Canggu, Bali has some of the best waves on the island and there’s many a beach to choose from when it comes to finding glorious surf breaks.
But if you’re not an experienced surfer, then you can learn to master the waves in Canggu too.
We’ve got all you need to know about the local surf scene as well as where to find surf schools on and off the beach to ensure you have fun and learn in a safe environment.
About The Surf Scene In Canggu, Bali
Canggu is, of course, the best part of Bali and currently the most popular destination on the island and we’re not just saying that because we’re based in this area, we’re saying it because it’s true.
This is because of its amazing beaches including Berawa Beach, Batu Bolong Beach, Echo Beach, Nelayan Beach and Pererenan Beach.
The good news is that it’s also the best place to learn surfing in Bali and you will find so many surf schools, camps, board shops, etc. in the area that you can’t fail to master the basics even on a short holiday.
However, it’s fair to say that surfing is an unregulated trade at best in Bali and not all of the schools are as good as each other.
We strongly recommend doing your homework before you sign up for anything here. We’d also suggest that wherever possible, you take a single lesson before agreeing to a week (or more) of lessons.
It’s best to know if the tuition style suits you as a learner before you hand over huge amounts of cash.
And we need to note that what works for one person, may not work for another – our recommendations are based on waht’s worked for people in our team, but you shouldn’t be afraid to seek alternatives if you’re not convinced they’re right for you.
Why Learn Surfing In Canggu, Bali?
Nearly every surf break in the area is “begginer-favorable” and you will find that beginners tend to love starting their surfing life in Canggu.
Oddly, when the weather is a little more intense, the waves are more intense too and in the wet season, this beginner friendly area provides plenty of challenge for intermediate and advanced surfers too.
However, for the top tier of advanced surfers such as those looking to turn their hand to the professional circuit, Canggu might not be quite challenging enough at any time of year.
If you need the ultimate in challenge that Bali’s waves can provide, you should head to Uluwatu where you’re guaranteed to find some hair raising moments in the sea.
Equipment Rental Is Very Inexpensive
Renting a surfboard and other equipment is super cheap in Canggu and that save you having to put a board on the plane (at a large expense) to bring with you.
You can also buy equipment for very reasonable prices in the area.
Renting a board will set you back 60-100,000 IDR for a couple of hours (that’s about $4-$6 USD and $6-$10 AUD). That’s a very small sum of money, indeed.
It’s worth knowing that you can swap the board for any other board at the same agent within the two hour rental period, so if you find you’re not getting on with your chosen board, you’re not stuck with it.
You should also know that you can haggle if the board prices are too high and vendors will often “price match” a more inexpensive vendor too.
There Are A Lot Of Surf Instructors To Choose From
You don’t need to join a surf school to get your first lesson. Just wander up to any surf shack on the beaches of Canggu and ask them to provide an instructor and a board.
This should cost no more than 300-350,000 IDR for a couple of hours (that’s about $20-$23 USD and $30-$35 AUD).
Doing this means you get an opportunity to learn the basics and get a feel for whether you will enjoy the sport. There’s nothing worse than paying for 8 days of lessons and then learning on the first day that you hate surfing, after all.
The Post-Surfing Experience Is Amazing
The best part of learning to surf in Canggu is simple – it’s the after surfing good times.
You can visit the world’s best beach club, FINNS Beach Club, and party all day and all night long.
You could enjoy some of the best bars, restaurants and cafes on the planet too.
Surfers come back to Canggu year-after-year and they do so because the surfing is great and life in Canggu is incredible fun.
In our experience, surfers enjoy their time in Canggu much more than they do in Uluwatu and Seminyak thanks to the local area and all the facilities in it.
Where To Find A Surf School In Canggu? 10 Amazing Schools In Canggu, Bali
FINNS Surf Academy @ FINNS Recreation Club: The Best Place For Private Lessons
FINNS Surf Academy recently launched and it provides private surf lessons, small group lessons, surfing courses, surfing workshops and surf retreats.
The Academy is really aimed at beginners and intermediates and it’s tailored to ensure that you can improve on your basic skills or just have an amazing first time in the water.
While the Surf Academy is not run from the Recreation Club (which is not on the sea), surfers may also find the facilities at the club appealing as they include a fitness centre, lap pool, playing fields, trampolines and much more.
Digital nomads will also appreciate that they can enjoy a co-working space after their first lesson at the Rec Centre.
Address: Jl. Pantai Berawa No.15, Canggu, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: FINNS
Kima Surf Camp: Boost Your Surfing Experience In Surf Camp
Kima is just a 250-meter stroll from the beach and they offer instruction from the camp, followed by practice sessions immediately afterwards in the waves.
