The Ultimate Guide to Surfing Impossibles

Impossibles is probably the most photographed surf spot on the planet. With long lines and perfect peeling waves, you will likely recognise it from photos in magazines or online — often incorrectly labelled as Chicama in Peru or other famous point breaks. There is no mistaking it once you know what you are looking at. Our free PDF guide to all 73 Bali surf spots covers Impossibles and every other break in Bali, mapped to the right tide, swell and wind.

Impossibles is aptly named because most waves are impossibly fast to make. But with the right wave selection and local knowledge, guests at Padang Padang Surf Camp regularly tell us they had the longest ride of their life here. This guide gives you everything you need to make Impossibles possible.

Understanding the Impossibles Wave

Impossibles is a left-hand reef break located between Padang Padang and Bingin. The reef spans around one kilometre and has three distinct sections — Top, Middle and End — each with different characteristics.

The Top is the section closest to Padang Padang, in line with Villa Pemutih. The Middle peak sits in front of Villa Bayuh Sabbha. The End is closest to Bingin. The Top and Middle sections offer the fast-breaking walls Impossibles is famous for. The End section is more of an open-face wave where carving manoeuvres are possible.

When the swell is big enough, Impossibles will provide the longest surfable ride in Bali — from the Top peak all the way to Bingin. It is a leg-achingly long, fast ride with no cutbacks. Down the line and speed, speed, speed. Unlike other surf spots in the Uluwatu area, there is no current out the back — you can sit and wait for the right wave without paddling against a rip.

Impossibles is usually less crowded than neighbouring breaks like Uluwatu and Bingin, and the wide playing field means you can usually find your own space even on busier days.

Wave Selection at Impossibles: How to Pick the Right One

Wave selection is everything at Impossibles. When the line of the wave is long, forget it — it will break too fast to make. The waves that look like they will be the shortest ride are the ones that produce the longest rides. This seems counterintuitive but is the key to unlocking the break.

The best waves are those with a defined peak and a short line. At Uluwatu, a short line means a short ride. At Impossibles the opposite is true — the flat reef holds the wave up for longer than you expect, and what looks like a closing section invariably stays open. Go for medium to large set waves. Smaller waves run too fast; head-high or under and the sections are always too quick and the ride too short to be worth the paddle.

Roughly 1 in 20 waves breaks at the right speed for an excellent long ride. On a good day that ratio improves to 1 in 10. Be patient, wait for the right one, and you will be well rewarded. One or two long rides at Impossibles makes a great session and could be the ride of your trip.

The Best Conditions to Surf Impossibles: Swell, Wind and Tide

Impossibles needs to be overhead before there is any chance of a decent ride. Below shoulder-head high the wave sections on every wave and the ride is very short. The conditions must align for Impossibles to break optimally.

Swell direction: A WSW swell — 220° and above — is best for Impossibles. The very best swell arrives at around 230° but this is rare. The more westerly the swell direction (higher the number), the better the chance of Impossibles breaking at the right speed. A south swell is problematic — most of it runs past Impossibles and arrives at Dreamland or Balangan, and the waves that do arrive at Impossibles are nearly all too fast. Bear in mind that on a west swell, waves will be bigger than forecasts suggest and Uluwatu often breaks too fast on the same swell direction that is perfect for Impossibles.

Wind: Impossibles does not handle onshore or cross-shore wind — it breaks too fast and needs an offshore wind to hold the sections up. The best conditions are around double overhead with a medium-strength offshore wind of around 10 knots. Strong offshore wind makes take-offs difficult as spray blows up the wave face. No wind is also not ideal — the offshore wind is the mechanism that holds up the lip and keeps the sections makeable. If a decent swell is running but the wind is wrong, Bingin handles onshore wind far better and is the better option.

Tide: The Top and Middle peaks break best at mid to high tide. The second peak can work on any tide but is best at dead low. Third peak only works well when the swell is more than double overhead — below that it is not worth surfing unless you are an intermediate surfer looking for a less demanding option. On bigger swells Impossibles breaks well at high tide. Be aware that the inside gets shallow at lower tides — there are fingers of reef that make entry and exit difficult at low tide.

