Selong Belanak
Selong Belanak is a wide horseshoe bay about 45 minutes west of Kuta, and it is close to the perfect place to learn to surf. The bottom is sand rather than reef, the bay is sheltered, and the wave is a slow crumbling roller that reforms and carries all the way to the beach. Most people stand up on their first day here.
Instructors line the sand with soft-top boards. The going rate is roughly IDR 150,000–250,000 for a two-hour lesson including the board, negotiated on the beach, and the teaching is patient and effective even with limited English.
The bay is worth the drive even if you never touch a board. The sand is fine and white, the water shallow and calm well out from shore, and it is one of the genuinely good swimming beaches on a coast where many bays have currents. Warungs behind the beach do grilled fish, nasi goreng and cold drinks, and there are sun loungers for a small fee.
Come in the morning. Selong Belanak faces roughly south-west and the onshore wind builds after lunch, which chops up the wave and turns a glassy morning into a scrappy afternoon. The drive from Kuta runs through hills and small villages and is one of the more scenic short trips on the island.
Travel tips for Selong Belanak
- Morning is materially better than afternoon. The wind picks up after lunch and the wave deteriorates.
- Negotiate the lesson on the beach. IDR 150,000–250,000 for two hours with a board is the normal range; agree the price before you start.
- Rash guard or a t-shirt. Two hours of paddling in equatorial sun burns shoulders badly, and reef-safe sunscreen washes off fast.
- It is a genuinely good swimming beach — shallow, sandy and calm — so it works for families and non-surfers too.
- Parking is a small fee, typically IDR 10,000–20,000, collected at the entrance road.
- 45 minutes from Kuta on a winding but scenic road; it pairs naturally with Mawun on the way back.
Popular tours here
- Kuta Lombok Surf Lesson for Beginners
- South Lombok Tour: Kuta, Tanjung Aan & Pink Beach
- Lombok Private Tour with Local Guide & Driver
Frequently asked questions
Is Selong Belanak good for beginner surfers?
It is the best beginner beach in Lombok — a sandy bottom, no reef, and a slow crumbling wave that reforms all the way to shore.
How much is a surf lesson at Selong Belanak?
Roughly IDR 150,000–250,000 for a two-hour lesson including the board, negotiated with the instructors on the beach.
Can you swim at Selong Belanak?
Yes — it is shallow, sandy and sheltered, and one of the better swimming bays on Lombok's south coast.
What is the best time of day to surf Selong Belanak?
Morning, before the onshore wind builds after lunch and chops up the wave.
How far is Selong Belanak from Kuta Lombok?
About 45 minutes west by road, through hills and small villages.