Surfing Grupuk Bay (Don Don): The Complete Guide

Grupuk Bay (Don Don) is a reef break located in S Lombok, Indonesia, offering a left-hander along Southeast Asia's tropical lineups. Grupuk Bay hosts multiple surf breaks accessible by local boat, with Don Don being one of the standout lefts in the collection. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this reef break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (205°), with workable conditions from S to SW (190°–220°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Grupuk Bay (Don Don) needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 1.8m / 6ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the N (0°). The full offshore range spans NNW to NNE (330°–30°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid to high tide. Optimal tide range is 0.7m–1.8m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Grupuk Bay (Don Don) runs April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Apr–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 28°C / 82°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is LOP, roughly 60 minutes by car.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪸 Sharp reef — Shallow reef, booties recommended
🚶 Difficult access — Long paddle or walk

Safety Tips:

Wear reef booties to protect your feet from sharp coral and rock
Allow extra time for the approach and factor in energy for the paddle/walk

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Grupuk Bay (Don Don)? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Grupuk Bay (Don Don) is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*