The Ultimate Guide To Surfing In Bali For Beginners

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Congratulations! You’ve decided to book your dream vacation: a trip to the island paradise of Bali to learn how to surf. Now what?

You’ve come to the right place. After two intense years spent on Wall Street, I left my job and booked a one way ticket to Bali to learn to surf. As a surf newbie, I spent two months catching waves at surf camps and exploring Indonesia. It was incredible.

Here’s my guide to planning the perfect surf getaway in Bali for beginners. Let’s dive in.

Why learn to surf in Bali

Bali is a world-renowned surfer’s paradise with beautiful beaches, consistent swells, and diverse surf breaks for all levels from beginners to pros.

If you want to immerse yourself in a vibrant surf culture, this is your place. Surfing is everywhere here. And you’ll find plenty of surf camps and instructors around the island for those looking to improve their surfing skills.

Bali is also an incredibly fun place to visit. The island is full of history and culture, gorgeous landscapes, and there’s plenty to do – from yoga and spas to nightlife – when you’re not catching waves.

Best time of year to surf in Bali

When it comes to the surf season in Bali, the dry season from May to October is generally the best time of year to surf, especially for beginners.

This is when the west coast of Bali has consistent swells from offshore wind, the weather is drier, and there are often gentler waves for beginner surfers.

Peak season is June to August, when there’s gorgeous sunny weather and waves for all levels, but the waves (and Bali generally) can get pretty crowded.

I’d recommend going on the shoulders of peak season: May and June or September and October. You get fewer crowds with the benefits of the dry season.

Where to learn to surf in Bali as a beginner

  • Best for those seeking a more laidback surfers paradise: Uluwatu region (Bukit Peninsula)
  • Best for surfing with access to nightlife, restaurants, and yoga: Canggu (+ nearby Seminyak)
  • Best “off the beaten path” destination: Lombok*

*Lombok is truly “off the beaten path” – it’s an Indonesian island a few hours by boat from Bali

The laidback surfer’s paradise: Uluwatu Region (Bukit Peninsula)

Stunning rocky cliffs, shimmering blue waters, and soft golden sand. The Uluwatu region is quintessential postcard Bali with a lowkey surfer vibe. It’s my favorite place in Bali and an amazing place to surf.

Although the Uluwatu region is a more challenging surf location for beginners, I would recommend it if done right: either going to a surf camp or taking surf lessons with local instructors who are monitoring the ocean conditions and know the beaches inside and out.

Many of the surf breaks in the Uluwatu region are for more advanced surfers, but Baby Padang and Jimbaran can be good beginner spots. Other beaches like Dreamland and Balangan can work for beginners when the conditions are right. Still, it’s important to be a strong swimmer and go with a local instructor or surf camp.

Here is the lowdown on some of the best-known surf camps in Uluwatu:

  • Padang Padang Surf Camp ($$$)
    • The Lowdown: A popular surf camp right in the center of Uluwatu – good surf instructors, food, and amenities, but it’s pricey
    • Pros: Solid surf instructors with a good student-to-instructor ratio, central location in Uluwatu, nice amenities, great breakfast and lunch are included
    • Cons: On the pricier side, less focus on social activities, charge extra for surf lessons
  • Rapture Surf Camp ($$)
    • The Lowdown: A standard surf camp at a pretty reasonable price point. They have two locations: Green Bowl, which is more remote but can lend itself to a tighter knit community and a hyper focus on surfing, and a location in town close to Padang Padang beach in the midst of restaurants, cafes, and other activities to do while you’re not surfing (this location was closed for renovations while I was there)
    • Pros: Fairly inexpensive for everything that’s included, good surfer-to-instructor ratio, lots of accommodation options, draws a diverse crowd given its price point
    • Cons: Charges for anything extra (including surf lessons), instructor quality can vary, Green Bowl is relatively far from Uluwatu town (~30 minute scooter ride), food is just average
  • Dreamsea Surf Camp ($$)
    • The Lowdown: More of an Instagrammable hotel than surf camp that offers stunning ocean views along with surf lessons and yoga classes
    • Pros: Right on the ocean, very easy access to some surf spots, great breakfast
    • Cons: More hotel than a surf camp, facilities could use some TLC, charges extra for surf lessons, property can be challenging to access (lots of steep stairs)

Haven’t quite found what you’re looking for? Some newer Uluwatu surfing camp options worth considering:

  • Cari Surf Camp ($$)
    • The Lowdown: This surf camp is quite new and seems to be doing things right: they have reasonably priced lesson packages for beginners, new amenities, and excellent reviews
  • Kima Surf Camp Uluwatu and Bukit ($$-$$$)
    • The Lowdown: Kima has some good surfing camps in Canggu and Seminyak – I was excited to see they’d recently opened locations in Uluwatu and Bukit, although these seem to be geared toward more intermediate and advanced surfers

When you’re not hitting the surf, Uluwatu has a good mix of restaurants, bars, and activities ranging from live music nights to spa centers to keep you happily entertained.

