Imagine yourself wading in the water, waiting to catch the perfect wave to bring you to the sandy shore. The water is warm, the sun is shining, and the waves are barreling. For amateur or even pro surfers, Indonesia is the perfect destination to catch some waves while enjoying the laid back surfer’s lifestyle everyone dreams about. You’ll definitely love a weekend of surfing in Bali!
As soon as you arrive in Ngurah Rai International Airport, we recommend getting an airport taxi to bring you straight to Canggu. Located about an hour away from the airport, Canggu is the perfect location for both beginners and pro surfers as there are breaks of every type and kind. From the airport, a taxi to Canggu shouldn’t cost you more than 200,000 rupiah ($20 SGD). Alternatively, I’m sure your hotel in Canggu will be more than happy to arrange for airport transfers if requested.
Upon arrival in Canggu, you can check in your hotel, quickly store your luggage in your room and head out for dinner. Depending on the location of your hotel, you can choose to rent a motorbike so you can get around the place, or use local taxis which are readily available. Canggu is relatively small so everything is a short 10-15 minute drive away.
For your first meal in Indonesia, we highly recommend going to Dandelion Cafe. This quirky little cafe set amidst the rice fields serves traditional Indonesian food with a twist. The owner Gani is absolutely lovely and will entertain you the whole night with his little stories and anecdotes. We recommend trying their coconut grilled prawn with basil lime sauce and their chicken satay washed down with a cold beer or a nice glass of white wine. After dinner, you can either make your way home or check out Canggu’s lively nightlife. Old Man’s Cafe and Deux Ex Machina are all popular places with live music and DJ’s.
After a good night’s rest, begin your day relatively early so that you can squeeze in two good surf sessions for the day. Although it’s always best to check the wave forecast ahead of time to find what time it is to best head out. For breakfast, we recommend eating in Crate Cafe located along Batu Bolong Street. This hipster breakfast joint is very popular amongst the surfing community. Place your order, find a spot, and strike up a conversation with the people around. As the place is a bit small, people often share tables which is great to mingle with other surfers. Their open faced sandwiches along with their incredible french toast meals and some fresh fruit make the perfect pre-surf meal.
Depending on your surfing skills, you can either rent a board and just head out the water yourself or book some lessons. Even for experienced surfers, lessons can be useful to familiarise yourself with the waves. We recommend contacting Surf Buddy Bali ahead of time to book an instructor. They do an amazing job at teaching you how to surf. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro who just needs tips, they take you out and help customise lessons for you. You can check out their rates here. You can arrange to do a two day surf session with them and they will take care of everything else from board equipment to the rash guards, to telling you the best times to go out. A two day surf session with them would cost you around ($100 SGD). The waves in Canggu are perfect for learning compared to the other barrel sized waves that Bali is known for. Enjoy the warm waters and peaceful atmosphere as you get your surf on!
By this time, you will most definitely be starving so we recommend checking out a local restaurant for lunch called Warung Varuna (warung is the name for a local store) This family run store cooks up the most amazing meals, all displayed behind a glass counter. All you have to do is point to what they want and they will fill your plate up. They usually serve this with either yellow, red, or plain white rice. They have a great selection of vegetarian meals as well. The best part about this place is that it’s quick, cheap and delicious! Expect a full plate of rice, assorted vegetables, and meat to cost you around 35,000 rupiah or ($3SGD) We honestly ate here almost everyday when we were in Canggu!
After lunch, relax a bit by the beach and wait until the waves are in good enough conditions to go in. The guys over at Surf Buddy Bali should be able to tell you which breaks are best to surf and what time is best to go out. Use this time to practice how to catch (and fall) off waves! Remember, no one is a pro right away. The best tip when it comes to surfing is to not be so conscious, Surf like no one’s watching! For intermediate to advanced surfers, Canggu has multiple breaks that are worth checking out depending on the wave conditions so make sure to ask locals on the best times to go.
Knackered from your first day of surfing, join the rest of Canggu in unwinding as you head towards Old Man’s Cafe where everyone congregates for a cold beer or cocktail. Enjoy the incredible views from the bar and make some new friends as you watch the sun go down, turning the sky into multiple shades of orange and pink. From here, you can stay as long as you like or head back to your hotel for a well deserved nap before dinner time.
