Owa's origin and founder

Discover here how Owa was founded and opened in 2015, a family history rooted in surfing and Areguling village.

Owa lodge, 2015

Owa's villain story

Owa Lodge was founded by Thomas, a french guy from Arcachon bay; He first came to Lombok in 2007 after a few trips to Borneo, where he was studying the primates. Owa is the Indonesian name for gibbon. His passion for surfing comes from his uncles, the Al’s brother, Philippe and Didier, well known boardshapers and involved on WSL tour as judges, kneeboard champions and forever travelers for surfing and fishing.

The AL's Brothers

The Al's brother lived half of the year in Areguling Bay providing old school surf teaching to youngsters, many of which are now accomplished local surfers. The other half year was on the west coast in France shaping their high end surfboards, that you will find in Indonesia's waters and around the globes in the hands of reputed retired pro surfers.

They took Thomas with them on one of their surf trips to Lombok in 2007. With beautiful scenery, amazing empty waves and an excellent connection with the locals, the decision was made, Thomas will stay.

Areguling beach

Choosing Areguling

After a few years of surfing Areguling waves, bonfires on the beach, and acquiring the closest spot to the wave, in 2015, Owa Lodge was born. Thomas is living on Lombok full time with his family, watching as the island is changing throughout the years but trying to keep Owa as it first was - a place where you come for a memorable experience, in and out of the water.