South Sumatra Surf Guide

Overview

South Sumatra isn’t Bali. It’s not Mentawai either. It’s the kind of place you go when you’re tired of lineups full of soft-tops and want the real Indo; warm water, half-empty lineups, and waves that actually scare you a little.

The coastline stretches for miles, dotted with reefs, points, and beachies that catch almost every hint of Indian Ocean swell. It’s not a luxury surf resort setup, it’s warungs, palm trees, and waves breaking in front of bamboo bungalows. But that’s the beauty of it.

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image credit; Federico Vanno

Main Surf Zones

Ujung Bocur, The Heart of the Coast

Ujung Bocur is the anchor of South Sumatra. A long, wrapping left that defines Krui’s surf identity.
It peels endlessly over a lava reef, with fast walls, carve sections, and the occasional deep barrel when the tide and angle sync.

It’s forgiving enough for intermediates, but still powerful enough to keep experts stoked for weeks. The setup’s perfect: waves out front, lodges on the beach, coconuts and warungs within arm’s reach.

Vibe: Laid-back, surf-first, sunset-beer kind of place.

Crowd: Moderate (10–20 surfers on good days) but there are waves for all

Pro Tip: On mid tide and medium swell, the inside reforms into a skate-park of open faces.

Way Jambu (Sumatran Pipeline)

Drive 10 minutes south from Bocur and the mellow fades fast.
Way Jambu is South Sumatra’s heavy hitter, Indo power without the Mentawai price tag.

When the swell’s pumping, it’s thick, round, and downright intimidating. Local chargers compare it to Pipe meets Desert Point, and they’re not exaggerating.

Wave Personality: Hollow, critical, powerful reef left.

Crowd Level: Light; only a handful of surfers dare when it’s big.

Pro Tip: Don’t paddle out solo; reef’s sharp and currents strong.

Krui Town Surf Zone, Four Waves, One Vibe

Right in front of Krui town are four fun, dependable breaks that define the area’s rhythm.

Krui Left is the headliner. A long left reef that can barrel when a proper southwest swell hits.

Across the channel, Krui Right throws shorter, punchier walls that are often cleaner when the trades get tricky. It’s less consistent but fun when it turns on — a good backup when Left gets packed.

Just down the road, The Peak breaks both ways, throwing quick, tight barrels over shallow reef. It’s short and intense. Few minutes further south, Leftovers comes alive on solid swells a heavy left slab with real bite.

Vibe: Pure surf-town energy. Scooters lined up at dawn, locals waxing under palm trees, the smell of coffee and wax mixing with offshore wind.

Crowd Level: Moderate. 20–30 surfers spread across multiple peaks.

Pro Tip: Krui Left barrels on mid tide with clean SW swell; The Peak and Leftovers love size and morning glass.

Beyond Krui

North and south of the main area, the coastline keeps going, and so do the waves.
There are setups you’ll never see on Instagram, and a few that might make your all-time list. Some breaks require a scooter mission through palm groves, a short boat ride, and others a 30-60 minutes drive depending on where you at.
Bring time, a sense of adventure, few liters of gas and you’ll find something firing and no one out.

Image credit; Mauro Burgos

Image Credit; Dave Sparkes

Mandiri Beach, The Barrel Magnet Beachbreak

Just 15 minutes north of Ujung Bocur is Mandiri Beach, a long black-sand coastline that eats swells and can turn into a sand-bank beachbreak barrel factory.
It’s less reef-protected and more exposed. When the swell hits and sandbanks line up, you’ll find rights and lefts peeling with speed and hollow sections reminiscent of bigger-name breaks.

Vibe: Wild, less developed zone, more space, less crowd, more “frontier” feeling.

Crowd Level: Moderate to low. 10–30 surfers depending on swell.

Pro Tip: Early morning is key.

The Waves & What You’ll Need

South Sumatra is about variety, quality and consistency.

• Mostly lefts, though a few solid rights break around Krui.

• Reef setups that can go from playful to powerful depending on swell size.

• Bring your everyday shortboard and a step-up — you’ll use both.

• If you like smaller surf days, a fish or twinny will be perfect for Krui Left or mellow mornings at Bocur.

• Reef booties? Optional for most spots, smart for Way Jambu.

Best Time to Go

If you want South Sumatra at its best, go between April and October. That’s when the Indian Ocean turns on and the coast lights up with clean, consistent swell. The trades blow lightly offshore, and Ujung Bocur barely takes a day off.

March and November are solid too; less swell, fewer people, still plenty to ride.

Rainy season (December to February) isn’t ideal. Onshores, storms, and smaller swells roll through, but if you’re chasing solitude, this is when the coast goes quiet.

Getting There & Around

This isn’t a “fly in, sip a coconut, surf right away” kind of trip, but that’s what keeps it magic.

1. Fly to Jakarta or Bali.

2. Get a domestic flight to Bandar Lampung (Radin Inten II Airport).

3. From there, it’s a 6 hour drive along a jungle-lined coastal road to Krui or Tanjung Setia.
   Most surf camps organize the transfer — car, driver, boards on the roof.

4. If you land late, stay one night in Bandar Lampung and start early next morning.

5. Once in Krui, everything’s close — scooter missions or local car rides get you to most breaks.

No ferries, no long ocean crossings. Just a long, scenic drive to paradise.

Surf Tips

• Bring extra fins, wax, leashes. There’s no real surf shop.

• ATMs sometimes run out of cash, so bring enough IDR from Bandar Lampung..

• Watch the tides: some spots only work on certain tides, especially Way Jambu.

• Respect the locals — they’ve been holding this place down since before it was on the map.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Long, consistent waves with minimal crowds.

• Cheap surf camps right on the beach.

• Easy mainland access, no ferries needed.

• Feels raw and real — Indo the way it used to be.

Cons

• Long drive from the airport.

• Limited nightlife or high-end options.

• Can get heavy on big swells.

Where to stay

Fill out our South Sumatra Trip Planner Form and we’ll help match you with the best option based on your style, surf goals, and budget.

It’s free. It’s personal. And it might just save your whole trip.