November at Desert Point is wet-season returning. Don't plan a trip — wait until May. Visit Inside Ekas instead for November surf.
November at Desert Point is the slide back into wet season. Onshore westerlies become dominant, SW swells become rare and small, rainfall returns to 160mm, and most camps close or run skeleton operations. Don't plan a trip — wait until May at the earliest.
# Desert Point in November: Wet Season Returning
November at Desert Point is the seasonal door closing. The southern Indian Ocean storm track has tracked south for Australian summer. Onshore west winds are now the dominant pattern. SW swells reach Lombok rarely, and when they do they're small and short-period. Rainfall jumps from October's 80mm to November's 160mm, and the road from Sekotong starts deteriorating again.
Most foreign-managed camps have closed by mid-November. The Indonesian-owned camps run skeleton operations. The peak-season social scene that was vibrant in August has packed up and left.
If Desert Point is your goal, don't plan a November trip. Wait until May.
Wind: West-wind days now outnumber easterly trade days. The wind pattern that ruins Desert Point — straight onshore into the wave's face — is back as the default rather than the exception.
Swell: The southern Indian Ocean is sending its energy south now, not north into Lombok. Most SW swells that do appear are short-period (10-12 seconds) and small (3-5ft). Classic Desert Point requires 6ft+ at 14+ seconds, and that combination is rare in November.
Rainfall: 160mm across 12 days is functionally wet season. Storms build daily through the afternoon. The road from Sekotong develops soft sections again. Generator power and wi-fi at remaining camps becomes unreliable.
Camps: Most foreign-managed camps closed by mid-November. The remaining Indonesian-owned camps run skeleton operations with limited food, intermittent power, and frequently no other guests.
The occasional rideable session does occur in November. Roughly:
A surfer on a dedicated two-week November trip would expect to score one fun day, possibly two. That's not enough to justify the transit cost or the risk of being stranded by road closures.
By mid-November, expect 1-2 camps open at most. Both will be Indonesian-owned with skeleton staff. Pricing drops sharply — 50-70% off peak rates. Food selection limited to dry stores and occasional fresh fish from Sekotong fishermen. Wi-fi unreliable. Generator cycling on schedule.
You'll likely be the only guest at the camp some nights. The camp dog gets significant attention. Conversations with the staff become a major part of the trip experience.
For travellers who specifically want quiet, off-season Desert Point as a writing or recovery retreat — and who don't care about surf — November camp stays are inexpensive and atmospheric. For surfers, it's not worth the cost.
Early November: still mostly firm, 4WD recommended.
Mid November: soft sections after rain, 4WD strongly preferred.
Late November: clay sections returning, ordinary cars getting stuck.
Travel time becomes unpredictable. A 90-minute drive from Sekotong can stretch to 2-3 hours after heavy rain. Cell signal patchy as always.
If you do come in November, hire a 4WD with experienced local driver from Sekotong. Do not attempt the route in a regular car after rain.
Inside Ekas, south-east Lombok: This is the right answer for November surfers. Inside Ekas works in November conditions for beginner-intermediate surfers — the wave is more forgiving and breaks in less ideal swell. Camps stay open year-round.
Bali: Indonesia's wet season favours Bali's east coast. Keramas, Sanur, Nusa Dua all break in the same wet-season pattern that ruins Desert Point.
Non-surf Lombok: November is reasonable for diving Gili Trawangan, visiting cultural sites, or doing a Mount Rinjani trek (still open through November before the December closure).
Wait: If your dates are flexible, postpone to May or beyond. Desert Point in May is dramatically better than Desert Point in November.
Don't book in advance for November. If you genuinely need to go (existing trip, work obligation, recovery retreat), book 3-7 days ahead with whichever camp is still operating. There's no demand pressure — you can walk into most camps and find a bed.
For someone planning to visit Desert Point and reading this in advance: skip November. Move dates to May at the earliest. The wave you came for doesn't exist in November.
December is functionally identical to November in surf terms — bad. January and February are worse. March improves slightly. April is the start of real shoulder season. May is when serious planning begins again.
The Desert Point season runs roughly May through October. November through April is for staying away (with rare exceptions for the most experienced bay regulars who can read forecasts and live nearby).
November is functionally a wet-season month at Desert Point. The handful of surf days that still happen aren't worth a flight. If you're already in Lombok for some other reason and a freak SW swell appears in November forecasts, drive over for a 1-2 night recon. Otherwise, skip the destination entirely until May. Your camp budget is much better spent on Inside Ekas where Inside still works in November conditions.