5 STUNNING Bali Surf Hostels for 2025
Budget seekers, this is what you’ve been waiting for: Our curated list of Bali surf hostels. From Canggu to Uluwatu, these are the best low-cost stays on the Isle of the Gods within striking distance of the surf.
Bali isn’t what it used to be.
For one, there are WAY more people here – on the breaks, beaches, and streets – than there were 20 years back. For two, prices have cranked skywards. Where once you could bag a guesthouse for $5/night, now folks are paying $250+ for lux hotel rooms.
However, Bali’s rep as one of the cheapest surf destinations in Asia still stands. It’s still possible to score some amazing deals on surf camps and stays here.
Those are what we’ll focus on in this guide to the very best Bali surf hostels.
It’s a list of just a few curated spots that we think offer something great for shoestring travelers looking to surf and have a good time on the Isle of the Gods.
You’ll notice that we haven’t just gone and listed any old selection of hostels. We’ve tried to get a broad array of what’s on offer here, from social hostels with big nightlife offerings to more remote budget stays that offer walking access to unbusy breaks.
Canggu is a hub for surf hostels here. We have a separate guide to the best options there (which includes more than just the ones listed here).
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Bali
Quick-click links to book our top surf hostels in Bali
- Lay Day Hostel Canggu [Canggu] – Our all-round fav surf hostel in Bali
- Serenity Eco Guesthouse and Yoga [Canggu] – The healthy option
- Surfers House Green Bowl [Bukit] – Best for escaping the crowds, but only for upper intermediates+
- da’HOuSeTEL [Kuta] – The party hostel
- The Swell [Kedungu] – For escaping to nature
Prefer a surf camp? We have a complete guide to the top surf camps in Bali
Lay Day Hostel Canggu
Best all-round surf hostel in Canggu
The Lay Day Hostel Canggu is a doozy of a surf hostel.
Opened in 2015, it’s one of the places that helped to put Canggu and its bowly sandbar waves on the map. Fast forward to today and this is now one of the coolest corners of the island, with beach bars, artisan bakers, uber-chic cocktail lounges and the like. AKA: Hipster central.
What you get from Lay Day is pretty impressive. These guys have created a proper posh-tel stay that boasts five – yes, FIVE – swimming pools, a chillout space on the roof, a bar in the tropical garden, and a nightly range of events that includes BBQs and beer pong.
The rooms are cracking, too. You can pick from 6-bed and 4-bed dorms, or opt for private suites that might even have their own swimming pools (though we’d recommend one of Bali’s chic surf hotels for those with more cash to splash).
Batu Bolong Beach, the main spot in Canggu, is 10 minutes away. Head to reception and they can help you organize lessons.
Serenity Eco Guesthouse and Yoga
The healthy option
We think the offering from Serenity Eco Guesthouse and Yoga is pretty nice if you’re after a sort of Eat, Pray, Love experience of the Isle of the Gods. These guys have a booze-free, smoke-free property in the heart of Canggu that’s got a heavy focus on realigning the chakras, chilling out, and finding your inner Zen.
There’s not a nomad around that would argue that they have the best schedule of yoga classes and mediation on the south coasts. Yoga isn’t included in the price of the room, but guests do get discounts and can easily reserve spaces in their acclaimed classes by just hitting up reception.
Serenity Eco Guesthouse also looks the part. It’s made from bamboo and natural timbers, with simple, rustic, but comfy interiors that are a far cry from the uber-cool modern places that you often find in south Bali.
Oh yea, and this hostel is also adjoined to the single finest vegan eatery in the whole of Canggu. Big words but just wait until you try that peanut tempeh!
Surfers House Green Bowl
Best for: Escaping busy line ups
The Surfers House Green Bowl is a great option for a) the low season and b) for surfers who really don’t like jostling for waves on the busy beaches of Bingin and Padang Padang.
It’s located just above Green Bowl beach, where you get two semi-hollow reef breaks over shallow rocks. You’ll still need to conquer the long steps down and be okay with shifty currents at the take-off zone (it’s really a spot for upper intermediates+), but the reward is maybe four or five other people out – not 200.
The stay is chilled and secluded. It’s a series of small bungalows centered on a mini splash pool. You’ll find that most other guests gather there in the evening to hang and eat together – there’s an onsite kitchen so you can prep what you like.
This one’s not good if you’re a total beginner or if you like to be within reach of easy to access spots. We mention it as a great choice for budget seekers wanting to peel away from the crowds.
da’HOuSeTEL
Best for: Social atmosphere
When we went looking for the best surf hostels in Kuta, our thinking was find somewhere that sums up the electric vibe of Bali’s classic party town.
Cue da’HOuSeTEL. This place is hands-down one of the most social hostels on the island. It’s not huge but that’s the key – they nurture a real sense of family and belonging, by offering free dinners to guests and one of the best live-music schedules of any place on this list.
Hey, they even have their own on-site club space so you can glug Bintang and chat the whole night away.
We won’t pretend it’s ideal for surfers. It’s not on the beachfront and the nearest spot is Kuta Beach, which is only for total beginners and kinda’ ugly to be frank. However, they will organize surf lessons for you when you ask and, like we said, this one’s more about making mates who you can then head out and surf with.
The Swell
Best for escaping the crowds
The Swell isn’t like any of the other hostels on this list. It trades the scooter-packed streets of Canggu and Kuta for the emerald patchwork of rice paddies further out west, where the hostel sits between the outline of Mount Agung and the black-sand beaches of Kedungu.
There’s surf just down the road, at Kedungu Beach itself, which is amazing for all levels with its outside A-frame, easy beach break, and right hander off the cliffs. You also get easy access by scooter/car to the more famous all-level breaks of Batu Bolong in Canggu.
The place is gorgeous. Rooftops open onto views of the rice fields and coast. The design is all natural, with stripped-down flooring and walls and touches of local Balinese art. Then there’s the pool, which has fine views over the local countryside.
This would be our choice if you were looking to escape the more developed parts of south Bali and still surf every day, all while keeping the budget in check.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
