Lombok Ekas Bay

Gregse I went to Heaven On The Planet a few yrs ago with the family after being there on a boat the previous year. The surf set up is great with Inside Ekkas a fairly forgiving wave and pretty predictable. Lefts and rights. Outside Ekkas can be a heavy wave and not for the faint hearted or unfit. Couple of experienced surfers on the boat trip were seriously pounded out there. I was there in August both times and there was not too many days where there wasn't a bit of wind. Enough wind to make it a pain in the a*se. Crowd factor was pretty good. Really only HOTP resort people and day trippers from Kuta Beach out around the headland. The main problem was the manager of the resort snaking waves on his SUP. Then paddling back out and wanting to have a chat. Maybe he's not there now. Staying at the resort was a different matter. Very expensive for what you get. (cold showers no power after 10-11pm i.e. no fans lots of insects...scorpions,ants and the biggest geckos I've seen in my life) Don't have too many nice things to say about it except the staff were happy(locals) and the view as the sun was going down downing a beer was memorable.

There was some trouble with the locals at the time and we arrived back at the bar from a surf to find the local law enforcment sitting there with a sub machine gun on the bar. If they could get their act together resort wise I'd maybe go back but after a Southern Atolls boat trip with Liquid Dest....s to the Maldives last year for two weeks...I'd be hard pressed to go past that. No crowds, great waves, and as much surf as you'd want.

Went a couple of years ago(October) and stayed in Sengeggi at a top notch resort, potentially the wave in that area is a beast but needs a large swell. Deserts is not far away and is a must but be prepared for crowds if it's on but it is a "bucket list" experience that I will never forget despite it being a fast and unforgiving setup littered with heroes (Brazzo's and French dickheads) and not the most fun I've had in the water! We explored the Kuta area but didn't really see it at its best but well worth a look. Grupuk area has some interesting setups that were heavy and uncrowded but really tidal and shifty with currents that taxed your energy. Ekas was the highlight but don't bother with the inside wave as it is pretty lame and infested with boatloads of Japs with local guides that snake you and give the wave to some kook that has paid for the service. Outside is the go and Thommo's take on it is spot on but we had it to ourselves on a few occasions which was magic. It is kind of like South Point in that the swell hits a headland, kind of breaks and then sorts itself out and unwinds on a point for around 150-300m with barreling sections and wackable walls. One session around 1pm was so epic that my mate and I didn't talk to each other for two hours, save for the yeeeewwwwiiing as we paddled along the channel watching each other get shacked. The boat trip from Grupuk to Ekas was "interesting" at times but all part of the travel experience, here's a pic of our intrepid captain wearing the hat we gave him and reading the book that helped out big time! Have a blast mate, I'll be there again this year!

Nothing to see here, move along.