Desert Point

One of the world's best left-handed surf breaks at Lombok's southwest tip

Desert Point at the southwestern tip of Lombok is one of the most celebrated surf breaks in Southeast Asia — a long, hollow left-hander that fires when Indian Ocean swells hit the reef at the right angle and size. On its best days, the wave offers rides of 200 metres or more with a grinding barrel section that surfers fly from around the world to chase.

The catch: Desert Point only produces great waves on specific swell and wind conditions, typically May to September. The site has minimal infrastructure — a few simple warung food stalls and some rough accommodation — and is a 2-3 hour drive from Mataram. Most visits involve waiting. The reward for patience is the possibility of surfing one of the world's genuinely great waves in relative solitude. Beginners should go elsewhere.

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A story
Desert Point's wave is the result of a very specific underwater geometry: a reef shelf that drops suddenly, combined with a consistent swell direction from the Indian Ocean, creates a hollow left-hander that can peel for 200 metres or more on a good day. The "barrel" section — where the lip of the wave curls over the surfer — is considered one of the best in the world. But the wave only fires in the right conditions, and the site has no services or shade to speak of.