-7 foot – for the point at the western end of Alus Bay to start working. If it does, it tends to be a generally short right hander that we’d only really recommend if you’re staying inside Alus Bay itself and want something to ride that’s on the doorstep. A few cutbacks and bottom turns and bingo you’re in the channel, but the peak is fun and the wave is a top choice on the strong SW dry-season swell days.
One Tong
Not often mentioned but certainly up there with the most alluring waves on Sim in our humble opinion, One Tong is a peeling left hander that shines on middling swells. It’s basically a straight-line peeler that kicks off the rocks under big swathes of coast jungle on the far southwestern edge of the island. Very photogenic stuff, and a top spot for people bringing single fins or something with a bit of extra volume.
Dylan’s Right
Dylan’s Right is an intermediate dream of a wave. It works fairly consistently as S-SW swells hit the outer reefs north across the bay from One Tong. Needs some size and really hits its stride around the five foot mark, when it hollows just a touch and steepens. Go bigger than that and the spinning barrel sections come into play, offering shoot through pits that eventually open onto peeling shoulders above a pretty shallow reef. There are some surf camps on the cliffs right above the wave here – the Simeulue Surflodges that we oh so love among them!
Teabags
Teabags is the hardest wave in Simeulue. It breaks in the channel between Simeulue and the island of Palau Tapah, about three nautical miles to the west. You’ll need to organize boats over, or be at a surf camp that makes the trip. It’s a special wave to behold – think perfectly proportioned almond tubes that suck up over very shallow reefs. Barrel sections are all but guaranteed in the dry season, but you will need to be fast into the bottom turn to make it before you get slammed into the rocks. A shallow take-off zone makes it imperative to time entries precisely. Wave heights typically range from shoulder-high to double overhead, and surfers can expect strong currents at times. Teabags is a year-round break but actually prefers the wet season a lot of the time because the N and NW winds are offshore here.
The Peak (Jackals)
Honestly, it’s a joy to hear people coming out of the water after a session on The Peak – also commonly called Jackals – when it’s firing properly. A good 6-8 foot swell with NE offshores will do it. Then, the spot is like a factory for perfect A-frames that have a slightly different offering on the left and the right. Goofies can score some very nice stand-up tubes here to the left. The right is more open, less shelvy and can really be got at with cutbacks and turns that go top to bottom. The Peak works a lot of the time, even in the low season and is right out in front of the Mahi Mahi resort.
Surf camps in Simeulue
There was a time when surf camps didn’t exist here. But there’s a growing array on Simeulue these days with one in particular standing out from the crowd:
- Dylan’s Retreat Boutique Surf Resort – The focus of the 7-day package at Dylan’s is on intermediate and advanced surfers who want to score the hollow rights and lefts on this side of the island. We’ve heard very good things and the resort certainly has style, with traditional thatched bungalows spread around a duo of pools.
Where to stay when surfing in Simeulue?
The western and south shore of Simeulue are now home to some of the best surf hotels in the whole of Sumatra if you ask us. Check em…
- Simeulue Surflodges – There are some surf hotels that just do things the right way. Simeulue Surflodges is one of them! There’s a whiff of old Indo in the cottage-style design. The pool has sweet views over the ocean. You’re right by Dylan’s Right. You’ll have a good time, so just book it!
- Momo’s Surf Shack – There’s a lot of love for Momo’s out there. It’s a charming surf lodge with bungalow stays that channel the traditional Sumatran style. The vibes are mega chill and you’re only five minutes’ walk from The Peak.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Simeulue surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Simeulue 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 five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Simeulue?
The best time to surf in Simeulue is the dry season in Indonesia. Strong, regular SW swells punch up from the guts of the Indian Ocean then, combining with fairly light E trades that prove offshore at the key spots of Dylan’s and The Peak. The best conditions will be early morning and then later in the evening as the winds dip.
Simeulue, like the rest of western Sumatra, certainly isn’t limited to the dry season. The island is a lot less fickle on that count than, say, the Ments or Bali. You can rock up between November and March and still find very solid S swells coming through to help breaks like the ones inside Alus Bay and Thailand get going. The Peak might not be at its best but it will be more friendly to intermediate surfers. Though, Teabags tends to shine with N offshores that are more common in the wet season.
Thing is, Simeulue is in a sweet spot between the WNW monsoon pattern and the Indian Ocean S swell channel, so swell isn’t an issue at all, no matter the month. Winds are far more important. Shifty is how we’d sum them up, but it’s the October-January NE pattern that probably reigns supreme as it’s offshore on most of the south-coast breaks mentioned above and generates the most common glassy conditions on the key waves.
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!
