Best surf spots in Indonesia for beginners
The beaches in Indonesia where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in Indonesia →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Batu Karas Pangandaran · West Java | ~256 (55 good) | November to May | 27–30 °C |
| 2 | Pangandaran Pangandaran · West Java | ~206 (63 good) | February to March, November to December | 27–30 °C |
| 3 | Karang Nini Pangandaran · West Java | ~203 (62 good) | February to March, May, November to December | 27–30 °C |
| 4 | Lampuuk Lampuuk (Aceh Besar) · Aceh (Sumatra) | ~187 (49 good) | December to March | 29–31 °C |
| 5 | Teleng Ria Pacitan · East Java | ~183 (23 good) | February to May, November | 26–30 °C |
| 6 | Selong Belanak Kuta Lombok · Lombok | ~182 (19 good) | November to May | 27–30 °C |
| 7 | Kuta Beach Canggu · Bali | ~171 (48 good) | April to May, October to November | 28–30 °C |
| 8 | Red Island (Pulau Merah) Banyuwangi · East Java | ~143 (9 good) | June, August to September | 25–30 °C |
| 9 | Pancer Door Pacitan · East Java | ~131 (25 good) | February, April, November | 26–30 °C |
| 10 | Pantai Air Manis Padang · West Sumatra | ~31 (3 good) | August to September | 30–31 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across Indonesia's beginner spots, the best months are February to May, July, November to December. November has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 16 a month at the best spots), August the fewest (about 9). Water: 28–30 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in Indonesia?
On our numbers, Batu Karas (Pangandaran, about 256 beginner days a year), Pangandaran (Pangandaran, about 206 beginner days a year), Karang Nini (Pangandaran, about 203 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in Indonesia?
February to May, July, November to December: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in August.
Is Indonesia good for beginner surfers?
10 of the 149 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 16 surfable days in November and 9 in August. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in Indonesia · best time to surf in Indonesia.