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.
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.