Where surf life meets nightlife: Canggu (+ Seminyak)

Crowded, bustling, and full of digital nomads, Canggu (and nearby Seminyak) is a great place to get some surfing in while taking advantage of everything else that Bali has to offer. I found the beaches less charming than the ones in Uluwatu, but there are some good surf breaks for beginners here like Batu Bolong and Old Man’s.

Canggu and Seminyak tend to be the places that most beginners go to learn to surf in Bali.

Like with Uluwatu, I’d recommend doing a surf camp or hiring an instructor for lessons and guidance. The waves tend to be very crowded here and local instructors will be able to guide you to the best spots for beginners and help you navigate heavy crowds and any gnarly ocean conditions.

Here’s the lowdown on some of the best-known surf camps in Canggu and nearby Seminyak:

  • Kima Surf Camps ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Kima offers tried-and-true surf camps that cater well to all levels, including those brand-new to surfing with their “Learn-to-Surf” package. Their location in Seminyak is a lower key, more traditional surf camp, while their location in Canggu has lots of amenities (including 3 pools and a rock wall) and easy city access, but is larger with more resort-style vibes.
    • Pros: Good surf instruction at a decent price point, organized social activities, optionality given types of camps and accommodations, located close to beaches, coworking spaces for digital nomads
    • Cons: Instructor quality can vary, gets pricey in peak season, Canggu location can feel a little impersonal, beaches around Canggu can get busy
  • Wave House Bali ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Wave House is another resort-style camp in bustling, southern Canggu with lovely accommodation and various amenities
    • Pros: Variety of nice accommodation options, good food, access to rec club with gym, located close to the beach
    • Cons: Instructor quality can vary, can be a little loud given nightlife nearby, “extras” not included in package can be pricey
  • Pelan Pelan Surf and Yoga Camp ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Family-run surf camp that’s located a little outside of Canggu in the rice fields with packages that include surfing, yoga, meditation, and more
    • Pros: Decent surf instruction, a lot included in package at a reasonable price point, can have more of a focus on surfing given less central location
    • Cons: Location is more remote (10-20 minutes from Canggu), “extras” not included in packages can be pricey

Along with surfing, Canggu and Seminyak have amazing yoga studios, spas, restaurants, beach clubs, and nightlife.

Best “off the beaten path” destination: Lombok

Lombok, sometimes referred to as “unspoiled Bali,” is one of the Indonesian islands closest to Bali and is well worth the three-hour fast boat ferry to get there. I spent a week surfing in Kuta, Lombok (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali) and found it to be a wonderful, off-the-beaten-path place to learn how to surf.

Lombok is less developed than Bali, but has everything you need, including some decent restaurants, places to grab a beer post surf, and most importantly, some great surf spots. It’s more common here to take a boat out to surf breaks, which is a lot of fun and harder to find in the Bali locations mentioned above. Lombok also has fairly easy access to the Gili Islands, which are definitely worth a visit.

On the flip side, there isn’t much to do but surf and chill in Lombok. Like the vast majority of Indonesia, Lombok is predominantly Muslim, so it does feel culturally different from Bali and is a little more conservative. Overall, I liked seeing a different side of the Indonesian archipelago and would recommend trying your hand at surfing here.

Some good beginner breaks in Lombok include Selong Belanak, Ekas Inside, Gerupuk Insides, and Gerupuk Don Don. As always, make sure to go out with a surf camp or local instructor.

Here’s the lowdown on some of the best-known surf camps in Lombok:

  • LMBK Surf House ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Resort-chic surf camp with solid amenities offering all the surfing camp basics
    • Pros: Decent instructors, central location in Kuta, well-rounded surf camp experience
    • Cons: A little pricey, instructor quality can vary, mediocre breakfasts
  • DHM Surf & Stay ($)
    • The Lowdown: If you’re looking for a low-key surf holiday, DHM is not the place for you. This intensive and intimate surf camp at a great price point focuses on improving your surf skills with 1-on-1 coaching and personalized instruction
    • Pros: Personal surf coaches, intimate surf camp and community, central location in Kuta
    • Cons: Physically demanding, less focus on social activities, limited space available

Haven’t quite found what you’re looking for? Here are some other surfing camps in Lombok that come recommended:

  • Nalua ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Small, trendy surf camp with accommodation in a boutique hotel that was highly recommended by one of my favorite surf instructors in Bali
  • Xandu ($$)
    • The Lowdown: Another boutique surf camp in Lombok known for its intimate size and good surf instruction

I do want to note that there are other surf spots in Bali (and across Indonesia) like Mendewi and Nusa Dua (not to mention areas on the East Coast during the wet season), but for this post, I stuck with places that are better known and solid spots for beginners to learn the ropes.

I hope this guide gives you a starting point and the inspiration you need to book your first Bali surf trip. It’ll be one you never forget.

Have an adventure booked and feeling underprepared? Read my recommendations for the essentials to pack on your surf adventure and my tips for sun protection while surfing.

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