The Best 5 Intermediate Surf Spots in Bali
The Best 5 Intermediate Surf Spots in Bali
Bali has a remarkable variety of reef, point, beach and river mouth breaks — and almost every surf spot on the island is suitable for intermediate surfers when the swell is the right size. The key is reading the conditions: check the swell forecast, know the tide, and understand that any break can change character dramatically when the swell gets big or the tide drops too low. This guide gives you the five spots that consistently deliver for intermediate surfers, whatever the conditions.
Download our free PDF guide to all the surf spots in Bali.
1. Toro Toro
Toro Toro tops the list because it ticks every box. Tired of exhausting paddle-outs? The boat drops you 20 metres from the lineup — a dry-hair paddle out. The wave is an A-frame breaking both left and right, so no complaints from either goofy or regular footers about backhand waves. The peak is well-defined and breaks in the same spot every time, only moving inside or outside depending on swell size — exactly the kind of predictable, permanent reef geometry that makes a break ideal for progression. It is best on small to medium swell; the bigger waves do not break as well, but the smaller ones are the most fun.
The wave breaks softly and slowly — perfect for intermediates who struggle with a fast take-off and heavy breaking wave. And unlike most breaks, Toro Toro has not one channel but two. Both the left and the right break into deep water channels, making the paddle back to the lineup effortless. The right-hander is one of the most enjoyable waves in Bali: easy take-off, a generous first section, then a long, mellow wall ideal for practising cutbacks. Read our Surf Better guide for exactly why that long wall matters — more time on the wave means more time to practise, and more repetitions means faster improvement.
2. Baby Padang (Padang Padang Rights)
Padang Padang Lefts — the Balinese Pipeline — is not suitable for intermediate surfers under any circumstances. The wave ends on a very shallow section of reef, there is a strong rip, and on a higher tide the wave pushes you close to the cliff. Expert only, full stop.
Just the other side of the deep water channel is the far less famous Baby Padang — and it is a genuinely excellent intermediate wave. On small to medium swell the wave does not break too fast and the reef is relatively safe except at low tide. It breaks both left and right. The right-hander breaks into a deep water channel and always fades to nothing — it never closes out, and if you make the wave the full length, you end up in the channel where the rip carries you back to the lineup without any paddling effort at all. The left breaks soft and slow, except on the biggest swells, and can produce a very long ride with reform sections. Long rides on a predictable wave are exactly what intermediate surfing needs — the consistency of the reef means you can study each wave, know where the next section will be, and build the kind of repetition that genuinely improves your surfing.
3. Dreamland
Dreamland is a beautiful beach — named for good reason — and a must-visit for anyone travelling to Bali. The turquoise water is reminiscent of the Caribbean, and at low tide you can walk along the coast to Bingin and Balangan. It is rumoured that mermaids frequent this spot, but no evidence exists — and try as hard as I might, I have never seen one.
Dreamland is the only non-reef break on the Bukit, with a sandy bottom at the main beach and a flat rock shelf at the A-frame peak. The A-frame breaks gently and consistently at low tide and is perfect for intermediates on a small swell. The right breaks into the channel for an easy paddle out. The left always closes out but offers a long, fast ride — fun to race as far as you can go. On big swells avoid the A-frame peak as it becomes a heavy, board-snapping wave. To the southern end of the beach, closer to Balangan, there is a softer left-hander that can be ridden all the way to the beach. The shore break on the inside is a punchy, barrelling wave popular with local surfers — entertaining to watch but tricky for intermediates.
4. Balangan
Balangan is almost never flat. The reef is quite flat which means that except on the biggest days the wave breaks gently and predictably. In the dry season the SE trade winds blow offshore from sunrise to sunset — as our Science of Waves guide explains, offshore wind is the mechanism by which good waves become great ones, physically holding up the lip and creating hollow, glassy conditions. In the wet season the headland offers protection from southwesterly winds, making it a reliable all-year option in small to medium swell.
Balangan is famous for long left-hand peeling walls, but on smaller days there are also right-handers breaking into deep water that work well for intermediates. Many waves move too fast to make every section, which makes Balangan perfect for practising the high line — trimming as fast as possible and racing the wave as far as you can. That kind of sustained, committed riding builds board feel faster than any other exercise.
5. Medewi
Medewi is often described as a beginner wave because it breaks softly — but that description is misleading. You need to be able to turn the board. Ride it straight and you will end up on the reef. Access in and out of the water is also difficult and potentially dangerous with a large foam board if you do not know what you are doing. With that said, for intermediate surfers who can turn left and paddle confidently, Medewi is genuinely excellent.
The wave peels left for a very long ride, breaks gently, and handles bigger swells well — even on larger days, intermediates can manage by staying inside on the shoulder. The length of the wave is its great gift: a first turn that feels rough, a second that feels slightly better, and by the third and fourth turn you are learning how the board responds under your feet. That is how surfing improves — repeated turns on the same wave, not short rides on beach break closeouts. Medewi is best at mid to high tide and mushy at low tide. One important correction to what you may read elsewhere: the rocks at Medewi are sharp, not cobblestone. If you value the skin on your feet, consider booties.
Padang Padang Surf Camp is ideally located for four of these breaks. We are minutes from Toro Toro, Baby Padang, Dreamland and Balangan, and our guides will take you to the right spot based on the tide, wind and swell size on any given day. If you are an intermediate surfer looking to take your skills to the next level — learning to pump a board, nail bottom turns and start linking turns together — our intermediate surf program is designed exactly for that.
Download our free PDF guide to all the surf spots in Bali — every break mapped, rated by ability level, and explained so you always know exactly where to paddle out.