Indo Surf Destination Advice for a Couple -1 week only

Istana Ombak.

7 days isn't much you are going to pretty much burn a day each way to anywhere even going to East Java so really only 5 days of surfing or relaxing or exploring.

Cimaja isn't the best surf destination in Indo, but it does suit couples there is places there that will keep your missus happy hotel with pool etc and you can get there fairly quick straight off the plane into a car still a bit of a drive but no waiting for flights etc that can eat up time especially when delayed.

Istana Ombak is 4 hrs from airport so not exactly easy to get to, plus if there's any hint of swell it's not good for snorkelling as the bay gets rippy. good spear fishing though! So I wouldn't recommend that.
Good exploring though if you hire a scooter so that could be fun for a couple

Nusa Lembongan is hard to beat I reckon when it comes to hanging out with a chick in indo

goofyfoot wrote:

Istana Ombak is 4 hrs from airport so not exactly easy to get to, plus if there's any hint of swell it's not good for snorkelling as the bay gets rippy. good spear fishing though! So I wouldn't recommend that.
Good exploring though if you hire a scooter so that could be fun for a couple

Goofy, is Istana Ombak 4 hours drive from Jakarta?

Anyone got any thoughts on Ombak Tujuh?

Rinlow, if you can get up to Pulau Wayag to the north of Raja Ampat you'll be blown away.

AndyM wrote:

goofyfoot wrote:

Istana Ombak is 4 hrs from airport so not exactly easy to get to, plus if there's any hint of swell it's not good for snorkelling as the bay gets rippy. good spear fishing though! So I wouldn't recommend that.
Good exploring though if you hire a scooter so that could be fun for a couple

Goofy, is Istana Ombak 4 hours drive from Jakarta?

4hrs from Yogyakarta

That makes sense.

Havent been to Ombak tujuh, but would be keen to hear others experiences

Looks like it gets big and heavy.

It does AndyM

4 hours from Jog, about the same time to get to Cimaja from Jakarta on a good day...LOL

Hey Goofyfoot, i haven't been to Nusa Lembongan for gee 25years+, how's the surf crowds these days there? Any recommendations where to stay? Thanks

Seaslug I was at Lembongan two years ago, it was crowded and really cut-throat. Got way more waves on the Bukit. Still beautiful though.

Geez that's saying sometime, thanks Andy.

Can you recommend Ombak Tujuh for a few weeks Slug?

AndyM wrote:

Can you recommend Ombak Tujuh for a few weeks Slug?

I think you have to stay at turtles and go to o.t from there. I dont think you can actually stay right where the wave is

seaslug wrote:

4 hours from Jog, about the same time to get to Cimaja from Jakarta on a good day...LOL

True but as soon as you to get off the plane grab your bags/board you can start the clock ticking.

Go somewhere else from Jakarta and you are adding in more time, need the flight to line up so might have to wait a few hours, flights can often be delayed even hours especially in the arvo, then the flight is about an hour if to Joja, then you have a four hour drive, so in reality it could stretch out to eight hours.

I normally allow for the worse case scenario because it often does happen, if you are planning for a clock like precision schedule in Indo you will only end up disappointed.

I'd agree with turtles as well, crystal clear water and a great fun wave. Not sure how it is now but you could tag with the govt official (there for protection) and watch the turtles lay the eggs at night. When I was at Cimaja the water was brown, so no good for snorkeling, but maybe it was a bad time of year/season. Travel time is probably similar driving to turtles from Jakarta as it is flying/driving to Istana from Jakarta maybe ??? If your looking at the islands off Sumatra, wouldn't you be looking at two flights from Jakarta ? Anyway good luck on your chosen destination Rinlow.

And this is why we need a wave pool in every major city around the world.

rinlow75 wrote:

AndyM wrote:

Anyone got any thoughts on Ombak Tujuh?

Rinlow, if you can get up to Pulau Wayag to the north of Raja Ampat you'll be blown away.

Thanks! I'm looking up Pulau Wayag for sure. Have you been? Diving or surf? Would assume diving..

Was working on a charter boat that did a trip there (dive charter), unfortunately I didn't get in the water. Incredible place and you can go inside the island into a lagoon and anchor in the calmest most scenic place you've ever seen. From memory there's bit of water moving around between tides but if you're a confident diver and you've got a willing guide there'll be some amazing terrain especially on that east and N/E weather sides.

Yeah poor form passing on info of places you haven't been ? If your taking your missus to West Papua , you may as well fly in through southern Pi's .

