We make it easy for you to plan the trip of a lifetime. Whether you are traveling by yourself or with a group, we’ve got you covered. We specialize in creating trips that fit your goals and desires.
Our Experience
We are travelers too so we get it! Gary has traveled to Indonesia from California over 50 times. Susan is Indonesian, has spent years in America and knows both cultures. Together they make the perfect team to give you the advantage of Western and Eastern culture. They both speak Indonesian and have led groups of all kinds for a combined 40 years. Gary and Susan are the owners and operators of Grace Wave Resort so their experience directly benefits you. Our staff is made of locals who have been born and raised in Nias. You will feel their positive energy, sense of humor and local knowledge. Our experience is the difference that will make your trip epic and exceed your expectations.
4 easy steps to plan the trip of a lifetime
Step 1: Make a Booking Enquiry
Make a booking enquiry by filling out and submitting the form. The form will guide you through the process of giving us all the details we need to check our availability. Once we confirm those details, we will send you a link to make a 20% deposit to secure your room. Too easy!
Step 2: Flights
Now you are ready to book your flights. We recommend doing this as far out as possible to ensure availability and the best price. There are many different options when flying to Nias from an international destination. Here is the key information you need to know.
Final destination- You ultimately want to arrive at the airport in Nias which is called Binaka. The initials for the airport are GNS (short for Gunung Sitoli the city closest to the airport in Nias).
Domestic flights- You can fly to Nias from three different domestic locations:
- Medan (Kualanamu airport-KNO)
- Padang Minangkabau airport (PDG)
- Jakarta (Soekarno Hatta airport-CJK)
The most preferable is Medan but Padang is fine too. Jakarta makes a direct flight to Nias but only a few times a week.
International flights– There are many different options when flying internationally. The closest international airports to Nias are cities like Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali.
Step 3: Vaccinations/Insurance (optional)
Although vaccinations and travelers insurance is not mandatory, we always encourage our guests to check with the Center for Disease Control for the latest recommendations for our area. Staying current with your hepatitis B and tetanus shots is always a good idea. Travel insurance is pretty cheap and worth the peace of mind it brings.
Step 4: Pack your bags
The last step is to pack your bags so that you have all the gear necessary for the adventure ahead. Nias is a remote location and does not offer some of the supplies and/or equipment you may need to enjoy your trip. So make sure you have packed everything you need. See our checklist for some suggestions of things to pack.
Now you are ready for that epic trip you have been dreaming of. The planning is done and the adventure awaits you!
Consult your doctor if you have any concern about whether you are healthy enough to travel.
Trips Checklist
Recommended for everyone
Passport (valid and does not expire within 6 months of trip dates)
Flight tickets
Cash/Credit card
Medication
Mobile phone
Toiletries
Sandals/Flip flops
Hat
Sunglasses
Camera
Lap top/Tablet
Book
Sunscreen
Recommended for surfers
Surfboards
Fins/Fin key
Leg Rope (leash)
Boardshorts/Bikini
Rashguard
Booties (if surfing spots other than “The Point”)
Wax (tropical)
Sunblock/Zinc
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the language in Indonesia?
The language is called Bahasa Indonesia which literally means “the Indonesian language”. A good/free way to get familiar some basic words and phrases is at LearningIndonesian.com. Nias also has its own local dialect called Li Niha. But most people understand Indonesian and many at Sorake beach also speak English.
What is the currency in Indonesia?
The currency is in Rupiah. The rate is usually about 13,000 Rupiah to 1 USD. You can check the current conversion rate for your country at currencyconverterrate.com. The best time to exchange you money is at the airport in Jakarta or Medan. You will usually have plenty of layover time so you can take care of it exchanging money quickly and easily there. The rates at the airport are pretty competitive. The further you get from these major cities, the worse the exchange rate gets. Yes you can always exchange money in Nias but rate is not as strong.
How do you get to Nias?
The airport in Nias is in the city of Gunung Sitoli (GNS). Nias can be accessed a couple of different ways.
From Medan: The simplest is by flying to the international airport in Medan called Kualanamu (KNO). You can reach Kualanamu from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, or just about anywhere. From Medan there are multiple flights to and from Nias everyday.
From Jakarta: There is a direct flight now from Jakarta to Nias on Garuda Airlines. The cost is about $75 USD and currently runs on Sun, Mon, Tue, Thur, and Sat.
Once you get to the airport in Nias, you will be greeted by a Grace Wave staff member or one of our drivers holding up a Grace Wave sign so you will never have to worry about your transition. Then you will make a two and a half hour drive to the south end of the Island whre our beach lodge is located.
Is it safe in Nias?
Yes! There are millions of tourists every year in Bali, and thousands in Nias. Tourism is a major part of the economy, so foriegners are treated well. Of course there are some bad apples just like everywhere in the world, but by and large the people are warm and friendly and glad to have you enjoying their island and helping boost the economy. Surfing has been the main source of economy in Sorake for decades, so that tourism is part of the culture here.
Is there malaria in Nias?
Nias has practiced malaria eradication for many years now. That does not mean it does not exist, but it does mean that the cases found here are very rare. We are not aware of anyone in our area who has contracted malaria. Our owners and staff do not take any anti malaria medication. We do not even sleep with a mosquito net although some people do. Mainly because even though they are not malaria carrying, they can still be annoying. Some guests prefer to take the added precaution of malaria medicine. Always check the travel health notices at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices.
Do I need travel/health insurance?
It is always a good idea to protect yourself in case of a travel or medical emergency. You can get good inexpensive coverage for both throughFaith Ventures.
What is the best season to visit Nias?
The resort is operational all year. Our staff is made of locals who are born and raised here, so they are consistently managing the resort. The surf season is best from May-October but there is surf all year round.
Do you have first aid?
We have an emergency first aid kit on the premises. There is also a medical clinic just a few doors down from the resort. They can handle any minor injuries. In the city of Teluk Dalam there are a few different hospitals just a 30 minute drive from the resort. We work with the Victory Clinic that does an excellent job at treating more serious injuries. And even more advanced hospital is in the city of Gunung Sitoli a 2 1/2 hour drive away. Any other serious life threatening injuries or illnesses can be addressed in Medan or Singapore.
More questions?
If you have any questions that we did not answer, feel free to contact us and we will get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.