Whales & Waves Resort

Whales & Waves is a beachfront surf and yoga resort in Labuan Kertasari, near Taliwang in West Sumbawa, set on a two-hectare coconut plantation facing the Alas Strait with Lombok's Mount Rinjani on the horizon. The resort says it sits within about ten minutes' drive of nine uncrowded surf breaks, including Dirty Hippies and Northern Rights, and there is little other accommodation in the immediate area, so line-ups tend to be quiet.

West Sumbawa is best known for powerful reef waves for experienced surfers, but the resort also has gentler spots for learning and runs its own surf programme. Its published rates include private lessons at IDR 1,400,000 per person and group lessons at IDR 700,000 per person (minimum two), each lasting around 1.5 to 2 hours, a surf guide at IDR 725,000 per day, surfboard rental at IDR 200,000 per day, boat transfers to surf spots and filming of surf sessions by a local photographer. It also hosts visiting surf camps, yoga retreats and other groups.

Accommodation ranges from standard and deluxe rooms to a family villa and two-bedroom villas with private pools, alongside a restaurant, yoga studio and kids' playground. The resort is around 30 minutes from the Poto Tano ferry terminal and about two hours from Sumbawa Besar airport. Check the resort's website or WhatsApp for current rates before booking.