You can get really lucky (or more commonly unlucky) going to Istana Ombak. It's not much of a fun place when the swell is big, and you could turn up there at the same time as 15 pros and not get many waves. Conversely you could get there just as everyone leaves and have 2-3 foot waves to yourself in a beautiful spot. I wouldn't completely laugh off a trip to the Bukit if you just have five days up your sleeves, despite the crowds one or two long lefts at Ulus is still magic. I'd be doing whatever required the least amount of travel. I've been flying in Indo for years, but I'd be lying if the Foreign Correspondent story a couple of weeks ago didn't spook me haha.

No matter what happens, you will have spent a week diving in Raja Ampat. Even if you got zero waves, probably be a trip of a lifetime.

I was just reading on another website that Rizal Tanjung has just opened up a 7 hectare surf resort at Istana Ombak.

dandandan wrote:

You can get really lucky (or more commonly unlucky) going to Istana Ombak. It's not much of a fun place when the swell is big, and you could turn up there at the same time as 15 pros and not get many waves. Conversely you could get there just as everyone leaves and have 2-3 foot waves to yourself in a beautiful spot. I wouldn't completely laugh off a trip to the Bukit if you just have five days up your sleeves, despite the crowds one or two long lefts at Ulus is still magic. I'd be doing whatever required the least amount of travel. I've been flying in Indo for years, but I'd be lying if the Foreign Correspondent story a couple of weeks ago didn't spook me haha.

No matter what happens, you will have spent a week diving in Raja Ampat. Even if you got zero waves, probably be a trip of a lifetime.

What happened on Foreign Correspondent ?

goofyfoot wrote:

I was just reading on another website that Rizal Tanjung has just opened up a 7 hectare surf resort at Istana Ombak.

Been taking guests for a couple of seasons now. Originally there was plans for tennis courts, gym etc... Not sure if that's still going ahead now. Some Jakarta investors were looking at the beach front land owned by the Australian lady when I was last there... Not to mention the existing resort, the villa on the hilltop, the Chillhouse owned but pretty much abandoned group of villas in the corner, the two places owned by various Japanese and Korean guys, the Jungle Homestay just outside the village, the Dutch and Australian owned plots further around the corner, the Balinese owned place further down the beach, a few spots owned by people from in town and the 5-10 locally owned homestays. Plenty of options for accommodation there!

This? http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2015/s4455259.htm

Blowin wrote:

What happened on Foreign Correspondent ?

Probably wouldn't want to watch it if you're flying domestically in Indonesia any time soon. And to be honest, deep down we always knew it to be the case. I've always been a bit nervous flying so I've already decided to catch the bus from Jogja to Bali later this year, and will be ferry hopping across the outer islands too I reckon. The odds are absolutely in your favor, but it's like a solo surf at a sharky spot at dawn... once the fear sets in it is hard to shake!

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2015/s4451881.htm

And I fly AirAsia pretty much exclusively.

Unless it's inter island , then it's Wings, Lion , Merpati or Transnusa......which are all owned by Wings I think.

Yeewwww !!!

Plummeting from 38,000ft would have to be one of the worst ways to go.

Dying as a direct result of Indo corruption doesn't even bear thinking about.

Sounds like it'd be safer gunning it in the tinny like the shore bound ,would - be Islamic fighters from Melbourne that were arrested on their way to Cape York.

Malcolm Douglas pulled it off.

I might even bring a few asylum seekers with me on the return trip- they could throw in for fuel.

Cheers Indo and Dandandan.

AndyM wrote:

Seaslug I was at Lembongan two years ago, it was crowded and really cut-throat. Got way more waves on the Bukit. Still beautiful though.

+ 1
First time was early 80's staying in the village a crowd then was more than 8 guys
Then mid 90"s honeymoon. No crowds good waves
Back last year - never again. A circus the water

saltman wrote:

AndyM wrote:

Seaslug I was at Lembongan two years ago, it was crowded and really cut-throat. Got way more waves on the Bukit. Still beautiful though.

+ 1
First time was early 80's staying in the village a crowd then was more than 8 guys
Then mid 90"s honeymoon. No crowds good waves
Back last year - never again. A circus the water

Yeah it was ugly.Everyone was paddling over the top of each other, full psyche-out fest. I think the couple of waves I snavelled I got dropped in on by the locals. I shot them a look and they started posturing up. Good times. Great place to cruise around on a bike for a couple of days though and eat satays at the cock fights.
No, I mean the other cock fights!

Pangandaran might be worth a look. jailhouse island will have calm waters on one side or the other (depending on swell and wind direction)worth snorkelling and a few waves to choose from. Not too far from jakarta and an airport nearby.
Everyone in Jakarta always advises me to go there but i havent made it yet.
Waves on both sides of the island.