Indonesia · Indo-Pacific
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Padang Padang is a heavy left-hand barrel on Bali's Bukit Peninsula, breaking over a shallow limestone reef inside a cave-framed bay. It is one of the most photogenic waves in the world and produces short, intense tube rides. The cave entrance to the beach and the temple above add to the mystique. When it is on, Padang Padang is genuinely world-class but extremely dangerous.
Needs a solid south-westerly Indian Ocean groundswell (6ft+ on the outer reefs). The dry season (May-October) provides offshore easterly trade winds. Best at mid tide. The 5-10ft range is where the barrel opens up. Smaller swells close out across the reef. Needs specific conditions to produce its famous tubes.
The take-off is at a precise spot on the reef where the wave jacks and throws. The left barrels quickly over shallow reef. Positioning must be exact. The wave sections fast, giving only moments to make the tube.
Extremely shallow reef (dry at low tide). The wave is fast and powerful. Getting caught inside over the reef is very dangerous. Sharp limestone and urchins. Strong currents. The cave/cliff provides no easy exit if you wash in. Advanced surfers only on solid days.
Park above and descend stairs through a narrow gap in the cliff (the famous cave entrance). The beach is small and scenic. The temple sits above.
Very crowded when it breaks properly (which is only a handful of times per year). 20-40 people fight for a small, specific peak. The consequence and difficulty provide some natural crowd control. On its classic days, the world's best barrel riders converge.
Padang Padang only properly works on big swells. Most days it is too small (try the inside section for a fun small wave). When a 6ft+ swell arrives, the whole Bali surf community knows. Go at dawn for any chance of manageable numbers. The smaller inside wave (accessible most days) is fun but not the famous barrel. The temple ceremony days may restrict access.
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Record your session, conditions and gear.
Based on historical weekly averages
Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
How busy each week is based on school holiday overlap from feeder markets.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 29 days of logged conditions.
Sign up to save favourite spots and get surf alerts
Create free accountCreate a free profile and let employers in Padang Padang find you.
Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Padang Padang. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical mid-June.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Padang Padang is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Slim pickings. Only worth it if you are gagging for a wave. Reasonable period putting some grunt behind each wave. Strong offshore, clean but tough to paddle into. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives.
Heads up: thunderstorms forecast, and jellyfish: peak season.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Padang Padang