If you’re on the hunt for surf camps in Bali then you’ve come to the right place. This guide runs through the ones that we think really stand out on the Isle of the Gods for the coming season, with tips on options for total beginners right up to pros seeking doorstep access to Padang Padang.
Ah, Bali. We can’t really think of anywhere that inspires such varying reactions among surfers. Mention the Isle of the Gods and some will screw their faces at Tokyo-busy line ups and ridiculous water pollution, all while others wax lyrical about that ride-of-a-lifetime scored on a hollow, windless Keramas one distant and forgotten monsoon season.
We sit somewhere in the middle, but remain adamant that this Indo isle is among the finest places to learn to surf and a fantastic option for intermediate improvers who want to skill up on the move from green waves to heavier reef breaks. There’s just so much diversity in spots, plus the surf camps in Bali are actually among the best surf camps in the world.
We don’t say that lightly. However, more than 40 years of being the sought-after wave paradise in Asia has helped this island of mystical Hindu shrines and black-sand beaches transform into a major hotspot for camps of all shapes and sizes, most of which channel a touch of that Bali style, with private pools, luxurious suites, digital-nomad-speed internet, and plenty more. Let’s take a look at the ones we think stand out for 2023…
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
This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
Rapture Green Bowl
- Location: Green Bowl, Bukit
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $436 (£359) per person
Rapture is a name that’s got a good pedigree in the world of surf camps. They’ve got an outlet in the Surfing Reserve of Ericeira back in Portugal, another in Padang Padang, and then this award-winning spot just above Green Bowl. We like it not just because it comes with the same quality that you’d expect from the established Rapture brand but also precisely because of the location, which is by one of the Bukit’s less fought-over breaks, where intermediate improvers can enjoy a bit more latitude and space in the lineup.
The reason we think this one shines through for more non-beginner surfers is that the 8-day packages take care of pretty much everything without being overbearing or too nannyish. There are three dedicated surf lessons spread throughout the week, but there’s a guided surf session each day. That means less of the mollycoddling and more time to experiment and enjoy the wealth of spots that dot south Bali.
You’ll be staying in a fantastic surf lodge, too. Mixing traditional Javanese architecture with a bit of sleek modernism, the pad has a large outdoor pool that has sweeping views of the jungles and thatch-topped buildings with dorm and private suites (which cost a little extra). The price also includes free airport pickup, which can be a real blessing in Bali!
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Dreamsea Surf Camp
- Location: Padang Padang, Bukit
- Price: 7 nights starting at $223 (£184) per person
Make no bones about it – the Dreamsea Surf Camp is ridiculously awesome. To be honest, you’ve probably seen it before somewhere on some Bali surf mag cover or something. The lodge actually clings to the sides of the sheer-cut Uluwatu cliffs down on the sunset-kissed ridges of the Bukit Peninsula. The rooms are a picture of luxury on the inside and emerge onto driftwood-built balconies with 180-degree panoramas of the Indian Ocean. So, so nice.
Truth be told, Dreamsea isn’t really your conventional type of camp. The people who come here aren’t usually looking for planned daily lessons and foamy rentals. They are looking for one thing and one thing only: Front-row access to the epic reef breaks of Padang Padang. That’s arguably the finest and cleanest of the Bukit breaks during the dry-season and you can paddle out right from below the rooms.
Dreamsea backs up its lux credentials with a lovely private pool that’s shaded under a series of charming thatched cabanas, and a downright fantastic onsite café that serves healthy poke bowls and breakfasts. This one’s probably the best choice on the whole island for relatively highly skilled surfing couples who want a taste of the high life and access to one of the finest breaks around.
Brown Sugar Surf Camp
- Location: Medewi
- Price: 8 days/7nights starting at $381 (£314) per person
Just as the name implies, the Green Wave package from Brown Sugar Surf Camp is a doozy for beginners eager to graduate from the mush to the better stuff out back. The real focus with this course is on getting your off the massive foamies you’ve been riding in the Canaries and Newquay main beach and onto some fiberglass out with the lineup.
The closest spot – and it’s literally steps off the camp grounds – is the Medewi left. That’s the longest left in Bali but it hasn’t got the teeth of say, Ulus, so don’t you worry about 20-second hold downs. This is a cruisy shoulder of a wave that can run for 100 meters plus on good dry-season days, and there’s an even easier beach break to get you warmed up for sessions to boot.
You’ll be surfing daily alongside English-speaking surf guides, have photo analysis, and free photography to take home with you – you know, to prove you’re on the greenies these days! The lodge itself ticks all the Bali boxes. It’s built in traditional Indonesian styles, set across a number of luxury villas, has a central pool, and loads of neat chill-out places.
