Tanjung Aan Beach hosts a forgiving left and right break that’s an intermediate’s dream. It also happens to be a stunning arc of sand, which is traditional Indonesian warung crowding along a run or white powder. Why WOULDN’T you go here?
An introduction to Tanjung Aan Beach
A halo of white sand speckled by reefs and rocks roughly midway along the south Lombok coast, Tanjung Aan Beach is a real beauty. Even if we didn’t surf we’d be coming this way to unfurl the towel and soak up our tan. We’d be coming to watch sunsets with a cold Bintang in one of the local warung. But it just so happens that the surf at Tanjung Aan Beach is some of the best casual surf on the island…
A little dash of reef sits smack dab in the middle of the bay. When there’s enough swell (and usually anything over three foot is enough), it will offer up one of Lombok’s most forgiving rights and a nice left where the pocket crumbles neatly into deeper water channels. Now if that sounds like just about the perfect spot for a chilled surf session, then that’s because it really is. People know it, too, so don’t come here expecting to be alone. It ain’t gonna’ happen.
There are ways to dodge the crowds at Tanjung Aan Beach. Come early, come late, or pick one of the side reef breaks that are a touch harder and fickler but nowhere near as busy. There’s also an outer surf spot around the headland that works on smaller days. We’ll look at all those and more in this complete guide to Tanjung Aan, one of the most loveable spots on the island. Let’s begin…
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Indonesia
Tanjung Aan Beach at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Tanjung Aan Beach?
Where is Tanjung Aan Beach?
Tanjung Aan Beach is about two thirds of the way from Kuta Lombok to Gerupuk Bay, one of the principle bays and surfing locations on the southeast coast of the island. After the completion of a new highway after the building of the Moto GP course here, the beach is technically right at the end of the main bypass highway that goes all the way to Mataram (Lombok’s capital). However, that road isn’t used much yet, and most people will be the surf campers and independent surf campers who make the drive over from Kuta Lombok town (that’s around 20 minutes total).
Tanjung Aan surf spots
There are a couple of spots to know about in Tanjung Aan Beach, with the main draw being the combo of the left and right that break over the reef in the middle of the bay. Here’s a look at all the spots you can look forward to if you add this one to your Lombok surf trip…
Tanjung Aan Right
The Tanjung Aan Right is a reef point break that works on the cliffs next to Merese Beach on the far western end of the bay. It’s impossible to get to from the main beach strip. You’ll either have to walk around the edge of the bay for like 20 minutes or just hire a boat (we like the latter). This is the most fickle spot in the entire area because it’s almost completely sheltered by swells coming in from SW to SE, either by the Merese headland or by Gili Anakanjan on the far side. When it works you’re usually looking at 5-8 foot and a long groundswell to allow for nice, bowly, refracting walls that can be pitching and fast. This is the most expert wave within Tanjung Aan bay itself.
Tanjung Aan Reef
The star of the show at Tanjung Aan Beach is the main reef. It’s something like 490 meters off the middle of the beach and around 350 meters from the rock at Pantai Aan. That’s close enough to the sand to entice some people to paddle out, but it can be rippy and the boats are only 25k each way, so why not just save the energy? There are two main waves on the reef:
- The left – The western side of the lineup will be looking to chase the less-busy left. Though short, it’s a nice wave, with a crumbling shoulder and good shape while it remains over the corals and rocks. It’s considered a great place to practice bottom turn and cutback combos because the pocket peels real slow and always invites you back. As ever, the real challenge will be in getting a wave to yourself. Shout if you have to, the leaners are usually good at pulling back.
- The right – We’ve seen the Tanjung Aan right packed to bursting with over 100 people and relatively empty, which means close to 20 people. We can see why it’s so popular. On a pushing midtide it’s one of the most forgiving reef breaks in Lombok, peeling slowly and softly into a nice paddle channel. There’s not much more to say apart from good luck getting a wave to yourself. Watch out for flying foam boards.
