The Krui area has been on the surf radar for over 20 years but it's still not a major surf destination. Find out why and things to consider when planning your surf trip to the South West mainland of Sumatra.

What's required for a Krui surf trip ?

Time, mobility and intermediate surfing skills are must haves. But it's luck that usually makes or breaks a South Sumatra surf adventure.

Time and luck

No surf destination is pumping perfection everyday and the Krui area is no exception. The ideal swell direction to get all the breaks firing is SW but the predominant swell direction is S. This makes South Sumatra more inconsistent than many other Indonesian surf zones.

On a 10 day trip your fate is in the hands of "lady luck". You could suffer a 7 to 10 day Krui flat spell or poor quality waves caused by off swell direction.

For those reasons we recommend longer trips that take into consideration the following two important facts.

• During peak season 1 quality swell hits the coast approx every 11 days lasting 4 to 5 days.
• 1 in 3 swells is the correct direction to line up the breaks in Tanjung Setia and Krui.

  Recommended min stay: 4 weeks.

Ujung Bocur 3 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) breaking wide. The Utara district may be your only option. You need to be mobile, traveling to where the conditions are the best. The distance between breaks is too far to walk and the Krui area has no public transport system.

This leaves you with 3 options:

Remain at one surf break

Not recommended as the breaks are all too fickle and inconsistent. 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 2024.

  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

There was a period when advanced surfers visited the Krui area. They came to score empty lineups on those perfect days at Way Jambu and Honey Smacks. Since the crowds arrived far fewer advanced surfers visit the area opting instead for more consistent destinations.

  Recommended min surfing skill: intermediate.

Krui Left July 2017 ~ © Nana Gapero

Perfect Way Jambu 2013

The growing crowds

Be warned. From April to October all the major surf breaks are overcrowded when the swell is under 2.4 mtrs. The problem isn't just the size of the crowd but also the nature of the waves and total lack of any surf etiquette.

What about the secret spots? They were exposed by the local surf guides and surf camp owners years ago.

If you choose to believe otherwise you are just setting yourself up for some serious dissapointment. 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 an average of 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.

  The WSL Krui Pro takes place in May or June so you need to plan around this event.

Surfing off season – October to May

It's summer in the Great Southern Ocean and fewer smaller swells hit Sumatra. In general 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 per month and long flat spells of up to 14 days.

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 but these months can sometimes be good for surfing the peaks of Mandiri Beach and Jenny's Right with offshore winds.

December to March

Most years this period is the worst of the rainy season and you can expect howling onshore winds and rain. Most surfers have left the area. Those that have stayed spend their days traveling to the Utara area in the rain hoping for offshore winds.

On rare occassions this time of the year can be quite dry with light variable winds. During these years the swell size is between .5 to 1 mtr with the odd swell over 1.5 mtrs (once a month) hitting the Krui area.

April and May

A transitional period often providing the best conditions for Mandiri Beach with offshore winds prevailing late into the day.

  Recommended months: May to October.

Tides

If your on a short trip and plan 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.