Their surf instructors are mainly former pro surfers and they offer an excellent video analysis facility of your live surfing performance.
This can be a great teacher if you want to see how your lessons are paying off in real-time.
The camp manager also provides daily yoga lessons and daily complementary breakfasts to ensure you’re in tip-top shappre for the day.
They have onsite accommodation at this surf camp which comes at an extra fee but is very good quality.
Afternoon sessions at Kima see surfers chilling in the multi-pool setup onsite and further exerting themselves on the camp’s rock climbing wall.
Address: The Green Room Hotel, Jl. Munduk Catu Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Website: Kima
Rapture Surf Camp: A Good Choice For The Solo Traveller
Rapture is one of the big names in surfing in Bali, they have several surf schools and even run guided surf tours of the island.
Whether you want semi-private surf lessons or the full surf camp treatment they can ensure you get what you need.
The camp has good vibes and it’s very comfortable for the solo traveller seeking local knowledge and a great teacher while they enhance their surfing experience.
One nice touch is that if you take your surf lessons at this surf school, they will lend you a free bike to get around Canggu.
They will also provide advanced surfers with a boat shuttle service to get out to more adventurous parts of the island.
Address: Kutuh, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali
Website: Rapture
Solid Surfhouse Canggu: Get Surf Lessons In A Single Well-Designed Package
This surf camp offers a single package for surf lessons and it includes room, board, private lessons from great teachers and surf instructors as well as a bunch of additional activities.
Their video analysis of your previous day’s surfing can really help to tailor your surf lessons to ensure you develop the right skills at the right time.
We also think their regular yoga workouts ensure that you stay flexible enough in surf school to really get the best surfing experience at Bali’s surf spots.
Address: Jalan Raya Semat Gang Bekul 8, Berawa-Canggu, Banjar Tegalgundul No.8, Tibubeneng, Kuta Utara, Badung Regency, Bali 80361
Website: Solid Surf
Mojosurf Bali Surf Camp: For Budget Surf Lessons
If you don’t have a lot of money to enrol in a premium surf school, you can still get excellent surf lessons without paying a fortune for surf camp.
Mojorsurf is one of the best surf schools for being able to tailor your overall package and they even have dorm accommodations onsite to help keep your costs down.
The surf instructors are all highly qualified and have serious surfing experience of the island’s surf spots.
This surf camp is very welcoming and it’s owned by an Australian team with a real focus on ensuring that your Bali surf days are amazing.
Address: Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No.78, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 08456
Website: Mojosurf
Pelan Pelan Surf Camp: Long Courses Of Surf Lessons
Pelan Pelan is famous for its 8-day packages of surf lessons. They feel that the best surf schools provide enough time to their students to make lasting changes in their skills.
Individuals, couples and groups can join the semi-private surf lessons at this surf school and the instructors will work to tailor the curriculum to each person’s needs.
This surf camp also provides some fun activities at the end of the surfing day such as cooking classes and excursions.
They also give free daily yoga classes!
Address: Banjar Batan Tanjung, Cemagi, Mengwi, Badung Canggu, Cemagi, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Pelan Pelan
In Da Surf: Bespoke Surf Lessons In A Great Location
When we first encountered In Da Surf we thought this polished product would be very expensive, but it’s not – it’s actually very reasonably priced.
You can enjoy an 8-day course of surf lessons at this school for an almost bargain-basement cost, in fact.
They still provide bespoke tailoring of the lessons based on the needs of the student too.
Best of all, they have some of the best surfing equipment on the island.
Our review team also felt that they had some of the best social activities after the surf lessons of any camp here.
Address: In Da Surf, Jl. Kayu Tulang Gg. Ebony, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: In Da Surf
Surf Yoga Bali
If you want semi private surf lessons with a little extra then you might want to check out Surf Yoga Bali.
As the name suggests, there’s a lot of emphasis on yoga at this camp and that’s because they say that you can best tackle Bali surf when you’re in an amazing place of flexibility.
They say that this applies to absolute beginners tackling their first good waves to highly experienced surfers looking to get the best value out of their environment.
This is a very safe environment to learn to surf in and they also provide cultural outings so that you can get the most out of being in Canggu, rather than being stuck near Batu Bolong Beach or Berawa Beach all the time.
Address: Gang Melati, Desa Kacamatan No.7, Banjar, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Surf & Yoga
Serenity Eco-Guesthouse
This simple guest house doesn’t offer video analysis but it does offer some of the cheapest ways to learn to surf to surfers in Bali that you can think of.
