Thailand
Thailand surfs for five months a year, on one coast, and mostly on one beach. When the southwest monsoon runs from May to October it pushes waves onto Phuket's west side, and Kata turns into a forgiving beginner beach break with a small, long-established teaching scene. Outside those months it is flat.
Photo: Surfing-surin-beach by Swdreaming · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Surf camps in Thailand: quick answers
Where are the surf camps in Thailand?
All 3 surf camps we list in Thailand are in Kata Beach.
- Kata Beach: SSS Phuket Surf Camp, Whale Surf School, Phuket Surfing
How much does a surf camp in Thailand cost?
The one camp we list in Thailand with a published weekly rate starts from $450/week.
- 1 of 3 camps in our catalog publish a weekly rate.
- Entry-level option: from $450/week.
Best time to surf in Thailand
The best time to surf in Thailand is May–Oct.
- Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Last verified against the camps' own sources:
Surfing in Thailand, month by month
Why Thailand
Be honest with yourself about why you are going. Thailand is not a surf destination the way Portugal or Bali are — it is a place with a short, gentle surf season attached to everything else that makes Thailand worth the flight.
Kata, on Phuket's west coast, is the centre of it: a long, sandy beach break with no rocks, no reef and no rips to speak of, which is exactly why the island's teaching scene grew up there. Waves run roughly waist to head high through the peak months.
When to go
- May–Oct: the southwest monsoon, and the only time there are waves. Expect rain as well as swell.
- Jun–Sep: the most consistent stretch inside that window.
- Nov–Apr: flat. This is Phuket's dry high season, which is the opposite of its surf season.
Who it suits
Beginners and improvers. If you already surf well, come for the trip and treat the surf as a bonus rather than the reason.
Flying your boards to Thailand
Phuket International Airport
Airport code HKT. Airlines on our checked list serving it:
- Air FranceNo surcharge
- Cathay PacificFree ≤ 203 cm
- CondorFee applies
- EmiratesFree ≤ 300 cm total
- Etihad AirwaysFree ≤ 300 cm
- JetstarFee applies
- Korean AirFree ≤ 292 cm total
- Singapore AirlinesFree ≤ 200 cm
Air France: 180 cm limit on certain aircraft with smaller cargo holds.
Watch out · Air France: On some Air France aircraft the cargo hold cannot fit items over 180 cm, even though the general 300 cm total-linear-dims ceiling allows more — your board's actual acceptance can depend on which aircraft operates your route.
Surf camps in Thailand
Best-of guides
Our editor's ranked pick of the camps in Thailand.
