Best Time to Surf in Bali, Lombok and Java

Mojosurf has four surf camps in Indonesia: Canggu in Bali, Nusa Lembongan off Bali’s south-east coast, Kuta on Lombok and Red Island in East Java. You can surf in Indonesia in any month. What changes through the year is the size of the swell, the direction of the wind and the number of people in the water.

This page sums up the seasons from our Canggu surf guide, Nusa Lembongan surf guide, Kuta Lombok surf guide and Red Island surf guide. Surf conditions change daily, so treat it as a starting point and check conditions on the day with someone who knows the break.

The short answer

Month by month in Bali, Lombok and Java

Each cell below comes from the matching surf guide. Where a guide says nothing specific about a month, we have said so.

Surfing Bali from November to January

November to January is the start of the wet season. In Canggu the surf is smaller and more variable, the wind turns to the west, which blows onshore, and the water is at its warmest, roughly 28 to 30 °C in January. Christmas and New Year are busy, and after heavy rain it is best to stay out of the water near river mouths. On Nusa Lembongan the surf is more affected by wind, with calm windows, and the island is quieter in December. Kuta, Lombok has smaller, mellower waves and fewer surfers. November is the last month of Red Island’s swell season, and December is wet season there. See our surf camps in Canggu, Nusa Lembongan, Kuta, Lombok and Red Island.

The best time to surf Bali for beginners

Learners can surf in either season. In Canggu the wet season’s smaller, less predictable surf often suits learners, and the water is at its warmest. In the dry season beginners do best on the smaller days and with a guide, at the gentle breaks of Batu Bolong and Old Man’s.

On Lombok, many learners prefer November to March, when the waves are smaller and mellower and there are fewer surfers. In the dry season, beginners do best in the sheltered bays and on the smaller days. Red Island breaks over sand and not reef, which makes it a forgiving place to learn during its May to November swell season. Every wave on Nusa Lembongan breaks over reef, so it makes a good next step once you have some waves behind you.

Is the wet season worth it?

Yes, with realistic expectations. The surf is smaller and less predictable and there is more space in the water. Rain tends to come in bursts and not all day. The trade-offs are onshore wind on many days at Canggu, poorer water quality straight after a downpour near river mouths, and boat crossings that depend on the weather, so allow some flexibility if you are island hopping.

Water temperature and what to wear

No wetsuit is needed at any of the four camps. The water around Canggu is roughly 25 to 28 °C in August and 28 to 30 °C in January, and around Lombok roughly 25 to 30 °C all year. Boardshorts or swimwear and a rash vest for sun protection are all you need, plus reef booties for Nusa Lembongan.

Surf Bali, Lombok and Java with Mojosurf

• Canggu surf camp: our Bali base, close to the beginner breaks. See surf lessons in Canggu for the ways to learn there.
• Nusa Lembongan surf camp: boat-based lessons timed around the tides.
• Kuta Lombok surf camp: beach breaks, soft-reef breaks and boat trips to the surf.
• Red Island surf camp in Java: a sand-bottom beach break with walk-in access.
• 15 Day Island Hopper: Canggu, Red Island and Nusa Lembongan in one trip.
• 1 Month Surf Academy Indonesia: 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.

You need to be able to swim 50 metres unaided to join a lesson. Planning to visit more than one island? Read our island hopping guide or compare Canggu vs Lombok.