Thinking about booking a week at Heaven on the Planet at Ekkas in Lombok for July this year. Bit of a relaxing getaway/recharge and hopefully some kiting.
Have read quite a few bits and pieces but can't find any kiting reviews on the area.
Anyone kited there before?
Are the lagoons suitable for flat water riding?
How's the reef breaks and wind angles for kiting that time of year?
Stayed at Kuta Lombok last July/August, kited every day, loved it, so much more laid back than Bali.
Wind comes from east late in morning, blows til late arvo.
The bay/lagoon at Kuta is fun for flat water kiting with small waves out the back on the reef, used 11 and 15 m kites, ok all tides. There's a kite school on the beach but not many kiters there last year apart from a few beginners. Plenty of warungs to eat/drink across road from beach. Lots of locals on the beach in the afternoon. All in all a pretty cruisy place to kite, drop in to the guys at the kite school, very friendly and will help you out.
About 2 hours east of Kuta is Kaliantan beach, mid to high tide location, lagoon with a huge variety of waves out the back, various reefs along a couple of km stretch it has more exposure to east and winds significantly stronger, could have used 8/9 kites. Was way powered up on the 11 and there were two guys on 8's! only 5 kiters there the day I went. Don't bother going at low tide as the lagoon is a sea grass farming area and the beds are exposed at low tide! access to the reefs is through the lagoon. Note take food/drinks with you there was no warungs or any other options, no fresh water at all on the beach, the only buildings are a few basic houses for the locals, the nearest village is about half an hour away. No accomodation at Kaliantan except for a home stay somewhere nearby but isolated.
Note at Kaliantan, when you decide to leave you may be approached to pay a fee by a local guy with a hand made sign in English ( he doesnt speak English) requesting 100,000 rupiah for providing security and showers whilst you kite there, wasn't going to let us leave until we paid, was kinda awkward and the driver we had sorted it for us, money goes to local community, note there are no showers Or even water available there. Most beaches in south Lombok have a modest 10,000 rupiah fee that goes to the local community, smile and pay up.
Didn't go to Ekkas but talking to a guy staying there, the bay is too protected from the winds to kite, great for surf though.
Kaliantan is the pick for wind and waves, Kuta for the little luxuries food/drink.
I stayed at Yuli's home stay, highly recommended, but very popular in July and August, book early, plenty of cheap accomodation in Kuta, only one major resort Novatel that's about 15 minutes out of town, going back in July this year.
Fly from Bali to Lombok, 20 minute flight, don't waste a day on boats/ferry.
Hope that helps.
so if you do a kiting trip to Kaliantan, is it some where that you can SUP in the mornings before the winds arrive? would you need to take your own boards or are there any hire places around the area?
Why did I just waste valuable ****ting time reading about a spot ****n overseas that has no wind?!? Please keep your awesome 15m kite spots with your locals demanding cash to fly beaches to yourself foo
Select to expand quotedeanrobi said..
so if you do a kiting trip to Kaliantan, is it some where that you can SUP in the mornings before the winds arrive? would you need to take your own boards or are there any hire places around the area?
Hi Dean,
Didn't see any SUPs in southern Lombok. Maybe take your SUP but they must be a hassle to travel o/s with. Plenty of places to surf in the mornings around Kuta, plenty of surfboard hire places in Kuta.
Kaliantan is basically a pretty remote stretch of beaches not a village on the beach, take food/water as there is nothing there.
Heading back this July.
Select to expand quotekookaburrahz said..
Why did I just waste valuable ****ting time reading about a spot ****n overseas that has no wind?!? Please keep your awesome 15m kite spots with your locals demanding cash to fly beaches to yourself foo
Hi Kook,
If you read the whole lot you would have noticed the comment about 2 guys on 8's and me overpowered on the 11.
Dont waste more of your valuable time by going there if you can't help locals out with a dollar or two donation and can't have fun in all conditions In a beautiful yet grossly poor part of the world.
I've had some awesome 11 and 15 m sessions in Qld too, met some great locals there, most were flying 12-17m, maybe when you grow up you can handle a bigger kite 
Great info 62 specially the tides for kaliantan heading over late June in hope of wind luckily waves are great too!
I'm not a fan of big kites but don't worry about kooks some people don't grow up enough to realise how small they are
Select to expand quotekookaburrahz said..
Why did I just waste valuable ****ting time reading about a spot ****n overseas that has no wind?!? Please keep your awesome 15m kite spots with your locals demanding cash to fly beaches to yourself foo
Bad case of Bali belly right there 
