Archive for the quick guide tag

Bali Surfing Resources Roundup

Saturday, Nov 24th, 2007
Categories: surfing, travels

So we’re taking off for Los Angeles tomorrow and then on to Bali, on wednesday. Things are getting down to the wire and we’re packing up as we speak. For the past month I’ve been researching off-season surfing in Bali (october to april). I’ve compiled my research into a quick guide that could possibly start as a jumping off point for people following in the same foot steps.

bali map from wannasurf.com

Bali off-season surfing summary: where to look

From my research so far, I’ve learned that Nusa Dua, Sanur and Keramas are the three main off-season surf spots. Canggu, Legian and Medewi also get some swell and Bingins is the place to go if there’s any swell at all on the right side of the bukit (southeast Bali). Bingin and Dreamland are good bases for off-season surfing, as they are located close enough to Nusa Dua to make quick trips to the break, without having to pay ridiculously expensive hotel fees for staying in Nusa.

General Surfing info

Bingin / Impossibles

If there’s no waves at Bingin, you’re hotel / guest stay will usually get you a lift over to nusa dua.

  • Suara Ombak - great guesthouse ($40-60/night)
  • Mick’s Place - pool (really nice - $60-110/night)
  • Bali Retreats - web booking for several guest stays and villas in the Bingin area
  • there are plenty of cheaper warungs in Bingin, so you can most likely just roll up and stay for around $15-20 USD/night. the same is true for Dreamland. but watch out for the bed bugs!

Canggu

Canggu is near Seminyak, north of Legain and it gets real expensive up there, you can usually catch a bemo up to canggu from kuta/legian. superb right break over lava rocks. bring the booties.

  • Desa Seni - very cool hotel (but too expensive for my budget (starts at $135, but price includes airport pickup, breakfast, yoga classes, etc…)

Sanur

They say that swell is unreliable in Sanur. 2 breaks, bring booties.

  • ‘Tanjung’ break is directly in front of Tanjung Sari hotel ($175/night - way out of the budget)
  • ‘Hyatt Reef’ break is 1km off of the Sanur Hyatt beach (big reef)
  • ‘Padang Galak’ is a reliable rivermouth beach break north of Sanur, get a bemo from Sanur

Lombok

  • Heaven on the Planet - eco-resort in Ekas, surfing destination ($15-60 USD). Supposedly breaks all year round in Ekas.
  • catch ferry from Padang Bai

Nusa Dua

Hotels are too expensive. So stay in Tanjung Benoa or Bingin/Dreamland/Balangan.

  • Catch a boat out to the break, from boat dock, south of golf course passed Bali Hilton
  • Sri Lanka break is in front of Bali Club Med

The best advice I can give to anyone who is researching surf in Bali off-season (or on-season) is to buy the Indo Surf + Lingo book. It’s worth its wait in gold. bullion. It’ll tell you where all the breaks are, how to get to them, how to navigate them, where to stay, what to do and what not to do. Don’t waste too much of your time online. Surprisingly, I’ve found very little valuable online resources. Obviously this may change, but realistically, Bali is a very popular place. So information is guarded well, as it should be. The folks behind Indo Surf + Lingo book do a great job of educating first-timers and protecting locals. Buy it, trust me.

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