Before you come
What can we answer?
Check in, check out
3pm, 11am
Children
8 to 12, under 8 on request
Every stay
Breakfast included, every morning
The place
Where is Scar Reef Resort?
On Pantai Jelenga, a 3 km bay of white sand wrapped around a clear blue lagoon on the west coast of Sumbawa. Jelenga village sits less than 1 km inland, Mt Rinjani stands across the water, and the rest is you and the big blue.
Can you tell me more about Sumbawa?
Sumbawa is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, two islands east of Bali and about 300 km long. Its 1.3 million people are welcoming, the main religion is Islam, and the landscape runs from rocky ranges to grassland and white sand. Roads are modern and well kept thanks to the mining industry. For surfing it is still a frontier, with far more coast than crowds.
Is Scar Reef Resort near Lakey Peak?
No. Lakey Peak sits halfway along the south coast. We are on the far west of the island, a different corner altogether.
What is the weather like?
Tropical, and the thermometer never drops below 25 °C. April to October is hot and dry, November to April is hot with the odd shower. Drier than Bali all year.
Are pets accepted?
We keep horses on site, but Indonesian law does not allow imported pets. Thank you for understanding.
Surfing
What are the waves like?
Scar Reef turns big and gnarly around 30 days a year, mostly in the dry months when Antarctic storms push ground swell north. The rest of the season is what you came for: glassy barrels, long mellow rides, lefts, rights and wedges in 28 °C water, with nearby breaks that suit every level.
What about safety in the water?
Surfing without a guide, reading the conditions for your level is yours to do. Guests on a surf package have a guide in the water with them. We do not recommend surfing the lowest tides, the reef is sharp. From mid to high tide it is some of the best surfing in the world, and you will rarely share it with more than your own group.
What is included in the surf guide?
Expert local surfers who know Indonesian conditions. They run you out to the lineup by boat, advise where to sit and which wave to take, and stay in the water with you. Guides are not coaches, their job is a safe and very good session.
What comes with one to one coaching?
A warm-up brief, live analysis of your positioning and technique in the water, and a debrief afterwards with things to work on. Board rental is included. Personal coaches are subject to availability.
Do I have to bring my own board?
Bring your own if you can. If you would rather travel light, join one of our packages and we cover it from a recent quiver, longboards through shortboards, plus softboards for beginners. Longboards are welcome here.
Are there surf shops nearby?
None, so come prepared. Bring tropical wax, a spare set of fins and a second leash.
Your stay
What is included in the price?
Breakfast is included in every rate, every morning, along with unlimited local coffee, tea and water, bonfire evenings, boat shuttles inside Scar Reef Bay, stand-up paddles, snorkelling gear, the Yoga Shala and beach tennis. Lunch and dinner come with one of our packages, or you order from the restaurant menu. The Saturday beach BBQ comes with the All Inclusive package, on request, for parties of 4 or more.
How long do I need to stay, and are children welcome?
Minimum stays are set per room and shown with the rate when you choose your dates. Children between 8 and 12 are welcome, under 8 by special request.
What time can I check in?
Rooms are ready from 3pm and check out is at 11am. Send us your flight and we will time the drive around it, and hold your bags either side if the day does not line up.
What is in the rooms?
En-suite bathroom with hot water, air conditioning, WiFi, a safety box and a private terrace or garden. The Villa and the Beach House add space, sea views and their own bathrooms.
Can we book the whole place for a group?
Yes, and larger parties often combine units, the Beach House with a Superior Room for instance. Write to us with your dates and numbers and we will put the whole property together for you.
Health and safety
Is the water safe to drink?
Tap water is pumped from our own freshwater well and we drink it happily. For guests we keep dispensers of unlimited purified water around the resort.
Are there many mosquitoes?
Barely noticeable in the dry months, but this is Indonesia, so bring your own repellent. There is no malaria in our area.
Do I need vaccinations for Sumbawa?
None are required. Indonesia is registered malaria and yellow fever free. We cannot guarantee there is no health risk at all, so check with your doctor or consulate before you fly.
What is the biggest risk while staying here?
The sun. Bring high-protection sunscreen and use it from the first morning, and please choose a reef friendly one for the sake of the seabeds out front.
Is there a hospital nearby?
Taliwang has a hospital, 30 minutes by car. A doctor with a good stock of medicine is a 5 minute walk away in Jelenga village, and a pharmacy in Jereweh is a 15 minute drive.
Is the resort safe, and do I need travel insurance?
The resort is gated, our staff are carefully recruited and vetted, and every room has a safety box. Reception will hold valuables on request, insured up to USD 300. We strongly advise taking out travel insurance for the trip, your travel advisor or credit card company can arrange it.
Getting here
What is the best way in?
The first morning flight from Bali to Sumbawa Besar. We collect you at the airport and drive you in, about 3 hours along the coast, and you can be surfing the same afternoon.
And the best way home?
The way you came, and we arrange the return. Leaving early puts you back in Bali by 14:00.
How do I get to Scar Reef Resort?
Fly through Bali, cross to Sumbawa by ferry, then drive the coast with our driver. The Getting here page lays out every leg with real fares, or ask us and we will book the whole day for you.
What about travelling with surfboards?
Domestic airlines in Indonesia carry boards up to 7 ft. The Wings flights into Sumbawa Besar are small ATR aircraft, so 7 ft is the hard limit and a full hold can send your board on the next flight. Travelling with a longboard, fly to Lombok and come across on the fast boat, taxis and boats there take boards without fuss.
Nothing here matches that. Ask us directly and we will answer within a day.
Contact us