16 Surf camps and surf schools in Bali that promise an endless summer of waves and fun!

Written by Matin Firas Haharap
Co-written by Beverley Lennon

The hype around Bali surfing reaches back to 1936, when American photographer Robert “Bob” Koke and Louise arrived in Bali after Bob had learned to surf in Hawaii. They opened Kuta Beach Hotel, where Bob introduced surfing to hotel staff and the local community.

Without a doubt, surfing is one of the most fun activities you can have on the water, and certainly the grooviest.

Besides being physically fit, surfing involves understanding the waves and concentrating on the timing of every movement. It takes a little practice and a good feel for the waves before you can carve a clean break.

To avoid getting hurt, you may want a few sessions with a coach before heading out into open water on your own. Don’t ruin your vacation by settling for the wrong surf school. Here are 16 Bali surf camps and schools to compare, with camps that offer accommodation and schools that focus on lessons.

SURF CAMPS (with accommodation)

1. Wake up to an ocean of adventures: Dreamsea Surf Camp

With a name that says it all, Dreamsea Surf Camp is a place to wake up to the ocean. The modern beach house sits in Pecatu, near Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Baby Padang and Impossibles.

This is the kind of stay that gets you excited for a surf holiday. The location keeps you close to the waves, while the weekly accommodation packages bring together breakfast, five dinners and free surf-equipment access. Lessons and yoga can be added by level, and room prices vary by date and room type.

Sitting atop a cliff, the contemporary property is more than a base for chasing waves. It is also a place to meet surfers from around the world, then retreat to a room or balcony with a view of the Indian Ocean. Room and facility inclusions vary by package.

Nomad, surfer, free spirit, wanderer or artist: whichever description feels like you, the camp’s relaxed rooms and ocean setting make it easy to settle in between sessions.

2. Choose where to catch waves today: Kima Surf

Kima Surf gives you a choice of base as well as a choice of break, with Bali camps in Canggu, Seminyak, Bukit and Uluwatu. Choose the setting that fits the kind of surf holiday you want, whether you are learning your first take-off or returning for another session.

Kima offers surf guiding, theory and video sessions, a three-course breakfast and use of bicycles and camp vans at the Canggu resort. Beginners can book a dedicated Learn-to-Surf course. A natural stone pool, gym, climbing wall and co-working area give you somewhere to wind down after a beach session.

Lessons are tailored to your level, with theory and video feedback to help you spot habits and improve. Rates change by date and room type: Kima’s Canggu resort page displays stays from €24 per person per night, while a separate rooms page shows a Canggu Deluxe Dorm from €36 per person per night.

At the end of a stay, you may find that surfing has become the part of Bali you are already planning to come back for.

3. A surfer’s popular hotspot: Kamafari Surf Camp

Uluwatu is a lively surf town known for dramatic waves and clifftop resorts. Padang Padang and the other Bukit breaks around Kamafari can be very different from one another, so the right session depends on your level, the tide and the day’s conditions.

Novice surfers may prefer to start with a gentler lesson, while experienced riders can ask about the day’s more demanding breaks. The rooms page lists Deluxe and Oceanview rooms from €45 per night for single use or €70 per night for two, with breakfast and towels. Surf lessons are extra: from €30 per day for a standard group of up to six, €50 for semi-private coaching of up to two, or €70 for a private lesson. Board, guide and beach transfer are included in those lesson listings; airport transfer is listed separately at €20. Rates and availability vary by season.

After a Bukit session, return to a sea-view room and pool. Package inclusions vary by season, so choose one published offer for your dates rather than combining tables.

4. Where surfing meets yoga: Mondo Surf & Lifestyle Village

A typical week at Mondo Surf & Lifestyle Village brings together surf theory, surf lessons, yoga and a range of wellbeing activities. You can mix the sessions to suit your energy, then return to the village for a slower evening after time in the water.

Mondo’s beginner package has a three-night minimum. It includes accommodation and breakfast, daily lessons except Sunday, equipment, transport and coaching, twice-weekly video analysis and theory/pool practice, and two yoga sessions each day. Inclusions vary by stay length.

After time in the water, return to the village for yoga and a slower evening. Book around your level and leave enough time to recover between sessions.

5. Become ultimate wave riders: Endless Summer

Not a surfer? Endless Summer can take you from the basics to your first confident ride. The Kuta school and camp say they are open year-round, with theory, water practice, board and surfwear rental and photo/video analysis built into the lesson programmes.

The teaching starts with safety, paddling, stance and board control before you head into the water. At the Kuta school, a three-hour lesson is listed at US$70 per person, a five-lesson Basic course at US$300 and a ten-lesson Standard course at US$550. Kuta camp rooms start at US$90 per night for one person or US$160 per night for two, with breakfast and seven weekly lessons. Equipment, theory and transfers are included under stated conditions; airport transfer requires a minimum three-night stay.

The operator also publishes a Canggu camp offer. Its property and contact pages identify Kuta, so ask about Canggu availability, meeting point and rate when booking. The Kuta and Canggu inclusions are separate offers.

6. Soak in the good vibes: Padang Padang Surf Camp

Padang Padang Surf Camp is a coaching-first base on the Bukit Peninsula, near Padang Padang, Bingin and other Uluwatu breaks. The guides can match a session to your level and the day’s conditions, while the facilities give you somewhere to recover between sessions.

Current rooms are private and priced in GBP: from £749 per week for one person in a Standard Room, or £560 per person per week for two people sharing. Room rates cover accommodation, breakfast, lunch, facilities and resident coaching. Lessons and guiding are priced separately: group lessons are £20 per person for one session or £35 for two, while guiding is £12 per day with your own board or £20 with the camp’s board.

