SURF TRIP TO NIAS: AN INDONESIAN PARADISE
Since the late 50’s Indonesia started to be known as a surfing paradise. Worldwide surf community quickly appreciated Indonesia for the high number of perfect surf spots, around a stunning multitude of unique islands. What makes Indonesia a blessed place is its consistency of the swells and off course the variety of the spots: from beginners to professional surfers, everyone will have the right place to spend the best surf trip.
We visited one of the true pearls of the Indonesian archipelago: Nias.
Nias Island (Pulau Nias) only recently is almost completely accessible to travelers, since the wildness of this place didn’t allow everyone to reach it. But once you get there, you find everything you need in order to live one of the best surfing and traveling experience ever: marvelous beaches, first class waves, culture and tradition from locals inhabitants.
Enjoy.
HOW TO GET THERE
Once in Sumatra there are two possible ways to access the Nias Island. By air there are airlines such as Lion Air, Merpati, Wings Air and Garuda airline (you are allow to take 20kg baggage and if you have surfboard you can add 10 kg for free) that fly from Kuala Namu to the Binaka Airport, near Gunung Sitoli in Nias Island. The prices are from 480.000 IDR (Indonesian Rupia), almost 40$ for one way flights. The Binaka Airport is located 15 kilometers away from the town.
The most certain way to get to Nias from Sumatra is heading to the Sibolga Port. Ferries depart every day to the Gunung Situoli Port, 5 kilometers away from the town. The journey is a pleasure and takes approximately from 8 to 12 hours. Night trips are available. The ferry is operated by a state company called Pelni. You can check for hours and schedule on the website: pelni.com.
Whether you arrive at the Binaka Airport or the Gunung Sitoli Port, there will be vans and minibuses available to drive you to the paradise, Sorake and Lagurundi bay, and the price for one way is between 400.000 and 500.000 IDR (40$ / 50$).
WHERE TO SURF
Here it is a selection of three spots that we had the opportunity to review for you. These are spots without crowd, where the pleasure of surfing will be mixed with nature, wildlife, according to your surfing level.
Lagurundi beach break
Good to learn
- both left and right wave, this spot works in high and low tide — need big swell to work and the best time of the year is from May to September.
The Point
Beginner/Intermediate
- Amazing, perfect and long right waves on a reef , The Point works with high and low tide , and both with small and big swell. The best time of the year is from May to September. You will have the pleasure to have a surfing sussion with sea turtles!
Indicators
Expert surfers only
- Perfect tubing right waves on a gnarly reef , it works with high and low tide , usually with big swell, from May to September.
SOME TIPS FOR YOU
During the night there are not many thing to do, you can just take a beer in front of the see, play pool in some guest house or just relax and live happy and quiet your time there.
Buy fresh fish in Lagurundi from 1pm to 5pm when the boats come back (really cheap price around 8$ for 2 kg tuna!).
Visit the Orahili village, 20 minutes by moto from Sorake. Here you can appreciate a real Nias village atmosphere.
Visit Asu island: 2 hours driving form Sorake and 40 minutes with a fast boat.
IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT NIAS CONTACT US AT INFO@HONULA.COM
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