Banyak Islands surf

Banyak Islands

Intermediate
Reef break · Moderate · Best: May–October · All tides
Working best in Sumatra now Enggano Island Epic · 1.6m @ 12s View →
Conditions right now
Good
Wave
0.5m
Swell
0.5m
12s · SSW
Period
12s
Wind
1 km/h
SW · gust 9
Onshore
Water
31°C
Air
25°C

Surf report

Tide rising · High 1:00 PM 0.8m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 0.6 m
0.5m 12s SSW
5 km/h off
0.6m
9 AM 0.5 m
0.5m 12s SSW
1 km/h on
0.6m
12 PM 0.5 m
0.5m 12s SSW
4 km/h on
0.7m
3 PM 0.5 m
0.4m 12s SSW
7 km/h cross
0.7m
6 PM 0.5 m
0.4m 12s SSW
7 km/h off
0.4m
Best session today
5 PM–6 AM
Offshore 0.4m swell @ 12s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 0.8 1.5 9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM12 AM3 AM6 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 15 30 9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM12 AM3 AM6 AM

Tide

High 1:00 PM · 0.8m Low 8:00 PM · 0.4m High 2:00 AM · 0.8m Low 9:00 AM · 0.4m
H 1 PM L 8 PM H 2 AM L 9 AM H 2 PM L 8 PM H 3 AM 9 AM3 PM9 PM3 AM9 AM3 PM9 PM3 AM

7-day outlook

Best days
Wed, Jun 10
0.5–0.7m
Thu, Jun 11
0.5–0.7m
Fri, Jun 12 Best
0.7–0.8m
Sat, Jun 13 Best
0.6–0.7m
Sun, Jun 14
0.5–0.5m
Mon, Jun 15
0.5–0.6m
Tue, Jun 16
0.4–0.5m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
9 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 1 SW on 0.6m
10 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 3 SW on 0.6m
11 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 3 SW on 0.7m
12 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 4 WSW on 0.7m
1 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 2 W on 0.8m
2 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 7 WNW cross 0.7m
3 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 7 NW cross 0.7m
4 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 5 NW cross 0.6m
5 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 7 N off 0.5m
6 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 7 NNE off 0.4m
7 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 6 NE off 0.4m
8 PM 0.5m 0.4m SSW 12s 6 ENE off 0.4m
9 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 7 ENE off 0.4m
10 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 7 ENE off 0.5m
11 PM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 12s 8 E cross 0.6m
12 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 13s 9 E cross 0.7m
1 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 13s 5 E cross 0.8m
2 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 13s 5 E cross 0.8m
3 AM 0.5m 0.5m SSW 13s 4 E off 0.8m
4 AM 0.6m 0.5m SSW 13s 4 E off 0.8m
5 AM 0.6m 0.5m SSW 13s 5 E cross 0.7m
6 AM 0.6m 0.5m SSW 13s 5 ENE off 0.6m
7 AM 0.6m 0.5m SSW 13s 5 ENE off 0.5m
8 AM 0.6m 0.5m SSW 13s 7 ENE off 0.5m

About Banyak Islands

Les îles Banyak sont un archipel dispersé au large de la côte nord-ouest de Sumatra, abritant une collection de reef breaks qui restent largement sous le radar. Les vagues ici varient de murs doux et déroulants à des configurations de reef plus sérieuses, les rendant accessibles aux intermédiaires tout en offrant parfois des défis. L'eau turquoise, les rivages bordés de jungle et les lineups presque vides sont les véritables atouts — c'est un territoire classique d'exploration de surf tropical. L'accès se fait par bateau depuis Singkil, et un hébergement en homestay simple garde l'expérience authentique.

Local knowledge

Hazards

Le principal danger est le récif de corail vivant peu profond — une chute au mauvais endroit peut entraîner de sérieuses lacérations, et des oursins se cachent dans les zones peu profondes du récif aux points d'entrée et de sortie. Des courants peuvent se former entre les îles lors d'un gros swell ou d'une forte marée, donc observez l'eau avant de pagayer. Le trafic maritime des bateaux de pêche et des longboats inter-îles partage les canaux, surtout près du passage principal — restez visible lors de votre sortie.

