For decades, Bali’s world-class waves have attracted surfers from across the globe. Flocks of surfy, tanned babes have flocked from every inch of the planet to experience the sweet Bali swells.
The best place to experience Bali’s surf vibe is in a surf hostel. Surf Hostels are often part of surf schools and close to beaches and party spots. These easy-going places provide a spot to relax with other surfers, have fun, learn how to ride the waves or work on your existing skills.
I’ve surfed my way up and down the coasts of Bali more times than I can count, so I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a TON of surf hostels in Bali. Some good, some… not so good. In this guide, I’ll let you in on my favourites.
So, let’s duck-dive into it… (sorry, I had to)
Photo: @amandaadraper
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Need the short version? Start with these Bali Surf hostels
Where to stay, hostel by hostel
There are SO many epic places to stay when travelling in Bali, but if you’re heading to the Island of the Gods to carve up the surf, you might want to opt for a hostel that provides the best surfy vibes. Mix and mingle with fellow surfers, rent boards or join a surf lesson; the surf hostels in Bali have a lot to offer.
Here are my favourite surf hostels in Bali:
1. Lay Day Surf Hostel – Best Overall Surf Hostel
Price: $$
Best for: Party surfers, social surfers, solo surfers.
Highlights: Swimming pool, party vibes, great location.
Dorms from: $12
Private rooms from: $66
Location: Canggu
Lay Day is a combo of all the good stuff – surfing, partying, and relaxation. The holy trinity, some might say. No wonder it’s one of the best hostels in Bali. By day, the vibe at Lay Day Surf Hostel is chill; people hang out by one of the four pools, kick back in the garden, or hit the beach to ride the waves. But as night falls, things heat up with a fully operating bar, cocktails in full flow, and good music.
Why you’ll love this surf hostel:
- Great location in the centre of buzzing Canggu
- EPIC pub-crawls and weekly social events
- Swimming pool to chill out around
Situated in vibrant Canggu at the end of a small lane, the hostel is tucked away, but still close enough to the action so you don’t feel isolated. There are cafes and restaurants, yoga studios, and coworking spaces all within walking distance, so you can easily explore the town and try out loads of the fun activities Canggu is known for.
2. Surfers House Green Bowl – Best Cheap Surf Hostel
Price: $
Best for: Social travellers who also like their spaces, value for money.
Highlights: ALL meals included (!!), swimming pool, board rentals
Dorms from: $5
Private rooms from: $32
Location: Ungasan, Uluwatu
Surfers House Green Bowl, this place is without a doubt one of the best surf hostels in Uluwatu. It is the kind of place you can easily stay for a week or longer, just lapping up the beautiful surroundings and meeting like-minded travellers. If you’re big on chilling, socialising, eating good food and plan to surf every day, this is the place to be.
Why you’ll love this surf hostel:
- FREE family dinners every night
- Communal kitchen, if you’d prefer to whip up your own meals
- Scooter, surfboard rentals and gear on-site
- Really good value for money
As well as the vibe and general surf credentials, it’s a pretty vibey spot too, with affordable luxury on offer in its cosy private rooms. On top of that, the dorms are clean and spacious, plus there’s a lush pool and garden area to chill out by post-surf. Surfers House Green Bowl may not be in the middle of the Uluwatu action, but if you’ve got a scooter and a board rack, you’re good to go explore Uluwatu’s best beaches.
3. Somewhere Hostel – Best for Party Surfers
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, party goers and yoga lovers.
Highlights: Great location, big party vibes, surf lessons.
Dorms from: $16
Private rooms from: N/A
Location: Canggu
Somewhere Hostel is located in Bali’s chic hub of Canggu hostels. The vibes are high at this hostel. If you’re planning to surf hard and get a good rest in-between this spot might not be for you. At Somewhere Hostel, between surfing, you’ll meet fellow travellers and experience the best of Canggu’s epic nightlife. It’s a work hard play hard kinda vibe and is not for the faint-hearted.
