Simeulue

A remote island 150 kilometres off the west coast of Aceh, Simeulue is one of Indonesia's quieter surf frontiers, prized by travellers willing to trade comfort for empty lineups. Ringed by reef and exposed to the open Indian Ocean, it offers a spread of waves within a small, boat-and-road-accessible area.

The best-known break is Dylan's Right, a long, workable right-hand reef wave near Alus Alus that peels for a considerable distance and suits intermediate to advanced surfers. Other reefs around the south and west deliver both lefts and rights, ranging from forgiving walls to sharper, more hollow sections. The reefs are shallow in places, so reef boots and caution at low tide are sensible.

Swell arrives most reliably from April to October, during the south-west season, when groundswells from the Indian Ocean light up the exposed reefs and the trade winds often blow offshore. Water stays warm throughout, and the island's position can pick up swell that its more famous neighbours miss.

Simeulue is also a place of resilience. Local oral tradition, the smong warning passed down through generations, prompted islanders to flee to high ground before the 2004 tsunami, saving many lives; the earthquakes of that era also lifted the reefs. A scattering of family-run surf camps provides simple accommodation and boat access to the breaks. Reaching the island means flying via Medan to Lasikin airport or taking a ferry, part of what keeps its waves lightly surfed compared with Bali or the Mentawais.