West Bali

In the 70s, the film Morning of the Earth put Uluwatu on the international surf map. Surfers around the world saw that first ride of young Steve Cooney at what is now known as Outside Corner, and packed their bags and set out to find Uluwatu. These days, a lot has changed around the Uluwatu area. Roads, electricity, places to stay, and substantial development have changed the look of the area drastically, but the waves are still as good as ever. Uluwatu is actually a series of breaks on the southwest tip of the Bukit Peninsula. These include The Racetrack, The Peak, Temples, Outside Corner, and The Bombie. With all of these breaks to choose from, Uluwatu is an ultra-consistent spot. Depending on the tide and swell size any of these breaks will usually be firing at one point during the day. Generally, due to the access through the cave and the strong currents, the best possible conditions for larger swells are very low tides. Smaller and medium swells work well on all tides. During smaller swells, look for barrels and peaky surf on the higher tides at The Peak. On lower tides, The Racetrack can provide an ultra-fast reef grinder with a big barrel at the end. Those who choose to cut back often miss the end section hence the name, The Racetrack. When surfing The Racetrack it is important to know the tides. On a middle tide, most advanced surfers will be able to negotiate the end section barrel with success. Once the tide drops, and especially on the lower tides of the month, The Racetrack end section is a twisting, multi section barrel, a very dangerous place and is surely for experts and professionals only. When the Largest swells of the year hit Bali, Uluwatu transforms into a true Big wave surfing venue. The Peak, Racetrack, and Temples, are all under whitewater, and Uluwatu's outer reefs The Bombie and Outside Corner come alive. These breaks will handle any size, and it's not uncommon to see perfect fifteen-foot surf at these spots. Big boards and strong leashes are a necessity, and surfers paddling out into these conditions should know exactly how they are going to return to the beach, with or without a surfboard. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Impossibles can be one of the most photogenic waves on the planet. From up on the cliff or over in the Bingin warungs, sets rolling through Impossibles have the appearance of being some of the best waves on earth. This is usually a deception. 90% of the time, Impossibles is a sectioning, frustrating, impossible wave.. However, when everything comes together, Impossibles can be flawless.. And lucky surfers will experience epic, 400mtr, ultrafast, perfection. Impossibles is a difficult wave to predict. There does not seem to be any set rule for which swell directions, tides, swell periods or swell sizes will work best. Due to length of the reef and it's relatively consistent angle to the coast, there is a very small degree window for the swell to peel off perfectly rather than in big chunks of sections. There are two main take off points at Impossibles, the top section and the bottom section. Generally the top section works better when it is smaller, and the bottom section will transform with a huge swell and a low tide. All in all, Impossibles can be a good option for surfers who are not quite ready for the heaviness of Uluwatu or Padang Padang. However, on the big days, Impossibles picks up a lot of swell, and surfers should take care to know how to get in with or without a board before they enter the water. Unfortunately one surfer drowned here during a huge swell this year. To get to Impossibles: Coming from Kuta, go to the Bypass road and head towards Nusa Dua. A few kilometer's down the road you will arrive at a turn off with a sign for Uluwatu. Follow this road through the twists, and up the hill to the top of the Bukit Penninsula. Continue on this road through the four way intersection until you reach a turn off onto Jln. Melasti and see signs for Padang Padang Beach. Follow this road to the bottom of the hill where you will find a bridge and parking area overlooking Padang Padang Beach. Impossibles can be accessed from either Padang Padang Beach or Bingin.

When it's on, Padang Padang is a beast, truly "The Balinese Pipeline." On the biggest days of the year, huge swells march down the reef from Uluwatu, forming some of the biggest and heaviest barrels anywhere in Indonesia when they hit the Padang reef. Though Padang Padang breaks relatively frequently during the season, classic Padang is rare. For it all to come together, a strong, long-period SW swell, mid tides, and light offshores are required. Even with all of the elements in place, sometimes Padang Padang can pinch, or mutate halfway through the barrel. Not good when you consider that a wipeout in these conditions is very serious and means almost certain injury, broken boards, or both. When Padang Padang is classic, surfers can expect deep, dry, heavy, big tubes. When surfing Padang Padang it is important to understand the tides. During the lower tides of the month, Padang Padang can become absurdly dangerous as the end section breaks below sea level and directly in front of exposed, jagged reef. Even professional surfers find Padang's twisting barrel a challenge to negotiate, and most wipeouts mean a trip to a very unforgiving reef.