After a good day of surfing, there is nothing better than a good meal! If you want to eat something that’s not particularly Indonesian, we recommend trying La Finca, a sensational tapas restaurant who serves the most amazing tapas and sangria. Alternatively, Ithaka Warung also serves delicious Indonesian food that is worth trying. After dinner, you can head back to your hotel or have a nightcap in the a few beach bars. We recommend doing an online check in for your flight tomorrow to save you having to queue at the airport.
Make the most out of your last day in Bali by waking up early and heading out for a power breakfast. This time, we recommend going to Betelnut Cafe who serves healthy breakfast bowls and fruit smoothies. Everything on their menu is delicious and worth ordering! Meals here range from 50,000-65,000 rupiah ($7SGD)
After getting your breakfast fill, head on over to the beach to continue your weekend of surfing. As mentioned, the surf condition varies depending on the tide so the guys over at Surf Buddy Bali will be able to give you a better idea of optimal times. Whatever happens though, you will be able to squeeze in one more epic surf session before you leave.
If you are itching to go back to the water and get something fast and cheap for lunch, we recommend going to Warung Varuna again. However, if you have a bit more time in your hands, try heading to Old Man’s Cafe. Not only do they have great happy hour prices, they also have the most amazing food! Their avocado, feta cheese, and tomato on fresh sourdough is a big favourite of mine! Meals here cost anything from 70,000-100,000 rupiah ($10 SGD) a meal.
At this time, you can quickly check out of your hotel ready to head back to Bali to catch your flight. Remember to pre arrange a taxi to take you to the airport from Canggu. Your hotel should easily be able to help you arrange this.
Upon arrival in the airport, you can quickly check in then wait for you flight. Remember, surfing is a beautiful sport which takes time and effort, you won’t be good at it instantly! If you’re stoked about the weekend and want to get better at surfing, you can head on over to The Wave House, Sentosa to practice in their artificially stimulated waves. An hour session here will cost you around ($35-45 SGD)
Desa Cepaka Homestay is a good family run hotel which is great for budget backpackers. The rooms are generally clean and the breakfast that comes with the room is fab! For a double room with AC and breakfast, prices start at $20 SGD for two. Alternatively, you can also check Farmer’s Yard Hostel for dorm room beds.
Kampung Resort Ubud offers stunning rooms at pretty unbelievable prices. The location of this guesthouse is perfect for those that want a bit of peace and quiet. Their pool overlooks the rice fields and is an incredible place to relax and unwind. Definitely worth looking into staying here! Prices start at $32 SGD a night for two people with breakfast.
If you’re looking to splurge and go all out, the luxurious Hotel Tugu Bali offers stunning views along with great amenities. Each Villa or Suite comes with a 24 hour butler, a yoga and meditation area as well as a central swimming pool. The Spa facilities here are also worth trying out! Prices start at $476 SGD a night for two people.
Singapore Airlines flies directly to Denpasar, Indonesia almost daily and at numerous times, with a flight duration of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. Depart Singapore at 16:25 and arrive in Bali at 19:05. As for the flight back, you can catch a flight at 15:40 and arrive back in Singapore by 18:20. If you want to catch a second surf session in the afternoon, you can also fly back at 20:00 which will land in Singapore by 22:40. Prices normally range from $600 to $900 SGD depending on how soon you book your flights. Alternatively, you can extend your flights and choose to fly on a Monday, giving you one more extra full day surfing. All low cost airlines fly to Bali at similar times and you can also check KLM and Qatar who have flights with a stopover in Singapore en route to Bali at reasonable prices without the hassle of a low-cost airline.
For this quick weekend trip, a small carry-on suitcase or backpack would do. Apart from the basic items and clothing, I would bring lots of sunscreen, swimwear, board shorts, and aqua shoes if you have them. Rash vests will be provided by the surf school or board rental place.
For other exciting things to do in Indonesia, check out our other guides:
4 Days in Lake Toba, the Largest Volcanic Lake in the World
A Lively Weekend in Glittering Jakarta
Bali Retreat in Coastal Canggu
A Weekend in Buzzing, Blissful Bandung
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