If you want the best value for exploring Bali surf, try their four-day package which is extremely cheap and amazing value for money.
The accommodation is ultra-basic, but once you’ve finished the surf lessons for the day, the provide a safe environment to party all night long. It’s a lot of fun and solo travellers are really going to love being at Serenity as it’s so easy to make friends.
Address: Jl. Nelayan, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Serenity
Wave House Bali
If money’s no object when you want to learn to surf in Bali, then you might consider lessons at Wave House.
This place is stupidly upmarket and their accommodation is first-rate.
However, it’s not just the room upgrade that you’re paying for, it’s also the unlimited yoga lessons and fitness classes, and additional surf lessons to help ensure you learn to surf no matter what level of ability you have, video analysis and much more.
If you fancy a massage after being out in the Bali surf in Canggu, Bali they also have a fun onsite spa facility.
Those seeking a cheaper way to access the waves at this facility should know that returning guests get discounts on the fun and off-season sees decent discounts too.
Address: Discovery Villas Jl. Subak Sari No.#100, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Website: Wave House
FAQs
Is Canggu Good For Beginner Surfers?
Yes! Canggu is an excellent place for beginner surfers. You will find that Batu Bolong Beach and Berawa Beach have fairly gentle waves and a sandy bottom to keep things safe as you learn.
There are also lots of ways to learn in the area – you could attend a surf school, join a surf camp or one of the surf tours in the area, take private surf lessons or semi-private surf lessons if you’re on a tighter budget and soon you will see a huge development in your surfing skills.
Overall, Canggu is considered one of the best places for surf sessions in Bali and beginner and intermediate surfers will be able to hone their skills while advanced surfers can find spots that will challenge and entertain them.
How Much Does It Cost To Learn Surfing In Bali?
It very much depends on how you want to approach things and each surf school has a different set of offers.
Semi-private surf lessons can start at around 500,000 IDR (that’s about $30 USD or $50 AUD) at a top school for two hours of tuition. Whereas, private surf lessons are going to be a bit more expensive.
You can get better deals if you sign up with a surf school or surf camp for a long period of time as the surf instructors can then rely on a more stable income.
You can find the best surf schools near then best surf spots in most cases but our list above of the best surf schools in Canggu can put you in touch with amazing teachers all over this part of the island.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Surfboard In Canggu, Bali?
Renting a surfboard is very inexpensive and typical rental fees are from 60,000 IDR (roughly $4 USD or $6 AUD) to 100,000 IDR ($6 USD or $10 AUD).
You will be expected to pay for any serious damage done to the board, so make sure to give it a once over before you rent to ensure it’s in good condition.
If you’re taking surf lessons, then you may find that your surf school or surf camp includes board rental. But if they don’t, you won’t have to walk far in any of the main surf spots to get a board.
Is Canggu Good For Surfing? Is The Surf Good In Canggu, Bali?
Yes, Canggu is usually considered one of the best destinations for surfers on the island.
Some of the best surf schools are in Canggu, there are surf spots on all the main beaches in the area and it’s an awesome place to improve your surfing skills.
You will, of course, need to keep an eye on the weather to get the best surf, things become more challenging in the wet season and easier in the dry season.
Beginners are going to prefer taking lessons in the dry season but intermediate and advanced surfers may want to increase the challenge they face in their surf sessions and come in the wet season.
Is Seminyak Or Canggu Better For Surfing?
Canggu is considered by most surfers to be the better surfing destination than Seminyak.
That’s because it has the widest variety of waves and breaks and they cater to all skill levels.
There may be slightly more variety for beginners in Seminyak but intermediate and advanced surfers will definitely want to head straight to Canggu.
We think if you want to improve your surfing skills as a beginner, you’d be better off taking surf lessons in Canggu where the beaches are a little less crowded than in Seminyak and you will get better access to the surf spots and waves as you learn and have fun.
Final Thoughts On Surf Lessons In Canggu
If you want surf lessons, then Canggu, Bali is a great place to sign up with a beach surf school or surf camp and get learning.
There are even surf tours in this area where you can get a wide variety of fun experiences on different beaches in Canggu.
Canggu has amazing teachers with local knowledge and many of them are pro surfers who understand the local surf level and have caught as many waves as it’s possible to catch in the area.
And when you’re done with the beautiful beaches and the surf for the day, there’s plenty more to enjoy in Canggu as it’s home to the best beach club on Earth, as well as bars, restaurants, pubs, and cafes galore.