Getting there

Pour rejoindre Singkil sur la côte nord-ouest de Sumatra, prenez la route depuis Medan (environ 8 à 10 heures) ou un vol domestique vers Singkil/Tapak Tuan, puis louez un hors-bord ou un bateau en bois (banca) pour vous rendre aux îles — attendez-vous à 2 à 4 heures selon votre destination de reef. Il n'y a pas d'accès en paddle depuis la côte vers la plupart des breaks ; vous devrez ancrer le bateau à proximité et sauter dans le canal, en chronométrant votre entrée pour éviter les têtes de corail les plus peu profondes. Des homestays basiques sur Pulau Balai servent de base pratique, et les pêcheurs locaux connaissent bien les configurations de reef individuelles — il est fortement recommandé d'en engager un comme guide.

Board

Un shortboard polyvalent dans la gamme de 6'2" à 6'8" gère la majorité des conditions ici, avec suffisamment de volume pour tirer le meilleur parti des jours plus petits et plus doux sur les murs de reef plus calmes. Apportez un step-up (6'8" à 7'2") s'il y a du swell au programme — lorsque les reefs s'activent, ils peuvent se lever rapidement — et n'oubliez pas des chaussons ou des bottes de reef étant donné le corail vivant sous vos pieds.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Banyak Islands vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Banyak Islands
this spot
 0.5m
0.5m 12s
1 on
Good
Afulu Best now
95 km away
 1.1m
1.0m 11s
0 off
Epic
Nias North Point
99 km away
 1.1m
1.0m 11s
0 off
Epic
Dylan’s Right
111 km away
 1.5m
1.4m 11s
0 off
Good

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Nearest spots

Closest breaks to Banyak Islands
Afulu
Nias
95 km
Intermediate Reef break
1.1 m 11s
Epic
Nias North Point
Nias
99 km
Advanced Reef break
1.1 m 11s
Epic
Dylan’s Right
Simeulue
111 km
Expert Reef break
1.5 m 11s
Good
Lafau
Nias
115 km
Intermediate Reef break
1.2 m 11s
Epic

Surf schools & local guides near Banyak Islands

Learn or level up with established local instructors.

List your school →
Kapowui Surf Lessons Santa Monica / Venice

Kapowui Surf Lessons Santa Monica / Venice

★ 5.0

2701 Barnard Way, Parking lot, 5 south, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA

4101 Google reviews

+1 310-985-4577 Website
Langkawi Surf School

Langkawi Surf School

★ 5.0

pantai tengah, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia

67 Google reviews

+60 13-653 0581 Website
Floating Surf Resort

Floating Surf Resort

★ 5.0

Ujung Lolok, Pulau Tuangku, Haloban, Kec. Pulau Banyak, Aceh Singkil Regency, Aceh 24784, Indonesia

15 Google reviews

+62 821-8297-7920 Website
Alfred Zagoto surf lessons

Alfred Zagoto surf lessons

★ 5.0

Jl. Sorake Beach, Botohilitano, Kec. Fanayama, Nias, Sumatera Utara 22865, Indonesia

12 Google reviews

+62 813-4083-5085 Website
NIAS SURFING EXPERIENCE SCHOOL OF SURFING

NIAS SURFING EXPERIENCE SCHOOL OF SURFING

★ 5.0

Jl.pantai Jl. Sorake, Botohilitano, Kec. Tlk. Dalam, Kabupaten Nias Selatan, Sumatera Utara 22865, Indonesia

5 Google reviews

+62 812-3655-7548
Lampuuk Surfschool

Lampuuk Surfschool

★ 5.0

F64V+2J5, Mon Ikeun, Lhoknga, Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh 23353, Indonesia

3 Google reviews

+62 813-6041-8440

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Surfing in Sumatra

Full Sumatra surf guide →

Sumatra is Indonesia's wild western frontier — the sixth-largest island on earth and arguably the country's deepest, most varied surf zone. Where Bali trades on crowds and nightlife, Sumatra deals in space, jungle backdrops and waves that still feel earned. The swell window here is enormous: the same Indian Ocean groundswells that light up the rest of the archipelago hit Sumatra's exposed western flank first, raw and unfiltered.

✈️Getting there

Most surf trips funnel through Padang, the launch point for the Mentawais, Telos and Banyaks. Fly into Padang (Minangkabau Airport, PDG) via Jakarta — and Jakarta connects to Bali and international hubs like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

🛵Getting around

On the Sumatran mainland and on Nias, a scooter is the cheap, flexible standard — expect potholed roads, livestock and long, scenic distances between zones. Around Krui the coastal road links a string of spots over many kilometres, so a bike (or a hired car with driver for groups and boards) earns its keep.

🌤️Climate & season

Sumatra straddles the equator, so it's hot and humid year-round with water warm enough for boardshorts (a rashguard or 1mm top is plenty).