Seven-night stays add return airport transfers and Saturday dinner; other dinners are extra. Daily coaching, selected photos and facilities are listed with the stay packages.

7. Be a part of the international surf scene: Rapture Camp

Rapture lists two Bali camps, at Padang Padang and Green Bowl on the Bukit Peninsula. The Padang Padang camp is about 500 metres from the break, while Uluwatu, Bingin, Impossibles and Dreamland are a short drive away.

The listed inclusions are beach transfers, breakfast each day, dinner from Monday to Friday, daily yoga, theory and video analysis, a pool and Wi-Fi. Coaching, equipment and airport transfers are add-ons, and rates vary by dates and room.

You can settle into the camp community between sessions, then choose whether the next outing should be a lesson, a guided surf or a quieter day by the pool. Check the exact camp location before booking.

8. Awaken, inspire and celebrate the goddess in you: Surf Goddess Retreats

Surf Goddess Retreats runs a seven-day, six-night women-only surf retreat in Seminyak. The programme combines five group surf lessons or guided trips matched to ability with complete equipment, daily yoga and meditation, spa treatments and an all-inclusive menu. The official page states an instructor ratio from 1:1 to a maximum of 1:3.

The live package cards show prices per person, not per couple. The three-person-share Trinity package starts at US$2,299 per person and the two-person shared-room Bliss package starts at US$2,399 per person for seven days. Rates and promotions change.

You can bring friends, learn at a level that feels right and leave space for the non-surf parts of a retreat. The retreat page has the meeting point and booking terms.

SURF SCHOOLS AND LESSONS

9. More than just surfing: Rip Curl School of Surf

Rip Curl School of Surf lists Sanur, Legian, Kuta, Jimbaran, Canggu and Yeh Gangga locations. The school’s listing is for lessons, so arrange accommodation nearby.

The school advertises surfing alongside foiling, wing surfing, kite surfing and stand-up paddleboarding, with certified instructors. Sanur is the listed base for the IKO-accredited kite campus and foiling courses. Check the booking page for lesson prices and programme names.

10. Chilled-out Hawaiian surf vibes: Aloha Bali Surf

Aloha Bali Surf appears in older Bali guides, but we could not verify its lessons, meeting point or prices. Check that it is operating before relying on this listing.

11. Small-group lessons near Seminyak: Bali Green Surf School

Ready to swap watching from the sand for your first wave?

Bali Green Surf School teaches beginners through advanced surfers. The school says lessons run for two hours with hotel transfer, equipment, refreshments and one instructor for two to three students; conditions decide where you surf. Beginners work through board handling, paddling, take-off and ocean safety, while intermediate surfers can focus on turns and technique.

Group lessons are advertised at a promotional IDR 400,000 per person for two hours of surfing. Confirm the price and pickup when booking.

12. Have it your way: UP2U Surf School Bali

UP2U’s programme starts with 30 minutes of online theory, followed by a two-hour beach lesson. Board, leash, rashie and coach are included, while transport is not. Beginner lessons start at IDR 200,000 per person, with lower group rates, a semi-private option and a private option.

The school’s practical guidance covers online training, public showers and toilets, chairs and beanbags, safe storage, boards and rashies. Photos are included except on promotions. Bring your own towel and sunscreen; the school says it does not have changing rooms.

The website lists Jl. Pantai Kuta No. 32 in Legian/Kuta and a Padma contact point. Confirm the meeting point through the booking channel.

13. Get on a personal level: Surf Buddy Bali

Surf Buddy’s site lists a private Canggu lesson at IDR 350,000 per person for up to two hours, without pickup; board rental is listed separately at IDR 50,000. The format is a straightforward way to start when you want personal feedback close to Canggu.

For a one-day Medewi trip, the site lists up to two surf sessions when conditions allow. It lists IDR 850,000 for a private trip, IDR 700,000 per person for two people or IDR 600,000 per person for three, with board rental at IDR 50,000 per day. The lesson and guiding pages present different durations and inclusions, so choose the exact format and meeting point when booking.

14. Stand up on your first session: Odysseys Surf School

At Odysseys Surf School, you meet your instructor at the Mercure Hotel arcade by Kuta Beach. The school has operated since 2003 and says its coaches hold Academy of Surfing Instructors Australia and surf-rescue/first-aid credentials.

Bookings are two-hour beginner and intermediate lessons. Equipment and changing/shower access are listed, while lesson times follow the tides. The school advertises a first-lesson stand-up guarantee; ask for the terms. Photos are an add-on rather than a guaranteed GoPro recording.

15. Learn with a small ASI-listed team at Double Six: Santai Surf School

Gede Adnyana has run Santai Surf School since 2012 with his English wife, Henney. Santai is listed by the Academy of Surfing Instructors as an accredited Double Six Beach school, with Gede listed as an ASI Level 3 coach and surf-rescue/first-aid trained.

ASI lists a small Balinese team offering group and private lessons from beginner to advanced, plus rentals and guiding. Ask for the latest IDR rate and meeting point when booking.

16. Beginner to advanced lessons with GO Surf Bali by Desu

Desu de Bali Surf appears as GO Surf Bali by Desu on the listings checked for this guide. Desu Suwardiasa’s owner profile lists more than a decade of coaching and an ILS Badung lifeguard certificate, while the directory lists beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons, rentals and trips.

The listings disagree on the meeting point: the owner profile lists Seminyak/Double Six, while the directory lists Batu Bolong/Canggu. Check the location and contact directly when booking.

Ready to paddle out?

Check each school’s booking channel first, since prices, meeting points and lesson times can change. Then grab your board and enjoy Bali’s waves. Know another Bali surf camp or school? Tell us in the comments.

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