Your Indonesia Surf Charter Guide!
Indonesia is an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands. Steeped in culture and adventure, Indonesia has been attracting traveling surfers since the 1930’s. Although, this beautiful country can be explored by land, the ultimate way to surf the remote reefs fringing offshore islands is undoubtedly onboard an Indonesian surf charter.
In this surf guide, we will cover the types of surf charters in Indonesia, the areas in which they operate, and the best times of year for each route! AWAVE Travel has a full range of surf charters, we have options for every budget and requirement! If you have any questions at all, just get in contact with our team!
Choosing Your Indonesian Surf Charter
Choosing a surf charter for your group can seem daunting at first with all the available charters and routes to choose from. Here at AWAVE Travel, we are here to help you find the perfect charter for your trip!
In this guide we will go over:
All of this will help you make the decision about which charter and area is best for you! If you have any questions about anything, our team of Surf Travel Experts is on hand to help you find your ideal charter!
Types of Surf Charter
When you’re looking to explore Indonesia by boat, we have two types of surf charter for you and your group to choose from! Firstly, we offer a wide range of Private Charters, this is when you and your group charter a full boat for yourselves. Private Charters offer you ultimate flexibility as you get to choose who travels with you, the route you take, and the waves you surf!
In our opinion, very few things in this world match the experience of sailing with a group of your best friends and scoring waves together. It is what we at AWAVE Travel are passionate about and want to share with our travelers! Private Charters start from just 6 persons and can be surprisingly affordable, with budget charters all the way up to 5 Star luxury yachts!
Secondly, for solo travelers and small groups, AWAVE Travel offers a range of Shared Charters. These are scheduled charters with spaces that can be booked by individuals and groups too small to rent a charter privately. These trips are amazing for travelers looking for a group to join to surf and would run to some of the most remote and exciting areas in Indonesia. Generally, these charters have a maximum capacity of 10 – 14 persons to minimise crowds in the lineup!
Indonesian Surf Areas
Classically, surf charters in Indonesia run in the most wave-rich areas that are hard to access via land. This limits the crowds and gives more chances to explore and score. Onboard all charters you would always have a surf guide to help you find the best surf. The quality of guides can vary, and a good guide is worth their weight in gold!
Below we have broken down the main regions where you will find Indonesian surf charters:
- Mentawai Islands – Classic charter route with amazing waves
- Banyak Islands – North of the Mentawai Islands and generally quieter
- Telo Islands – Quieter/more user-friendly surf area in Sumatra
- Lombok to Sumbawa – Lesser sailed route with low crowds in the right locations
- Sumba and Rote – Wild eastern Indonesia, low crowds and quality waves
- Maluku Islands – Island chain in the Indo-Pacific
For more information about each route option see below.
The Mentawai Islands
The Mentawais were discovered by the surfing world in the early 90’s and have been drawing surfers in ever since. This remote island chain lying around 90 miles off of Sumatra’s mainland plays host to some of the most consistent and perfect reef breaks in the world.
You would be hard-pushed to find any other location on the planet that has such consistent and high-quality surf year-round! Sitting near the equator, the region has variable winds, this coupled with the seemly limitless waves options means good guiding is key to scoring here!
This consistency and this number of world-renowned waves can come with crowds at times. With a good guide onboard a charter, there are many wave options that draw fewer hungry surfers!
Seasons:
November – April: Classically considered the off-season, November – April is actually a great time of year to travel to the Mentawais for those looking for intermediate-friendly waves and lower crowds. This time of year regularly sees shoulder to overhead surf and really fun conditions!
May – October: This is the peak swell season when the region really starts to turn on. Generally suited for advanced surfers plus, you can expect regular powerful swells with good winds. This is the time of the year to travel for those looking to push their limits and chase big barrels!
For a more indepth look at the region and the waves on offer, please see AWAVE Travel’s Ultimate Guide to the Mentwais! AWAVE Travel would have a range of great surf charters in the region, for more information, contact our team!
