
Time to get your surf on! If the kids want to try their hand on a board, there are some amazing places in Asia and beyond to get your groove on – Bali, Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and beyond. Whether you’re a surf pro or a beginner learning to surf, the schools in Asia are some of the best. Here are some of our favorite places to enjoy a surfing holiday with kids in Asia. Many offer family surf camps just for kids too!
If you are heading to Galle in Sri Lanka, book up a family surf class or rent boards at Ahikava surf school. It's a convenient place for all as there are places for families to hang out (even little ones) while the big kids give the waves a whirl. There is also an excellent coffee + smoothie place attached and lots of great restos on the beach. You can literally hang out here all day long! The waves offer different levels, so little ones can surf the small ones while more advanced can head out to the more massive waves.
Ahikava Surfing School, www.srilankasurfingschool.com
Lombok is becoming very popular as a surf destination for families. Lucky for us, there is family-friendly Novotel Lombok Resort and Villas which offers surf options for kids and adults of all ages...right at their doorstep via their partner The Perfect Wave! Located on the southern shore of Lombok island, there are over 10 surf breaks (beginner to expert) within a 15-minute drive from the resort including a reef break in front of the property.
Novotel Lombok Resort And Villas, www.novotellombok.com
The Maldives is a very popular surf destination for families with kids of all ages. The Perfect Wave Surf Experience is the world's largest surf travel network, providing travelers with a range of services, from transport to accommodation, health insurance to surf lessons and a host of other service providers, to create the best surf experience possible. Their outfit in the Maldives offers families fantastic learning waves from resorts such as Holiday Inn Kandooma (a fabulous place to learn and grow on the waves) to live aboard holidays for families. Another newsy launch this year is the new surf program by COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives. In partnership with luxury surf company, Tropicsurf, surfers will experience a true atoll adventure, unparalleled elsewhere in the Maldives, with easy access to the Thaa, Laamu and Dhaalu Atolls in the archipelago’s remote southwest region. The Surf Pass Programme is available on a seasonal basis between April and October. April is an excellent month for glassy conditions, while May signals the start of the rainy season. June to September offers larger swells and more consistency, while October tends to have smaller swells that are fairly reliable. Water remains at a nearly constant temperature of 30°C year-round. See you there!
The Perfect Wave, www.perfectwavetravel.com
COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives (Surf Pass Programme), https://www.comohotels.com/en/maalifushi
Australia is known for its surf spots, and there’s quite a few to choose from. In New South Wales, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Sydney and its south coast offer a superior swell. In South Australia, great surf beaches dot the Fleurieu, Yorke, and Eyre peninsulas as well as the Limestone Coast. In Western Australia, Perth, Margaret River, and Esperance are home to an abundance of surf beaches.
Here are some of our favorite schools:
Surf Camp, surfcamp.com
Mojo Surf, www.mojosurf.com
Wave Surf School, wavessurfschool.com.au
Let’s Go Surfing, letsgosurfing.com
Australian Surf Tours, australiansurftours.com.
With two locations at Patong and Kata beach, we recommend the more fam-friendly Kata location. Surf House Phuket is the place for non-stop surf action, fun music, great food & drinks, and the sights and sounds of island life. If you’re nervous about the sea, then try surfing here. The instructors are friendly and helpful, and they will guide you on posture and form. Check out the kid-friendly activities they have going on.
Surf House Phuket, surfhousephuket.com
Also, check out:
Surf Camp Thailand, www.surfcamp-thailand.com
Phuket Surf, www.phuketsurf.com
Saltwater Dreaming, www.saltwater-dreaming.com
Phuket Surfing, www.phuketsurfing.com
Pearl of the Andaman, www.pearloftheandaman.com
Nirwana Gardens is conveniently located a quick 10-minute car ride from the ferry terminal. This resort offers family-friendly accommodations, including villas for larger groups, and resort rooms for single families. There’s a wide variety of watersports you and the kids can take part in. You choose and the instructor will take you out for an afternoon of fun in the sun.
Nirwana Gardens, Jalan Panglima Pantar, Lagoi 29155, Bintan Resorts, Indonesia, +65 6323 6636, reservation@nirwanagardens.com, www.nirwanagardens.com
Also, check out:
Kitoons, www.kitoons.asia
Singapore Kite Surfing, singaporekitesurfing.com
Outer Quadrant, outerquadrant.com
Located on the stunning beaches of Pui O on Lantau Island, Treasure Island offers summer camps for kids, family overnight camps, and even birthday parties. By ferry, it’s under an hour from Central, but with the near-empty beaches and gorgeous surf, don’t be surprised if you thought for a minute that you’d jumped on a plane. Check out Little Steps round-up of Riding The Waves In Hong Kong.
Treasure Island Surf Camp, Pui O Beach, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, inquiries@treasureislandhk.com, www.treasureislandhk.com
Also, check out:
Surf Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/SurfHK
Here are some of our favorite schools:
Monkey Surfing, monkeyactivities.com
Newbro Surf, newbrosurfing.com
Star Surf Camps, www.starsurfcamps.com
Lembongan Surf Lessons, www.lembongansurflesson.com
Bali is famous for its surf. Bali has some of the world’s best beaches, where some of the most famous surfers like to play. If the kids want to learn to surf this is one of the best places in the world to do it. Some amazing instructors will look after your kids on their boards and make sure they will be safe and having an awesome time. Surf's up!
Here’s some of our favorite schools:
Pro Surf School, www.prosurfschool.com
Odyssey Surf School, www.odysseysurfschool.com
Up 2 Surf School, www.up2usurfschool.com
Rip Curl School Surf, www.ripcurlschoolofsurf.com
Bali Green Surf, www.baligreensurf.net
Bali Surfing Camp, www.balisurfingcamp.com
Surf’s up! This 70,000 square foot multi-entertainment space features wave simulators, restaurants, two beach bars, live DJs, and surf events. Learn the basics and flow like a pro with FlowLessons or just pose like a pro at the Surf Shop. Watch for holiday surf camps and seasonal promotional packages! This is a great way to burn off some energy. Kids can try to go it alone or work with an instructor.
Wave House Sentosa, 36 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 099007, +65 6377 3113, sentosa.com
Also, check out:
Academy of Surfing, www.academyofsurfing.com
Surf Set, www.surfset.sg
SUP School, www.supschool.com.sg
The Philippines is one of the best places in the world for surfing. Its laidback vibes on the coastline are contagious, soon you and the kiddos won't want to leave this surfing hotspot! The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, each of them is a potential surfing spot. Many of the world’s best competitions are held here. For kids who like to surf, this is the place to go. The beaches are pristine, the surf is high and the fun is abundant.
Here are some of our favorite schools:
Surf Camp Siargao, surfcampsiargao.com
La Union Surf School, www.launionsurfschool.com
Academy of Surfing, www.academyofsurfing.com
Soul Rider, soulridercamp.com
Surfing Philippines, surfingphilippines.com
Here are some of our favorite schools:
Danang Surf School, danangsurfschool.com
Surf Vietnam, www.surf-vietnam.com
Shack Vietnam, www.shackvietnam.com
Surf Point Vietnam, www.surfpoint-vietnam.com
Da Nang Surf School, www.facebook.com/danangsurfschool/
Got kids? Little Steps Asia gives you the scoop on all the things to do and see with babies, toddlers, and kids in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Jakarta, Macau, and beyond. From family-friendly hotels, kids and baby shops, the best schools and after school activities, pregnancy tips and meet-ups and more – we have you sorted.
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