Tanjung Aan Left
We’ve not surfed it but there’s a left that comes off the rocks on the east side of Tanjung Aan. It needs a half-full or full tide because the reef shelf here is shallow. What’s great is that it has excellent protection from E winds thanks to the cliffs. You can walk around the bay to paddle out but wear reef shoes. Boats can also drop you here for 25k.
Batu Payung
The tiny rocky island of Gili Anakanjan and the headland of Batu Payung rise high on the eastern side of Tanjung Aan beach. Right in front there is a good spot that tends to work well on smaller swells in the 2-5 foot range. It’s a right hander that has an initial take-off zone that’s sucky and steep if you get within like a meter of the rocks. That’s where the rippers will gather, but you can filter out down the line to pick it up as the wave fattens and sections out too. Boats for this one start at the same place on Tanjung Aan beach but cost 50-100k.
Where to stay when surfing in Tanjung Aan?
On a visit in 2023 we were flabbergasted to find that there’s virtually NO accommodation on offer in Tanjung Aan itself. The beach seems just about perfect as a beginner-intermediate surf destination, reminding us a little of a more remote Hiriketiya Beach. We’re willing to bet that the hotel situation will change dramatically in the coming years, but for now you have two choices if you want to surf and enjoy this one:
- Join a surf camp – There’s a very high chance that you’ll drop by Tanjung Aan during a surf camp in Lombok. The spot is well known for its forgiving, beginner-friendly waves. There are also some seriously EXCELLENT surf camp choices in the region, most based in Kuta Lombok. The downside with this is that you’ll pass through Tanjung Aan just to surf and not really get to enjoy those local eats and sunsets.
- Book a hotel in a nearby town – The nearest place to bed down to Tanjung Aan is the village of Gerupuk. It’s a three-minute scooter ride to the west or a 20-minute walk, has its own surf breaks and surf shops, and a growing array of fine hotel options. There are also some other hotel choices nearby but we’d only really recommend them if you have your own bike or car hire. Here are some hotel suggestions within easy reach of the beach…
The Dome
A quirky little hotel on the hillsides of nearby Gerupuk Bay. It looks like something out of North Africa or Arizona with its unusual adobe rooms and dome-style architecture. The kitchen is highly weighted towards plant-based eating and the on-site pool is an audacious one-lane infinity with sweeping views of south Lombok. You’re looking at a 20-minute walk to the surf spots in Tanjung Aan.
Villa Sorgas
If you’ve got the cash to splash then Villa Sorgas is a luxury accommodation option that’s also 20 minutes’ walk from Tanjung Aan. It consists or just two rental units with their own stunning pools gazing over Mount Rinjani and Gerupuk Bay. Stylish interiors only add to the draws – they are slick, minimalist, and cool.
Drop In Surf Lodge
The Drop In Surf Lodge sits on the main road running between Kuta Lombok and Tanjung Aan. It’s not all that far from the beach, but you will need a scooter. The bonus is that it’s a stay tailored to surfers, with onsite board rental and communal hangout spaces where you can meet other surfers.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Tanjung Aan Beach trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Tanjung Aan Beach…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: 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 visit Tanjung Aan Beach?
The best time to visit Tanjung Aan Beach for both R&R and surfing is the Indonesian dry season. That runs from April to October and sees the best weather and swell conditions sweep through this corner of Lombok. Waves are usually a foot or two higher than they are in the wet season and that helps the central reef work day in, day out. The winds are also favorable for surfing, particularly in the morning, when they tend to be light and from the N. The dry season has the least amount of rainfall, which makes it the perfect time for chilling and soaking up the sun rays on the sands of Tanjung Aan.
Don’t entirely discount the wet season. We made a trip to Tanjung Aan Beach in January 2023, which is the height of the wet season. There were surfable waves most days and plenty of sunshine. Just expect it to cloud over at some point in the day and for rain to fall very heavily for at least an hour or so every 24 hours.
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!
