When we run, and when we don’t
Day trips go out every day in season. Multi-day trips run to a schedule. And from December the west monsoon has a say in all of it — here is the honest picture.
April to November
That is the dry season and the settled water, and it is when everything on our list runs. Outside it we still paddle — just shorter, and closer to shelter.
Every trip is confirmed on the morning by your guide, who makes the weather call. If a trip cannot run safely we reschedule it or refund it in full. That is true in the best week of August as much as in February.
The regular schedule
All times are WITA (UTC+8). Meeting point and pickup are confirmed with your booking.
| Trip | Runs | Departs | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day Taster 3 hours · Grade 1 |
Daily | 08:00 and 15:00 | Year round, weather permitting |
| Secret Gilis Day Trip Full day · Grade 2 |
Daily | 07:30 | Year round, weather permitting |
| Three-Day Island Hopper 3 days, 2 nights · Grade 3 |
Tuesdays and Saturdays | 07:00, day one | April to November |
| South Coast Expedition 6 days · Grade 4 |
Monthly | By arrangement | May to October |
| Private & Custom Trips Half a day to two weeks · Any grade |
Your dates | Your call | Year round, subject to conditions |
Multi-day departures need a minimum group to run. If a date is short of numbers we will tell you early and offer the next one. Expedition dates are set a season ahead — ask us for the current list.
The paddling year
Lombok has two seasons rather than four. The dry season brings settled water and clear visibility; the west monsoon brings afternoon rain, swell on the exposed coast and murkier shallows.
How far ahead to book
Day trips
A day or two is usually enough, and we can often take you tomorrow. In July and August give us three or four days.
Three-day trips
Two to four weeks. They run twice a week and the bungalows on Asahan and Layar are small, so dates close.
Expeditions
Six to eight weeks. One departure a month between May and October, with a hard cap on group size.
Dates that affect your trip
Ramadan and Idul Fitri
Lombok is a strongly Muslim island and the dates shift each year on the lunar calendar. Trips run as normal, but roads and ferries are very busy around Idul Fitri and some warungs close. Ask us what the dates are for your travel year.
Nyepi
The Balinese day of silence in March affects Bali more than Lombok, but it closes Bali’s airport for 24 hours and stops the fast boats. Worth checking if you are connecting through Bali.
Rinjani National Park closures
The trekking routes close in the wet season, usually January to March, and can close at short notice for volcanic activity or fire. If your plan combines paddling with a Rinjani leg, build in a spare day.
Bau Nyale
A Sasak festival on the south coast in February or March, when thousands gather at Seger beach to catch sea worms. A genuinely good reason to visit in the wet season.
Common questions
Is this schedule guaranteed?
The departure days and times are what we plan around, but every trip is confirmed on the morning by the guide based on wind, swell and forecast. We would rather move a trip than run it badly.
What happens if my trip is cancelled for weather?
We reroute to sheltered water where we can. If the trip cannot run safely at all, you are offered a reschedule or a full refund — your choice.
Can you run a multi-day trip outside the listed season?
Sometimes, as a private trip, if the forecast cooperates. The south coast expedition is the exception — we will not run it outside May to October.
Do you run on public holidays?
Yes, though we may adjust times around prayers and family obligations, particularly during Ramadan. We will tell you when we confirm.
What time should I arrive?
Fifteen minutes before the listed departure. We brief, fit your kit and get on the water promptly — the morning is the best part of the day.
Which days are already spoken for
This reads straight from the guide's calendar and updates itself. A marked day means he already has something on, not that the coast is full — day trips often still run. Send us your dates and we will confirm.
Loading the calendar…
Have a date in mind?
Tell us when you are here and we will confirm what is running and whether there is space.