Grace Power & Beauty

Bali is renowned throughout the world for its beautiful scenery and great tourist experiences. With everything from budget backpackers accommodation to luxury Bali villas, the island state has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you enjoy doing or why you are going on holidays – Bali is the place to be!

What a lot of people don’t realise is that Bali is actually a great place to learn to surf. While you won’t find the big wave surfing that you would in somewhere like Hawaii or California, Bali has plenty of small breaks which are perfect for beginners.

Now, we understand that it can be hard to find information about things like surfing in Bali, especially if you are trying to plan your trip beforehand. There are literally hundreds of options, so how do you know which ones are the best? Luckily for you, we have put together a list of our favourite Bali surf spots in 2018. These include:

Kuta:

Now, if you’ve been to Bali before, you’ve probably been to Kuta, especially if you are interested in surfing. It is undoubtedly surf central on the island, and is an extremely popular place for young surfy people who go there to spend time in the water and to party at night.

Although it can be crowded, Kuta offers a great small wave for beginner surfers, especially on the right weather conditions. Alternatively, you can visit one of the neighbouring beaches like Legian or Seminyak for a bit of variety.

Canggu:

Canggu is located north of Kuta, and offers a great surfing experience for people of all skill levels, all year round. If you are a beginner surfer then stick to watching the pros on the larger, more ferocious breaks, but spend some time in the water in places like Eco Beach and Batu Bolong.

Bingin:

A slightly larger, better formed wave, Bingin offers perfect barrel practice for intermediate surfers under the right conditions. It is extremely important to pay attention to the tides when surfing here, as the type of wave and difficulty will be defined by the tide. On low tide, the wave is ferocious and the water shallow, meaning it should only be surfed by beginners. However, on a high tide the wave becomes calm and gentle, and is perfect for learning to surf. If you want a nice barrel, aim for mid-tide.

Uluwatu:

One of the most consistent breaks on the island, Uluwatu nearly always offers some sort of surf, even on the calmest days. There are a number of options here, including a few chances of grabbing a big wave under the right conditions.

Padang Padang:

If you are an experienced surfer, you may want to check out Padang Padang. It offers one of Bali’s only real ‘big wave’ surfing opportunities, and is popular among pro and semi-pro surfers from around the world. Note that it can be dangerous, so don’t attempt to surf here unless you are experienced and confident!

As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to finding a place to surf in Bali. If you are a real beginner, you might want to consider booking some lessons through a Bali surf school, at least for your first day or two there. Good luck and have fun!