Bali has evolved into one of the most preferred tourist destinations for travelers across the globe and not without good reason. The island attracts all sorts of visitors thanks to the multitude of activities available for all age groups. One of its main trumps is the near-perfect weather that the island can boast of all year long. Lest we forget, #mamabali is blessed with mountains, volcanoes, jungles and white-sand beaches. Tourists, sport enthusiasts, and health nuts visit the island every year for its wide range of water sports including windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling, and diving. The area is home to a range of diverse beaches from black ash, volcanic sand, powdery white and picturesque spots with caves and cliffs like Dreamland, Green bowl, Balangan, Padang Padang and Jimbaran, to name a few.

I spent four years in Sydney and I was enamoured by the discipline of the surfers as they woke up at the crack of dawn each morning to catch the waves. My friends would travel to Hawaii, Japan, Florida, California and Bali for the surf every year and sometimes they would come home ecstatic and other times with bruises and dangerous lesions but with a renewed respect for the ocean and the environment. Surfers have a beautiful relationship with the sea and they respect nature a great deal. Most surf enthusiasts I’ve met love the sea and they try to do their best with conservation.

The Rapture Surfcamp, is a great place to start your journey with surfing. The resort itself is located off the beach and is cocooned by a traditional Balinese garden. But don’t fret; the beach is a mere 5 minutes away.

The camp started off in Morocco in 2004 and ran successfully for 8 years before they explored other retreats in Portugal, Bali and Nicaragua. The philosophy has always been to have resorts that are owned and operated by surfers and run by people that love surfing. As a result, staying at the resort entails being steeped in surf-culture, as anyone who loves surfing is more than welcome to stay. Frequented by all sorts of patrons, be it first timers looking to learn how to surf, or professional surf athletes, the resort caters to all your surfing needs, and a whole lot more.

The private villa and surf sheds, are a mix of contemporary and antique styling, and offer ample space and pleasing views of the surrounding garden. Alternatively, if you intend on blowing your entire budget on surfing related activities on the beach, Rapture Surfcamp Bali also offers bungalows and dorms with shared bathrooms and running hot water, which are easier on the pocket. The rooms get a ton of natural light, are cleaned on a daily basis and if you are lucky, you might get a gorgeous balcony that you can look out of in the mornings.

The camp’s main selling point however is the attention paid to all surfing related activities. Besides providing qualified Australian registered surf instructors for you to learn from at their surf school for beginners, they also provide guests with easy access to rental surfboards of all shapes and sizes. And if you happen to be a surfer already, the camp has resident surfing coaches to help you compete at a professional level, as well as surfing guides for intermediate and advanced level recreational surfers.

The Rapture Surfcamp Bali also houses a swimming pool to dip into, a pool table to relax around, daily yoga lessons to stretch out your muscles, and hammocks to nap in when you’re not hitting the breakers. Motorbikes and cars are also available for rent, allowing guests to get onto the road and explore the island’s many beaches and attractions. The resort will also arrange personalized tours of the islands many in-land hot spots if incase you decide to spend a day away from the beach. There’s plenty to do here if you aren’t too tired from spending your time at sea but be prepared to wake up early in the morning, if you are serious about surfing.

In essence, the Rapture Surfcamp is a surf-centric resort run by surfers, for surfers. The teams that manage both camps love the sea and go out to surf every single day. From Charlotta (the manager at Cliff) to Shana, Lisandro and Matt; everyone strives to find the best work life balance so they can spend a few hours out on sea. At Padang Camp, its the same, Pablo (manager), Johan, Laura (yoga instructor), Alexander all love spending time by the sea and often spend their weekends exploring beaches in the Uluwatu, Jimbaran area.

Everyone at the surf camp eats together and dinner is usually my favourite meal because everyone sits around with their food and beer and they catch up on their days. The food at both camps is wholesome and downright delicious. For breakfast before you head out to surf, you can help yourself to eggs, coffee/ tea, oatmeal or black rice porridge. Lunch is usually out at the beach but you can choose to eat out or head back to camp and order ala carte. I really enjoyed the chicken salad and the grilled fish on most days that I was back in time. In the evenings, I would grab a tea or a jumbo #bali coconut and hang around with my mates by the pool as they swam and chased beers with tequila. Dinner is different every day of the week with one pizza and barbeque night and at least one local Indonesian cuisine night (my favourite). if you can’t handle the spices, no worries, just let the chef know ahead of time if you have any dietary requirements and he will be sure to whip up something spectacular for you. For vegans and those on a gluten free diet, there are rice noodles, smoothie bowls and gluten free cereals, available upon request.

Whether its group surfing lessons you’re after or private ones, the camp aims to please all sorts of professionals, intermediates and beginners. The resort’s location is ideal as it sits right next to Bali’s pulsing surf-scene and yet guests need not compromise on any of the other attractions that the island has to offer owing to the well thought out mobility arrangements available to them. The lodging arrangements are more than comfortable as well, and the tariffs are moulded such as to allow people from many different backgrounds to join the surfing community. So if it’s a feel-good surf-camp in Bali that you’re after, don’t forget to include Rapture in your list of options.

Verdict: Rapture is the perfect place to learn how to surf, make friends, explore Uluwatu and its surrounds, all while having the time of your life. The staff is super helpful, the camps have round the clock security and the food is downright delicious. There are plenty of accommodation options and all you’ve gotta do is find the package that meets your budget. I loved how patient Kadek was with my surf lessons and there’s nothing quite like finishing your day with sunset yoga with Laura. There’s also an in-house massage therapist available to help alleviate soreness and knead your worries away. Please book your slot ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Special thanks to Josh for organising my stay, to Pablo and Charlotta for taking such good care of me and to Wayan for driving me around #mamabali. I can’t wait to be back and to get better on and off the board.

Quick Notes:

Rapture Surf Bali

Address: Jl. Labuan Sait,
Buana Sari,
Pecatu,
Kuta Sel.,
Kabupaten Badung,
Bali 80361,
Indonesia
Phone & WhatsApp Direct: +62 (0)81337578261
Photo Credits: Shana, Charlotta and Rommy
Mua Lisa Bonita
Location- Rapture Bali
Wearing- Renge India