If you enjoy challenging and adrenaline-pumping sports such as surfing, you will look forward to June 15, 2024, with joy, as this date marks the celebration of International Surfing Day. Welcoming this special moment for surfers, let's get to know the beaches in Indonesia that are sought after by the world's surfers.

Indonesia is famous as a country with beaches and big waves, so, unsurprisingly, Indonesia has many challenging surf spots. Some beaches in Indonesia often host international surfing events. Here are 10 of the best beaches in Indonesia for world-class surfing:

Panaitan Island, Banten

Banten has a world-class surf spot that is a challenge to conquer, namely Panaitan Island. Located in Ujung Kulon National Park, the island offers challenges in the form of left-hander waves that often make it difficult for surfers. Panaitan Island has the seven best spots for surfing, including One Palm Point, Apocalypse, Napalms, and Pussy, with average waves reaching 5-10 meters. Another interesting fact is that one of the surf spots, One Palm Point, has a wave interval of 800 meters.

Ombak Tujuh Beach, West Java

Ombak Tujuh Beach is well known to world-class surfers and is located in the same area as Ujung Genteng, Sukabumi, West Java. As the name suggests, one of the uniqueness of this beach is the arrangement of the waves, which are said to always appear in sequence with seven waves. This makes it even more adrenaline-pumping, with wave heights of up to 6 meters. The best time to surf at Ombak Tujuh Beach is June and July.

Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta

Known for its ferocious waves on the south coast, Parangtritis Beach is one of the best surfing spots in Indonesia. Parangtritis Beach is well-known for its year-round large waves. It also has a rip current phenomenon, characterized by powerful waves with speeds of up to 80 km/h and wave intervals reaching as far as 700 meters. In addition, the wave height reaches 4 meters, making Parangtritis Beach even more challenging for surfers to conquer.

Plengkung Beach, Banyuwangi

Are you looking for the best surf spots in Indonesia? Plengkung Beach, or G-Land, should be on your list. This beach has waves that can reach heights of 4-8 meters and span a distance of 2 kilometers. The challenge of surfing at Plengkung Beach is not just the wave height; the beach also boasts seven challenging wave arrays, earning it the nickname "The Seven Giant Waves Wonder."

Photo: Watu Karung Beach is famous for its reef break and barrel waves (Shutterstock/dama mahadi s)

Watu Karung Beach, East Java

Facing the Indian Ocean, Watu Karung Beach is one of the best surfing spots in Indonesia. Located in Pacitan, East Java, Watu Karung Beach is famous for its reef break and barrel waves. It's so challenging that the beach once hosted the 2017 World Surf League event. Some of the surf spots at Watu Karung Beach include Nyoroboyo, Blosok, Srau, Pancer, and Teleng Ria.

Suluban Beach, Bali

Surfing and Bali are inseparable. Bali offers many challenging surf spots. One of them is Suluban Beach, better known as Blue Point Beach. This beach has big waves, heights up to 3-4 meters, and lengths up to tens of meters. It's no wonder this beach is a spot for challenging surfing.

Sipora Island, West Sumatra

The next best surfing spot is in West Sumatra, in the Mentawai Islands. There are many challenging surfing spots here, the most popular being Sipora Island. This island made it into the ranks of the "20 Best Surfing Spots in the World" by CNN Travel. The uniqueness of this island is the 7-meter-high "wave tunnel." Enjoying the best waves on Sipora Island is recommended between April and October.

Sorake Beach, North Sumatra

Still on the island of Sumatra, the next best surf spot in Indonesia is Sorake Beach in Nias, North Sumatra. One of the challenges that surfers have to overcome at this beach is the interval between wave rolls that almost reach the shoreline, which is about 200 meters. This is very rare in other surf spots in the world. In addition, the height of the waves at Sorake Beach can reach 3-5 meters.

Nemberala Beach, NTT

If you want to face challenging waves, you can experience the thrill of conquering them at Nemberala Beach. This beach, located on Rote Island in the Rote Ndao Regency of East Nusa Tenggara, is known for its high waves that pose a challenge for surfers worldwide. The best time for surfing at Nemberala Beach is from August to October, when the waves can reach impressive heights of up to 7 meters. Unsurprisingly, world-class surfing events are often held at Nemberala Beach.

Marosi Beach, NTT

Another great surfing spot in East Nusa Tenggara is Marosi Beach. Situated south of Waikabubak City in West Sumba, this beach features waves up to 3 meters high. Due to its classification as a beginner-friendly wave, Marosi Beach is an ideal spot for those new to surfing. The best time to learn surfing at Marosi Beach is from May to September, when the waves are at their best.

Are you ready to try conquering the waves on these beaches, Sob?

Cover: Mentawai Island, one of the best surfing spot is in West Sumatra (Shutterstock/photogerson)