How To Plan A Surfing Trip To Bali, Indonesia?

I have been traveling/living outside of the United States for 213 days and have been extremely thankful for all the opportunities that I have been able to grant myself. I have been working in Chiang Mai, Thailand as an English teacher for 4 months thus far and I have my first extended break from school.

The break is an opportunity for students and teachers to recharge before starting the new semester. It is also a great opportunity to travel and see new things!

My original intention for living in Southeast Asia was to afford myself the opportunities to explore the many countries that make-up Southeast Asia. The school break is 20 days long, which is a healthy amount of time to see something new.

When I was first contemplating what to do with my time I thought about going to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and/or Burma since they are all neighboring countries and relatively close to Thailand. Additionally, this would be advantageous because it would reduce the necessary travel time and travel cost.

While talking to other travelers and traveling on my own I had heard of many people visiting Bali, Indonesia. It is an island that hugs the eastern side of the island that Jakarta is on. Based on my research and basic knowledge of the area, it has grown into a very popular travel destination among backpackers.

It is most popular for its’ surfing opportunities. Bali is known for consistent quality waves that come to the island year-round. This has resulted in a surfing culture that has ballooned on the island fed by the consistent curiosity of surfing enthusiasts. I have decided to join the ranks.

After talking to colleagues that have traveled to Vietnam and surrounding countries and weighing the unique travel opportunities that those countries offer, I decided that I want to learn how to surf, and Bali, Indonesia is the best place to learn in Southeast Asia.

I do not have an endless bank account and I consider myself a budget traveler, therefore, I did some preliminary research and configured a basic budget for my total travel costs including: accommodation, food, surf camp, and travel.

After compiling the estimated travel costs, researching plane tickets, surf camps, and finding a cheap accommodation. I am GOING! woo!

Finding A Cheap Flight

I will be departing from Chiang Mai, Thailand where I currently reside. I have had the best experience finding budget flights in Southeast Asia on Air Asia.

Additionally, I like to use Skyscannerto compare flight prices and make sure that I am getting the best deal. If I find a better deal on Skyscanner then I go directly to the airline website to search for the specific flight.

There are two airports in Bangkok, Thailand which are Don Muang (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Be sure to compare flights departing or arriving from both locations as one may be significantly cheaper than the other.

If you are flying to Bali, Indonesia then you will be arriving to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). If you have more time to travel, and want to explore other areas of Indonesia, (which I wish I could do) then I would explore flying to Jakarta and slowly making my way to Bali.

Finding The Best Surf School In Bali, Indonesia

Since I am interested in traveling to Bali, Indonesia to learn how to surf, I put a lot research into different surf schools and the pros and cons of each. Specifically, I compared the following variables: location, cost, student to instructor ratio (very important), board rental costs, and misc. benefits unique to that school.

There are many surf schools in Bali and the surrounding areas, including Lombok an adjacent island and other areas of Indonesia. Initially, I tried to find a beginner camp outside of Bali because I wanted to find a low-key travel atmosphere.

It is possible that there are other parts of Indonesia or Southeast Asia that offer great camps but I had a hard time finding any. If you want to do your own research I suggest checking out www.wannasurf.com.

There are endless surf camps on Bali and it was difficult to decipher which camps to pursue. I will say that my first option was Surf Camp Lombok, which is located on Lombok island, next to Bali.

I scoured their website and promotional material and they look like a very reputable company. Unfortunately, their camp dates do not align with my travel schedule.

After contacting them and determining they were not an option, they suggested contacting The Chill House, which is located on Bali. The Chill House has an excellent web presence and I like the fact that their surf camp has a 2:1 instructor to student ratio. They offer accommodation packages that include a room and 3 meals a day but I found them relatively expensive at 48 Euros/day.  

Fortunately, you can book a surf camp individually. Therefore, I booked a 10 day surf camp with them and made alternative accommodation arrangements at a local dorm called, Surfers Dorm. They have an affordable nightly rate of $10.50 USD. Plus, they are closer to the ocean.

In conclusion, when looking for a surf camp I would stress finding one that has an optimal instructor to student ratio of 2:1 and ideally has an accommodation package that is relatively affordable.

Below is a more comprehensive comparison chart of surf schools in Bali.

NameWebsiteDaily Surf Camp Lesson CostMax Instructor to Student RatioAccommodation Packages Available?

Padang Padang Surf Camphttp://www.balisurfingcamp.com500,000rp4:1Yes

Rapture Surf Camphttp://www.rapturecamps.com/150 Euros?Yes

Bali Surf Camphttp://balisurf.org/No Daily Lessons Available?Yes

Pro Surf Schoolhttp://www.prosurfschool.com/45 Euros (2.5 hrs)3:1Yes

The Chill Househttp://www.thechillhouse.com/45 Euros2:1Yes

Lapoint Camphttp://www.lapointcamps.comNo Daily Lessons Available?Yes

Odyssey Surf Schoolhttp://www.odysseysurfschool.com/35 USD (2.5 hrs)4:1Yes

Indonesia VISA

Whenever you travel to a new country it is very important to understand their visa policies. Depending on your nationality, different countries will have varying visa terms. As an American, Indonesia offers a 30 day visa on arrival. This means that if you are arriving to Indonesia and you have an American passport then you can get a 30 day visa which will allow you to remain in the country for 30 days. The visa cost is $25 USD. More information can be found on the Indonesian Embassy website.

In conclusion, I will have a follow-up post with my experience at The Chill House and Surfers Dorm. Stay tuned!