Bali Best Beginner Friendly Beaches
Catch Your First Waves!
One of the most popular reasons to visit Bali is the surfing, and with good reason! The island has great waves, warm water all year round, and beautiful surroundings. But with so many different surf spots around, it can be hard to decide where you want to start your surfing journey as a beginner. But, is this wave-riding paradise suitable for beginners? Absolutely! It’s a destination to find great mellow beginner waves and learn from the pros.
We’ll introduce you to some of the best beginner-friendly beaches in Bali to help you catch your first waves in the best possible way. After you’ve mastered these breaks, you can check out the other best spots around Bali for more advanced surfing.
Things You Should Know About Beginner Spots
Before we dive into the best beginner-friendly surf spots in Bali, let's consider what makes a spot ideal for rookies:
Gentle rolling waves: look for spots with consistent, rolling waves that are not too powerful. Preferably white water.
Sandy bottom: a sandy bottom is much more forgiving and helpful than a rocky or reef bottom, making it safer and more comfortable for beginners.
Consistent waves: when the waves are consistent, it’ll provide more opportunities for you to catch more waves, to practice and build confidence.
Limited crowds: fewer surfers in the water mean more space to practice your pop-up, improve your paddling, and learn surf etiquette without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by others. It also reduces the risk of collisions and injuries and allows you to focus on your own progress.
Minimal Current: Strong currents can make paddling out and staying in the surf zone challenging. So make sure you look for spots with minimal current or current patterns you can predict.
Kuta Beach
Let's kick things off with Kuta Beach, the birthplace of surfing tourism in Bali. Located just a short distance from our Kima Camp in Seminyak, Kuta is a legendary spot with a rich surfing history. In the mid-20th century, pioneering surfers like Robert Koke, an American artist and photographer, discovered Kuta's incredible waves, laying the foundation for Bali's surfing legacy.
Today, Kuta is still a classic Bali surf spot known for its gentle, rolling, open green waves, making it a great learning spot for beginners. The sandy bottom provides a soft, more forgiving landing when you fall (and trust us, you will!), and the consistent waves offer lots of opportunities to practice your paddling, popping up, and catching your first rides.
While Kuta can get a little busy, especially during peak season, its beginner-friendly waves, long, stretched-out ocean, walking distance from lots of other beginner spots, and laid-back atmosphere with small beach warungs, make it a popular choice for surfers.
Double Six - Seminyak
Just a short stroll north of Kuta Beach, you'll find Seminyak, known for its stylish boutiques and vibrant nightlife. But don't let those chic vibes fool you – Seminyak is also a fantastic spot for learning to surf. Just a few short minutes away from our Kima Surf Camp in Seminyak, you’ll find the surf spots where we’ll take the beginner surfers and where we teach our Learn To Surf School. This is located at the iconic Double Six surf spot, with consistent, gentle waves and a sandy bottom it is ideal for first-time surfers.
This allows you to practice your pop-up, paddle effectively, and gain confidence in the water. Seminyak is a great choice for beginners. The waves here are generally more manageable than in Kuta, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect place to learn and grow.
Canggu
Canggu, with its bohemian vibe, is another popular destination for beginner surfers. Canggu offers a variety of surf spots, and while this place is known for some challenging breaks, it also has several spots perfect for beginners! Just a few hundred meters away from our Kima Surf camp in Canggu you can find Old Mans and Batu Bolong. Two popular surf spots that often have smaller, more forgiving waves, especially during the shoulder seasons. These spots provide a relaxed atmosphere with a good balance of challenging but manageable waves, allowing you to build your skills and confidence.
You'll also find a vibrant surf community in Canggu, with plenty of opportunities to connect with other surfers to enjoy the relaxed island vibes and fuel your body in the many restaurants and cafes around. So whether you're trying to catch your first wave or improving your surfing technique, Canggu has it all!
Jimbaran
Further to the South lies Jimbaran Beach, located in Jimbaran Bay, close to the Denpasar Airport. This Bay offers a more relaxed alternative to the bustling beaches of, for example, Kuta, which is easy to access and has different surf spots, from advanced spots you’ll access by boat to surf spots great for beginners. Pantai Muaya is the one spot for rookies. This surf spot is great for beginners since the waves are breaking in a protected corner of a sheltered bay, with no current and an easy paddle out.
While the waves might not be as powerful and high-quality as some other spots around this area, it's the perfect place to gain more confidence and build your skills, and it's especially great for beginners and intermediates when everywhere else around the bay is too big. Because of the sheltered bay, this spot can also be surfed at high tide on the very biggest swells.
Dreamland beach
The name kind of gives it away because Dreamland Beach is also definitely one of those beaches that can pass in your dream! Located in Uluwatu, the southern part of Bali, just a short distance from the more advanced breaks of Bingin and Balangan, you can find this beach set against high cliffs, with white sand and turquoise waters. In addition, the view of the Indian Ocean and the sunset is very beautiful. Since the waves here and further down south are powerful, it is a popular spot for surfing. While it attracts lots of experienced surfers, Dreamland also offers a variety of spots perfect for beginners, especially on a small to medium-sized day!
Why is Dreamland great for beginner surfers? Dreamland has a sandy bottom and, unusual for Bali being the land of lefts, Dreamland breaks both to the left and the right. The beach offers lots of different breaks and consistent waves, so you’ll have great opportunities to practice and improve your surfing skills. Another benefit of surfing here is that there is no current out the back at Dreamland. So you don’t have to paddle against a current to make sure you stay in the line-up, you can sit and wait for the perfect wave. Oh and don’t forget about the beautiful backdrop!
Beyond the waves, there's plenty to do for non-surfers at Dreamland Beach as well. Relax on the beach while reading a book, enjoy a local dish at one of the many warungs, or simply enjoy the stunning views.
So, there you have it! A few of the fantastic beginner-friendly surf spots in Bali, from the classic waves of Kuta to the more relaxed vibes of Jimbaran. With a little guidance from our surf guides and a lot of positivity, you'll be catching those waves in no time! They will not only teach you how to surf, but they'll also show you the best spots, share local inside secrets, and maybe even teach you a few words of Bahasa.
Ready to turn those surfing dreams into reality? Join our Kima Surf Camp in Seminyak or Canggu for an unforgettable adventure!
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