TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Beach in Lombok a hidden paradise for kite-surfers
Change Size
A tourist enjoys kite-surfing at Kaliantan Beach in East Lombok. (JP/Lalu Putriadi)
A
perfect wind blows and the challenging waves and pristine white sandy beach make Kaliantan Beach in the southern part of Lombok a hidden paradise for tourists, especially fans of kite-surfing.
"The wind at the beach is different from other places. Visitors say it is more reliable, which is perfect for kite-surfing," said 36-year-old Lalu Putriadi, the manager of Kaliantan Paradise Bungalow Retreat, a humble site of accommodation set up by the beach.
More than 250 foreign tourists have visited Kaliantan Beach so far this year, said Lalu. Most of them are kite-surfing enthusiasts from the Netherlands, France, Italy, the UK, Australia, the US and New Zealand.
“Kite-surfing is more challenging because it is a combination of paragliding and surfing."
The 7-kilometer long coast is officially part of Kaliantan hamlet in Serewe village, Jerowaru district, East Lombok regency. It is situated around 30 kilometers to the south of Selong, the capital city of East Lombok, and around 3 kilometers from the more popular Pink Beach.
(Read also: Bali yet to reap potential benefits from surfing)
The perfect time to visit is between April and November.
"Kite-surfing largely depends on wind strength. In Kaliantan, the wind is quite steady, between 18 and 25 knots, which is perfect for 8 meter to 12 meter-long kites," said Lalu.
Unfortunately, this destination still lacks sufficient accommodation facilities and has limited road access. Up to 8 kilometers of road leading up to the beach has not yet been paved with hot mix asphalt.
As for accommodation, Lalu's bungalow, which is the only one in the area, only offers three rooms. No wonder then that during peak season, tourists usually sleep in their own tents. Most of them also bring their own surfing equipment.
"Kite surfing is special-interest tourism. Tourists usually don't care where they're going to sleep, only how they can find good enough wind for surfing. They usually also bring their own equipment," said Lalu, adding that he also provided equipment for rent.
Lalu is hopeful that the local administration will pay more attention to this potential tourist site.
"The most important things are infrastructure, security and support from the local administration. This area has outstanding potential. It has the longest wind season for kite-surfing," said Lalu. (kes)
