Indonesia's uncrowded surf wilderness.
The Telo Islands don't announce themselves. Positioned between Nias in the north and the Mentawai Islands to the south, this chain of roughly 100 islands receives less than a handful of charter boats at any given time, a rarity in an era when the world's best surf zones fill with floating villages of liveaboards.
What the Telos deliver is the experience the Mentawais offered twenty years ago: mechanical, high-quality reef breaks on nearly empty lineups, clear channels between islands that look like the Florida Keys, and an island wilderness so intact it feels genuinely remote.
The archipelago splits naturally into two zones, North Telos and South Telos, each with its own character, swell exposure, and signature waves. A phinisi charter moves freely between both, surfing whatever the ocean offers each day, and anchoring in calm lagoons each evening.
The Telos' protected channels offer calm passage and flat anchorages between surf sessions.
Unlike the open-ocean exposure of the outer Mentawais, the Telos' 100 islands form a natural labyrinth of channels and lagoons. Between surf sessions, the yacht moves through flat, aqua-blue water with fast speedboat access to every wave and calm anchorages every night.
The small community of surf camps and charter operators in the Telos actively collaborates. Resorts and boats deliberately surf different breaks to keep lineups uncrowded. Surf spots are rarely named on maps. The system works, remarkably so.
From hollow, consequence-heavy barrels like Pasti to long, rippable walls suited to intermediate surfers, the Telos offer more wave variety per square kilometer than almost anywhere in Indonesia. The beachbreak at Schoolyards is a true rarity in a country dominated by reef.
The Telos reward those who look beyond the lineups. White sand beaches fringe almost every island, most of them completely deserted. The coral reefs are healthy and accessible by snorkel: colorful hard corals and resident reef fish, with no dive permit required and no crowds competing for the water.
Village visits on the larger islands offer a window into Sumatran coastal life largely unchanged by tourism. Fishing excursions in the channels regularly produce fresh catch for the evening's dinner. Stand-up paddleboarding through the lagoons at dawn is an experience with no equivalent elsewhere in Indonesia.
Deserted Beaches
White sand shores on uninhabited islands throughout the archipelago
Snorkeling
Healthy coral reefs in clear, protected channels between islands
Village Visits
Local Sumatran communities with traditional fishing culture
The Telos reward local knowledge. We know which zones hold swell at which sizes, how the tides affect each break, and when to move between North and South to maximize scoring potential.
A phinisi charter here isn't just transport between surf spots. It's a mobile base that puts you at whichever break is going off, the moment it's going off, with no other boats in sight.
100+
Islands
20+
Named Breaks
Since 2015
Operating in Telo
The Telos split naturally into North and South zones, each with distinct swell exposure, wave character, and anchorages. A phinisi charter covers both, moving between zones as conditions dictate.
Northern Archipelago
Home to the Telos' most consistent intermediate-friendly waves, including the reliable right at Churches and the multiple-option break at GTs. North Telos is closest to Padang, making it the natural starting point for most charters. Protected anchorages throughout.
Southern Archipelago
The sharper end of the stick. South Telos is where the Telos earn their more advanced reputation, headlined by Pasti, one of Indonesia's most perfect right-hand barrels when the swell is running. Also home to Monkeys and The ER, both capable of extraordinary days.
Between the Islands
What makes the Telos unique among Indonesian surf destinations is the network of flat, sheltered channels between islands. These aqua-blue passages allow fast, safe speedboat transit in all but the worst conditions, and offer their own beauty, reminiscent of the Florida Keys.
The Telos offer a broader range of wave types than any comparable Indonesian destination, from beginner-friendly longboard walls to consequence-heavy barrels for experienced surfers only.
South Telos
The reason serious surfers come to the Telos. A hollow, powerful right-hander that breaks over a shallow reef with fast drops, heavy barrels, and demanding exits. Best April through October.
North Telos
The Telos' most crowd-friendly classic. A consistent, forgiving right that runs along a nearby island with long walls, multiple sections, and a broad swell window. Ideal for intermediate surfers.
North Telos
A multi-section setup offering lefts and rights off separate reef passes. GTs can produce everything from a wide open-ocean peak to fast hittable walls depending on swell direction and size.
South Telos
A super user-friendly right that runs along the edge of an island over a soft reef. Great for longboarders, learners, and those wanting a fun wave between heavier sessions at Pasti. Best 3 to 5ft.
Island & Ocean Life
The Telos deliver more than surf. Between sessions, the archipelago offers rich snorkeling, deserted beaches, and the kind of island beauty that belongs on a different time-scale from the modern world.
Hard coral gardens in protected channels
The channels between Telo islands are shallow enough for snorkeling with excellent clarity. Hard coral coverage rivals dedicated dive destinations, and with no charter boats competing for the same reefs, you'll often have them entirely to yourself.
Diverse reef fish communities
A broad variety of reef species inhabits the channels: parrotfish, wrasse, surgeonfish, and occasional reef sharks are regular sightings. Fishing excursions in the channels regularly produce fresh catch for the evening meal.
Chelonia mydas & Eretmochelys imbricata
Green and hawksbill turtles are resident throughout the archipelago. Nesting beaches remain on several of the more remote islands. Turtles are a reliable snorkeling and paddleboard companion in the calmer lagoons.
White sand and coconut palms
Virtually every island in the Telo chain has a white sand beach, and most of them see no visitors. An afternoon on a truly deserted beach (no footprints, no facilities, no other boats) is one of the Telos' greatest gifts.