The Banyak Islands
With more surfers traveling to the Mentawais, charters started pushing further North in search of quieter surf. This led to the discovery of the Banyak Islands, located approximately 50km from the Sumatran Mainland. The Banyak Islands (Banyak meaning ‘many’ in Bahasa Indonesia) hold some amazing quality surf and are generally less crowded than the islands further south.
The waves in the region offer everything from powerful, heavy barrels to more friendly, playful waves! Having a good guide in the region is essential for navigating different combinations of swell and wind for each spot! The undoubted jewel in the Banyak Islands’ crown is Treasure Island, a long righthander offering multiple barrel sections!
Explore off the beaten path with one of AWAVE Travel’s charters in the region!
Seasons:
November – April: Best suited for those looking for smaller conditions and much lower crowds!
May – October: This is the peak swell season for those looking to chase larger and more powerful surf!
AWAVE Travel would have a range of great surf charters in the area, for more information, contact our team!
The Telo Islands
Located between Nias and the Northern Mentawai Islands are the Telo Islands. An island chain of approximately 100 islands with access to some great surf. The region is generally a bit more user-friendly than the Mentawais but has some waves that can really turn on! Generally, the area is quiet as there are fewer charter options or high-end land options keep the crowds down.
Some of the Mentawai Charters will run routes to the Telo Islands for an extra fuel supplement to cover the longer distance traveled. Chat with one of our team for more information!
Seasons:
November – April: Best suited for those looking for smaller conditions and lower crowds!
May – October: This is the peak swell season for those looking to chase larger and more powerful surf!
AWAVE Travel would have a range of great surf charters in the area, for more information, contact our team!
Bali to Sumbawa
One of the first routes to be sailed by Indonesian surf travelers. This route is less traveled now due to better land access to a lot of the premier waves. The premier waves along this route (Desert Point, Supersucks and Scar Reef) can get crowded, but the wave quality more than makes up for this!
That being said, there are huge areas of the South Sumbawa coast that go unsurfed, so this is a great route for world-class waves with low crowds!
Seasons:
November – April: Classically the wet season, with smaller swells and lighter winds. Lots of opportunities for glassy conditions!
May – October: This is the peak swell season for those looking to chase larger and more powerful surf! Prime season for Desert Point, Scar Reef, and Super Sucks.
AWAVE Travel would have a range of great surf charters in the area, for more information, contact our team!
Sumba and Rote
To the South East of Sumbawa, lies Sumba and Rote (among other islands). These islands are notoriously hard to traverse on land, making them perfect to explore by boat. The region is usually very uncrowded, with very few charter boats operating in the region.
More often than not when sailing in this region you will be surfing with just your boat. With a wide range of waves, this is a great exploration trip!
Seasons:
November – April: Classically the wet season, with smaller swells and lighter winds. Lots of opportunities for glassy conditions!
May – October: This is the peak swell season for those looking to chase larger and more powerful surf! Winds get stronger from the South East at this time of year
AWAVE Travel would have a range of great surf charters in the area, for more information, contact our team!
The Maluku Islands and Papua
In the Northern reaches of Indonesia, you will find the Maluku Islands. Termed the ‘Spice Islands’ by Dutch colonialists, this remote area has very uncrowded surf with very few charters venturing into the area. Open to the Pacific Ocean, this area follows a very different surf season from the rest of Indonesia. The prime months to surf here are November – April.
Relying on Northerly swells coming past the Philippines, uncrowded waves await those who venture here! Speak with our surf travel experts about our available charters here!
Seasons:
November – April: Prime season for surfing!
Booking Your Charter
AWAVE Travel’s team are here to help you find the perfect boat and route for your group. Once you have decided on the charter and the route that would suit you, we can set you up with an offer for booking!
Usually, the best value charters get booked out 6-12 months in advance, so it pays to look early for booking. We have also negotiated early booking specials with most charters, so you can make the trip even more affordable!
All of our trips are covered by our Best Price Promise, so you will always get the best rate booking with AWAVE Travel!