6 Bargain Canggu Surf Hostels [2024]
Check out our handpicked list of Canggu surf hostels. They’re easy on the budget but also downright slick, plus they offer access to the area’s top surf spots.
Like it or loath it, Canggu is now the go-to hipster surf town of Bali. Scratch that. It’s the go-to hipster surf town of Southeast Asia.
Known for it’s playful bowly waves and series of easy beach breaks, it’s set on a stretch of the Bali south coast that’s blessed with ultra consistency.
In the last 10 years, the town has gone from just a few villas hidden in the rice paddies to a booming mass of bars, coffee joints, slick beach bars, artisan bakers, concept clothes stores – you name it; Canggu has it.
With all that has come one of the most fantastic arrays of surf camps in Indonesia. Seriously: If you’re thinking of doing a planned surf package, then Canggu could be just what you’ve been searching for. It’s got the waves, it’s got the consistency, it’s got the vibes.
Alongside those fantabulous surf camps, you’ll also find a whole host of great Canggu surf hostels. They’re the places that let you plan surf trips on the cheap in a part of Bali that’s not always the cheapest.
They can also be rather darn fancy. Many have tropical gardens, inviting pools, relaxing chillout spaces, and stylish interiors with pod beds. They cost from around $10 a night but hardly feel like it.
Here’s our pick…
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 Canggu
- Lay Day Hostel Canggu – The best all-round Canggu surf hostel this year
- Clandestino Hostel Canggu – The best for partying
- Kos One – One of the most luxurious hostels we’ve come across in Bali
- Serenity Eco Guesthouse – Best for healthy surf holidays
- In Da Surf – The best hostel-style surf camp in Canggu (amazing bang for buck!)
- The Swell – Escape to nature and escape the crowds
Prefer a surf camp? We have a complete guide to the top surf camps in Canggu
Lay Day Hostel Canggu
Best all-round surf hostel in Canggu
With a 9.3/10 rating on HostelWorld and a glut of HOSCAR awards up its sleeve, it only feels right to kick-off this list with the Lay Day Hostel. Since opening its doors as one of the first budget stays in the town back in 2015, it’s consistently been ranked as one of the best around.
We can see why…
This one boasts not one, not two, not three, but FIVE individual pools. That means there’s always a nice chillout spot where you cool off, get lost in a book, or just chat the day away with a cold Bintang.
They’ve also nailed the bar space and the activities to go with it. We’re talking regular pool parties, beer pong, BBQs, and planned pub crawls. The more relaxed rooftop café also offers international cuisine and fine local coffee.
The location puts you smack dab in the heart of Canggu, about 10 mins from the nearest surf beach.
Clandestino Hostel Canggu
Best for: Partying
If you’re coming to Canggu to party, party, and party, with a touch of surf on the side, then the happening offering from Clandestino Hostel might be just what you’re after. These guys have one of the liveliest evening entertainment schedules in town, which is saying something because this town is downright lively.
Sessions usually begin in the pool and chillout garden. Head there after your surf to enjoy the shade of a palm tree and a swim-up bar.
Later on, the action will move to the rooftop terrace, where guests are invited to taste traditional Indonesian dinners before joining the nightly parties, which include beer pong and whatnot. They also run bi-weekly “ink and drink” events when they invite a local tattooist to do their thing.
Don’t worry – hangovers aren’t that bad here. There’s a pool to dive into. All dorms have air con. Beds are comfy and private thanks to draw-back curtains.
The one sacrifice? Location. This one’s a bit back from the beach – about 15 mins in a Go-Jek or Uber.
Kos One
Best for: Luxury
Kos One redefines hostel chic with a blend of Greek island elegance and Balinese charm. The dorm rooms feature stylish pod-style beds, but the standout is the curvaceous pool nestled amidst emerald rice paddies. It’s the perfect spot to relax and socialize with fellow surfers.
Honestly, it feels more like you’re bedding down in a boutique hotel than a budget hostel. The mixed dorms are all bright, breezy, and filled with natural light. It even goes right down to the thickness of the mattresses – they’re like three hands from top to bottom!
Location is super, duper good for surfers. It’s right by Batu Bolong Beach, the main paddle out point for the reefs and beach breaks that make Canggu so famous.
You cannot go wrong here.
Serenity Eco Guesthouse and Yoga
Best for: Healthy holidays
At the other end of the spectrum to the Clandestino Hostel is the Serenity Eco Guesthouse. This is an alcohol-free, smoke-free stay that’s all about rejuvenating the body and the soul.
The space is simply lovely. It channels the mysticism and spirituality of the island with its fragrant herb gardens, shaded meditation areas, and gorgeous central pool. There’s also an on-site spa that offers calming treatments and traditional Balinese massage, along with a vegan-veggie eatery (the Alkaline Restaurant), which one of the highest-rated meat-free spots in Canggu as a whole.
Yoga is big at the Serenity. They offer one of the most comprehensive schedules of any hostel in Bali, with everything from classic Hatha yoga to aerial yoga and inversion flow. It’s THE place to be if you want lots of stretching and yoga practice in your surf trip.
Talking of surfing, there’s one more plus here: The hostel is 150m up the road from the best surf break in Canggu. Walk one minute and you can be paddling out at the rivermouths of Batu Bolong.
In Da Surf Camp
Best hostel with a surf camp package
On a budget but still want the frills and whistles of a full-package surf camp. Opt for the dorm stays at In Da Surf Camp. It’s one of our top-rated surf camps in Bali and Canggu for 2024/25 for good reason: You get top-quality surf tuition for under $500 per person for the full week.
Now, that might sound like a lot compared to the other $10/night Canggu surf hostels we’ve listed here but just hear us out…
For that price you get a whole seven-day surf course that consists of daily 2-hour surf lessons for a whole week. And the lessons these guys run aren’t basic stuff. It’s a max of 2-to-1 instructor to pupil ratio, the practical surf is backed up by theory, and there’s a weekly video analysis of your surfing so you can see it from a different perspective.
On top of all that, your money also get you accommodation in the shared surf house. It’s GORGEOUS; like a big modern villa with an infinity pool tucked into the quieter side of Canggu.
The Swell
Best for escaping the crowds
Last but not least, we’ve picked The Swell.
This one really is something special. We’re cheating a little because it’s not technically in the heart of Canggu itself. Instead, it sits about 4 miles more up the coastline of southwestern Bali, right beside the mystical Tanah Lot temple and the black-sand beach of Kedungu.
The upshot? You’ll escape the constant stream of scooters and people that Canggu is now (in)famous for and get a taste of what this corner of the Isle of the Gods was like 20 years back. We’re talking lush green rice paddies, empty sands, and emptier surf breaks.
The highlights of the hostel include the spacious, minimalist rooms and the infinity pool, which has an uninterrupted view over the paddies. And the other thing? It’s 300 meters to the nearest surf break, a nice, cruisy A-frame wave with bowly lefts and rights that’s as good for shortboards as it is for logs.
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!
