Once a sleepy coastal district and one of the best hidden gems in Bali, where unbelievably green paddy fields sweep down to meet black sand beaches and the swell of the Indian Ocean, Canggu is now one of the hottest destinations.
It is one of the most popular areas for expats to live in, so it has a great community feel. Life here starts at dawn with a surf or yoga session followed by sharing a coconut and healthy grubs with friends at one of the many cosy roadside cafes. To rejuvenate and recharge your body and soul, head to Canggu for two days of wellness and pampering- a perfect Bali retreat!
If you’re looking for an adventure slightly further away, take a look at our 2 day Hyderabad itinerary here!
Open from 7.30am, Bali Fit is a great place to kick-start your morning. Choose between yoga, pilates, boxing, cardio or their signature programmes Training For Warriors (TFW) and Grit n Grind. An hour session with world-class trainers costs around IDR 150-200K (SGD 15-20) and you can just drop in. Enjoy a healthy breakfast feast at their own café serving yummy quinoa breakfast bowls, mixed berry blasts and jamu shots – Indonesian healthy drink providing tons of healthy benefits.
Opens from 7am to 930pm from Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 12pm on Sat and 8am to 7pm on Sun.
Spend a few hours soaking up the sun or floating in a refreshing pool at your villa or hotel. Once you start feeling peckish, head to Milk & Madu for lunch. It offers both healthy as well as a bit naughtier hearty bites. Try their skillet eggs with charred sourdough or poached eggs over smashed peas, feta, mint, lemon & olive oil on grilled sourdough. Sip on a wide choice of Kombucha teas – fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea drinks.
Opens daily from 730 am to 4pm.
Spend your afternoon horseback riding with Bali Equestrian Centre. The professional team there leads small group tours through rural village areas as well as sunrise and sunset tours at Berawa Beach. It is best to arrange these activities in advance via their website, as availability can be limited. A 45-minute riding lesson/tour will cost you about IDR 950K (SGD 95).
Taking your date horseback riding is also one of our recommended ideas for a first date in Singapore!
Monday to Sunday 7:45am to 11:45am and 2:45pm to 6:45pm
If you prefer a more laid-back afternoon or want to carry on working out, head to Canggu Club. A day pass here (IDR 300K; SGD 30) will give you access to three undercover floodlit tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym and a 25-metre lap swimming pool.
Opens daily from 6am to 10pm.
If you are staying in a villa, ask your chef to prepare a yummy barbeque and enjoy a chat with your friends as the night falls. If you’re up for heading out for dinner, Koi on Batu Bolong Street is a great choice. It’s a small restaurant with healthy local food and drinks choices and a great cozy space.
Opens from 8am to 9pm.
Have a morning yoga or surf session in Canggu. Samadi Bali is a great place for daily yoga classes, healthy organic food & holistic wellness retreats. An hour session here will cost you about IDR 130K (SGD 13). Still a leader for all-around yoga hipness and fantastic asana classes for all levels is Desa Seni, offering drop-in classes for IDR 140K (SGD 14) per class.
If you’re a pro, just bring your board or rent one at an attractive price from a local stall right on the Echo beach. If you are looking to learn or practice your skills, there are also a bunch of great surf schools in the area. We love The Chillhouse where you can book a 1-hour session with an instructor for IDR 750 (SGD 75).
After an active morning session, head to Betelnut and try their Naga Bowl – pink dragon fruit, banana, and yoghurt puree topped with granola, shredded coconut, cashews and fruit. Hydrate with a fresh young coconut. Spend a few hours chilling by the pool before you have to check out from your villa or hotel.
Open Tues- Sun, 7am to 10pm
For lunch, head to Peloton Supershop. Peloton’s menu includes meat-free ‘tricken’ chicken and replaces traditional fromage with a cashew-based cheese. Mexican pizzas and tacos packed with walnut meat, veggies and velvety cashew sour cream are also a hit. The salads are divine and so is the Revolver coffee with coconut milk.
Open daily from 8am to 4pm.