Why you’ll love this surf hostel:
- Daily surf lessons and social events every day.
- On-site cafe and restaurant, so sorting food is super easy.
- Great location in the middle of Canggu.
The hostel staff are very welcoming and are on hand to offer help whenever you need it. For those who need some practice, Somewhere Hostel offers surfing lessons each morning – you can learn and progress your skills with experienced in-house instructors. They also give you a lift down to the beach if you join the surf lesson.
4. Tribal Coworking – Best for Digital Nomad Surfers
Price: $$
Best for: Digital nomads, entrepreneurs.
Highlights: Walking distance from the beach, on-site cafe/restaurant, coworking space, swimming pool.
Dorms from: $13
Private rooms from: $50
Location: Pererenan, Canggu
If you’re heading to Bali with your surfboard AND laptop in tow, Tribal might be the place for you. It’s without a doubt the best coworking hostel in Bali and is an unbeatable way of networking with fellow nomads and entrepreneurs. The dorms and private rooms are modern and super comfortable.
Why you’ll love this surf hostel:
- Walking distance from the beach
- On-site cafe and restaurant, and it’s really freaking good.
- A HUGE coworking space, with a few private booths
Although Tribal isn’t technically a surf camp, it is a stone’s throw from the beach, making it ideal for anyone who wants to break up their workday by catching a few waves. You won’t be hard-pressed to find people to join you, either. It’s a social, fit bunch that perch up here. It’s also ideal for longer stays, too.
5. Kala Surf Camp – Best for Bougie Surfers
Price: $$$
Best for: Flashbacker surfers wanting a more comfortable stay.
Highlights: Modern amenities, a gigantic swimming pool, surf coaches and transport.
Dorms from: $46
Private rooms from: $109
Location: Uluwatu
It’s no secret that we head to Bali to relish in the affordable luxury stays, and this is one of them. It’s been designed with surfers in mind, with a giant pool to practice paddling and duck-diving and amazing surf coaches who run the lessons.
Why you’ll love this surf hostel:
- Prime location close to everything you could need
- Skatepark onsite, ideal for days when the surf’s not on
- Delicious included breakfast served each morning
- Excellent location, minutes from lots of great bars and restaurants.
This surf camp is one of the best locations in Uluwatu, right near all the action. They have multiple cars and coaches to be able to take you to all the best local breaks. You can surf all day or take the day off and decide to do a Freediving or Spearfishing Course with their partner Aquatic Apes.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance For Bali
It’s never a good idea to travel without good travel insurance. Especially if you’re doing things like riding scooters, carving up waves and chasing dreams. Shit can happen when you least expect it.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Hire the Best Balinese Driver – Pak Edy
Hiring a driver literally takes all the guesswork and stress out of your trip. From knowing the best shortcuts that don’t result in parking in a rice paddy to planning out the most incredible Balinese adventure, Pak Edy has it covered.
With years of experience, Balinese local Edy knows the absolute best spots to visit on the island and how to tailor your adventure to your interests and needs. He also knows exactly where the most incredible and authentic food can be found in Bali.
Call or Text +62 812-3765-6124 on WhatsApp to book Pak Edy for your Balinese adventure.
Which Bali surf hostel is right for you?
There you have it. Those were the best surf hostels Bali has to offer. Whether you’re looking for something chic and stylish that you can Instagram the heck out of, or if you want to have a solid surf camp to hone your skills, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for.
There are a few bangin’ options when it comes to the surf hostels in Bali – from epic parties to cute outdoor movie nights, each hostel not only offers great surfy vibes but also loads of other activities to enjoy. If you’re still unsure, I’d suggest locking in Lay Day Surf Hostel. It’s an easy pleaser for nearly everyone!
Enjoy your time in Bali <3 If you know of any other goodies, I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment below!
Great insights on the best surf hostels in Bali! I’m planning a trip for next summer, and your recommendations are super helpful. Can’t wait to check out those spots!?????