Bali surf forecast
Our Bali surf forecast reads the swell at Uluwatu, a south-west facing reef at the south-western tip of the Bukit Peninsula, and it is for advanced surfers only. The reef throws left-hand rides in several sections, and the water is warm all year.
Uluwatu, Bali: hour by hour
The table shows swell, wind and tide for Uluwatu hour by hour. The reef likes swell from between south and west, wind from the north-east and a mid tide.
Updated 15:58next run 20:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
06:00–10:00 · glassy
Today 3 Nov
Go 06-08, clean overhead, glassy (experts).
Best window: 06:00–08:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 02:30
- Low
- 09:37
- High
- 16:45
- Low
- 22:30
- Sunrise
- 05:50
- Sunset
- 18:16
Every hour, 05–21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Worth it 07-09, clean overhead, cross-offshore E (experts).
Best window: 07:00–09:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 04:30
- Low
- 11:18
- High
- 18:10
- Sunrise
- 05:50
- Sunset
- 18:16
Every hour, 05–21
Thursday 5 Nov
Worth it 06-09, clean overhead, cross-offshore E (experts).
Best window: 06:00–09:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 00:30
- High
- 06:19
- Low
- 12:30
- High
- 19:02
- Sunrise
- 05:49
- Sunset
- 18:16
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Go 06-10, clean overhead, glassy (experts).
Kiwi's best shot: 06:00–10:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 01:34
- High
- 07:30
- Low
- 13:19
- High
- 19:42
- Sunrise
- 05:49
- Sunset
- 18:16
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: Bali (-8.815, 115.087). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the tide column first. Our forecast favours mid tide here. At low tide the end of Racetracks gets very shallow and surfers often end up stranded on the reef.
The breaks at Uluwatu
Uluwatu is one big coral reef that breaks left. Wikipedia lists five breaks in this order: The Bombie, Temples, Outside Corner, Racetracks and The Peak. Other surf spots lie within a few kilometres, such as Padang Padang, Impossibles and Bingin.
The Peak
Reef breakAdvancedThe Peak sits at the foot of the cave, so this is where you paddle out and come back in. It works at every tide but is best at high tide, when it gets hollow, and it tends to close out at low tide.
It can hold waves of 15 feet and more. A board of about 6'8 to 7'4 is recommended. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · yeeew.com
Racetracks
Fast leftsShallow reefRacetracks is a very fast ride, and low tide is often called its best time. At low tide big barrels form at the end over very shallow reef.
At mid tide the barrels are easier to make, and you are more likely to finish the wave cleanly. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Outside Corner
Outer reefBig swellOutside Corner is an outer reef that links up with The Peak and Racetracks as the swell grows. It needs low tide and a big swell, at least 6 feet (1.8 m), and it can build to 15 feet (4.6 m) for rides of about 270 m. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Temples
Long paddleHeavy barrelsTemples takes its name from an old temple on the cliff, and it is the longest paddle out. Rides can reach 100 m, and the barrels can be thick and heavy.
It is usually less crowded, but a strong crew of locals and expats surfs here, so good etiquette matters. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · yeeew.com
The Bombie
Outer reefExpertsThe Bombie is the first of the five breaks, a powerful left on the outer reef. Broken boards and snapped leashes are common, and on big swells it can reach 20 feet.
Its main season is May to October, when the dry season brings south-east winds. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Padang Padang
NearbyLessonsPadang Padang is about 1.6 km from Uluwatu. A local surf camp runs beginner lessons there. It has hosted the Rip Curl Cup, and the 2024 edition was surfed in challenging barrel conditions. Sources: yeeew.com · balisurfingcamp.com · baliwaves.com
What Bali needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
South to west swell
Uluwatu faces south-west and takes swell from between south and west.
Wind
North-east wind is offshore
Wind from the north-east blows offshore here.
Tide
Mid tide works best
Our forecast rates the reef best around mid tide.
Size
1.5 to 3.5 metres
It is at its best between 1.5 and 3.5 m, too small under 0.8 m, and too big from about 5 m.
Shortcut: a 1.5–3.5 m swell from south to west, a north-east wind and mid tide make the best Uluwatu days.
The best months to surf Bali
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often Bali's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
Nov–DecMost top-rated days
November and December had the largest share of top days, about 40% and 42%. This is wet season, so expect more rain and less predictable conditions.
Jan–MarThe quietest stretch
Good days were rare, only 7% to 13% of days rated top level. February was the weakest month, at 7% of days rated decent or better.
AprA strong turn
April had the most decent-or-better days of the year, about 73%, and 37% top days.
May–OctDry season, bigger swell
About 35% to 61% of days rated decent or better, and August averaged the biggest waves at about 3.2 m. Wikipedia names May to October as the main season for The Bombie, with south-east winds.
Before you go
Reef and currents
The reef is sharp and shallow, and the currents are strong. At The Bombie, broken boards and snapped leashes are common.
Surfers often get stranded on the reef at the end of Racetracks at low tide. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Getting in and out
The way to the beach goes down from the temple and out through two rocks at the bottom of a cave. The Peak breaks right at the cave, so that is your entry and exit. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Crowds and etiquette
It is common to see more than 100 surfers in the water, so be ready to work for position. Temples has a strong crew of locals and expats, and good etiquette is expected at all times. Sources: yeeew.com · en.wikipedia.org
Water and wetsuit
The sea stays between about 27.5 °C in August and September and 29.9 °C in December.
Tide by section
Wikipedia says the best conditions come with a south-west groundswell. Mid to high tide suits the inner peaks, and low tide suits Outside Corner. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Mind the monkeys
Long-tailed macaques live at Uluwatu Temple and are known for grabbing flip-flops, cameras and sunglasses. Keep your things close. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
After the surf
A Kecak dance is performed every day at 6pm on the cliff at Uluwatu Temple, with the sunset behind it. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, Météo-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off Bali. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for Indonesia, so 4 stars at Bali is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
Bali surf questions
Is Bali's Uluwatu good for beginners?
No, Uluwatu is for advanced surfers only, with sharp shallow reef and strong currents. Beginners can take lessons at nearby Padang Padang.
When is the best time to surf Uluwatu?
November and December had the most top-rated days, and April had the most decent-or-better days. May to October brings bigger average swell.
How cold is the water in Bali in December?
It is warm, about 29.9 °C in December.
What tide is best at Uluwatu?
Our forecast favours mid tide. The Peak is best at high tide, while Outside Corner needs low tide and a big swell.
How crowded does Uluwatu get?
Very crowded, often with over 100 surfers in the water. Temples is usually less crowded, and it is the furthest to paddle.
What board should I bring for The Peak?
A board of about 6'8 to 7'4 is recommended for The Peak.
Check the Bali surf forecast before you paddle out
Look at swell, wind and tide for Uluwatu hour by hour, and pick your session on the reef with care.