Bali

Bali is the most popular place in Asia to learn to surf, and it also has some of the region's best known reef breaks. The island's surf runs along its south-west and south coasts, with a smaller set of reefs on the east side. Most visitors fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport, which sits on the isthmus between Kuta and the Bukit Peninsula, so few surf areas are more than an hour or two away, traffic allowing. The dry season from April to October brings consistent south-west swell and south-east trade winds, which blow offshore on the west coast and the Bukit. This is the best time for Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu and Medewi. From November to March the wind swings round to the west and north-west, making the west coast onshore for much of the day while the east coast reefs at Sanur, Keramas and Nusa Dua work best. Early mornings are often glassy all year. For beginners, the sandy beach breaks of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak are the classic first lesson spots, with Canggu's Batu Bolong a softer, longboard-friendly option. Intermediate surfers can progress at Canggu's reefs and Medewi's long left. Experienced surfers head to the Bukit, where Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin and Impossibles break over shallow reef. Choose an area below to compare surf schools, camps and retreats.