Pelan Pelan Bali
- Location: Canggu
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $810 (£667) per person
There are a couple of all-new surf lodges that seem to be hitting the PR budget big time down in hipster Canggu. A word of caution from us: They aren’t always what those drone vids and Insta shots make them out to be. We will say that Pelan Pelan is a sure-fire bet for a solid all-round camp with great tuition, located just north of the big hustle and bustle of downtown Canggu in a much more relaxed part of the island.
In fact, we’d say that relaxation is the keyword here. Pelan Pelan even means “chill out” in the local lingo. That’s why the weekday surf sessions are backed up by four professional yoga classes and a master-lead meditation class, and why there’s not one, not two, but three whole massages included in the 8-day surf and yoga package here.
The camp you’ll be staying at is the perfect place to channel a bit of Zen between surfs in Canggu, too. It’s a smallish Balinese villa with a grassy garden, bar cowork combo, and glorious yoga shala in the flower-filled grounds. If it’s R&R you’re after, this could be the single best of all the surf camps in Bali for 2023!
Mojosurf Bali
- Location: Canggu
- Price: 5 days/4 nights starting at $415 (£342) per person
Mojosurf Bali are another of the solid choices down on the beaches of Canggu. They really make the most of the accessible and intermediate-friendly vibe of the wedgy peaks that hit Batu Bolong and all the other beaches in the area, by tailoring packages to first-time surfers and improvers. It’s also a great balance between escaping the ridiculous crowds of Kuta and the Bukit but still being close to top bars and restaurants – Canggu is cool, haven’t you heard?
We really like a couple of things about the Mojosurf package. First off, there’s a surf session every single day apart from departure day – that’s four sessions in a short five-day package. Second, the equipment here is all new and top notch (at least as of 2022-23 season). Finally, the vibe…
Mhmm…this has to be one of the most fun, most welcoming, most vibrant surf camp options on the Isle of the Gods. There always seems to be a great crowd around (not guaranteed), the staff quickly become more like buddies instead of camp leaders, and the whole chillout space is just downright perfect for clinking your Bintangs after a day on the waves. Nice job all!
Balian Surf Villas
- Location: Balian Beach
- Price: A week’s stay starting at $286 (£235) per couple
If you’re not huge on the whole planned surf camp thing, then there are also PLENTY of book-yourself spots on Bali that promise surf literally every day. One of the very best on the island for 2023 has to be the Balian Surf Villas. They are spacious, have uber-sleek modern interiors with self-catering kitchens, massive beds, and their own pool.
The location? Balian, which is probably just about perfect for green wave practice since there isn’t really a beach spot you can hide out at. The main break here is an A-frame with a pretty forgiving left that rolls out in front of a rivermouth. It’s nowhere near as busy as Canggu or Kuta and has a pretty chill vibe to boot. The Balian Surf Villas sit right up on the cliffs just above the wave – jump out of your bungalow, stroll down the street, and bingo, you’re in the surf. That easy.
Remember, you won’t get surf lessons and whatnot here. There are plenty of places to organize them in Balian but really this one shines for those intermediates who simply want to hit the practice yard every day on their own.
Stoked Surf Bali
- Location: Kuta
- Price: 2 days/1 night starting at $143 (£118) per person
We wouldn’t normally recommend a surf camp in Kuta. The beach is a prime example of overdevelopment and how good waves can bring mega crowds. Still, the fact remains that it’s unquestionably one of the very best learner spots on the Isle of the Gods – nay, in the whole of Southeast Asia. Plus, it’s among the most accessible breaks on the island.
That’s why we’d say the 2-day package from Stoked Surf Bali is perfect for beginner surfers who aren’t totally sure they want to commit to a full-on week package on one of the island’s bigger breaks. It’s a simple, short hit that involves one night’s accommodation and two surf lessons with seasoned local instructors, plus all the necessaries: Board rental, rash vest, sunscreen.
Aloha Bali Surf and Yoga Retreat
- Location: Uluwatu
- Price: 6 days/5 nights starting at $591 (£487)
There’s arguably no surf camp on the Isle of the Gods that’s better places for accessing all of the amazing breaks on the Bukit Peninsula. And we’re not just talking about the legendary lefts of Ulus and Bingin that work in the dry season. We’re also talking about the bombs of Nusa Dua and Keramas that go off in the monsoon from June to March. All of those are within a 40-minute drive of this camp, which sits plum on the southern edge of the island.
Aloha Bali Surf and Yoga Retreat comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect of a proper surf-yoga escape. Rental options include whole villas with their own private pool and – as they like to say – stay-in-bed comfy doubles that have access to the larger shared pool.
A 6-day package at Aloha includes five surf sessions, five yoga sessions, and even a complimentary SUP session (not compulsory – don’t worry!). Probably the main bonus here is the sense of community you get at the camp, which is usually quite busy thanks to its long-running rep, along with the insider knowledge of how every Bukit spot works in different swell directions.
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!
