Overview of the Banyak's:The Banyak Islands are located in the Islands of North Sumatra
about 50km from mainland Aceh Sumatra, and are
also home to a couple of great waves such as Treasure island/Machine
gun
rights/Whistle bird
and
the Bay
of plenty.
The Waves: Unlike the Mentawai's and Telo's
the Banyaks isn't a huge area, so there is only a handful of
waves, there is roughly a dozen surf spots but we are only
going to mention the main one's and the most consistent spots.
There is a fairly even distribution of lefts and rights, but
it's really the rights that are the focus in particular Treasure
island rights/Machine gun rights/whistle bird.
Crowd
wise: Generally
crowds are lower in the banyaks compared to the Mentawai's,
although it can be
hit and miss and waves such as Treasure Island rights can
get crowded with charter boats due to its high quality.
Banyaks surf
spots: Description
and video's
Treasure island rights/Machine gun rights/Whistle
bird- The
Main wave in the Banyaks and the crown jewel so to speak, this
is the wave that most surfers to the Banyaks aim at scoring,
Treasures is a long quality right point, with a number of
tube sections, offering multiple tubes on one wave, although
not
of the
same
quality
and length that it once was,(pre quake) it is still regarded
as one of the best right's in Indonesia.
# Since the earthquake of 2004 the reef rose a number of feet,
reducing the quality and length of the wave.
Bay of plenty- A bay with a number of quality
reef breaks including.
Gunters/Joysticks-A world class right hand
reef of medium length offering everything from tubes to high
performance
sections, when smaller suitable to all surfers, experts only
when bigger.
Dindo's/Toy town lefts- Located inside the
bay, another quality wave, that is often said to be like a
scaled
down version
of macaronis, needs a solid swell to get any size, but fun
even when small.
Lolok
pt/Clarets- Long quality left breaks
of the southern point of the "bay of plenty" surfable
from small
to
big, offers a variety of sections including a few barrels,
holds solid swell.
Cobras- Powerful Left that picks up a
lot of swell and can produce nice long barrels.
Babi/the
pig- Another swell magnet located
on a small island far from anywhere, often big powerful rights
in the style of a scaled down sunset.
Other
waves- There are also about half
a dozen other waves of varying quality, although they are
rarely surfed
being
more fickle, most requiring large swells or being of a very
heavy nature.
Banyak island surf camps/Resorts:
There is currently only one land camp/resort in the banyak
islands.
Banyak Island Lodge-
Max 10 guest (from $192 per person per night to $355 pp pn) www.banyakislandlodge.com
Charter boats that focus on
the Banyaks:
Currently 4 charter boats operate exclusively
in the Banyak islands, although a number of charter boats
that operate out of Padang servicing the Mentawai's also
offer trips doing trips through the Telo's, Nias to the Banyaks
(known as north sumatra trips): Please see the Mentawai charter
boats page for
more info.
Surf Banyak.com(Sjalina)-Modern
style motor yacht, based in Sibolga, North Sumatra, focus
on Banyaks,
Max guest
6 ($208-$235 pp pn 7 to 14 nights trips) www.surfbanyak.com
SurfnSumatra.com(bohemian)-Catamaran, based
in Sibolga North Sumatra, Focus is Banyaks and Asu/Nias,
Max 6 guest ($253
to
$299 pp pn 11 night trips)www.sailbohemian.com
Banyak island surf charters-Modern wooden
Indonesian style boat, trip starts at Simeulue island, Max
guest 8 ($192
pp pn to $250 pp pn 13 night trips, 12 full surfing days)www.banyakislands.com
Indian ocean adventures(W/V Mahtab)- 85ft
wooden Indonesian style boat, based in Simeulue, focus Banyaks
and
Simeulue, also do dive charters, Max guest 8 ($235 pp pn 11
nights) www.surfbanyakislands.com
