The Chillhouse - Bali Surf Retreats - your surf vacation with a variety of activities all over Bali - culture, scuba diving, island trips, and mellow vibes

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Living the dream – making it real on Bali

Living the dream is what sums it all up. That's what the owners Sabina and Alex have been doing for quite a while now, and that's what the smiles on their faces tell: living the moment, yet thinking about tomorrow, appreciating what life holds, knowing that karma and dharma don't go one without the other, and spreading love and light.

Sabina has been traveling to Indonesia since 2000. Born 1763m high in a small village in the mountains of Austria (her parents own the Seehotel Jaegerwirt, so hospitality is in Sabina’s blood), Indonesia has been quite a change and it took her a bit to adapt, and now it has become her second home. Surfing is fun for her, so she's not the one who wakes up before dawn to catch the right tide at first daylight, no, she paddles out when she feels like it, and that's the way she is - do it when you want to.

Alex has been traveling to Indonesia since 1998. It was love at first sight. He has been coming back at least once a year, sailing East of Bali, exploring new cultures, flora, fauna, and heaps of unridden waves. He has always been a traveler, and believes that once you've been on the road, no one can stop that fire in you. It is the desire to meet people, learn new cultures, explore the 3rd world, be thankful for whatever happens, and to check out that next headland and see what's behind.

Sabina and Alex have been living on Bali full time. They built The Chillhouse from scratches four years ago, have shares in the newly opened Surfhotel in Legian, and are opening their new place on the Bukit in South Bali: The Chillhill, with spectacular ocean views. Let’s see where life takes them!

Why Bali?

Bali is an island where the third world meets the first. High tech coexists with toothless natives, hiphop with traditional gamelan, white skin with brown, christians with muslims and hindus, stylers with performers, longboards with stand up paddles, shortboards with boogieboards, and fishermen with fashion biz. Island life is laid back anywhere, but in Bali you have the comfort of the first world while you chill in the third world with no rules. Loving life!

Dominated by Mount Agung, the overwhelming more than 3000m high vulcano, Bali is the home of the Gods. All over the island the temples face the sea so that the Hindus pray to the mountain. Vegetation is lush, a lot of rain (especially in the months of January, February, March) makes for rich rice crops, and the life of the Balinese is, compared to other islands of Indonesia, not too hard. The cultural heritage of Bali is immense. All generations and all social classes share it and are happy to be conducting their ceremonies on a daily basis. Hinduism plays a major role in the everyday life of the Balinese, as they are governed by the power of The Holy Trinity - Shiva, Wisnu and Brahma. However, there is yet another very strong force influencing the island: The Indian Ocean, sending its swells on a regular basis, blessing Bali with constant waves ...

The Chillhouse in Canggu

Style, but not styled. Luxury, but not sterile. Tropical, but hygienic. Familiar, but not a camp. All inclusive except for drinks, but no club holiday. We have tried to wrap up the luxury of five stars with tropical beauty, because this is what you expect of a vacation at The Chillhouse. You have the comfort when you need it, but it doesn’t jump at you at first sight.

The Chillhouse is situated about 8 kilometers North of the busy tourist center Kuta/Legian in Canggu, close to Echo Beach. Just five minutes southwards by car or bike are a number of quality spots like Brawa, Batu Bolong, Old Mens’, and the renowned Canggu Left and Right, where you are likely to meet some pros kicking back and shredding waves during the tour. These breaks are so diverse, and that’s why surfers of all levels will have a good time. Away from the hectic traffic and the tourism melting pots you can kick back between ricefields and palm trees and soak up the surf and chill vibe.

Enjoy the sunset from the chill-out bale with a cool sundowner, have a massage, go for a yoga session, or head off for a shopping tour to Kuta – at The Chillhouse you have all alternatives. Those who like being on their own enjoy riding our beach cruisers to whatever romantic spot they wish. Those who like it more comfy are happy to hop on our daily beach shuttle or catch one of our Friday shopping transfers.

Cuisine at The Chillhouse in Canggu

What we are really proud of is our organic cuisine. We get the veggies from farmers in the hilly heart of Bali where soil has not seen any pesticides yet, local as well as Australian free range meat, fish from the waters surrounding Bali, and Sabina’s homemade marmalade. We strongly believe that the MSG-free approach ist the best for the well being of us and our guests!

A hearty breakfast is the start of the day, especially when you surf! No mater when the morning session starts, there is always coffee, tea, toast, homemade marmalade, muesli and fruits. Once you come back from the session, the legendary brunch buffet is already waiting for you with just about everything you desire. Sweet, sour, spicy, western, Indonesian, whatever you feel like: banana pancake, pineapple pancake, omelette, sunny side up, ham, bacon, sausage, salad, nasi goring, mie goring, bamie goring, sauted veggies, and even more. Of course the early morning offer is still here. It lasts until 12:00, and this is why we call it brunch buffet!

Dinner is either four-course, buffet or BBQ. Always all you can eat. The evening before you can choose between a fish / meat or a vegetarian main course. We always try to find a good mix between Asian and Western food and let our chef set up the menu according to his feeling and experience. This is what makes him happy, and that is reflected in the food!

In case you wish to eat out, there is a great variety of restaurants in the close by Seminyak area, which cater international tastes and bellies. Living on a third world island and at the same time being able to have and enjoy the first world with everything you feel like is definitely a big plus! Of course also in terms of medical care…

Getting around

We love living in the countryside, because we have the solitude and rural vibe that we always love to come back to. We can choose to go to town for shopping or party, rather than the other way around. Our daily beach shuttles bring you to the beach, which is only 2km south of The Chillhouse, or you might want to go for a ride with our beach cruisers and check out the area by yourself!

