surfing in bali
children wearing bali traditional clothes

About Pelan Pelan, The Surf & Yoga Retreat

Our surf and yoga retreat is surrounded by lush rice fields, picturesque beaches and wonderful Hindu temples. If you are looking for an easy place to unwind and forget about your everyday life, you have found the perfect holiday destination to relax, yoga and surf.

We would love to show you the unique Balinese culture and culinary experience, and let you immerse in the beautiful ‘Pelan Pelan’ mentality. ‘Pelan Pelan’ means ‘take it easy’ and you’ll experience that everything is more relaxed here in Bali than what you are used to back home. Apart from Emma, all our staff are local Indonesian, creating an authentic Balinese ambiance and the best Indonesian food.

Pelan Pelan is also a perfect resort to hang out if you’re looking for a relaxing holiday to practice yoga and pamper yourself with massages, join cooking classes and treat yourself to good food – if you’re not that much into surfing. You can also book additional yoga, mediation, massages or beauty treatments as you please.

Meet The Family

putu, owner of pelan bali retreat
PUTU

Putu grew up in a village close to Canggu, Bali – practically a stone’s throw away from the ocean. His love for the sea bloomed at a very young age.

He rode his first waves when he was 12 years old. At the time, surfing wasn’t a prevalent sport like it is today. The few boys in Putu’s village that wanted to learn to surf had to take turns sharing one surfboard.

Oftentimes, after hours of patiently waiting for your turn, the waves had already passed. However, it didn’t dim Putu’s burning passion for the sport. His love for surfing kept growing until he became a talented, professional surfer.

At 23 years, he officially became an ISA certified surf instructor, lifesaver and a head coach at a surf camp in Bali.

putu, owner of pelan bali retreat
emma, owner of pelan bali retreat
emma, owner of pelan bali retreat
EMMA

Have you ever dreamed of leaving everything behind, travelling to the other side of the world, falling in love and learning how to surf in a tropical paradise island? Emma made that dream into a reality.

After completing her studies in Movement Science (M. Sc.), Emma worked as a personal trainer in Amsterdam. She enjoyed her job and she was happy, but she could not shake the feeling that something in her life was missing.

Although there wasn’t anything wrong with her life, she knew she wasn’t in the right place. While most people spend a lifetime dreaming but never pursuing, Emma chased after her dreams.

She left the city life to move to Bali and opened Pelan Pelan Bali, a surf and yoga retreat, to share her love and passion.

Story From The Founders

We met in Canggu in 2012 and poured our hearts and souls into one place: Pelan Pelan Bali. Every day in Bali is a happy day. We live in the moment – here and now. We discovered ourselves while running our surf and yoga retreat and have learned so many lessons along the road. Because we combine our work with our private life, we never get bored. Working together with your partner towards the same goals is not always easy, but we have so much fun.

Pelan Pelan Bali is our happy place – a place we created for everyone who shares the same love for surfing, yoga, massages and food! We live here with our always-smiling staff that we treat like family. The people we meet at our retreat are incredible individuals coming from different parts of the world and different walks of life. We feel so blessed to cross paths with countless of inspiring people coming to stay with us to experience an ultimate holiday at our Bali Retreat.

Meet Our Team

Emma
Owner
Putu
Owner & Head Coach
Lode
Front Office
Lelly
Front Office
Komang
Surfguide
Dadi
Surfguide
Rino
Surfguide
Alit
Surfguide
Erin
Therapist
Puspa
Therapist
Kadek
Cook
Eny
Cook
Wayan
Security
Esa
Security
Putu
House Keeping
Hery
House Keeping
Made
Gardener
Gustu
Driver & Tourguide
Marco
Tyson

Explore Our Beautiful Island

There are tons of things to do and places to see that will make your Bali holiday a special experience! If you're much of an explorer like us, you can easily add trips and extras to your booking at Pelan Pelan. See below what you can do with us!
Bukit Area - Bali South Peninsula
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Nusa Lembongan
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Trecking Mount Batur
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Tanah Lot Temple
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Biking Tour Ubud
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Happy to Answer all Your Questions

Airport pick up is included in your package. To make sure everything goes smoothly, we ask you to fill in the date and time of arrival and your flight number when you make your booking.
2 days before arrival we will send you a WhatsApp to check if nothing has changed. One of our drivers will wait or you at arrival with a blackboard with your name on it. The duration of your trip is very dependent on traffic, it will take between 1 and 2 hours.

