Surf Camps in Bali and Sri Lanka
Hello, legends. Elsewhere runs two all-inclusive surf camps in the two best places on earth to learn surfing: Canggu, Bali and Weligama, Sri Lanka. Both are 18+. Both are built for solo travellers who arrive not knowing anyone and leave with a group chat that never shuts up.
Here’s what “all-inclusive” actually means with us — no asterisks, no hidden extras. Your bed, three meals a day, three drinks a day, daily surf lessons, video analysis, boards, and transport to whichever break is working that morning. Then a night out that someone else already organised.
Roughly half our guests have never stood on a board. The other half are chasing green waves. Both get looked after — beginner foamies to step-up shortboards, 50+ boards in Bali, 60+ in Sri Lanka, and coaches who put you on the right one.
We’ve been doing this since 2015. You’ll book a week. You’ll try to extend on day three. Everyone does.
Where do you
want to wake up?
Can't choose? Do both.
Bali or Sri Lanka? Honestly
This is the question we often get before booking. The real answer isn’t about which camp is better — it’s about when you’re travelling. Bali and Sri Lanka run on opposite surf seasons, which is exactly why we opened in both. There is no wrong month to book an Elsewhere camp. There’s just a right country for that month.
Canggu, Bali — most social surf camp on the island 5 min from the beach
Bali’s dry season runs roughly April to October: offshore trade winds, consistent Indian Ocean swell, and the whole west coast switched on. Canggu’s beach break handles all of it — mellow inside reforms for learners, punchier peaks outside for anyone who’s past the whitewater stage. Off-season, the vans just point east instead. Bali surfs all year; only the direction changes.
Camp side: two pools, poolside bar, restaurant, movie theatre, ping pong, darts. Legendary pool parties at the camp twice a week, and Canggu’s bars, cafe and night clubs start where our driveway ends.
Rooms are 6-bed deluxe dorms with privacy curtains, personal lighting and lockers, a women-only dorm for solo female travellers, and a handful of privates. Everything air-conditioned and en-suite. Stay 7+ nights and airport pickup, camp apparel and yoga come free.
From €55 per night, all-inclusive. 18+
Weligama, Sri Lanka — beach front and the best waves at doorstep
South coast Sri Lanka fires from late October through early May. Mornings are glassy, the swell sits in a friendly 2–5ft range, and Weligama Bay is a soft, sandy-bottom beach break that forgives everything a first-timer does wrong. You can walk out of reception, cross the sand and paddle out to line-up.
When you want more than the bay, tuk-tuks run you to 30+ breaks along the south coast — Lazy Left, Coconuts, Rams, Plantations — all within a short ride.
Back at camp: pool, air-conditioned gym, dedicated yoga studio with daily classes, rooftop bar and restaurant, BBQ nights, Friday beer pong competition and nights out. Rooms run from 8-bed single bunks with sea view balconies to 4-bed royal bunks with queen beds, plus poolside privates.
From €65 per night, all-inclusive. 18+
Can't decide?
Do both!
Plenty of our guests do — Sri Lanka over the northern winter, Bali over the summer, same crew, same all-inclusive deal, two entirely different countries. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you straight which camp suits your dates, your level and the kind of trip you’re actually after.
How it All Began
“Forgive me for not being all there, my mind has found a place called Elsewhere.”
Elsewhere Surf Camps was conceived during our quest for the ultimate surfing destination, which eventually led us to the stunning shores of Weligama in 2015. From Portugal to India to Nicaragua to Morocco, we have explored, worked in, and experienced surf camps all around the world, taking the best moments and experiences from our adventures and mixing them all together to create our dream surf camps. It’s about an adventure, to always explore, to always find new places, meet new people, and experience new things.
Over 10,000 people having stayed with us since 2015. Guests from far and wide, hailing from countries you can barely pronounce, all united by their shared passion for surfing and unforgettable parties. To our Elsewhere family and unstoppable community a huge thanks and we will never stop asking you guys, “Where to next, legends?” We are here, we are there, we are Elsewhere, then, now and forever.
Surf Camp FAQs — Bali & Sri Lanka
Do I need any surfing experience to join?
None at all. Around half our guests have never stood on a board. You start on soft-top foamies in whitewater with a coach in the water beside you, and most people are riding green waves inside a week. Both camps coach beginner through advanced, so you keep progressing rather than outgrowing the place on day four.
What's actually included in the all-inclusive price?
Accommodation, three meals a day, three drinks a day, daily surf coaching with video analysis, boards and equipment, transport to the breaks, and nightly activities. In Sri Lanka that also covers gym and yoga studio pass. What’s not included: flights, visas, travel insurance, and airport transfers on shorter stays.
How much does a surf camp in Bali or Sri Lanka cost?
Elsewhere starts at €55 per night in Bali and €65 per night in Sri Lanka, all-inclusive. Because meals, drinks, coaching, boards and transport are already in that number, it lands cheaper than booking a hostel and paying for lessons, food and transport separately.
Is Elsewhere adults only?
Yes — both camps are strictly 18+. It’s a deliberate choice. It’s why solo travellers in their twenties and thirties book here, and why the social side works the way it does.
Is it good for solo travellers?
It’s built for them. The majority of guests arrive alone. Shared dorms, family-style dinners and a nightly activity schedule mean you’re absorbed into the group on day one without having to do the hard part yourself. Bali also has a women-only dorm for solo female travellers.
When is the best time to surf in Bali?
Bali’s dry season, roughly April to October, brings offshore winds and the most consistent swell on the west coast, including Canggu. From November to March the east coast takes over and conditions get mellower — often better for beginners and quieter in the lineup. We surf year-round; we just change where the van goes.
When is the best time to surf in Sri Lanka?
The south coast season runs November to April, peaking with clean morning conditions and 2–5ft surf. Weligama Bay is one of the most reliable beginner waves in Asia during those months. Outside that window Sri Lanka’s east coast takes over — and that’s usually when Bali is at its best, so we’d point you there.
What are the surf lessons like?
Daily surf lessons in small groups at a 2:1 coach-to-surfer ratio in Bali (3:1 in Sri Lanka), with video analysis afterwards so you can see what your back foot is actually doing. There’s theory, pool practice for pop-ups, and 50+ boards in Bali / 60+ in Sri Lanka so you’re always on the right equipment for the day.
Do I need a wetsuit?
No. Water sits around 27–29°C year-round at both camps. Boardshorts or a bikini plus a rash vest for sun protection is the entire kit list, and we’ve got the boards covered.
What are the rooms like?
Air-conditioned and en-suite at both camps, with fast WiFi and lockers. Bali has 6-bed deluxe dorms with privacy curtains and personal lighting, a women-only dorm, and private rooms. Sri Lanka runs 8-bed and 6-bed single bunks, 4-bed double and royal bunks with queen beds and pool views, plus poolside private rooms.
How do I book?
Hit BOOK BALI or BOOK SRI LANKA above, or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help you pick dates and the right camp for your level.