Pelan Pelan Bali logo
Book Now
Book Now
Book your retreat

Our story

Twelve years ago,
I moved to Bali. Alone

Twelve years
ago, I moved
to Bali. Alone

No backup plan. Just a dream, and a feeling I couldn’t ignore

How it all started

In 2012, I landed in Bali with nothing but a dream, a surfboard, and an open heart. 

No plan. No strategy. Just a feeling I couldn’t ignore. I thought I was building a retreat — but I ended up building a life.

With Putu. With our blended family. With countless guests who became friends.

There were doubts.There were hard days. But there was always love, trust, and the ocean.

This is a letter to the girl I was back then. And maybe… a little reminder for you too:

Follow what feels real. Always. 💛

Emma

Moving to Bali

Emma moved to Bali on her own, following a feeling she couldn’t ignore. What started as a short adventure slowly turned into something much bigger.

Meeting Putu

Through surfing, Emma met Putu. What began with a shared love for the ocean grew into a shared life and a shared vision.

Creating Pelan Pelan

Together, they created Pelan Pelan Bali. A place inspired by the calm rhythm of Bali, where guests can slow down, connect, and feel at home.

Putu and Luna in the water learning to surf

What Pelan Pelan means today

What started as a personal journey has
grown into something we now share with
people from all over the world.

Pelan Pelan is more than a retreat.
It’s a place where people slow down,
reconnect, and often leave with
something more than they expected.

And for us, it still feels just as
personal as it did in the beginning.

Raising our family in Bali

Today, Pelan Pelan is also the place where
our children are growing up.
They spend their afternoons at the beach,
our surf guides are their best friends,
and they remind us every day that the
best memories are often the simplest ones.

Living in Bali has shaped not only our retreat,
but also the way we raise our family.
Life here revolves around the ocean,
nature and spending time together.
It’s this slower rhythm that inspires the
experience we hope every guest takes home.

Travelling with children?
Discover our Family Surf Camp in Bali and see how we help families reconnect through surfing, nature and quality time together.

Moments along the way

What makes Pelan Pelan Bali different isn’t just the surfing or the yoga. It’s the people you meet along the way.

Many guests arrive on their own.

Some are taking their very first solo trip. Others simply need a break from everyday life.

Within a few days, strangers often become friends. Breakfasts turn into surf sessions, yoga classes become sunset dinners, and conversations continue long after the waves are gone.

Some guests stay longer than planned.
Many come back.
And for us, that means everything.

Travelling solo?
Discover why so many solo travellers choose our Surf & Yoga Retreat in Bali.

Ready to experience Pelan Pelan for yourself?

Check availability

Happy to Answer all Your Questions

How did Pelan Pelan start?

Pelan Pelan started from a feeling – that life could be slower, more connected, and closer to nature. After moving to Bali, Emma wanted to create a place where others could experience that same feeling. What began small, slowly grew into the retreat it is today.

We met in Bali through surfing. What started with a shared love for the ocean slowly grew into something more – a shared life, and eventually Pelan Pelan.

“Pelan Pelan” means slowly, slowly. It reflects the Balinese way of life – taking things easy, being present, and not rushing. That idea is at the heart of everything we do.

Emma moved to Bali to start Pelan Pelan. From the beginning, Putu built it together with her.

We started small, doing everything ourselves with two team members. Over the years, Pelan Pelan has grown into a close-knit team of around 20 people – while keeping the same personal feeling.

Yes, very much. We are closely involved and regularly present, working together with our team and continuing to shape the experience for our guests.

The same feeling that brought us here in the first place. A slower rhythm, connection to the ocean and nature, and a sense of calm that stays with you even after you leave.

It’s not a hotel. Pelan Pelan is a place built from our own journey – combining surf, yoga, and a more personal way of experiencing Bali.