Surf Camps in Sumbawa, Indonesia: 2 Compared (2026)
Compare 2 surf camps in Sumbawa, Indonesia: rated 4.6/5, 4-5ft swell. Learner waves: All year. Ratings, surf conditions and season side by side.
When to go: waves by month
How often each surf town here has waves for each level, month by month, 1995–2025. First lessons happen in the whitewater near the shore, so they are said in words; the other levels are named by what you can do and the size of the wave on the body. What’s my level? · How we calculate this
West Sumbawa · 2 camps
First lessons (whitewater near the shore): Almost every day, all year.
| % of days | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First lessons | 99% | 97% | 100% | 100% | 98% | 98% | 96% | 97% | 97% | 99% | 100% | 99% |
| Too small | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Too big | 1% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| Beginner (green waves) | 55% | 56% | 58% | 47% | 30% | 21% | 12% | 16% | 23% | 44% | 66% | 65% |
| Intermediate | 44% | 43% | 42% | 52% | 69% | 79% | 88% | 84% | 77% | 56% | 33% | 35% |
| Advanced | 13% | 14% | 11% | 17% | 34% | 49% | 56% | 48% | 40% | 19% | 6% | 8% |
Beginner (green waves) (knee to chest high): most days in Nov–Mar · Intermediate (chest high to just overhead): most days in Apr–Oct · Advanced (head high and up): most days in Jul
Model estimate: no suitable buoy within 50 km to check it against.
Days that miss first lessons are too small when every learner spot is under 0.5 m, and too big when none is in the 0.5–2 m band and one is above it. The other levels are read on the face of the wave at its peak: beginner on green waves 0.6–1.2 m, intermediate 1.2–2 m, advanced 1.5 m and up.
1. Whales & Waves Resort
★ 4.6/5 (1064 reviews)
A beachfront resort on a coconut plantation in West Sumbawa, a short drive from breaks such as Dirty Hippies and Northern Rights, with air-conditioned rooms, family villas and villas with a private pool, a restaurant and a yoga studio. Surf lessons, guiding, boat trips and board hire are paid separately, and it hosts surf-camp groups.
2. Scar Reef Resort
★ 4.5/5 (222 reviews)
A boutique eco-resort on the beach at Jelenga, West Sumbawa, facing the Scar Reef wave, with air-conditioned double and twin rooms, a family villa, a beach house and a yoga shala. Stays are half board with boat shuttles within the bay; surf guides, coaching and foiling are booked à la carte or in packages, and children are accepted from age six.
Common questions
How many surf camps are there in Sumbawa?
findsurfcamp.com compares 2 surf camps in Sumbawa.
When are there waves for first lessons in Sumbawa?
West Sumbawa: Almost every day, all year. Estimated at the beaches from 1995-2025 swell data.
How warm is the water in Sumbawa?
In West Sumbawa the sea ranges from 27°C (81°F) in Aug to 29°C (85°F) in Apr: monthly medians of the sea surface temperature, 2015-2025.
Which airport is closest to Sumbawa?
Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport (BMU) is the nearest airport for 1 of the 2 camps here, about 265 minutes by car.