As the sun rises, you bounce out into the bay, hand over your brow as you gaze into the distance. The boat driver begins to slow, and then it comes into view, the whitewaters you saw from afar, are peeling beautifully down the headland, a light offshore brushing each wall as it breaks–soft and playful. You jump in and surf for three hours, then head in for a coffee and a round of banana pancakes. Here’s everything you need to know for surfing in Kuta Lombok.
Overview
- Wave variety
- Mellow waves
- Tropical
- Consistency
- Crowds
- Safety
- Boats (extra cost)
Table of Contents
Best Time of Year
Unlike other top Indonesian surf destinations, southern Lombok has waves all year. However, some spots work in the dry season (April – October) and others in the wet season (October – April). You can head here at any time of year and score fun waves.
Kuta Lombok Surf Spots
The Kuta Lombok surf spots are spread out around the surrounding coastline. All the best spots are fairly spread out and require a long moped drive, boat ride or both to access.
Inside Gerupuk
Inside is a refined version of the outside wave of the same name. A fun wave that when the swells up, can have fun walls for turns, whereas, on smaller days, it’s a fat easy wave–awesome for beginners and intermediates with a long fat right and shorter left.
- Crowds: Busy
- Best Swell: Solid S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (North)
- Wave Type: Coral Reef
- Consistency: 70%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Outside Gerupuk
Outside is the most exposed and therefore consistent surf break in the Gerupuk bay. A right-hand point with a stunning limestone cliff backdrop. It’s pretty fat, but it can have certain sections that wall up and allow advanced surfers to rip into it. Otherwise, as an intermediate, the wave is a sick introduction to point-break-style waves.
To access the breaks at Gerupuk, you’ll need a boat. Boats are easy to get and the locals have a good system for transporting people out to the surf. Prices can vary depending on the drivers, but typically, it costs around 200k IDR ($ 15 USD) to get out there.
- Crowds: Busy
- Best Swell: Solid S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (North)
- Wave Type: Coral Reef
- Consistency: 85%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Are Guling
Are Guling is a large bay with a left on one side and a right on the other. The right can be a fun punchy wall, while the left is shallower and lesser surfed.
- Crowds: Low
- Best Swell: Medium S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (North)
- Wave Type: Coral Reef
- Consistency: 80%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Seger
An exposed outcrop of reef, that brings in any swell running. During the wet season, when swells are smaller and the morning offshores provide the best conditions, this can be the best spot to check. Seger offers both left and right peaks over a coral reef.
- Crowds: Moderate
- Best Swell: Small S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (North)
- Wave Type: Coral Reef
- Consistency: 90%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Mawi
A 45-minute drive from Kuta Lombok (and down one of the bumpiest tracks you’ve ever seen), is Pantai Mawi. An a-frame reef break, with a beautiful coastal backdrop and white sand beach. The wave can be backwashy and fat at high tide, and a little shallow on the lower tide. Generally, it’s a fun wave, with a long left and a shorter punchier right. Great for upper-level Intermediates and advanced surfers.
- Crowds: Moderate/Busy
- Best Swell: Medium S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (South-West)
- Wave Type: A-frame Reef
- Consistency: 60%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Ekas
Perhaps the best wave in the area, a long left point that gets a bit of swell. Getting to Ekas requires a long boat ride, but make the mission over and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best and longest waves in Kuta Lombok!
- Crowds: Moderate/Busy
- Best Swell: Medium S/SW
- Best Wind: Offshore (North)
- Wave Type: Left Reef
- Consistency: 65%
- Hazards: Reef, people
Obviously, there are more surf spots in the vicinity, but in the spirit of true surf adventure and protecting lesser known spots from becoming overcrowded, I’ll let you find them yourself.
Where is Kuta Lombok?
How to get There?
For getting to Kuta Lombok, you have a few options. If you’re coming from Bali (which you likely are), fly or take the ferry.
