The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Beginner Surf Camp in Bali

Last Updated: 19.10.2023

If you are a beginner surfer planning a surf trip to Bali, it’s important to do your research and choose a surf camp that suits your needs and skill level.The Indonesian island of Bali is a mecca for surfers of all skill levels from all around the world. It boasts world-class waves, plentiful bars and restaurants plus a vibrant culture that inspires the soul and excites the senses. All this makes it an adored hotspot for backpackers and veteran travellers alike.

We love it, everyone who comes here loves it and if you haven’t been before, well, there’s a great chance you’ll love it too. To ensure you get the most out of your time here, we’ve put together a collection of questions that people often ask us before booking a surf camp in Bali.

When is the best time to book a beginner surf camp in Bali?

You can book a surf camp in Bali all year round. It really just comes down to personal preference and your skill level.

If you’re here for the sole reason that you want to surf Bali at its best, April to October will more than quench your thirst for quality waves. During this time, swell from the Roaring 40s and the Howling 50s travels across the Indian Ocean and meets the gentle offshore trade winds that blow from the southeast.

As a result, surf breaks such as Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Bingin to name a few will pretty much always have a breaking wave. You can also expect to have about 12 hours of sunshine on average per day.

If you’re booking a beginner surf camp in Bali because you want to escape winter in the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll be pleased to know conditions don’t change that radically outside of these months. Sea and air temperatures still remain steady at around 28°C and there’s sure to be some decent pulses of swell.

The main differences, however, are that there’s less sunshine on average per day and more rain, which means higher humidity. In short, you’ll still have ample opportunity to shred and get a tan. But it’s probably not the best time of year to hang your washing out to dry.

What can I expect to learn in a surf lesson at Rapture Surfcamps?

Organizing a surf lesson while staying at either one of our surf camps in Bali is the best way to fast track your dream of surfing around the world.

The logic behind this statement is that our fully-qualified Australian registered surf instructors will explain the fundamentals of surfing to you. Beginning with the very basics of how to paddle a surfboard, get to your feet with the proper technique and actually steer your board across a wave.

With their assistance, it doesn’t matter if you’ve never held a surfboard before. You’ll be given personalized tutelage tailored to your skill levels. This ensures you progress quickly and can start surfing solo soone but that’s not all.

You’ll also be treated to a comprehensive learning experience when booking a surf lesson in Bali with Rapture. This involves teaching you about all the different elements of surfing beyond the actual act of surfing.

We’ll cover how to wax a surfboard and carry it to the water plus how to identify the best paddle out spot and read the conditions. Thereby ensuring you fully understand all aspects of this wonderful pastime and can apply the things you learned here as you surf around the world.

Which Rapture camp is right for me?

Rapture has two separate surf camps in Bali. These are both located on the wave-rich Bukit Peninsula. With our Bali Green Bowl camp on the south side and our Bali Padang camp more to the west.

When you visit our Bali Green Bowl camp, you will feel like they’ve stepped into the Indonesian version of the Garden of Eden. It has multiple spots to kick back and relax with a massive pool and hobby room that’s got a ping pong table to keep you entertained between flat spells.

Yoga classes are also offered and since it’s all inclusive, breakfast and dinner are on us. Massages on request, guided tours and the fact it’s relatively secluded make it perfect for couples. It’s location also means that you’ll literally feel the stress of your work/study life wash away after just one night here.

On the other hand, our Bali Padang camp is much closer to fabled surf breaks. Such as Uluwatu, Impossibles and of course Padang Padang. This ensures diehard surfers can reach a variety of waves quickly and fill their holiday wave quota in rapid time.

Surf lessons and surf guiding services for those who want to score epic conditions are also offered. While the stunning shared spaces, beautiful pool and our proximity to bars and restaurants make it a social place to drop your bags. Great for solo travellers and groups of friends alike.

You’ll never be let down when booking a surf camp in Bali with us. Simply rock up with your backpack, flip flops and an open mind and we’ll look after the rest.

Is it worth joining a beginner surf camp in Bali?

Bali is up there as one of the best places in the world to learn to surf if you’re a true beginner.

For one, it has an almost unbelievable array of surf spots to choose from. Which means that as a beginner surfer, you’ll never have to go far to find a wave. This variety also means that when the swell is up on one side of the island, you can head to another side and surf mellower waves. Essentially, there’s always somewhere to practice.

Booking a surf camp in Bali if you’re learning to surf is also a great idea considering you won’t have to worry about a wetsuit. Not that we’re opposed to a bit of neoprene every now and then. We do offer surf lessons in Portugal after all. It is, however, more enjoyable for some people to surf with just a rashvest on.

In addition, the types of waves in Bali allow learners to gradually up their game as they progress. Start by mastering the basics at a sand bottom beachbreak. Then surf any one of the many user-friendly reefbreaks that Bali is known for once you gain more confidence. Many of which are located near our surf camps.

What makes Rapture Surfcamps different from other beginner surf camps?

The benefits of booking a surf camp in Bali with Rapture Surfcamps are many. Comfortable accommodation, yoga lessons and fun activities on tap plus surf guiding services, for example, are just some of the advantages.

What really sets us apart from other surf camps though is our thoughtful and fun-loving approach. As cliché as it sounds, our staff really do go the extra mile to ensure your experience is everything you expected plus more.

This involves assisting you with any queries you might have, helping to make your stay more comfortable whenever we can and organizing day trips/recommending things to do.

We also run a professional surf camp in Bali that caters to people of all budgets. So whether you’re on a backpacking trip without an end date or only have a weeklong vacation. We can totally customize our packages to suit your needs. Of course, the fact we’re located within close proximity to waves that rank as some of the best in the world doesn’t hurt our reputation either.

Booking a surf camp in Bali with us is a piece of cake, but if you have any questions about when to go, what type of accommodation packages we offer and whether you need prior surfing experience, get in touch with us here.

All in all, Rapture Surfcamps is different from other surf camps because we are fellow surfers just like you. So we know how to make a surf trip memorable for all the right reasons. As such, you can book a surf camp in Bali at any one of our two locations and rest assured you’ve made the right decision.