Indonesia surf guide

Surfing Simeulue

Fun reefs and very few surfers on an island off Aceh.

2 waves · Best May-Sep · Intermediate, Advanced · From $35 a day

The island of Nias, off the coast of Sumatra, is home to Lagundri Bay: one of the most perfect right-hand reef breaks in the world. Getting there takes time, and it's much less developed than Bali.

LevelsIntermediate, Advanced

Best seasonMay-Sep

RegionSumatra-Nias

Daily budget$35–120

Nearest airportKNO

The waves at Simeulue

ThailandsIntermediate / Advanced

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, NE wind

Thailands is a long left on Simeulue, breaking over reef in fairly deep water. Rides can reach 200 metres, with open walls you can turn on all the way.

It suits intermediate and advanced surfers and works at 3-8ft on a south-west swell. Like most reefs here, it changes with the tide. There's also a right on the other side of the reef, Thailands Right.

Simeulue is in Aceh province, so it's conservative, and respectful travellers are made very welcome. The losmen are cheap and crowds are small.

Full guide to Thailands

Tea BagsIntermediate

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 2-6 ft · Crowd 1/5

SW swell, E-NE wind

Tea Bags is a fast right on Simeulue that breaks over shallow reef and can run for up to 150 metres. The name comes from the nearby river, which stains the water brown like tea.

It's one of the best-known waves on the island, with long walls and hollow sections. It works on a south-west swell with the north-east season winds, and mornings are usually glassy. It suits intermediate and advanced surfers who are used to reef.

Local kids often share the waves, and the losmen cook whatever was caught that day.

Full guide to Tea Bags

Where to stay in Simeulue

The surf resorts cluster around Nancala on the southeast coast, in front of Teabags and the reefs, all small, all personal, most sold as packages with airport pickup from Sinabang (45 min). Rooms are limited island-wide: match your booking to the Wings Air schedule before paying for either.

Surf camps in Simeulue

We are adding local camps we trust to this page. Run a surf camp or surf house here? We would like to hear from you.

List your camp

Before
you go

Book ahead

Lagundri camps fill up June-August, so book 2-3 months ahead. Krui is walk-in friendly year-round. Simeulue's limited flights (via Medan) are the bottleneck: secure those before anything else. Hinako camps (Asu/Bawa): arrange from Nias, days ahead.

The water

Malaria prophylaxis for rural Sumatra, talk to a travel doctor. Real hospitals are in Medan and Padang; everything local is basic. A serious reef injury means a long evacuation: carry a proper med kit and insurance that covers it.

Who it suits

Tight connections. Ferries and regional flights are often late or cancelled, so leave a spare day for every transfer. Nias in the June-July peak if crowds irritate you (by Nias standards, 15 people is a crowd).

Money

Serious cash planning required. Last reliable ATMs: Gunungsitoli (Nias), Krui town (one, often empty), Sinabang (Simeulue, unreliable). Bring your trip budget in rupiah from Medan or Padang and split it across your bags.

Best time to surf Simeulue

Simeulue works best around May-Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PrimeGoodQuiet

Indonesia or Costa Rica? Compared for surfing

Getting to Simeulue

Krui, Nias and Simeulue are three separate trips, each with its own flight. On the ground you use scooters and local drivers. Distances are long and timetables change.

Nias: fly via Medan

$40-70 + car

Wings Air hops from Medan to Gunungsitoli in about an hour, several times daily. From there it's a 2.5-3 hour car ($25-35 per vehicle) south to Sorake and Lagundri. Book the Medan-GNS leg early in high season. The planes are small, and board space is limited and charged.

Krui: via Bandar Lampung

$25-45 + car

Fly Jakarta to Bandar Lampung (45 min, frequent), then a 6-7 hour car over the Bukit Barisan mountains to Krui ($60-80 per car, which you can split). Occasional small-plane hops serve Krui's airstrip. Take the morning flight so the mountain road happens in daylight.

Simeulue: via Medan

$50-80

Wings Air connects Medan to Sinabang a few days a week in under an hour. It's the easy way into one of Indonesia's least crowded surf islands. Resorts collect you at the airport. Flights are few and fill up; lock them in before you book the room.

Scooter rental

$5-8/day

In Krui, Sorake and Simeulue everyone gets around by scooter: to the spots, the warungs and the viewpoints. Roads are mostly paved with potholes and chickens as the main hazards. Rent through your losmen or camp; they'll have racks and scooters in decent condition.

Car + driver

$35-50/day

Local drivers handle airport transfers and long spot strikes. On Nias, Teluk Dalam drivers know every reef; in Krui they'll run you north to Way Jambu or south to Mandiri all day. Your accommodation will have a trusted number. Agree the price before you load the boards.

Beyond the surf

Sinabang harbour & lobster warungs

Food & culture

Simeulue's little capital runs on clove, cattle and lobster, eat one grilled at the harbour for a fraction of mainland prices and watch the supply boats come in.

Teupah islands snorkelling

Marine life

The islets and lagoons off the southeast coast hold clear, healthy reef, turtles, reef fish and the occasional eagle ray over the sand channels.

Island interior by scooter

Exploration

Cross the island's jungle spine between coasts: buffalo wallows, clove-drying villages and kids who will race you on their bikes.

Turtle nesting beaches

Nature

Remote west-coast sands host nesting green and hawksbill turtles, resorts can arrange respectful night walks with local rangers in season.