If you’re on the hunt for surf camps in Indonesia then you’ve come to the right place. This guide runs through the ones that we think really stand out on the Indonesian islands for the coming season, with tips on options for total beginners right up to pros seeking private access to the breaks on the Ments…
Indonesia has some cracking, cracking surf camps. Seriously, this country of 17,000 islands or so is one of the leading destinations for planned surf packages. It’s easy to see why. First off, it has those aforementioned 17k islands. Second, it’s home to Bali, which might flaunt the big left shoulders of Uluwatu but it also comes with the learner meccas of Kuta, Balian, and Medewi. And then there’s the fact that Indo is now eminently accessible on stacks of low-cost flights from Oz and New Zealand, plus plenty of short-haul links coming from all across Southeast Asia.
There are some very clear hotspots when it comes to surf camps in Indonesia, mind. Bali leads the way. Thankfully, things have moved away from the highly polluted Kuta Bali just a touch, up to more adventurous – and emptier – spots a dash up the southwestern shoreline. You’ll see a lot of mentions of those in our picks below, along with one or two camps over in Java and other islands. We should also make a special mention of Lombok. That’s the island right next to Bali and it’s emerged as a doozy for surf camp traveler since Kuta Lombok (the main surf camp there) has boomed into life in the last 10 years or so.
We’ve managed to pick out seven individual surf camps that we think are the proverbial dog’s cojones in Indonesia for the coming season. Either we’ve visited, seen them first-hand, or heard excellent things. There are, of course, plenty of other great surf camps in Indonesia to consider. You can search for a lot of them here. But there are also plenty of pretty bad deals, so careful what you pick. Anyway…let’s get started…
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 Indonesia
This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
Rapture Surf Camp Green Bowl, Bali
The best all-level surf camp in Bali
- Location: Green Bowl, Bali
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $477 (£397) per person
We’re fresh from a few days in Kuta Bali and we’ll tell you right now that the 2010s have NOT been kind to that stretch of shore. It’s polluted, it’s overdeveloped. Na. Not for us. That’s why we rate the new Rapture Surf Camp so highly. It’s located down in Green Bowl, which is one of the few untrodden breaks of the Bukit Peninsula, and a pretty sure fire bet for decent swell both high season and low.
They run eight-day packages that are all-in. There’ll be three fully fledged surf lessons but also daily surf guiding in both the morning and the afternoon, often to Green Bowl itself but also to a variety of breaks around the peninsula as per the local recommendations. Guests can also enjoy post-surf yoga each evening and a healthy breakko in the morn.
The new Rapture camp here is downright da bomb. Rooms channel a touch of Scandi minimalism but have lovely Balinese style on the outside. The piece de resistance is that narrow infinity pool that’s perched above a sweep of emerald-green rice paddies, a deck primed for sunsets perched just behind.
To sum up, we’d say the Rapture is one of the best surf-camp options on Bali today. That’s mainly down to the location, which has waves for all levels and cleaner beaches that Kuta et al. But there’s also something to be said for the seriously lovely camp they’ve constructed on these southern cliff tops.
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, Bali
The best luxury surf camp in Bali
- Location: Uluwatu, Bali
- Price: 7 nights starting at $229 (£191) per person
The Dreamsea name is now whispered like some sort of priestly incantation in the world of luxury surf camps. These guys have been doing things right ever since they opened their first outlet on the cliffs of Uluwatu in south Bali back in the day. The original is still going strong. It still has its ridiculously sumptuous rooms overlooking the bowling left handers of the Bukit Peninsula. It still touts yoga terraces and sunbathing spots set to a backdrop of Impossibles’ rifling tubes.
We usually recommend you book this one as accommodation only and go from there. The reason? The location and style of this surf camp really does lend itself to the more advanced end of the spectrum. It’s not really for the beginners. Rippers, on the other hand, will be pleased to see that there’s a trio of the best breaks in the Bukit (and therefore the world) within paddle distance (almost). Assuming that cohort prefers to bring their own quiver in tow, it’s probably better you shun the organized fun element, surf when you wanna’, and enjoy the accommodation for the sheer opulence that you get.
Mondo Lifestyle Resort, Bali
The best surf camp for beginners
- Location: Canggu, Bali
- Price: From £481 ($569) for the 8-day package
When we came to pick a surf camp for beginners in Indonesia, we knew two things. One, it would probably be in Bali. Two, it would probably be in Canggu. The truth is, Kuta, the OG of the learn-to-surf spots on the Isle of the Gods, is now ravaged by pollution and way too developed to be anything near nice. For the new golden boy of novice waves, look a little west and north to Canggu.
That’s where you’ll find the highly rated Mondo Lifestyle Resort. It’s a unique blend of martial arts camp, health camp, yoga camp, and fitness camp, and you’ll almost certainly partake in a whole range of different activities during your stay. But the focus will be on surfing, which happens every day on their trademark Surfaris. They are run by local guides with oodles of expertise on the nearby breaks and a casual but informative way of teaching in the water. Out of the water, you’ll learn all the proper warm-ups and technical aspects of surfing, plus get useful photo analysis to improve faster.
