Indo-Surfing

If you ever dreamed of surfing, here's what you need to know: it's not as difficult and beyond your reach as you may have thought! Even though most European countries do not really have sufficient surfing conditions to let you become advanced in it, in order to start surfing all you need is the will to try it, enjoying being in the water and basic swimming skills.

If you are a fast learner, with a long and wide beginner surfboard you should be able to stand on it and catch your first small waves just after 2 hours of training. Next, keep watching more experienced surfers and with some more training you will start catching bigger waves and doing first turns. Further steps are swapping your beginner surfboard with a lighter and smaller one and catching higher waves. In the beginning it is recommended to buy a few training lessons with an instructor in order to get acquainted with basic tactics.

Below we would like you recommend you some of the best places to surf in Indonesia.

First of them, Bali, according to Peter Wilson - a writer on surfing - has a magnetic power of  attracting all world's surfers. The waves by the island's west coast (e.g. in Kuta) are calm but sufficient to start learning surfing. Hiring an instructor for an introduction training will save you a few hours of discovering some of the basic surfing rules.

As soon as you master basic surfing, and start feeling it has already become your favorite sport, you should try surfing the higher waves. Some of the recommended spots for advanced surfing around Indonesia are west coast of Java (with waves achieving up to 30 meters) as well as west coast of Sumatra (famous for being one of the best surfing areas in the world).

Other famous surfing spots include waves by the Nussa Tengarra archipelago islands of Lombok, Sumbawa and Sumba.

Lombok is famous for great surfing spots, which are not very crowded and easily accessible, with beautiful beaches and waves ideal for leisure surfing. Surfing spots are described as joyful and with views what will take your breath away.

The Sumbawa Island, compared to Bali or Lombok, is a less crowded place. The waves around there vary from safe ones, through fast, to ones forming great peaks. However be cautious and responsible when surfing around Sumbawa, as there are quite a few shallow areas with a sharp coral seabed.

Coasts of Sumba are one of the dangerous and difficult surfing areas, however conditions are perfect at times. The south coasts that face the ocean provide great surfing conditions. The only disadvantage around this area is strong wind that often disturbs the surfers. The best surfing time in the day here is by noon.

Surfing training (2.5 hr course) is $30 (a group of maximum 3 people), individual course.

The price includes the trainer (who'll show you the surfing techniques as well as will help out and advice while surfing), as well as renting a beginner's surfboard. The above price applies to trainings on the calm waves of Kuta (Bali). There is also a possibility of renting a surfboard for a whole day for individual surfing. Prices may vary, usually around $10/day (6-7 hours).