Elsewhere Surf Camps: ten years of waves and wild ideas
The story of Elsewhere Surf Camps: how two friends turned a wild idea into one of the most loved surf camps in Bali and Sri Lanka.
The real story of Elsewhere Surf Camps started on the south coast of Sri Lanka: two friends, one ridiculous idea, and a stretch of empty waves that nobody else was paying attention to yet.
They saved. They planned. They doubted themselves. Then they kept going anyway. So in late 2015, Elsewhere Surf Camp Sri Lanka opened its doors in Weligama. No grand strategy, no big investors, just a dream, a few surfboards, and the hope that people might show up.
They didn't just show up. They built something incredible.
01 The beginning
Elsewhere Surf Camps in Sri Lanka: where the magic began
Sri Lanka came first. Bali came next. The rest is chaos and history.
The founders were surfing the south-coast breaks from 2014, back when the lineups were empty and the surf tourism infrastructure barely existed. In fact, Weligama was known mostly to local fishermen and the occasional backpacker who'd stumbled onto the right tip. That gave them something invaluable: time to learn the breaks properly, find the secret spots, and understand the rhythm of the coast before anyone else arrived.
Because of that early groundwork, by the time the camp opened in 2015, the knowledge was already baked in. The early days in Weligama were unfiltered, messy, and free-spirited. For example: tuk-tuks loaded with boards at 6am, beach beers turning into all-nighters, endless stories, and the occasional disappearing flip-flop. Exactly as it should be.
A community, not just a camp
Before long, this little spot run by two friends became something bigger. Guests came from everywhere. Many stayed longer than planned. Some returned year after year. Others met their best friends here. Some met their future partners. A few stayed so long they practically became staff.
Today, the Sri Lanka camp sits beachfront in Weligama: 50 metres to the sand, the noWhere rooftop bar overhead, two surfs a day, sunrise yoga, and an included gym. Still the same energy. Still some of those same secret spots. The infrastructure just got a lot better.
The OG advantage
We were surfing those south-coast breaks in 2014. Before the crowds, before the camps, before anyone else figured it out. We still have the secret spots. We still know the coast better than anyone.
02 The heart of it
The legends who made Elsewhere Surf Camps what they are
If you ask anyone what makes Elsewhere special, they won't mention the palm trees, the surf, or even the parties. They'll tell you it's the people.
Because the real story of Elsewhere isn't about an Irish and an Aussie who met in Portugal. It's about the thousands of legends who adventured through the gates and changed the place forever.
Elsewhere was never built by buildings, boards, or destinations. Instead, it was built by the people who showed up and made it feel like home.
- The solo travellers who arrived as strangers and left with a crew.
- The early-day misfits who turned sunrise surf missions into sunset beers, and random weeks into lifelong memories.
- The returners who "only booked a few nights" and somehow stayed forever, becoming unofficial staff, hype crew, and part of the furniture.
- The volunteers, locals, and seasonal heroes who held the vibe together when it was messy, magical, and perfectly unplanned.
What gets left behind
Ten years later, the real Elsewhere story remains the same. Thousands of legends pass through, change the place, and take a piece of it with them, leaving something behind for the next crew.
Over the years, Elsewhere has brought together friend groups that still travel together every year. It has sparked couples who met hungover at breakfast and now have babies. Roommates became best friends. Strangers ended up at each other's weddings. And some people never left Sri Lanka, because Elsewhere convinced them life could be different.
As a result, the camp became a magnet for connection: sometimes messy, sometimes magical, always unforgettable.
A decade of Elsewhere, from Weligama to Canggu.
03 The next chapter
From Sri Lanka to Bali: the Elsewhere Surf Camps story continues
As Sri Lanka grew, so did the dream. In 2019, plans began for a location in Bali, a place that had always felt inevitable. Canggu offered iconic surf, iconic parties, and the perfect blend of chaos and charm. It was everything Elsewhere loved.
The plan that a pandemic couldn't kill
The original plan? Open in early 2020. Then the pandemic happened. Tourism came to a full stop.
However, they never gave up. Years of planning, heartbreak, rebuilding, and stubborn belief finally paid off. In 2022, Elsewhere Surf Camp Bali opened its doors right in the heart of Canggu, shaped by a decade of legends and everything that made the original camp what it was.
Surf. Party. Yoga. Adventure. Community. And above all: connection. The Canggu camp brings 2:1 coaching into the mix, a daily surf lesson, video analysis, and the same crew energy that built Sri Lanka from nothing. Still the same idea that started it all. Just with different waves.
Open since 2015
Sri Lanka — Weligama
Beachfront on the south coast. 50m to the sand. Morning surf lesson, afternoon guided free surf, noWhere rooftop bar at sunset, daily sunrise yoga and included gym. The OG camp, and still the most community-driven.
Open since 2022
Bali — Canggu
In the heart of Canggu. Daily surf lessons with 2:1 coaching, daily video analysis, yoga, and the same crew energy that built the original. Everything that worked in Weligama, applied to Bali's iconic breaks.
Want to be part of the next chapter? Daily surf lessons with 2:1 coaching in the heart of Canggu, with the same community energy that started it all. Just with better waves.
See the Bali camp04 The celebration
Celebrating ten years, and sharing it with you
This year, we celebrate a decade of Elsewhere Surf Camps. Ten years of risk, resilience, surf breaks, chaos, heartbreaks, friendships, and everything in between.
To say thank you, we're giving something back. Check out our Instagram for the details.
05 What's next
The next ten years of Elsewhere start now
The future of Elsewhere won't be written by founders or staff. It will be written by whoever walks through our gates next.
New stories. New chaos. New friendships. New legends.
Wherever you came from, wherever you're going: thank you for being part of this wild and wonderful ride. Here's to the next ten years.
The story continues in Weligama too. The same heart, the same community. Beachfront on Sri Lanka's south coast, two surfs a day, and a rooftop bar with a view.
See the Sri Lanka camp06 Good to know
Frequently asked questions about Elsewhere Surf Camps
Where are Elsewhere Surf Camps located?
Elsewhere has two camps. The original is in Weligama on Sri Lanka's south coast, beachfront, 50 metres to the sand, operating since 2015. The second opened in 2022 in Canggu, Bali, right in the heart of the neighbourhood, close to the best beginner and intermediate surf breaks on the island.
When did Elsewhere Surf Camps first open?
The Sri Lanka camp opened in late 2015 in Weligama. Its founders had been surfing the south-coast breaks since 2014, which meant they already knew the coast and the best spots before the camp welcomed its first guests. The Bali camp followed in 2022, after plans that originally aimed for 2020 were delayed by the pandemic.
What's included at the Sri Lanka camp?
The Sri Lanka camp is beachfront in Weligama with two surfs a day: a morning coached lesson and an afternoon guided free surf. Board and rashie rental are included, along with daily sunrise yoga, an Endorfines gym pass, daily video review and surf theory, and access to the noWhere rooftop bar with sunrise and sunset views over the bay. The camp is 18+.
What's included at the Bali camp?
The Bali camp is in the heart of Canggu, with one surf lesson per day featuring 2:1 coaching (maximum 3:1), daily video analysis, and yoga sessions. The same community atmosphere that built the original Sri Lanka camp carries through: whether you come solo or in a group, you'll leave with a crew.
Is Elsewhere Surf Camps good for solo travellers?
Yes. It's one of the things Elsewhere is most known for. The camps are deliberately structured so that solo travellers feel at home from day one. Come solo, leave with friends. Plenty of guests who arrived not knowing anyone ended up extending their stay, returning the following year, or travelling with their Elsewhere crew for years after.