A tropical island nation. A magnet for waves. A market for barrels. The Indonesian archipelago is a tube hunter’s ultimate dream. With warm water and waves all year round, Indonesia might well be the best surfing destination in the world.

Internationally popularised in the early 1900s, it did not take long before the name of Indonesia and its waves were carved deep into the global surf map.

Comprised of more than 17,000 islands, it is not surprising that Indonesia has the best of every kind of wave that you can think of. Heavy slabs, peaky nuggets, mountainous drops, and glassy line ups - Indo offers a surfer everything, and most importantly, offers the best barrels imaginable.

If you’re travelling Indonesia and are after the most epic tubes, these are the best spots for it;

Bali - Padang Padang

A super technical wave that breaks fast and heavy over extremely gnarly reef, is Bali’s Padang Padang. This is by far the best barrel wave of Bali. It rarely works to it’s full potential, but when the stars do align (strong, long-period, southwest swell, mid tides, and a light offshore wind), this is the “Balinese Pipeline”. It’s probably one of the best left hand barrels in Indo, famous for its thick, heavy lip, and deep blue tubes. It’s not a mystery that the most prestigious surfing contest held in Bali is the invitation-only Padang Padang Cup. Only ON when the conditions are perfect, this wave is one that even the best barrel chargers in the world dream of surfing.

Lombok - Desert Point

Going from absolutely flat on the high tide, to fully pumping overhead barrels on the low, is the fickle and sensitive wave of Desert Point. Breaking along the southwestern tip of Lombok, and over hundreds of meters of reef shelf, this wave runs very long and very hollow. Best when it’s at least double overhead and with a giant southwest groundswell, this wave is an ultra fast, goofy-footer’s dream that runs for longer than the mind can comprehend.

Mentawais - Kandui and Rifles

Breaking on the northern side of Karangmajat island, in the Mentawai island regency, amongst coconut trees and white sand beaches, is the esteemed and renowned wave of Kandui Left. One of the fastest left hand barrels in the world, this is a very tricky wave that holds massive swells of more than triple overhead. Surfers that make the steep drop have to work to slot into the barrel, but it is so worth it as there is no doubt that the wave will spit them out with power like no other.

Indo is a surfer’s paradise because of the density and abundance of waves scattered throughout the country. The Mentawai regency is thus, Indonesia at its finest. This is because just on the southern tip of the same island as Kandui, is Rifles - a perfect right hander that usually only works throughout two months of the year. Unlike the rest of Indonesia that has waves which alternate getting good every 6 months, Rifles likes to turn on during the months of April and May, right on the cusp of the dry season. Rifles is one of Indonesia’s longest waves, with several different barrel sections that can last for longer than 30 seconds, this is a popular personal favourite for those who live in the Mentawais.

Nias - The Point

And last but not least, Indo is also home to the notorious wave of The Point, Nias. This heavy, mechanical right-hander holds massive and powerful swells that will give you the ride of your life, and the vision you’ve been dreaming about. Working best during the dry season of May to October with southwest swell, this reef break, stand up barrel is not to be missed when hunting tubes in Indonesia.

Written by Kayli Wouters

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