By Plane
You can find cheap flights from Bali to Lombok airport, which puts you close to Kuta. Flights are typically under $100, and the flight time is only 45 minutes.
By Ferry
Ferry is another option, which can be cheaper than flying. It costs around $30 to get the ferry from Padang Bai to Bangsal, then you’ll need a 1.5-hour taxi transfer to reach Kuta Lombok. To book your ferry, check out Bali Ferries. Whereas I’d recommend arranging your taxi transfer via your accommodation.
Where to Stay?
In a town that’s quickly becoming the next Canggu, you’re pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation while surfing in Kuta Lombok. You’ve got budget hostels, comfortable privates, villas, and some more luxurious options.
- Dorm Price: $8 per night
- Distance from Surf: 20 minute drive to nearest surf break
- Wifi: Okay
- Type: Dorms
Mellow Hostel is one of the most affordable places to stay in Kuta Lombok. Right in town, Mellow offers dorm rooms for $8 per night, and you’ll have your own “capsule-style” bed. Oh, and there’s decent wifi and free breakfast included.
- Dorm Price: $8 per night
- Distance from Surf: 20 minute drive to nearest surf break
- Wifi: Okay
- Type: Dorms
Another excellent budget option in Kuta. Botchan Hostel offers dormitory rooms for $8 per night and includes free breakfast. A great spot to hang out and meet other surfers/backpackers without breaking the bank.
- Dorm Price: $20 per night
- Distance from Surf: 20 minute drive to nearest surf break
- Wifi: Good
- Type: Privates
If you’d rather have a private room, amid a beautiful comfortable setting, check out Village Vibes. I stayed here for the first few nights of my Kuta Lombok trip! Nice pool, clean cool rooms, and an on-site restaurant, you can find a room here with breakfast included for $20 per night.
- Dorm Price: $20 per night
- Distance from Surf: 20 minute drive to nearest surf break
- Wifi: Good
- Type: Privates
This is where I stayed for the majority of my stay in Kuta Lombok. A sick place to base yourself, with bungalows of all sizes. Budget private starts at $20 per night. You’ll have an en-suite bathroom, great Wi-Fi, and a beautiful pool area (in the shape of a guitar) to relax and chill in between surf sessions.
Tips for Surfing in Kuta Lombok
Crowds
Kuta is crowded! At all the spots around Kuta, you’ll be sharing the lineup with dozens of other surfers. Because of the user-friendly nature of most spots in the area, everything is fairly easy to surf, which means thick crowds. I found the crowds to be just as intense here as they were in Bali!
Locals
Like anywhere, respect the locals when you surf in Kuta Lombok. Many locals surf well and know and love all the spots around the joint. They are easy to identify as they are always on the best waves. But compared to many top surf destinations, the vibe in Kuta Lombok is super mellow.
Costs
Kuta is much cheaper than Bali. But in town, at the better accommodations, and restaurants, there’ll still be a significant markup! For example, if you’re having breakfast and coffee at the “nicer-looking” places, you’ll still spend between $5 and $10 per meal.
What’s Kuta Lombok Town Like?
Kuta town itself is ok. There is a main crossroad from where all the bars, restaurants, cafes, and the deepest concentration of hotels are. This area is alive and busy and a cool place to hang out. Outside of town though, things are pretty run down, and I’ve heard from multiple people, that it’s not safe to drive outside of town at night time. Kuta is growing rapidly and is quickly becoming the next Canggu.
Final Words
Without a doubt, Kuta Lombok is a wicked place to check out, and if you’re an intermediate looking for relatively easy to surf waves and somewhere to get better at surfing, you can’t beat it. If you want more help in booking a surf trip to Kuta Lombok, or anywhere else in Indonesia, book a 1:1 call today. Let’s make your trip happen!
Kuta Lombok Surfing FAQs
You can fly from Nugrah Rai Airport, or you can take the ferry from Padang Bai to Bangsal.
On Small days, most spots around Kuta Lombok can be suitable for beginners. However, inside Gerupuk is a great spot to check out.