Christmas at a surf camp: what it's really like in Bali and Sri Lanka
Spending Christmas at a surf camp means warm water, waves every morning, a proper holiday feast, and a ready-made crew. Both Elsewhere camps run all the way through the festive season.
Christmas at a surf camp doesn't start with presents under a tree. It starts with early light, boards stacked outside, coffee brewing, and a surf session before breakfast. Instead of rushing between obligations, you wake up somewhere warm, surrounded by people who've all made the same choice: waves, connection, and a different way to spend the holidays.
Whether you're travelling solo, coming with friends, or simply escaping winter: a festive surf holiday is less about getting away and more about finding your people.
01 The magic of it
Why Christmas at a surf camp feels different
The Christmas and New Year period is one of the most popular times of year at surf camps in Canggu, Bali and in Weligama, Sri Lanka, and it's easy to see why.
People arrive from all over the world. Some are chasing their first wave; others have years of surfing behind them. Many are simply looking for a place where nobody expects them to explain why they skipped a traditional Christmas.
At Elsewhere, the holiday season brings together a wonderfully mixed crowd. You share breakfasts, paddle out together, cheer each other on in the line-up, and end the day around a long dinner table swapping stories. There's no pressure and no expectations, just an openness to connection. So that's what makes the camp feel like family, fast.
What a festive surf holiday actually is
Warm water. Waves every morning. A proper holiday feast. A crowd of strangers who become friends by New Year's Day. That's Christmas at Elsewhere.
02 The table
Christmas dinner, surf camp style
Spending Christmas at a surf camp doesn't mean missing out on a proper holiday feast. It just means the spread comes with a tropical twist.
Canggu, Bali
Christmas in Bali
At our Bali camp in the heart of Canggu, the Christmas dinner blends familiar favourites with local flavours. Expect a generous communal spread: roast beef, grilled chicken, garlic prawns, and vegetarian options like sate tempeh and tofu alongside fresh salads, mashed potatoes, and crispy roast potatoes that disappear quickly.
It's relaxed, designed for sharing, and people tend to linger long after the plates are cleared.
Weligama, Sri Lanka
Christmas in Sri Lanka
In Weligama, the Christmas table reflects the island's food culture. Guests dig into vegetable fried rice, dhal curry, chicken curry, pumpkin curry, and coconut sambol, alongside grilled sausages, fresh seafood off the grill, and fish two ways using the day's catch. Dessert keeps things local: curd and honey, tropical fruit, and second helpings encouraged.
03 Between the waves
More than surfing: the social side of a Christmas surf trip
Surfing is the anchor of every day at Elsewhere, but Christmas week adds an extra layer of connection. Because the whole camp is in holiday mode, the energy between sessions is different. Between surfs there's beach volleyball, pool games, sunset hangs, and the kind of spontaneous moments that only happen when people slow down and actually spend time together.
Some days are full. Others are quiet. You can join everything or opt out entirely. Either way, the rhythm is easy and the camp adapts to how you want to experience the holidays.
04 The morning ritual
Christmas morning, but make it a surf session
While friends back home are opening gifts, you're paddling out in warm water watching the sun come up. That, in a sentence, is the New Year surf camp experience.
Surfing on Christmas Day feels simple and grounding. There's no pressure and no commitments: just waves, movement, and being fully present. Conditions in both Bali and Sri Lanka during the festive season tend to be consistent and forgiving, so they're perfect for long sessions and real progression, whatever your level.
Coaching in Bali
At our Bali camp in the heart of Canggu, our instructors are in the water throughout the holidays, working at a 2:1 coach-to-student ratio (never more than 3:1), so everyone gets real attention, from first-timers to confident surfers. Daily video analysis means you'll see exactly what to work on the next day.
Coaching in Sri Lanka
In Weligama, the format is two surfs a day: a morning coached lesson followed by a guided free surf at around 4pm. That means twice the water time and twice the feedback, with coaches in the water every day through Christmas and New Year without exception.
It's a Christmas gift that doesn't come in a box, but one you'll definitely remember.
Ready to spend Christmas in the water? Elsewhere Bali is in the heart of Canggu: daily lessons, 2:1 coaching, and a crowd that turns strangers into friends fast.
See the Bali camp05 The countdown
New Year's Eve: Elsewhere party energy
After a full day of waves and a long dinner, the camp shifts gears. New Year's at Elsewhere means music, dancing, and the kind of good chaos that turns strangers into friends. Think: shared energy, genuinely good nights, and stories that carry long after the holidays are over.
In fact, these are the evenings where a lot of "remember when" friendships begin. Both camps pull out all the stops, because a crowd that's been surfing together all week is already halfway there.
The festive season at Elsewhere, from Christmas morning to New Year's Eve.
06 Your own tradition
A different kind of festive surf holiday tradition
Spending the holidays at a surf camp isn't about replacing tradition. It's about creating your own. At Elsewhere, we've built spaces that feel genuinely welcoming and social: places where connection matters more than schedules, and where everyone belongs, whether it's your first surf trip or your fifth.
Bali and Sri Lanka during the festive season have something that's hard to find elsewhere: warmth, waves, and a community of people who've all decided they'd rather be here. So that combination is hard to beat.
Thinking about Sri Lanka for Christmas or New Year? Elsewhere Weligama sits beachfront in Sri Lanka's best surf town, with two surfs a day and a rooftop bar with sunset over the bay.
See the Sri Lanka camp07 Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas a popular time to visit a surf camp in Bali?
Yes. The Christmas and New Year period is one of the busiest times of year at surf camps in Canggu. The warm weather, consistent December swell, and festive atmosphere draw travellers from all over the world. Spots fill up early, so it's worth planning ahead.
Do surf camps celebrate Christmas?
At Elsewhere we put on a proper Christmas dinner: a generous communal spread in Bali and a feast reflecting Sri Lanka's food culture in Weligama. There's no obligation to celebrate, but most guests end up around the table together regardless of where they're from.
Is it a good time to learn to surf over Christmas?
It's a great time. Conditions in both Bali and Sri Lanka in December are generally consistent and forgiving for beginners. In Bali, our coaches work at a 2:1 ratio (never more than 3:1) and are in the water daily, including over Christmas and New Year. In Sri Lanka, you get two surfs a day: a morning lesson plus a guided free surf each afternoon.
What happens on New Year's Eve at the surf camp?
New Year's Eve at Elsewhere is a full camp event: music, dancing, and a crowd that's spent the week building real connections. It's one of those nights that tends to produce friendships that outlast the holiday.
Can I travel solo to a surf camp over Christmas?
Absolutely. Most guests at Elsewhere over the festive season arrive solo. The structure of camp life (shared meals, daily surf sessions, group activities) means you're never really on your own. Read more about female solo travel in Bali or how a surf camp compares to a solo vs. group trip.