Itching to bring some of Bali home? Pay a visit to Bungalow Living. Here you can browse through island inspired homewares, furniture, decorations, cushion covers, leather clutches, jewellery, music and even toys for the little ones. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit the store’s resident furry friend, BB King – a dog with big personality. Selfie time.
Open from 8.30am to 6pm.
Have a pampering session at Gold Dust Spa. For girls, opt for their signature treatment – the 24-Carat Gold Facial (IDR 1,130K; SGD 113), during which you will have sheets of gold applied on your face, which apparently lowers collagen depletion, stimulates circulation and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. You can also top up with a mani and pedi. Guys can enjoy a selection of great massages here (prices start at IDR 150K, SGD 15).
Open from 9am to 6pm.
Enjoy a sunset session at Old Man’s. It’s a traditional beer garden with chill-out vibes just a few steps away from the shimmering black sands of Batu Bolong beach. Old Man’s serves meals excellent for sharing. Grilled seafood platter and hand cut fries or traditional beer-battered fish and chips are amongst favourites. For the health conscious- fresh salads is the way to go.
Open from 7am to 12am.
Once the sun sets, head to the airport for your late flight back to Singapore. Plan ahead as the traffic can be unpredictable on Sunday evenings.
FRii Bali Echo Beach is a great budget option offering pool access rooms and a cosy rooftop terrace to watch amazing sunsets. Reservations start at SGD$54 per night.
The Kirana Hotel Resto & Spa provides chilled vibes in its holistically-inspired spa hotel. Choose amongst its ocean view, pool access or penthouse rooms – all reasonably priced. Prices start at SGD$129 per night.
If you are looking for something more luxurious, choose Hotel Tugu Bali with its ethnic decor, outstanding customer service and direct access to the beautiful beach. Rates start from SGD$622 per night. If you’re travelling with a larger group of friends or just looking for privacy and luxury, stay in one of the Elite Havens Canggu villas, which range from romantic getaways for two to party pads and family holiday estates for larger groups. [/su_tab]
For those seeking an all-inclusive yoga and surf retreat, check out The Pineapple House. Their “Free To Roam” package includes the essentials, such as room, a yoga class and a massage and allows guests the freedom to come and go as they please at a great price. Both yoga and surfing lessons provided are suitable for all levels of experience. The price also includes daily breakfast and airport transfers. Their packages start at 4 days/3 nights, however if you want a special weekend package just drop them an e-mail via their website and they will work one out for you. Prices for the retreat start at SGD$1489.
If you are looking for other alternatives, check out this article on where to stay in Canggu.
Situated just along the coast and within easy access to the airport, Canggu makes a great weekend getaway destination. However, the best time to visit Bali is during dry season, from the months of April to September with July and August seeing the highest number of visitors.
Check out Wego.com or Skyscanner.com to get the best timings and prices for your two and a half hour flight from Singapore to Bali. With convenient departure and arrival times and all inclusive fares, KLM flights are worth having a look at as they start at as little as SGD $200 return. Canggu is about a 30 minute drive from Bali International Airport.
Getting around Canggu is easy. From the airport, use airport taxi service – there is a taxi counter right outside the arrival doors. The journey should take around 30 minutes and cost approximately IDR 225K (SGD $23). Uber is another excellent option and will cost as little as IDR 51-65K (SGD $6-7). You can check the estimated fare here.
When in Canggu, rent a scooter for about IDR 60-80K (SGD $6-8) for 24 hours or just walk around. The narrow winding roads amongst lush rice paddies make a perfect backdrop to cruise around.
Good news! Bali’s international airport – Denpasar Aiport offers free Wi-Fi! So you can easily stay connected to family and friends back home or contact your hotel for queries on your airport transfer using the rather reliable Wi-Fi network at the airport. Also, it’ll be a great help when stuck in the custom queues during the peak periods!
52 countries are now exempt from getting a visa to Bali. Click here for the latest information. Withdraw money at one of many ATMs in Bali airport to avoid scams at money exchange kiosks.
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