A quiet retreat near Canggu where arriving alone is the norm, not the exception.
Travelling on your own in Bali is easy in some ways and quietly hard in others. Getting around is simple. Eating dinner alone for the eleventh night in a row is less simple, and so is deciding every single morning what to do with the day.
A retreat solves both without turning your holiday into a group tour. At Pelan Pelan the day has a shape already: a surf session or a yoga class in the morning, lunch at a long shared table, and an afternoon that is entirely yours. You meet the same fifteen or so people every day, which is how conversations actually start.
We are a small retreat in Cemagi, just beyond Canggu, run by Emma and her Balinese husband Putu since 2014. Solo travellers have always been the largest group here, so nothing about the place is built around couples.
Based on 600+ reviews from Tripadvisor & Google
“I spent 3 weeks here, and every day
confirmed how special this place truly is.”
-Irina B. (Solo traveller)
“For a solo traveler it’s a great place to come.
You quickly feel like one of the Pelan Pelan family"
- Vicki H. (Solo)
“One of the best decisions I’ve made”
-Ivy L. (Solo traveller)
You are not the exception here. On a normal week the majority of guests booked as individuals, which changes the whole atmosphere. There is no group of couples for you to orbit around.
A place in a shared room is the base rate, so travelling alone does not cost you extra. If you want your own space instead, the private solo room is a straight upgrade rather than a penalty.
Pickup at Denpasar, your room, meals, sessions, boards and transport to the beach are all part of the package. You do not have to negotiate a scooter or research a surf school on your first morning.
Meals are shared and most activities happen together. Skipping any of it is completely normal. Plenty of guests take an afternoon in their room or on the beach without anyone commenting on it.
This is not a hundred bed surf camp with a rotating cast. Within two days you know the names of the people you are eating with, and within a week you are usually making plans with some of them.
Evenings here are quiet. Most guests are in bed early because they were in the water at sunrise. If you want a night out, Canggu is twenty minutes away and you can go whenever you like.
Whether you’re looking for a surf retreat in Bali, a yoga retreat, or a surf & yoga retreat, choose the package that best matches your goals and travel style. We offer a retreat experience you’ll find nowhere else. From personal surf coaching to peaceful yoga sessions and authentic Balinese hospitality, every package is designed to help you slow down and reconnect. Whatever brings you to Bali, we’ll help you experience a quieter, more personal side of the island.
Rooms are always booked together with a retreat package, and the room you pick has more effect on your week than most people expect. There is no wrong answer, but they lead to different stays.
Twin beds for one to three guests, with a shared bathroom, air conditioning and mosquito nets. This is the base rate, so there is no single supplement to pay, and it is the fastest way to meet people. Most guests who book it end up travelling on with someone they met in it.
Your own room with a big bed, private bathroom and air conditioning. You still eat with everyone and join the same sessions, but you have somewhere quiet to retreat to. A common choice for longer stays and for anyone working remotely.
The largest option, with a private semi open bathroom, an outdoor shower and its own balcony. Bookable for one guest if you want the extra space.
Every room includes organic latex mattresses, natural toiletries and daily cleaning. Full details on the rooms and suites page, and the shared areas are shown under spaces and experiences.
The honest concern about any retreat is whether you will be forced into a circle of introductions on the first evening. Here is what really happens.
Not through an icebreaker. You are in the water with the same four people, in the van on the way back, and at the table afterwards. Conversation starts because there is something obvious to talk about.
Breakfast and weekday lunch are served at a long table and most people eat together. Taking a plate to a quiet corner is completely normal and nobody reads anything into it.
There is no programme after dinner. Some evenings a group heads out for food or to watch the sunset, some evenings everyone is asleep by nine. Both are ordinary here.
Guests come from all over, mostly between their late twenties and their fifties, travelling for anything from a week off to a career break. Some are here to learn to surf, some to recover from a stretch of work that went on too long. Nobody asks you to explain why you came.
One of our guests wrote more about this in reasons solo travellers choose a surf camp in Bali.
Bali is one of the more straightforward destinations in Southeast Asia for women travelling alone, and a large share of our solo guests are women. That said, the honest answer is that it depends heavily on where you stay and how you move around. Traffic and scooter accidents are a far more realistic risk than crime.
Staying at a retreat removes most of the moments where solo travellers feel exposed: arriving at an airport at night, finding transport to a beach, walking back somewhere unfamiliar after dark. Those are the parts we handle.
Our travel guide for solo female travellers in Bali goes into more detail on getting around, what to pack and which areas suit a first trip.
Sessions move with the tide, so the times shift. The shape of the week stays the same.
Weekends are unscheduled. Some guests take a trip to Nusa Lembongan or Ubud, some stay put and do very little. The half day trip to Taman Ayun, Sangeh and Tanah Lot is included in some packages.
No. Many of our guests are complete beginners or have only surfed a few times before. Our coaching is tailored to your level, from first waves to more advanced surfing.
We coach:
Our coaches adapt each session to your ability and confidence level.
Yes. We focus on small-group surf coaching so every guest receives personal attention, feedback and guidance in the water.
Yes. Surfboard hire is included during your surf lessons, and we have different boards depending on your level and the surf conditions.
Yes. Video analysis is included in our surf packages and helps you improve faster by understanding your technique, positioning and timing.
We take guests to Bali’s quieter surf spots around Canggu and nearby areas, depending on:
Our local coaches choose the best spot each day for the best experience.
Most surf spots are around 15–30 minutes from the retreat.
No. Pelan Pelan is a relaxed surf and yoga retreat focused on progression, personal coaching and a peaceful atmosphere.
Absolutely. Many of our guests are solo travelers, and the retreat has a social but relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to meet people.
Do you offer yoga together with surfing?
Yes. We offer both:
Many guests enjoy combining surfing with yoga, massage and recovery sessions.
Yes. Airport pickup from Denpasar Bali Airport is included in our surf retreat packages.
The minimum stay at our retreat is 7 nights, while many returning guests stay 2–6 weeks to enjoy more progression and relaxation.
Yes. We offer surf lessons for children in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Our experienced surf guides adapt every lesson to your child’s confidence and ability, and younger children can start by surfing tandem with one of our instructors.
Travelling as a family? Learn more about our Family Surf Camp in Bali, where parents and children enjoy surfing together in small groups and reconnect through time in nature.
We focus on:
The experience is designed to feel personal, supportive and peaceful rather than crowded or commercial.
