Bali Surf Guide

Bali. The ultimate surfing destination for perfect waves and endless fun. The Island of Gods is home of thousand Hindu temples, lovely tropical beaches, clear and warm waters, spectacular coral reefs, giant palm trees, striking volcanoes, stunning waterfalls, dazzling rice fields, amazing food, unforgettable beer and World-Class Waves.

Located at the southwestern tip of Indonesia, Bali is a swell magnet, getting consistent swells from the Indian Ocean all year round. With renowned barreling left-hand reef breaks, perfect right-hand point breaks and consistent beach breaks, Bali got every surfer need covered, with an incredible diversity of breaks all around the island.

The best time to surf in Bali is during the Dry Season (May – September), when the legendary surf spots on the west coast fire up. During the Wet Season from October to April, the surf is best at the uncrowded waves of the east coast, although during this time, the west monsoon takes place which can bring significant rain – particularly from December to March.

WEATHER: Bali has a fairly consistent tropical, warm, and humid climate year round. Average year-round temperature is around 86 °F (30 °C) with a humidity level of about 85%. Bali has two main distinctive seasons: dry season (April – September) and rainy/wet season (October – March).

Being just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali has a fairly even climate all year round. Average year-round temperature stands at around 30 °C (86 °F) with a humidity level of about 85%

The peak surfing season in Bali is during the dry season (May – September), when the legendary surf breaks on the west coast put on their best performance. This is also when the island is most crowded.

The wet season (November – March) offers quality surf on the east coast, which welcomes surfers on relatively uncrowded waves.

Best waves in Bali for beginners: Canggu, Dreamland, Kuta Beach, Seminyak, Jimbaran Bay Playgrounds.
Best waves in Bali for intermediate-advanced surfers: Padang Padang, Uluwatu, Impossibles, Shipwrecks, Airport Rights, Nusa Dua, Lacerations.

Uluwatu is world-famous left-hand reef break with 5 different peaks that are set in front of stunning cliffs. Hollow, shallow, highly consistent, with a great variety of sections, works on all tides and rarely goes flat. “The Peak” is located directly in front of the cave; “Racetracks”, at the right of the cave, is a fast and long wave with several barrel sections; “Temples” is located in front of the Uluwatu Temple and is the furthest down-south spot of Uluwatu – due to the long paddle needed, gets less crowded and has the bonus of picking up more swell; “Outside Corner” is only available on bigger swells, producing massive barrels; “The Bombie” is  exposed only to big swells and lights up when most of us goes for a Bintang instead of the big-ride charging option.

Things to consider: the access is made through a gorgeous cave at the bottom of the cliff. On the high tide the exit can be fickle – aim south and don’t miss the entry between the two small hidden beaches (and the shipwreck). Oh, and please watch out for the reef – it really peels. To top up your session don’t forget to buy a photo of yourself surfing from the photograph warungs on the top of the cliff. To celebrate have a Bintang and let the marvelous view sink in. Life is amazing.

Padang-Padang, the Indonesian equivalent of Pipeline, is one of the best left-hand reef breaks on the world: a steep, fast and shallow barrel wave. At the left and barely seen from Padang-Padang Beach itself, this incredible surf spot breaks over a sharp reef facing some serious rocks. This wave can provide you the ride of your life or a trip to the hospital – so be sure to be careful and know your limits. To the right of the beach you can also find Baby Padang or Padang-Padang Right, a friendly break suited for intermediates and beginners (especially on higher tides). To access Padang you can either paddle from Padang-Padang Beach (after parking your scooter on the other side of the road for 2.000 IDR, entering the temple for 10.000 IDR and following the steep ladder to the beach) or you can paddle from the north tip of Thomas Beach. Finish your session at the beach warung with a wonderful Nasi Goreng and a cold Bintang. Watch out for the monkeys and the sharp reef.

Impossibles is a picture-perfect wave worthy of a postcard. On the right days, this left-hand reef break can travel almost half a kilometer all the way from Baby Padang to Bingin. Although, there is a minor bummer on this dreamy wave: as the name would suggest, this ride offers several demanding sections, so fast that are almost impossible to keep up with. However, with the right conditions the wave can open up and offer long makeable sections and big unforgettable tubes.

Almost impossible is also the access to this peak. You can get there by paddling from Padang Pandang to the right (north), or from Bingin to the left (south) or by entering through Anantara Resort straight to the private beach. Either way, expect a long paddle and lesser crowds.

Bingin is a shallow reef break that offers a left hollow barrel and a short ride up to 50 meters. Located at the bottom of a cliff, this small beach is one of the most beautiful in the peninsula with its clear crystal waters and perfect waves. The take-off zone is short and the line-up often very competitive, so expect some hassling in the water.

