Sumatra Surfing Destinations

Considered Indonesia’s last frontier, Sumatra is home to some of the world’s best surfing regions including Krui in South Sumatra as well as numerous island chains scattered off the west coast, which for decades have been considered by many surfers too remote to travel to until recent years. Thanks to improved air travel combined with an abundance of new camps and charter boat operations – Sumatra now provides the gateway to every surfers dream.

Sumatra is the largest island (that is entirely in Indonesia) and is found in western Indonesia. The western coast and its neighbouring islands receive world class surf that has attracted the intrepid explorer for the last 2 decades.

The main surfing regions are found in South Sumatra as well an extensive archipelago found 150kms off the west coast of the mainland. These regions include the Mentawai, Telo, Banyak and Simeulue islands.

Surfers visiting the mainland will find plenty of surf camps to choose from – as well as numerous charter boats operating in the islands. South Sumatra is the cheaper and more accessible option whereas the other regions remain harder to reach and as a result are usually more expensive.