You can rent motorbikes (with surfboard racks!) and cars for a very reasonable price (bike EUR 3,- and car EUR 20,- appx per day), a car with driver costs around EUR 60 per day (including petrol, which costs around EUR 0,60,- per liter). When you go surfing, of course you don’t need to think about your transport, this is our job. Depending on the conditions, the surf level and the desires of our guests, our groups go to different spots six days a week, sometimes even twice a day.

The weekly programme

Yoga is on offer twice a week in a yoga studio nearby. No matter if you are an experienced Yogi or just want to get a taste of it, everyone likes it. Especially for surfers, yoga is the ideal balance, all muscles get stretched, joints are mobilized and activated. Core tension is the focus, that’s the main feature and benefit.

Tuesday night we organize a trip to the night market in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. Experience first hand how the Balinese trade their goods, smell their foofs, see tham communicate and gamble, and feel good in a non-western environment!

Every Wednesday we run a temple trip either to Tanah Lot or to Uluwatu – both of them being the most important temples on Bali. It is an incredible experience, seing how dedicated and devoted the Balinese are, how strictly they obey the hinduistic way, and how gorgeous they are dressed and dress their temples. The Indian Ocean of course just at the doorstep, as both temples are dedicated to the sea.

Wednesday and Thursday are the days to join the boat trip to Nusa Lembongan, an island between Bali and Lombok. Our surfguides are with you and take you to the waves for two sessions as well as to the pristine snorkeling spots. In case you don’t want any of that, you are welcome to chill on the white sand beaches all day long!

Fridays you can join the shopping shuttle. You’ll be dropped in the heart of Kuta and decide where you would like to go. You’ll have a great time, be it in one of the surf factory outlets to buy otherwise really expensive goods and brands for a super low price, be it designer boutiques, or just a cold beer or tropical fruit juice in the center of town, watching other tourists on their busy missions.

The snorkeling trip on Saturdays takes you up the East coast of Bali, and then out on the ocean in a traditional fishing boat. You’ll experience and be in the middle of what you have only seen in an aquarium. Fish and corals everywhere. Just the drive is beautiful with lush vegetation, rice terraces and high mountains on the one side, and black volcanic beaches and the bluest blue of the ocean on the other. It’s Bali.

In order to make you see it all, we organize a culture trip every Sunday to the most important must have seens on the island. The vulcanos, the artist town Ubud, heaps of temples, waterfalls, lush rice terraces, monkey forests and hot springs are just examples of a variety of destinations.

Accommodation

The choice at The Chillhouse in Canggu

1 three floor deluxe loft (The Gerry Lopez Treetop Loft)
4 Bungalows with king size beds
2 Bungalows with twin beds
1 Single room in The Surfers’ House
2 Double rooms with stylish bunk beds in The Surfers’ House
1 Single room in The Chillhouse
1 Loft with king size bed in The Chillhouse

+ Welcome drink
+ Flower arrangements at arrival
+ Fruit Basket at arrival in your room
+ Only homemade marmalade
+ 1 special seafood BBQ
+ 1 special Indonesian night with traditional live music
+ Fruits all day long
+ Afternoon tea
+ Airport pickup (minimum stay one weeek)
+ Beach shuttle
+ Kuta shuttle
+ Free unlimited wi-fi
+ Flight booking assistance

Note: the loft in The Chillhouse is naturally airconditioned, shares the bathroom with the single room in The Chillhouse, and both options do not have private terrace or private garden.

The choice at The Surfhotel in Legian

4 Deluxe Doubles (king size bed)
4 Loft Doubles (king size bed with Couch underneath)
4 Twins ( two single beds, one higher than the other)
2 Deluxe Dorms (three bunk beds each)

+ Free unlimited WiFi all day long
+ Flat screen TVs
+ Aircondition
+ Ensuite bathroom and toilets
+ Welcome drink
+ Airport pickup (minimum stay one weeek)
+ Travel desk and booking assistance

Note: The dorms share bathrooms and toilets, have private lockers, but no TVs.

Terms and Conditions

Reservation and payment

Your booking is confirmed as soon as your down payment has arrived on our account at least three months before your desired date of vacation. Then we email you the booking confirmation. The outstanding sum has to be transferred at least two months before arrival, otherwise the down payment is lost.

Preliminaries before booking a surf package

You as the consumer state explicitly that there are no doubts concerning you doing any watersports with your current state of fitness. Minimum age for taking part in our programme without parents’ supervision is 18.

Liability

You are responsible for yourself during your stay at The Chillhouse or in any of our other locations, taking part in our programme, and getting to and away from us. You are also responsible for your belongings. We advise you sign a travel insurance policy that covers medical costs as well as loss or damage of belongings, as we cannot be held liable. You are obliged to take care of our equipment as well as you possibly can. In case you damage our equipment, you will have to pay for it.

Cancellation

You can always cancel your trip. Cancellation is effective as soon as a written statement has been made via email and sent to our office. In case of a cancellation, the following rules apply and percentage of the amount already paid will be kept:

until 8 weeks before arrival:

10% of the package price

until 4 weeks before arrival:

40% of the package price

until 2 weeks before arrival:

90% of the package price

later than that and by not showing up at all or early departure:

100% of the package price

You can appoint another person instead of you. Be this the case, or with any changes of your booking, we charge a fee of EUR 50,- to cover the buerocratic costs.

Unutilized items specified in the Packages are not refuned and can not be passed on to a third partie.