Sumatran coastal avifauna
The forested islands support a broad range of tropical bird species. White-bellied sea eagles are a constant aerial companion. Early mornings on the water deliver exceptional bird activity before the sea breeze builds.
Flat water between the islands
The Telos' network of sheltered channels is as distinctive as the surf breaks. Aqua-blue, flat, and rimmed by forested islands, they're perfect for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and evening sunset cruises aboard the tender.
Planning
The Telos' surf season runs March through November, driven by Indian Ocean Southern Hemisphere swells. Peak conditions occur May through October.
Peak Season: May through October
The Indian Ocean fires reliably during the Southern Hemisphere winter. Swells arrive with consistency and size, the offshore winds cooperate, and the breaks perform at their best. August and September often produce the most powerful surf. This is when the advanced breaks (Pasti, GTs, The ER) are most active.
May and June offer excellent surf with lighter crowds before the peak hits.
July through September is prime time: solid swell, reliable offshore winds, all breaks working.
October and November see swell consistency starting to soften, though good surf continues.
Shoulder Season: March, April, & November
March and April see the swell season building. Good opportunities for intermediate surfers as conditions are often cleaner and less intense than peak months. November can offer excellent value as charter traffic drops before year-end.
| Month | Conditions | Visibility | Mantas |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Challenging | 10-15m | Low |
| February | Challenging | 10-15m | Low |
| March | Improving | 15-20m | Medium |
| April | Very Good | 20-25m | Medium |
| May | Very Good | 20-25m | High |
| June | Excellent | 25-30m | High |
| July | Excellent | 25-35m | High |
| August | Excellent | 25-35m | High |
| September | Excellent | 25-30m | High |
| October | Very Good | 20-25m | High |
| November | Good | 15-20m | Medium |
| December | Variable | 10-15m | Low |
A Note on Off-Season (December through February)
The wet season brings smaller, inconsistent surf and increased rain. We generally recommend the Mentawais or Raja Ampat during this period, both of which offer excellent conditions when the Telos are quieter. The Telos' shoulder months (March and April) can be an excellent alternative for those wanting milder conditions and virtually empty lineups.
Getting There
All Telo Islands charters depart from Padang, West Sumatra, a small but well-connected city served by Minangkabau International Airport (PDG). The most common international routing is via Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia, or via Jakarta on Garuda, Batik, Lion Air, or Super Air Jet. Over a dozen daily connections link Jakarta and Padang in under two hours.
From Padang harbor, an overnight cruise reaches the heart of the Telo archipelago, typically departing at 6pm and arriving in the islands early the following morning, ready to surf the first session at dawn.
Indonesia operates a free 30-day Visa on Arrival for passport holders from Australia, USA, UK, most EU countries, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and many others. No advance arrangement required. We can advise on current visa requirements for your passport nationality.
PDG
Gateway Airport
~12 hrs
Overnight to Islands
Free
30-Day Visa On Arrival
From the Charter Team
What makes a Telo charter exceptional, from reading conditions to navigating the channels.
Pasti is heavily tide-dependent. It works best on a mid to low incoming tide. We time sessions at Pasti around tidal windows, positioning the yacht close so you're in the water when it's right, not watching from the deck as it passes.
The channel network means we can move the whole operation (phinisi included) between North and South Telos in conditions that would keep open-ocean boats at anchor. This mobility is the charter advantage: we follow the best waves, not a fixed itinerary.
The Telos' crowd ethic depends on operators not piling onto the same break. We maintain relationships with the small community of resident operators and coordinate positioning, so guests surf in groups of eight or fewer, on a break to themselves.
The Telos have named breaks and then they have everything else: channel setups and reef passes that don't appear on any list, that the surf guides know from years of observation. Tell us what you want to find, and we'll look for it.
When the swell drops or the winds go onshore, the Telos still deliver. The surf guides we work with maintain a full program of alternatives: snorkeling reefs, deserted beach excursions, fishing in the channels, and island hikes. A flat day here isn't a wasted day.
The best Telo sessions happen at first light before the sea breeze arrives. We anchor close to the priority break each evening, so the tender is in the water and guests are in the lineup before sunrise. Offshore winds, empty waves, no waiting.
Sample Voyages
Sample voyages from 7 to 12 nights through the Telo chain, often combined with the Mentawai for an extended Sumatran surf expedition.
Best for Families
Raja Ampat from north to south in ten nights, designed for all ages.
Snorkeling Focus
A leisurely cruise through soaring karst pinnacles.
Wildlife
Wildlife encounters across four islands in seven nights.
Continue Exploring
The Telos are one chapter. Indonesia's surf and diving destinations span thousands of islands, each with its own character.
May through October is peak season: solid Indian Ocean swell, reliable offshore winds, and the most consistent wave quality. July and August are the most powerful months. March, April, and November offer good surf with very light traffic.
The Telos are generally more user-friendly: more varied wave types, a broader skill range catered for, and significantly fewer boats. The Mentawais have more famous breaks at their peak; the Telos offer the rare experience of surfing them alone.
The Telos cater to intermediate through advanced surfers better than most Indonesian destinations. Breaks like Monkeys and Churches are accessible to confident intermediates; Pasti and GTs demand advanced ability. Beginners are not well-served here.
Yes, and genuinely so. Snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, deserted beach excursions, village visits, and kayaking through the channels all make for excellent alternatives on small-surf days. Non-surfers in the group won't feel shortchanged.
Interested in Chartering the Telo Islands?
Please get in touch to discuss planning your private charter.