Please visit this website to request for an e-visa, or buy a Visa on Arrival at the airport. The visa is valued for 30 days and costs 500.000 RP.

Its not dangerous! However you have to pay attention, look out for your personal belongings like everywhere else. A lot of tourists are sitting on the back of a scooter, holding there smartphone up to navigate the route with google maps. If you do that please be careful and holt your phone close to your body so that no one can grab it during your ride. This is a common mistake tourists are making. Balinese people are really friendly and nice! Just use your common sense and trust your intuition.

I Gusti Ngurai Rai Internetional Airport in Denpasar (DPS). It’s the only airport in Bali.

We highly recommend our guests to get a good travel and cancelation insurance. Also make sure the insurance covers surfing as an activity when you booked surfing with us.

Absolutely! Many of our retreat guests are solo travelers. The relaxed and open vibe at the retreat makes it perfect for those traveling alone. The shared areas, such as the living room, lounge, and pool, are great places to get to know other guests. So dont be afraid to come on your own!

Yes! We have different WiFi spots for the common area as well as in every room.Can I Come During the Rainy Season to Bali?The weather in Bali is tropical all year round, so you can expect to spend most of your days in shirts and shorts. The rainy season is from October to April, but theres no need to worry—its still sunny and warm, with rain and/or thunderstorms mostly in the evening and at night. You can come to Bali at any time of the year!

First of all, we believe age is just a number. Since we accommodate single travelers, friends, couples, and families, the age of our guests varies widely, from 0 to 70. To give you an idea, most of our guests are between 20 and 50 years old. This varies each week, but this is the average range.

Our guests mostly come to relax, do yoga and either learn to surf for the first time or improve their surf skills. They love to read a good book, enjoy engaging conversations with other guests, and have some coconuts or beers by the pool.

If you’re looking for a place to party all week, this may not be the right experience for you. Our retreat is focused on relaxation, learning, and enjoying the serene atmosphere.

You can arrive any time after 9 AM at the Retreat on your check in date, however your room will be ready at 2 PM

Check out time from your room is 2 PM, but also that day you can stay longer at the Retreat. You can still enjoy your activities and we have a common bathroom where you can take a shower.

Our kitchen closes in the evening. However, fret not! There are numerous restaurants in the neighborhood where you can dine out. Alternatively, you can order in from one of the many restaurants that offer delivery services.

While our retreat focuses on providing a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, we encourage guests to explore the local area and discover their favorite spots.

While we don’t have an on-site restaurant open for dinner, we can provide you with some excellent recommendations for nearby eateries in Canggu that offer a variety of cuisines and atmospheres.

Our kitchen closes in the evening. It’s only open for light snacks. However, fret not! There are numerous restaurants in the neighborhood where you can dine out. Alternatively, you can order in from one of the many restaurants that offer delivery services. Explore the culinary delights of the area and enjoy a delightful dining experience during your stay.

While lunch may not be included on weekends, we provide the option for you to order an extra lunch if you wish. Or you may always choose one of the snacks from our delicious small bites menu, from savory spring rolls to crispy fried bananas. Alternatively, venture into the vibrant neighborhood and explore the many restaurants nearby.

Here are our top 5 recommendations for restaurants in Canggu that offer a diverse range of dining experiences:

Even though Bali has a significant Western influence, Indonesia is not a Western country—this distinction adds to its unique charm. One of the first things you’ll notice is that people drive on the left side of the road, but you’ll quickly adapt to this change.The local currency is the Rupiah (IDR), with 100,000 Rupiah being roughly equivalent to 7 Euros. The Balinese mentality is incredibly warm and welcoming, with locals always smiling and displaying remarkable friendliness. If things take a bit longer than expected, just relax—Balinese people will always do their best to assist you.A notable aspect of Balinese culture is the practice of bargaining. Don’t feel like you’re being ripped off; it’s simply their way of conducting business. We’ll help you become adept at bargaining to ensure you pay the right price. NOTE: tipping is very common and greatly appreciated in Bali.