Banyak Islands
IntermediateSurf report
| 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 | 4 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 12 PM | 0.5 m | 0.5m 12s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s SSW | 6 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 0.5 m | 0.4m 12s SSW | 4 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.6 m | 0.5m 13s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 0.6 m | 0.5m 13s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 13s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 3 PM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 13s SSW | 7 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 13s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 13s SSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 0.8 m | 0.7m 13s SSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.7 m | 0.7m 13s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 0.7 m | 0.7m 12s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 0.7 m | 0.7m 12s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.5m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 0.7 m | 0.6m 12s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 12s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 11s SSW | 8 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| 3 PM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 11s SSW | 5 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 0.6 m | 0.6m 11s SSW | 5 km/h on | 0.6m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
Show next 24h Hide
| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 AM | 0.6m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 5 SW on | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 4 SE cross | 0.6m |
| 10 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 7 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 7 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 9 E cross | 0.7m |
| 1 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 7 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 2 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 5 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 6 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 4 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 4 SE cross | 0.6m |
| 5 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 3 SE cross | 0.5m |
| 6 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 4 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 7 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 6 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 8 PM | 0.5m | 0.4m SSW | 12s | 5 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 9 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 9 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 10 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 8 SE cross | 0.5m |
| 11 PM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 12s | 7 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 12 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 5 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 1 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 6 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 2 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 6 SE cross | 0.8m |
| 3 AM | 0.5m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 8 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 4 AM | 0.6m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 9 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 5 AM | 0.6m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 9 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 6 AM | 0.6m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 9 SE cross | 0.6m |
| 7 AM | 0.6m | 0.5m SSW | 13s | 9 SE cross | 0.5m |
About Banyak Islands
The Banyak Islands are a scattered archipelago off Sumatra's northwest coast, home to a collection of reef breaks that remain largely under the radar. Waves here range from mellow, peeling walls to more serious reef setups, making them accessible for intermediates while still offering occasional challenge. The turquoise water, jungle-fringed shores, and near-empty lineups are the real drawcard — this is classic tropical surf exploration territory. Access is by boat from Singkil, and simple homestay accommodation keeps the experience authentic.
Local knowledge
Shallow live coral reef is the primary danger — a wipeout on the wrong section can result in serious lacerations, and sea urchins lurk in the reef shallows at entry and exit points. Rips can run hard between the islands on a big swell or strong tidal push, so read the water before paddling out. Boat traffic from fishing vessels and inter-island longboats shares the channels, especially near the main passage — stay visible on your paddle-out.
Get to Singkil on Sumatra's northwest coast by road from Medan (roughly 8–10 hours) or via a domestic flight to Singkil/Tapak Tuan, then charter a speedboat or wooden boat (banca) out to the islands — expect 2–4 hours depending on your destination reef. There is no paddle access from shore to most breaks; you'll need to anchor the boat nearby and jump off into the channel, timing your entry to avoid the shallowest coral heads. Basic homestays on Pulau Balai serve as a practical base, and local boatmen there know the individual reef setups well — hiring one as guide is strongly recommended.
A versatile shortboard in the 6'2"–6'8" range handles the majority of conditions here, with enough volume to make the most of smaller, softer days on the mellower reef walls. Bring a step-up (6'8"–7'2") if there's any swell on the forecast — when the reefs switch on they can stand up quickly — and pack booties or reef boots given the live coral underfoot.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Banyak Islands vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banyak Islands this spot | 0.6m | 0.5m 12s | 5 on | Good |
| Afulu Best now 95 km away | 1.2m | 1.1m 11s | 6 cross | Epic |
| 99 km away | 1.2m | 1.1m 11s | 7 cross | Epic |
| 111 km away | 1.5m | 1.5m 11s | 3 off | Good |
Community photos
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Nearest spots
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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).