Surfing Bali at Christmas

Hi Guys,

Have just returned from three weeks surfing in Bali - loved it and wanting to head back for Xmas. What should I expect re surf conditions and crowds (being somewhat of a novice and favouring beach breaks, I'll be targeting Kuta/Legian beaches). All comments gratefully received!

Hey Janster,

October to February roughly is rainy season in Bali where the conditions swap from West Coast (Kuta) to East Coast. There are no East Coast beachbreaks, it's all reef and pretty hairy at the best of times and not recommended for anyone without solid surfing experience. The Kuta area is often plagued by onshore trade winds in the rainy season and quite rough, none of the conditions you might have seen on your recent trip. You might get the odd magic day but nothing like what you would have experienced in the dry season. You can either still go & cross your fingers and hope for the best or go to Sri Lanka instead which is beginner waves around the Hikkaduwa area, similar in pricing to Indo with plenty of beach breaks and some pretty tame deep water reef breaks, suitable to beginners and intermediates. The waves in Sri Lanka in that area are on from roughly Nov-April and it's their dry season, much more pleasant than Indos downpours and it is a beautiful beach, Buddhist people, great food and at the best of times slightly less crowded than Kuta. Cheers, Enjoy.

Thanks for reponse, good advice and I'll definitely look into it.

I absolutely hate the "how safe" questions and rate them up with "how long is a piece of string" but on this occasion, cannot help myself. So .... how safe is Hikkaduwa for a female travelling solo?

Hey,

I am also female and travelled solo to Sri Lanka - I am an advanced surfer and was quite bored with the waves. (Indonesia is more my style, Sri Lanka has beautiful clean waves but rarely anything over 5 foot). My girlfriend joined me after my first 6 weeks and she is like you a beginner ( 2 years experience) and loved it. It was just right for her. Plenty of other girls learning, as she went to the easier learner breaks with them asI got too bored teaching after a while.

I consider the Hikkaduwa area very safe, I felt totally comfortable everywhere. You get some of the local surfers trying their luck (and a lot of the Western ones too) but that is a given for traveling female surfer anywhere in the world.

The people are Buddhist, therefore mellow.

The surf area is much smaller than say Kuta/Legian, virtually all accommodation is on or across the street from the beach. It is 3 hours south of the airport by shuttle van.

I do not consider the Arugam Bay area safe at all (the surf season there is April to October) and it on the East Coast about 10 hours away. This is a totally muslim area and lots of sexual harrassment. But there is no need to go there anywhere.

I hope this helps.

Aloha and stay safe!

Excellent, thanks for your advice. Decision made - Sri Lanka it is for me at Xmas sister!