The Krui area has been on the surf radar for over 20 years but it's still not a major surf destination. It can be quite fickle beside other Indonesian surf zones. Some local knowledge and a few tips will help you plan a successful adventure to the South West coast of Sumatra.

Time and luck

There is no ideal swell and wind direction that gets all the breaks in the area working at the same time. Each 'surf zone' (Tanjung Setia, Mandiri, Krui and Utara District) requires it's own particular conditions to be lined up and firing.

• During peak season 1 quality swell hits the coast approx every 11 days lasting 4 to 5 days.
• Only 1 in 3 swells is the correct direction to light up one of the surf zones.

On a short 10 to 14 day trip your fate is in the hands of "lady luck". You could score perfect waves or suffer poor quality waves due to off swell and wind direction.

☑ Recommended min stay: 4 weeks.

Ujung Bocur excellent days July 2023

Ujung Bocur poor conditions June 2023

Mobility & Transport

On the same day it's common to find Krui Left flat, Mandiri Beach blown out, tide too low at Way Jambu and Karang Nyimbor (Ujung Bocur) your only option. You need to be mobile, traveling to where the conditions are best.

This leaves you with 3 options:

Remain at one surf break

Not recommended. If you did decide to limit yourself to one area then Tanjung Setia is the best choice as Ujung Bocur is the most consistent surf break. Forget Krui town as Kru Left, Leftovers and The Peak are flat for days on end even during peak season.

Hire a scooter / motorcycle

At IDR 65000 a day this is the most popular and cost effective transport. Legally you will require an International Drivers Licence. Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended as accidents are common and can become a costly legal nightmare.

Hire a car & driver

Expensive unless you share the costs. The 35km trip from Tanjung Setia to Krui town cost IDR 300000 in 2025.

☑ Recommended transport: scooter hire.

Level of surfing

The South Sumatra mainland is most suited to intermediate surfers with the skill to surf solid waves over shallow, sharp, unforgiving reefs. It's important to honestly evaluate your skill level and adjust your expectations and travel dates accordingly.

Beginners

This is not the ideal destination to learn how to surf in a couple of weeks. Surfing the major breaks during peak season (June to September) you'll have to compete for waves with crowds that don't give a damn about surf etiquette. Sitting on the shoulder and waiting for the leftovers does not pan out well.

Take note that the winds are not favourable for Mandiri Beach from June to September.

Advanced

Most advanced surfers find the area too fickle. Few are willing to endure the flat spells, inconsistent swell and wave quality to just end up surfing with a crowd.

☑ Recommended min surfing skill: intermediate.

Krui Left July 2017 ~ © Nana Gapero

Perfect Way Jambu 2013

The growing crowds

Be warned. From May to August the major surf breaks get crowded when the swell is under 2.4 mtrs.

What about the secret spots?

A quick on-line search returns 180,000 web pages advertising the Krui area. There are no longer any secret spots, surf guides and surf camp owners exposed those years ago.

Better to prepare for the crowds and maintain your stoke.

☑ Recommended attitude: laidback.

When to come

Below are some general dates to consider when planning your trip. You could add some modern crystal ball science to your planning and track the forecasted El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle. On the other hand you could just deal out a Taro card deck and arrive at the same place.

Surfing in season - June to September

During the southern hemisphere winter the Great Southern Ocean sends 1 large long lasting swell a week towards the Sumatran coast. Offshore winds make this the best time to score 1.8 mtr plus surf at Krui Left, The Peak, Ujung Bocur and Way Jambu.

The best swells seem to be those that explode into the Indian ocean off the east coast of Africa, hitting Sumatra from a more SW direction.

A big problem planning a trip during peak season is guessing when the WSL Krui Pro will take place. With over 300 competitors descending on the area in May, June or July you definately want to avoid this event.

Surfing off season – September to May

It's summer in the Great Southern Ocean and fewer smaller swells hit Sumatra. Swell consistency and size begins dropping off mid September as the Southern Ocean winds down. On an average year you can expect 1 decent swell a month with long flat spells of up to 14 days.

La Niña years often produce wetter rainy seasons that continuing into April. More tropical cyclones develop south of the Sudan Strait driving onshore winds into the South West Sumatran Coastline.

September to November

This period can be an excellent choice to enjoy smaller crowds and smaller swells but still have a good chance to catch a solid swell. Offshore days at Mandiri Beach and Jenny's Right should be increasing.

November and December

The rainy season is starting to kick in. Expect onshore winds and small confused swells. You would have to feel blessed by the gods to plan a trip at this time of the year.

December to March

This period is usually the worst of the rainy season and you can expect howling onshore winds and rain. Most surfers have left the area. Those that stayed spend their days hoping for offshore winds and a lined up swell or praying for any swell at all.

On rare occassions usually during an El Niño Februrary to April can be quite dry with light variable winds and swell size between .5 to 1.2 mtr.

November to April is a very risky time for a surf trip to South Sumatra ... could be OK ... could be hell.

March to May

A transitional period often providing the best conditions for Mandiri Beach with offshore winds prevailing late into the day. The waves around Walur in the Utara district can also be an option if the winds are favourable.

☑ Recommended months: June to September.

What to bring

There are no surf shops in the area that sell any decent gear so you need to bring everything with you, including extra boards. Make sure you bring a few big wave leashes and a good supply of fins. A pair of reef boots are a good idea as there are sea urchins and stone fish.

Money

There are a number of ATM machines in the area but they can be very unreliable. There are no money changers in the Krui area. Your last chance to easily change foreign currency is in Jakarta. There is a money changer in Bandar Lampung city but it's a long way from the airport.

Travel Insurance

Surfers get seriously injured here so it's highly recommended that you have travel insurance that covers all the activities you plan to be involved in (surfing, motorcylce,...,...).

International Drivers Licence

You are legally required to have a valid and current International Drivers Licence to drive any vehicle in Indonesia. If you have an accident without one your insurance will not cover your personal injuries or 3^rd party liability.

Tides

If your plan is to surf Way Jambu or Jimmy's Right make sure the prevailing tides will be favourable.

Tides on this coastline can be really funky. Some months there are virtually no daytime high tides for 2 weeks. At most breaks a tide of .0 to .3 mtrs is getting dangerously low.