Must Try : Best 10 Surfing Spots in Indonesia

Hawaii might be the birth place of surfing, but Indonesia is a paradise for surfers, both local and foreign. Hundreds of surfing spots lie from Sabang in Sumatra to Merauke in Papua, with Bali has the most spots of all. Here are best ten surfing spots that worth a try.

• Mentawai. The Mentawai Islands are the ultimate surf trip. Located some 130 km off the west coast of West Sumatra, the chain of islands offers some of the best surf spots to be found anywhere. With more than a dozen world class reef breaks make it one the most surf infested regions in the world. The South Indian Ocean produces the swells that have the islands pumping from March through to November at 6-12ft, makes it a super consistent area for surfing.

• Nias Island. An island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. While Nias Islands (Kepulauan Nias) is also the name of the archipelago, containing the Hinako archipelago. It is an internationally famous surfing destination. The best known surfing area is Sorake Bay, close to the town of Teluk Dalam, on the southern tip. Enclosed by the beaches of Lagundri and Sorake, the bay has both left and right-hand breaks. Some claim that the waves at the southern beach of Sorake are better than the ones in Maui.

• Cimaja. Located in Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, West Java. The point-break Cimaja hosts annual championships for junior, senior, open and women, as a part of the Indonesian Surfing Championships circuit.

• Grajagan. Known as G-Land is the most famous spot in East Java. A very long, world-class, barreling left hand reef/point break breaks along the east side of Grajagan Bay. It has long been considered one of the world's best left hand waves. It has one of the most consistently rideable waves in the world in season, with offshore winds and often plentiful swell between the months of, roughly, mid April to mid October.

• Kuta Beach. Bali's premier surfing beach, most surfed, most crowded spot, but is always fun and sometimes can get epic. Ultra fast (almost a closeout) but very safe sand bottom.

• Canggu. Located 20 minutes north of Seminyak along the coast in Bali. Canggu is a strip of black sand beach and reef breaks that is known for having something for everyone. It is more south facing than Kuta Beach and will usually be bigger. Canggu is often the spot when the swell is small, and many of Bali's surfers from Kuta will make the morning trip to Canggu. Because it faces further south, Canggu is also more affected by the trade winds and is best in the early mornings. After 9:00 a.m., Canggu is frequently sideshore and not the perfect glass of a few hours earlier.

• Padang Padang. Located in Pecatu Village, Bali. Two words: power and fear. It has the most dangerous and hollowest waves in Bali. Because of its fame, Padang Padang can be so crowded when it is working. With a large crowd it is not hard for tempers to flare up and arguments begin which are often caused by drop-ins. Best time to catch a wave at this break when conditions are right is early in the morning. A great wave and one that you will long remember.

• Desert Point. Still very isolated but for most Australian surfers named it as "Desert Point", located in South West cost of Lombok. Desert Point also known as Bangko bangko beach. A long walled and incredibly hollow left hander that on its day can break up to 300 meters, growing in size from takeoff to end. Best between 3 to 8 ft.

• Nemberala. Located in Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Nemberala is a postcard perfect white sand stretch of beach with tall palm trees ringing the perimeter. The lefthand reef break provides some of the longest wave rides in Indonesia, and on a small to medium swells can be excellent for surfers of all experience levels. And the swells get larger, above the 6-foot mark. The more experienced surfers can really break out their best maneuvers.

• Amban Beach. Located 7 km north of Manokwari, West Papua. Facing the Pacific Ocean, having a wave altitude of 2 meters most of the time. Amban Beach is a wide, lonely black sandy beach with good surf, regularly frequented by surfers.

(Source : http://www.shvoong.com/travel/destination/2035689-try-best-10-surfing-spots/. Photo: ISC)