Island Hopping From Bali: A Surfer’s Guide to Java, Nusa Lembongan and Lombok

Bali is the usual starting point for a surf trip to Indonesia, and it is also a very good jumping-off point. Within a few hours there is a sand-bottom beach break in East Java, a reef-ringed island half an hour offshore, and a quieter coastline of bays on Lombok. Each has a different kind of wave and a different pace. This guide explains what each stop is like, how to get between them, and how to put them in a sensible order.

The islands at a glance

Stop by stop

Canggu: the easy start

Most trips start here because the airport is close and the beginner waves are a short walk from town. It is a good place to get over the flight, find your feet on a board and meet people. Read the Canggu surf guide.

Red Island, Java: sand under your feet

Red Island, or Pulau Merah, is a wide bay in East Java with a wave that breaks over sand and not reef. That makes it forgiving to learn on, and several days in one place on one wave is how most people improve fastest. The journey is the longest of the trip, by road to the western tip of Bali, across the strait by ferry and south through Java. Read the Red Island surf guide.

Nusa Lembongan: reef and clear water

Lembongan is a short fast-boat ride from Sanur. Every wave breaks over reef, so sessions are planned around the tide and often start from a boat. It is a step up from a beach break, which is why it works well later in a trip, once you have some waves behind you. Out of the water there are mangroves, the cliffs at Devil’s Tear and the Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan. Read the Nusa Lembongan surf guide.

Lombok: bays and boat trips

Lombok is the island east of Bali. Around the town of Kuta, on the south coast, there is a sandy learner beach at Selong Belanak and a cluster of reef breaks in Gerupuk Bay that you reach by local boat. It is generally quieter than Bali. Read the Kuta Lombok surf guide or our Canggu vs Lombok comparison.

When to go

You can island hop in any month. The dry season gives the most reliable surf, and the wet season gives more space. For a month-by-month table for each island, see the best time to surf in Bali, Lombok and Java.

A ready-made route: the 15 Day Island Hopper

If you would like the route, transport and lessons arranged for you, our 15 Day Island Hopper links three of these stops in 15 days and 14 nights. It starts on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month.

Included: 14 nights of shared accommodation, daily breakfast, 10 surf lessons with equipment, all transport between stops (ferry, fast boat and car) and a Mojosurf guide.

Not included: lunches and dinners, snorkelling and other extra activities.

The order makes sense for learning: a sand-bottom beach break first, then reef waves once you have had a week of practice. For current dates and full details, see the 15 Day Island Hopper page.

Shorter and longer options

• One island at a time. 7 Day Red Island Surf Trip, 7 Day Nusa Lembongan Surf Trip or 7 Day Lombok Surf Trip, each with transfers from our Canggu camp.
• A full month. The 1 Month Surf Academy Indonesia starts on the first Sunday of the month. In the dry season it usually visits Canggu, Red Island and Nusa Lembongan, and in the wet season usually Canggu, Lombok and Nusa Lembongan, depending on conditions.

What to pack for island hopping

• A soft bag or backpack. Easier than a hard suitcase on boats and beach landings.
• A dry bag. Fast boats to Nusa Lembongan land on the beach, and you step off into shallow water.
• A rash vest and water-resistant sunscreen. The water is warm enough all year that you will not need a wetsuit.
• Reef booties. Recommended for Nusa Lembongan.
• Sandals you can get wet.
• Some cash. Useful on the smaller islands and for meals that are not included.