Balangan was almost lost as a surf spot. In the early 90's big business interests had scheduled the reef at Balangan to be destroyed and a huge breakwall and five star marina to be built. Local surfing legend Kim "The Fly" Bradley is credited with successfully lobbying against this plan, and saving Balangan as a surf spot. Hats off to Kim. Balangan is the last of the major left hand reef breaks on the Bukit. On it's day, it is an epic big wave spot with shifting peaks giving way to 300mtr smokers. On smaller days, Balangan offers a few different peaks, and is best on a mid to low tide when they can connect and form a long, racy, wall. To get to Balangan used to be a one-hour bumpy ride through farm fields and orange groves. These days there has been a major development project and accessing Balangan resembles more a trip to the moon than the quiet farming village of just a few years ago. The beach at Balangan is still beautiful and the vibe down there is more sleepy and less crowded than other surfing beaches on the Bukit. To get to Balangan: Coming from Kuta, go to the Bypass road and head towards Nusa Dua. A few kilometer's down the road you will arrive at a turn off with a sign for Uluwatu. Follow this road through the twists, and up the hill to the top of the Bukit Penninsula. Continue on this road through the four way intersection until you reach a huge development project.. Pecatu Indah. You will see two amazing statues on your right. Follow this road to the bottom and look for the signs for Balangan. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Canggu used to be accessed by surfers staying in Kuta by a harrowing, high-speed motorcycle ride through the soft sand from Kuta Beach to Canggu. Surfers needed to maintain a top speed for the entire ride or else be stuck in the soft sand and often left unable to get started again. These days that's no longer allowed and driving into Canggu means a mellow ride through the rice fields. Canggu is a nice place, and as such, it has become the choice of a lot of expats and local surfers, to build houses and live there. There's a community feeling at Canggu. Families, dogs, long-term friends are all around the cafe's at the main break Echo Beach. Canggu is a strip of black sand beach and reef breaks that is known for having something for everyone. There are a few soft rolling waves that are ideal for beginners, some hot dog, rippable peaks, for high performance surfing, and, when it's big, there are some gnarly, beachfront barrels for expert surfers. Canggu is more south facing than Kuta Beach and will usually be bigger. Canggu is often the spot when the swell is small, and many of Bali's hottest surfers from Kuta will make the morning trip to Canggu. Because it faces further south, Canggu is also more affected by the trade winds and is best in the early mornings. After 9:00 a.m., Canggu is frequently sideshore and not the perfect glass of a few hours earlier. To get to Canggu: Follow the main road Jln Legian through Seminyak and out to the ricefields past Pettitinget. Follow the signs for Canggu and Tanah Lot. As you near the beach keep your eyes peeled for a sign for Echo Beach as this is the most central of the breaks and the place where most surfers start.

Balian is not a major surf destination spot in Bali for most surfers. The waves at Balian are not the ultraperfect green barrels that most surfers come to Bali for. However, Balian is a great surf get away in Bali. Contrasted to the Bukit, Balian is lush, with ricefields, rivers, and lots of coconut trees. There's a black sand beach, and it is generally a very mellow place to chill out for a few days. Balian is also a swell magnet. This is a place that will have decent surf when everywhere else is flat. The tradewinds blow sideshore here, and the rainy season westerlies blow onshore. Balian is a place for early morning surfing and the potential for a late afternoon glass of session. The wave at Balian is a rivermouth beach and rock break that offers up very rippable shifting A-frame peaks. Usually the lefts are better than the rights, and both can show an inside barrel section when it all comes together. Balian is not a place to go when there is a big swell running. It will be impossible to paddle out and the currents will become dangerous. If a big swell is running most surfers will continue west another half an hour to Medewi. To get to Balian: Balian is about one and a half hours from Kuta. Leaving Kuta, follow the Krobokan Rd, past the Canggu turn off and continue straight. This road will eventually connect with the major West to East highway. Follow the signs for Gilimanuk. The coast will be in sight much of the way, and keep your eyes peeled to see if any of the assorted peaks on the way are worth investigating. You will see signs for Balian as you approach some large hills to your right.