Needless to say, the lodge itself follows the Canggu chic aesthetic. It’s got cabana-style rooms, a glorious pool, and a touch of deluxe about it.
Kura Kura Surf Camp, Lombok
The best surf camp in Lombok
- Location: Kuta, Lombok
- Price: 7 nights/6 surf days starting at $708 (£583) per person
Take one glance at our selection of the very best surf camps in Lombok and you’ll see that we’ve got plenty of good things to say about Kura Kura. We’re fresh off a week-long stay there (Jan 2023) and we have to say it was one seriously fantastically run camp…
Two – yes, two! – daily surf sessions meant that you were basically out on the water as long as your mortal body can handle (especially in that Indo sunshine). The guides were simply great; a good bunch of international guides with specific, detailed feedback, and local guides who helped with getting to grips with the various breaks and take-off spots. The included surf gear covered almost every single base, from egg-ended longboards to performance shorties.
And then there’s the accommodation itself. Kura Kura is a very stylish spot. It’s only got something like six rooms, each of which oozes that sorta’ Bali-chic style with a mix of polished concrete, open-air bathrooms, and tropical plantage. The chill out zones are perfect for making new surf pals, boasting a pool and a breezy workspace area in case you do need to answer some emails. You won’t regret coming here.
The best surf camp for serious surfers
- Location: Mentawai, West Sumatra
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $1,804 (£1,503) per person
The Hidden Bay Resort is our standout pick for the Ments. Before we get to the camp itself, let’s just say that this is a region that screams surf quality if there ever was one. Basically, you’ve got three islands – Siberut down to Pagai – that combine to offer a majority of what we’d rate as the finest and most consistent spots in all of Indo. It’s not packed, either, mainly because it’s a bit of a chore to reach. Barrels abound and empty lineups are the order of the day. Move over Bali.
Hidden Bay makes its home between the palm groves of the northern Ments, in a surf area known as Playgrounds (because, with over 16 named spots within easy reach by boat, it really is a playground). It’s a paradise camp for more advanced surfers, since they have their own speedboat to reach any spot within 10-15 minutes. There are 2x daily surf sessions of 2x hours each, which are supercharged by Five Concept fitness regimes and the services of on-site physios and yoga instructors. This is serious stuff for serious surfers, a fact that’s often matched by the hollow nature of the surrounding waves.
You’ll be bedding down in a traditional seafront Uma building, constructed in the style of classic Indonesian village huts. They’re spacious and just a little bit luxury, plus the Ments are no Bali – fling open the window and you’ll be looking at pristine tropical coastline, not a tattoo parlor or Bintang shop in sight. What’s the catch? The price. Surf camps in this part of Indo tend to cost two or three times more than they do in Bali et al.
Brown Sugar Surfcamp, Bali
An all-level surf camp for people who don’t like organized fun
- Location: Medewi, Bali
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $382 (£318) per person
There aren’t all that many surf camps out there that have done enough to get their local break named after them. Brown Sugar has. The cruisy little beach number that peels into the black-sand beaches of Medewi lies just out front of the infinity pool here. For beginners, that means two meters of walking and you can be practicing your pop-up from dawn till dusk. Easy.
Past reviews have noted how the management is quite hands off at the Brown Sugar Surfcamp. It’s possible to see that as more of a pro than a con. Sometimes, surf camps can seem like organized fun and that alienates certain types of traveler. Here, the aim is create a comfy space where you can join if you wanna’ or you can just take it at your own pace and surf to your own schedule if that’s what you’d prefer.
If you do go for the get-involved option, then look forward to daily surf lessons with dedicated instructors, plus a weekly video analysis session. All of that happens in what we’d say is one of the more upcoming locations in Bali, especially for goofies (check out our guide to Medewi).
The Baha House, Bali
The best surf villa rental for groups
- Location: Uluwatu, Bali
- Price: A week’s stay at a 6-person villa starting at $5,147 (£4,287)
We add The Baha House as a bit of a left-of-field option that’s really only for groups of surfers looking for somewhere to stay together close to the waves. Perched over the barreling lefts of Bingin Beach, the house is a stunning example of the sort of creative architecture that you can find on the cliffs of Bali’s Bukit these days. Expect a boho-styled interior that’s positively brimming with hemp and wicker, spacious double bedrooms, and indoor-outdoor bathrooms that ooze style. Oh, and the sunset viewing points – wowza.
Of course, this is a private villa rental more than it is a surf camp. You’ll need to sort the board rentals and the lessons all on your own if they are features you’re after. What you will get is the freedom to surf whenever you like, especially since Bingin Beach is literally steps away and there’s easy access to the rest of the world-class breaks that spread around this corner of south Bali.
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!
