Surfing in Sumatra

For as long as surfing has been around, people have been trying to escape the crowds. With so many people surfing now, this is becoming harder and harder. People have been looking to Indonesia for decades now due to it's amazing, world class waves, it's budget accommodation, and the wonderfulness of the people. However, places like Bali, G-Land, and the Mentawais are becoming overridden with traveling surfers all looking for the same thing.

This is why I went to Sumatra. I was sick of the crowds, sick of flying so far only to be disappointed by how little of a surf adventure I was really on. Mainland Sumatra is a breath of fresh air with perfect, uncrowded waves at every turn. Karang Nyimbor, 20 minutes south of Krui, on the southern coast of sumatra is a great place to base yourself in this amazing area.

If you're looking for a great place to stay I would recommend Paradise Beach Bungalows (http://www.paradisesurfcampsumatra.com/). You get your own bungalow and all meals for around 20 bucks a day while the other camps in the area make you stay in 6 bed rooms that look like prison cells. The Karang Nyimbor area is great, just a lazy, mellow road that's home to around 5 surf camps.

I would also reccommend getting a driver or renting motorbikes and exploring the entire region. The entire area is covered with rainforest and it feels like your driving back in time as you come around each corner. Waves are everywhere and crowds were still relatively low. You can drive one hour north or south from Paradise and find excellent waves with not another surfer in site.