Balangan is a picturesque beach that offer a long left-hand wave with several barrel sections particularly at low tide. With nearly a kilometer of beach extension, multiple peaks, a variety of sections, this wave it’s not only suited for advanced surfers, but also for intermediates and beginners particularly on mid and higher tides. With a laid-back atmosphere and lovely warungs, Balangan is a fantastic place for surfers and non-surfers alike, to relax and enjoy the Bali side of life.

If you’re into scramblers & café racers, retro surfboards, tattoos, trendy food, rice fields, fun waves and hipster stuff in general, Canggu is you’re place. Surf wise this big stretch of black sanded beach offers multiple peaks with mixed reef and sand bottoms, suited for beginners, intermediates and advanced surfers. The surf spots are: Canggu River Mouth a barreling right-hand reef break; The Sandbar, an A-frame beach break perfect for high performance; Echo Beach Right, a heavy left-hand reef break; Old Man’s, a long wave suited for longboarders and beginners.

Dreamland is a beach break between Balangan and Bingin that works best at low tide and on bigger days. On the rest of the time this beach break is suited for every type of surfer, beginner or intermediate.

Bali Airport Rights and Airport Lefts are two reef breaks outside both sides of the Ngurah Rai International airstrip. These peaks are nearly 1 kilometer out in the ocean and are accessed through boat (expect to pay 50,000IDR/pax) from Jimbaran or Kuta beach. At Airport Rights (on the south side of the runaway) you can expect a 100 meters ride that can be fun on high tides for beginner to intermediate surfers, but when the swell picks this wave provides incredible barrels. At Airport Lefts (to the north of the airstrip) the wave is hollow left with a 50-70meter ride. Despite the difficult access, these waves get crowded, so be sure to respect the line-up.  Look for high tides and no wind. Also be sure to close a two-way ticket deal with the operator or else you might get stuck out sea with a long paddle ahead back to shore.

Kuta reef is world-class left-hand reef break that sits almost a kilometer outside Kuta beach. The wave is long with multiple barreling sections and gets very crowded. It can provide 50 to 200-metre and picks up more swell than Airport Breaks or the surrounding beach breaks.

Seminyak, one of the most popular destinations for beginner and intermediate surfers, is a beach break that offers lefts, rights and fun close-outs – picking up more swell than Kuta, it’s likely to be much bigger. This beach, being a full-on tourist attraction is full with restaurants and warungs and it’s a great place to relax and/or party.

Balian is a 2 km black sand beach with a mouth river at the south. This sand bottom break provides both lefts and rights with little crowds and is a bit of a swell magnet – a great getaway from Kuta and Seminyak. Avoid surfing this spot after raining due to the pollution from the river.

Green Bowl is a beautiful beach with a difficult access. Get ready to descend a few hundred steps to be rewarded with a magnificent white sand beach and crystal-clear waters. Surf wise, this swell magnet is fast and hollow and not always consistent, although this heavy right hander, offer big walls and the occasional shade. The sharp exposed reef and the strong currents chase away most of the surfers, so crowds are not a problem here. A wave for advanced surfers only.

When Nyang Nyang is flat, you can´t expect surfing anywhere else. This off-the-beaten-path beach requires a few hundred steps to get to and is gifted with a white sand beach with pristine waters (and some shipwrecks). This right-hand reef break is fast, shallow and heavy and not advisable to intermediate or beginner surfers. A great place to go checkout and explore when the swell drops.

Considered one of the best high-performance waves in the world, Keramas is a powerful right-hand barrel over a lava rock bottom. The wave is famous for being fast, hollow and consistent. The beautiful landscape of volcanic formations surrounded by magnificent rice fields is breath-taking and attracts surfers and tourists alike. Expect big crowds and a lot a hassle.

Serangan is one of the best spots on the East Cost of Bali, having an A-frame with lefts and rights over the coral reef. This wet season spot is perfect for everyone and every level of surfing. Even the turtles come here for nesting. Expect some crowds.

This beautiful white sand beach is home of many luxury resorts and also, many surf breaks Not recommended for beginners, you’ll be able to find many spots that we’ll turn under different tides and conditions, always having a wave somewhere during the wet season.

Bali’s surf scene is nothing short of legendary, with breaks for every type of wave rider, from seasoned barrel chasers to whitewash warriors. From the world-famous reefs of Uluwatu and Padang-Padang to the mellow sands of Kuta and Seminyak, each spot offers its own slice of surfing heaven. Whether you’re navigating hollow reef breaks, paddling through secret caves, or simply soaking in the Bali vibes with a cold Bintang, there’s a wave waiting for you.

So, pack your board, respect the line-up, and don’t forget to leave a little room for a Nasi Goreng-fueled sunset. Bali isn’t just a surf destination—it’s a rite of passage. See you out there.