Kuta Beach is where surfing in Bali began. Imagine an absolutely perfect, white sand beach, palm trees coming down to the water's edge, and completely empty, roping A frames for as far as you could see. The first surfers to come to Bali were treated to an epic experience. These days a lot has changed in Kuta, and it is becoming a major tourist city. There are thousands of little restaurants, places to stay, and some of the best shopping anywhere in the world. The beach is full of people. People playing soccer, exercising, doing Tai Chi, selling everything from sarongs to sunglasses, renting surfboards or beach umbrellas, and, of course, surfing. The surf at Kuta Beach can be great. It's no wonder legendary Kuta local boys like Rizal Tanjung, Bol Adiputra, Pepin Hendrix, Wayan Pica, or Made Switra surf as well as they do, Kuta Beach is an ultra consistent, quality beachbreak, that is ideal for learning to surf and for honing one's skills. Kuta Beach is actually a long strip of different sand bar breaks that runs from Kuta Reef all the way down to Seminyak's Blue Ocean beach. This stretch of white sand peaks is best at high tide when the faster sections are more makeable and offer high performance surfers the chance to link several maneuvers on each wave. Places like Halfways in front of Jalan Padma are the training grounds for some of Bali's hottest surfers, and it's a treat to watch some of the smoothest surfing on the planet. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Once a sleepy little beach with a handful of warungs, Bingin has changed a lot in the last few years. Nowadays, there is a full on beach community at Bingin with one hundred different places to stay. Even with all of this development, Bingin has maintained it's charm and is a great place to go and spend a few days. For surfers, Bingin is all about perfect barrels. This wave at the end of the Impossibles' reef loves a four-foot swell and a mid-low tide. When it's on, every wave of every set will have a clean, open, perfect, barrel. If you want to get a barrel, this is the place where it's almost guaranteed. However, you will not be the only one in the water seeking this experience. Bingin can be a very crowded place to surf. A small take off spot, a community of visiting surfers, and red-hot locals that know every twist of the reef, can make it difficult to actually catch one of these perfect barrels. Another aspect of Bingin that visiting surfers should be aware of is the end section "stop signs" No other piece of reef in Indonesia has collected more skin from surfers than this clump of raised coral. It's important for surfers to understand that Bingin is not a long wave. Drop in, get barrelled, pull out. Going for that extra turn will usually leave the unsuspecting surfer high and dry with an afternoon trip to the local clinic for stitches. To get to Bingin: Coming from Kuta, go to the Bypass road and head towards Nusa Dua. A few kilometer's down the road you will arrive at a turn off with a sign for Uluwatu. Follow this road through the twists, and up the hill to the top of the Bukit Penninsula. Continue on this road through the four-way intersection until you reach a turn off onto Jln. Melasti and see signs for Padang Padang Beach. Follow this road until you pass the Jiwa Juice Internet Café on your left (Stop in for fresh bread and delicious home baked sweets) A few hundred meters down the road you will see an all white, dirt road, with a lot of sign for Bingin and accomodations. Follow this road and park in the designated parking area. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Though not a fantastic wave by Indonesia standards, Nyang Nyang is probably the most beautiful surf spot on the island and can provide for a nice alternative from the usual warung experience. The view from the top of the cliff is spectacular and the beach below is inviting. However, there are 600 steps between the top of the cliff and that beach. 600 steep steps down, and up. This is a great place for a workout, but not the place to run down for a quick surf. There are actually a few waves at Nyang Nyang. The place people surf the most is to the right of the beach at the entrance to a channel. This place is best with a high tide and small swell, and when it all comes together, the wave can be a short but fun, punchy, righthander. On larger swells, and lower tides, another righthander forms up to the north of the beach and can be seen clearly from the top of the cliff. This wave is usually much bigger than it looks, and a shifting peak means that only half of the waves are makeable. Even so, it's an impressive place to surf for the scenery alone. There are rarely other surfers in the water here, and there can be strong currents. Nyang Nyang faces due south and the power of the Indian Ocean is undilluted. Give this place some respect. To get to Nyang Nyang: Coming from Kuta, follow Jln Uluwatu towards Uluwatu Temple. About ½ mile before the Temple, on your left you will see a small school. Just after this there is a dirt road with a sign for Nyang Nyang surfing beach. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Kuta Reef is the original left hand reef break of Bali. Before surfers started venturing out to the Bukit, this was the place where surfers met the challenges of the big swells of the dry season. Kuta Reef is way out to sea and picks up quite a bit more swell than other nearby spots like airport lefts or rights or the beachbreaks. On bigger days, Kuta Reef offers up classic long walled, bowling, rippable surf, similar to some of its cousins out in the Bukit. Kuta Reef is a long paddle for anyone and it's best to take a boat out there. Another thing about Kuta reef is that it can be wind affected and is usually best when surfed early mornings or late afternoons. As Kuta is close by, crowds can become an issue at Kuta Reef and some days it can seem like it's just more of a hassle than it's worth. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

It's easy to see how Dreamland got it's name. So many surfers from all over the world dream of coming to Bali only to arrive here and realize that the waves they were envisioning themselves surfing such as Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin, etc. are super heavy and the reef is sharp as heck. For these surfers, the relatively mellow beach breaks and rolling reef down the road from Bingin is definitely a Dreamland. These days, Dreamland has become a small town on the beach. There're plenty of cafes, beach umbrellas, surfboard rentals, local surfers, and tourists from all over the world. During a small to mid sized swell, Dreamland will break as a disorganized, rolling, outer beachbreak from mid to low tide. This is perfect for beginner to intermediate surfers, and it is common to see a crowd of longboarders and bodyboarders out there. On lower tides, there is a reform section on the inside of this beachbreak that can be fun for shortboarding, bodyboarding or bodysurfing. To the right of this beachbreak there are a series of rocks and clumps of reef that break in a semi-organized peak of lefts and rights. On smaller days these waves are nothing special, however, Dreamland is a swell magnet, and if there is a big swell running, and a low tide, the outer reefs at Dreamland can transform into some really good barreling A frames. Definitely worth a look under the right conditions. To get to Dreamland: Coming from Kuta, go to the Bypass road and head towards Nusa Dua. A few kilometer's down the road you will arrive at a turn off with a sign for Uluwatu. Follow this road through the twists, and up the hill to the top of the Bukit Penninsula. Continue on this road through the four way intersection until you reach a huge development project. Pecatu Indah. You will see two amazing statues on your right. Follow this road to the bottom and look for the signs for Dreamland. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.