What The Duck Backpackers

Surfing hotspot Canggu is filled with cafés serving brunch and massage parlours with treatments designed to relieve aching muscles after a day riding the waves. The village has multiple co-working spaces, or you can grab a table at an oceanfront café and work as you watch the waves crash onto volcanic black sands. Surrounded by terraced ride paddies, Canggu has a traditional Balinese charm, a young, energetic spirit and a laid-back local community.

Hostels in Canggu make the most of their natural environment, focusing on the balmy Balinese weather and outdoor lifestyle. You can stay in a jungle-themed hostel, a yoga hostel with its own shala studio or a Canggu hostel with a Mediterranean-inspired pool complete with an artificial sand beach and swing. Many have outdoor pools lined with sunloungers, as well as bikes, scooters and surfboards to hire. Look out for Canggu hostels with on-site bars serving fresh juices, cocktails and the popular Bintang beer from dawn 'til dusk.

Canggu comprises three main areas, each with its own beach. The main hub with cafés, shops and bars, including the iconic Old Man’s Bar, is Batu Bolong – the place to stay if you want to be at the heart of the action. Berawa, which is further along the waterfront towards Seminyak, is home to Finn’s Beach Club. Echo Beach, located to the north on the way to Tanah Lot, is a more chilled-out option with co-working spaces, gelato bars and spas.

The main activities are based around surf, seaside and wellbeing. Sign up for a surfing camp to learn the basics, or, if you’re experienced, you can head straight out into the breaks. Yogis have plenty of options from individual classes to full detox treatments and coaching sessions. Tanah Lot, the Hindu temple perched on a rocky outcrop, is only a 20-minute scooter ride away, and neighbouring beach town Seminyak to the south is well worth a visit.

While it’s easy enough to make your way around Canggu on foot, you can also hire a bike or scooter if you want to get out to explore the surrounding beaches and rice paddies. Public transport options are limited, so taxis or private transfers from the airport are your best bet and take about 45 minutes. Private transfers can also connect you to other destinations across the island, such as Ubud, Seminyak and Kuta.