Tired of visiting the same surfing spots time and time again? If you’re looking for a surfing holiday destination which will really test your skills and give you some thrills, we’ve picked our top five hotspots from around the globe. In choosing these, we’ve weighed up the fantastic surfing opportunities with all the fun stuff you can get up to when you’re on dry land (however rarely that might be), so get ready to book your next holiday, because by the end of this post you’ll be getting some serious surfing envy!
White Beach, Japan
Japan is a fantastic country to visit anyway, but throw in some surfing at White Beach, Okinawa, and you may have found your perfect holiday destination for this year. It’s wildly popular at the weekends because it offers the only sandbars in the area, but nearby, there are some thrilling reef breaks including the challenging Aha-Yoko. It’s a great place to get a feel for the waves before stretching yourself to the limits.
Canngu, Bali
Beautiful Bali has soared in popularity over the last decade or so – visitors from Australia have increased by 546% since 2006 alone! It has some of the best beaches in the world, and Canngu is a surfer’s paradise. It’s less crowded than the popular Kuta and maintains that laid-back, village feel, making it the perfect place to unwind after a day on the waves. As well as some fantastic surfing opportunities, there’s some amazing Balinese food to be enjoyed, so if you’re lucky enough to visit then check out the Canteen Café with its cool surfing memorabilia.
Byron Bay, Australia
No surfing top five would be complete without a mention of Oz, but we’re steering clear of the crowded (if amazing) Bondi Beach in favour of Byron Bay. Having rocketed from being a sleepy fishing village into a Mecca for surf enthusiasts, this city on the eastern tip of Australia is one of the best surfing destinations and is also the getaway haunt of many of the country’s rich and famous.
Sayulita, Mexico
For some tropical sunshine and some excellent surfing conditions, Sayulita has to be up there with the best. There’s something for all abilities here, whether you’re a novice on the board or a real pro, and the town itself is pretty awesome. Aside from the surf, there’s some mouthwatering Mexican street food to be sampled and plenty of bars to prop up in the evenings, as well as lush tropical rainforests for some hiking opportunities.
Waikiki, Hawaii
Where better to go surfing than in the sport’s spiritual home of Hawaii? The water is warm and with the gentler waves the rides can be long, but there’s also something really special about surfing in the seas where it was invented. Aside from the ocean, Hawaii is a beautiful place to explore. The tourist information site lists helicopter rides and forest trails among the many activities you could try in addition to the watersports.
