Grajagan Bay
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Positives
- World-class benchmark spot
- Perfect long left barrels
- Consistent swell and offshores
- Jungle camp experience
- Affordable price
Negatives
- Crowded line-up
- One wave destination
- Heavy waves, dangerous reef
- Long overland transit
Grajagan Bay surf travel guide
Steeped in legend since it was first spotted from a plane back in the early ‘70s, Grajagan or G-Land has rightly become one of the planet’s truly iconic waves. Peeling down the edge of a dense jungle that forms the Alas Purwo National Park at a place called Plengkung (co-incidentally lengkung translates as tube!), this perfect, magnificent, metric-mile reef, magically materializes some of the best lefts known to the surfing world. Geological serendipity must have been at play when forming the immense, coral-carpeted, lava platform reef that caps the SE tip of Java and all the right ingredients are present to create what can only be described as a freak of nature. Scarily deep water stalks the coast here, throwing lumps of swell at the point with the least resistance, after travelling the entire Indian Ocean unmolested. This means that G-Land will reliably be 2-3ft bigger than a similarly exposed Uluwatu on Bali, a mere 85km (53mi) across the Bali Strait and is probably the most consistent wave in Indo. The curve into Grajagan Bay is such that the omnipresent E-SE trades will billow nicely offshore from around 9.30am, everyday of the surf season, supporting the ruler-edged walls for those precious extra seconds that are often the difference between death and glory in G-Land’s extended maw. The final trump card is the reef angle that is near perfect, albeit in 4 sections, so that generally speaking, lifetime best tubes can be ridden by the hordes of surfers who invade this isolated wilderness every year. All arrivals for the G-Land surf camps hit the beach north of the point, allowing expectant newbies their first glimpse of the unfurling barrels from a side-on perspective. Not until you stand on the reef looking front-on does the scale of the wave become apparent.
Surf spots in Grajagan Bay
Research the 5 surf breaks in Grajagan Bay and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 5 breaks in Grajagan Bay.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Grajagan Bay
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Population
- 145,000,000
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- IDR
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 14,080 IDR IDR
Cost of living
Communication
- Language
- Bahasa Indonesia (official), English, Dutch, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese
Electricity
- Plug Type
- cf
Visas
Citizens of another 87 countries are eligible to obtain one of the following visas:
- Electronic Visa On Arrival (e-VOA/B213)
- Electronic Visitor Visa
- Social, Tourist, or Cultural Visa (B211)
- Free Visa Stamp
- Multiple Entry Visa
Some passport holders are eligible to apply for an online e-VOA or Visitor Visa, otherwise, you must obtain a visa in advance at an Indonesian embassy or consulate. If you get the e-VOA before you arrive, you have the option to extend by simply filling out a new Indonesia eVisa application form online, but must first leave the country in order to request a new visa.
Visas issued at the airport on arrival can only be extended through an immigration office, which should be done 14-7 days before expiry.
Visitor Visa is a single-entry visa valid for a 30-day stay in Indonesia with the purpose of Tourism, Government visits, Business Meetings, Goods Purchasing, or Transit only and is not extendable.
The B211 is a 60-day visa for visiting family, friends or an employment trial and can be extended 3 times by 30-days. More hoops to jump through including being sponsored by an eligible Guarantor. Cost IDR 2,000,000.
9 neighbouring countries get a Free Visa Stamp for stays of up to 30 days maximum with no extensions permitted (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam).
Multi Entry, investment, sport and journalist 60-day visas are available through the main portal.
The 30-day e-VOA & Visitor Visa fee is IDR 500.000. You may be asked for proof of your return flight details and proof of financial resources.
DO NOT overstay as the fines aren’t cheap (IDR 1,000,000/day) and they can stop you from re-entering for a period of time. As always, check for any updates before you book your trip, as visa policy has changed a few times in recent years.
Getting There
Visas - see Bali. Denpasar Airport (Kuta) is far closer to G-Land than Jakarta. G-land is reached by either speed boat (2hr) or sailing yacht from Benoa harbour. The old-fashioned overland route involves bemo/mini bus run up the west coast of Bali, then onto the grungy Gilmanuk – Ketapang ferry, followed by a white-knuckle ride down to Grajagan village then a boat trip across the bay – elapsed time is often more than the 6-7hrs quoted and runs through the night, using up one of your so-called days each way. A new road through the Alas Purwo Nat. Pk offers the chance of spotting wildlife.
Getting Around
Aside from walking round the bay to 20/20s or Tigers, the only travel that needs considering is crossing the vast reef to the line-up. Paddle at high tide and walk carefully at low, preferably in booties. Small sea snakes scurry around the channels, plus there are urchins in the crevices. The lava platform is generally flat and live coral is usually blasted from the impact zone, but the reef remains sharp and hungry, especially at low tide.
Accommodation
There are 2 camps totalling 150 beds on land and some charters anchor in the bay. G-Land Bobby’s Surf Camp (grajagan.com) is the original camp sited in front of Moneytrees, while G-Land Joyo’s Surf Camp (g-land.com) is down closer to Speedies. Prices start from $350 for 3 nights – see websites for details. You can pay extra for an upgraded menu, including extra beer rations.
Activities
You are surrounded by jungle and there are plenty of critters to contend with. In the ‘80s, black panthers were regular visitors to the camp in the dead of night, but the tigers that Lopez and co encountered seem to have disappeared years ago. There are snakes, the odd primate and all manner of bugs, but the biggest danger comes from the marauding rats who will get through all defences to devour your munchie stash. The small black-tip reef sharks are well fed (the 15’ tiger shark is gone) and the sea snakes are too small to bite a big foot. Surf culture only!
Hazards & hassles
Malarial mosquitoes are present at G-Land so cover up and use the ceiling fans and mozzie nets at night. The waves lose their morning sickness at 10 am with the offshores and it is not uncommon for sessions to last 5-6hrs through the heat of the day – sunstroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion are real issues. A tsunami wiped out the old camp in 1993, but no surfers died as they got washed through the jungle at night. Go for the huts on stilts!
Handy Hints
Time your assaults with the crowd in mind. Lots of people don’t bother with the early, glassy sessions and coming in over the reef at dark is no fun. If possible try to punch/fly/get out the back of shutdown sections rather than straighten out over the shallow reef. Time your paddle outs between sets and pace yourself – G-land often rewards those who wait!
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.