Season: The dry season (April–October) is the best time to surf Impossibles. The SE trade winds are almost guaranteed to be offshore and there will be several days a month when the swell is big enough for proper long rides. May is a particularly good month — the swell is building, winds are established and the lineups are far quieter than peak season. Impossibles is not a viable surf spot in onshore wet season conditions, though early mornings in the wet season can occasionally produce surfable windows.

How to Enter the Water at Impossibles

There are multiple steep cliff paths leading to Impossibles Beach. Once on the beach, you can walk across the reef at low tide or paddle straight out at higher tides.

You can also enter via Padang Padang or Bingin. The Padang channel is close to the Top peak and is the easiest entry on big days — always easy to paddle out, then 200 metres across to the Top peak. Make sure you paddle out deep enough not to get caught by sneaker sets — Baby Padang is dangerous on a big swell. Entering via Bingin is a long paddle against the current but practical for accessing third peak.

Insider tip: Halfway between Padang and the Top peak there is a section where the waves break smaller and it is usually easy to paddle out. This is the best entry point at mid or high tide. At low tide, paddle out directly in front of the first peak instead. Impossibles has the sharpest reef on the Bukit — be careful on the way out as white water pushing you back can put your feet directly onto reef.

How to Exit the Water at Impossibles

At high tide it is usually straightforward to exit where your ride ended. Be careful riding white water close to shore as fins can snag on the reef — causing the board to stop suddenly with the risk of going face-first into the reef.

At low tide on a big swell, exiting can be very challenging as the wave breaks hard in very shallow water. Time your exit between sets and move quickly when the wave breaks in shallow reef. At high tide there is no beach, which can make it difficult to get back to where you started — particularly if you parked at the Padang end, as the inside current runs from Padang toward Bingin.

Can Beginners Surf Impossibles?

No — Impossibles is not suitable for beginner surfers under any conditions. The wave breaks too fast and the constantly rolling white water is hazardous for surfers on large boards. Baby Padang is the best beginner spot in the Uluwatu area and is located right next to Impossibles. Jimbaran Bay is also a good option when the swell is too big elsewhere. Book a beginner surf lesson and we will take you to the right break for the conditions on the day.

Can Intermediate Surfers Surf Impossibles?

Impossibles is primarily an advanced surf spot and is not well suited to most intermediate surfers — the wave breaks too fast for intermediates to make the sections consistently. However, when Uluwatu is too big and the current at Baby Padang is too strong, Impossibles can work for intermediates if it is less than double overhead. Third peak on a smaller swell is also a more forgiving option. Even competent regular-footers can struggle here surfing backhand, as pumping the board on your heelside while keeping a high line is technically demanding. Join our intermediate surf program and we will assess whether Impossibles is right for your level on the day.

Where to Stay Near Impossibles

There are accommodation options directly on the beach but we do not recommend them — overpriced for the quality and difficult access. Anantara has the best view of Impossibles and none of the access issues. For mid-range and budget options, Mu Bungalow and Kembang Kuning in Bingin both have good views of Impossibles and easy water access. Padang Padang Surf Camp is walking distance from Impossibles and within easy reach of every break in the Uluwatu area.

Where to Eat Near Impossibles

Dining options at Impossibles itself are limited. Dreamsea is open to the public with a good menu, though service can be slow. Anantara has an excellent buffet breakfast. At low tide it is easy to walk to Padang Padang beach in one direction — which has a variety of local restaurants — or to Bingin in the other.

What to Do at Impossibles for Non-Surfers

This is a pristine, quiet stretch of coastline. At low tide you can walk along the reef to nearby Padang Padang beach or around the headland toward Bingin. At high tide the beach largely disappears. There are a few warungs where you can watch the surf and eat local food. The cliff views of the wave on a big day are spectacular.

Surf Impossibles with Expert Local Guides

Impossibles is one of the most rewarding waves in Bali for advanced surfers who are willing to be patient and selective. Reading the swell direction, choosing the right tide, identifying the right peak and picking the right wave within that peak — all of this is local knowledge that takes years to develop. Our guides surf Impossibles regularly and know exactly when and where it is firing.

Book advanced surf guiding with our team and we will get you into the right wave at the right peak on the right tide.