Surfing in Thailand often goes unnoticed in front of the sparkling beaches, luxury resorts, bustling cities, and flamboyant markets of the country. However, lately, Thailand has grabbed many eyeballs and emerged as a go-to surfing destination in the world. With the panoramic backdrop and enchanting surroundings, Thailand is blessed with many surf spots, which will urge you to grab your surfboard and get on the water. The best thing about Thailand surfing is that you don’t have to jostle among the buzzing crowd. Since Thailand is a not-so-popular surf destination, you’ll find it's all surfing spots peaceful and free from the crowd. If you're planning a surfing adventure in Thailand, consider exploring the best Thailand tour packages for an immersive experience that combines thrilling waves with the beauty of this Southeast Asian gem.
Whether you’re a beginner or professional surfer, Thailand caters everyone’s taste. If you’re a pro surfer, go for Thailand surfing in Monsoon months, so that you can experience the waves at the peak. Needless to mention, beginners can try their hands in Thailand surfing at any time of any season. From ideal waves and perfect terrain to eye-popping coastlines and breathtaking milieu, Thailand marks its presence as a perfect surfing destination on the map of the surfing world. So, get your surfboard, lace up your shoes, and escape from your world to surf a new world.
Kata Noi
If you just held the surfboard in your hand and you have no prior experience in surfing, hit the shore of Kata Noi beach. With a high wave of 2m and coast length of 700m, Kata Noi beach makes sure to offer a fun-packed experience to first-timers and beginners. Here, you can luxuriate in its white sand other than surfing.
Patong
Patong Beach is a delight among the beginner level surfers because its wave height is 1.5m and the coast length is 2850m. Given the fact, you can enjoy long surfing without any breaks and hurdles. The unique thing about this beach is that it has sort height waves with a wonderful wind, which makes surfing more enjoyable.
Kamala Beach
If your heart sinks out of fear and you feel nervous amid the wild waves, turn to Kamala Beach, where you can enjoy decent waves at a decent tempo. Yes, Kamala beach is ideal for intermediate surfer. With a coast length of 2100m and wave height of 1m, Kamala Beach provides a fun-filled surfing experience. Given its fair height of waves, the beach is also an ideal fit for kids.
Nai Harn
Nai Harn beach is a delight for pro surfers. Amid the adamant waves of this beach, you can relish the sheer pleasure of surfing. Though its coast length is only 660m, it has the wild waves up to 3m. There is also a beach and reef break in the corner, where waves get really potent. Given the fact, Nai Harn has a whole lot of fun and thrill in store for you. Another good thing about this Thailand surfing spot is that it is never crowded.
Bang Tao
The thrill of Surfing in Thailand would surely be incomplete without vigorous surfing on Bang Tao beach. Here, you can play with the water amid 3m high waves. As you’ll proceed with your surfing, it will get more difficult and challenging. This is what makes Bang Tao Beach a surfer’s delight. Though the waves are smaller here, they are really intimidating and unpredictable.
Kata beach
Kata Beach is the essence of surfing in Thailand. Being one of the most popular beaches in Thailand, Kata beach is said to be the epicenter of Thailand surfing due to its awe-inspiring location. Here, you can experience the waves up to 2 meters and the coast length is 1500m. Given the fact, the beach ensures a promising experience to all levels of surfers. Kata beach is so popular for surfing that it even hosts an annual surfing contest.
Pansea Beach
Tucked between Bang Tao and Surin Beach, Pansea Beach is famous among the pro surfers. Given its narrow location, surfing is unpredictable and challenging in Pansea beach. Here, waves get really fast and wild. Therefore, only an expert surfer can go with them without any difficulty. The coast length is only 250m and wave height is 2m, still, the beach offers a breathtaking surfing experience.
Chaweng beach
If you want to go for long surfing amid the decent waves without any breaks, Chaweng beach is the place to be. With a long coast of 7000m and decent high waves of 1m, Chaweng beach provides one of a kind surfing experience for all types of surfers. The surreal experience of surfing along the seashore of the Gulf of Thailand can be experienced in Chaweng Beach only.
Khao Lak
If you’re shy of public, turn to Khao Lak because it is free from the crowd always. To your surprise, you might be the only person surfing on the beach at that moment. Since the beach has fast and mighty waves, it ensures a thrilling experience for intermediate and experienced surfers only. Beginners might find themselves sweating here.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta has its own beauty when it comes to surfing. It is known for its unpredictable and inconsistent surfing through the narrow shore. Koh Lanta features a beach break and a row of sandbars, which make waves irregular, bouncy, bumpy, and fast. So, surfing here can be a bit tricky. However, most of the surfers easily manage through its 2000m coastline and 2m high waves.
Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is another place where you can taste your adrenaline amid the mighty waves. With its high waves up to 6ft and long coastline of 2km, Koh Phayam will ensure you a surfing experience like none other. Surfing in Koh Phayam is certainly not for faint hearts. Pro surfers can get the best out of this thrilling surfing. The best thing about Koh Phayam is that surfing is an all-year-round activity.
Yes, Thailand is a good surfing destination. From high-class beach security features to good wave height, Thailand has everything that makes it a perfect surfing spot. On some beaches, you can even get the surfing equipments on rent.
There are many places in Thailand, where you can learn how to surf. Such as -
SSS Phuket Dive Free Dive and Surf Center
Saltwater Dreaming - Phuket Surf school and Surf Shop
Phuket Surfing - Surf School Phuket & Nautilus Diving
Surfing in Thailand is safer and more enjoyable because most of the beaches of Thailand have a decent level of wave height. Here, waves rise hardly up to 3-4 meters. So, there is little to no chance of falling you off the surf. If you’re concerned about security, don’t worry. Security guards are deployed all the times in most of the surfing beaches. Since surfing spots in Thailand are less crowded, there are not any chances of crowd mishap either.
You would need at least 1 month to learn the moderate level of surfing. During this time period, you’ll be able to surf in low waves efficiently. To become a pro surfer, you’ll need to practice it regularly. The more you practice it, the more skilled you’ll become. Surfing is a skill actually, so mastering it completely depends upon your learning capability.
The answer to this question is actually both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Swimming and surfing are two completely different and independent skills. Nevertheless, if you want to be professional in surfing, you have to learn swimming beforehand because surfing involves paddling. Also, you should be able to come out of the water just in case you fall off the surfboard.
Only a basic level of surfing in shallow water can be done without any prior swimming skills.
Yes, surfing in Thailand is completely suitable for beginners. In fact, many of surfing destinations of Thailand are ideal for beginners only because they have a decent height of waves. Moreover, there are also not many breaks and reef points. The water is not very deep either.
Monsoon months are the best time to enjoy surfing in Thailand at best if you’re a pro surfer. During these months, you can experience waves at the peak. If you’re a beginner, visit the country in winters. However, many of Thailand surfing destinations are open all year round.
Other than surfing, you can enjoy almost all types of water sports in Thailand including scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, waterboarding, sailing, rafting, and many others.