Taiwan Surf Camp for Intermediate Surfers

Upcoming Dates:

• $3550 NZD (approx $2245 USD) per person double or twin share
• $3850 NZD (approx $2465 USD) per person for solo traveler in double room
• Fly to Taipei – Stay overnight at an airport hotel then take the easy 1 hour flight to Taitung the following morning where you will be picked up and taken to your nearby accommodation

Taiwan Surf Camp Overview

You probably haven’t seen or heard a whole lot about the surfing in Taiwan so a bit of background information first. It’s a large tropical island with an undeveloped and beautiful coastline once you escape the major cities. There is consistent swell throughout the Monsoon and Typhoon seasons (when we are going), and these swells hit a number of spots that are all quite different in nature.

Surfing in Taiwan is relatively new. Unlike the more high profile surf destinations, a trip to Taiwan offers total immersion in a unique culture. If you enjoy that kind of travel and would relish the opportunity to improve your surfing in warm water without the usual crowd hassles, this trip would be a good option. Last time we went the locals were mainly long-boarders and chasing the mellow spots, leaving plenty of room to move at the more punchy rivermouth peaks.

We will be staying right on the water near a small surf town on the east coast. A short drive either way and we can get to the swell-magnet rivermouths, 3 left points and 2 sheltered cobblestone reef A-frames. One of these spots was the location of the WSL world juniors and longboard events, look that up to see some of the fun waves you could be scoring.

Each day we will get in the Van and explore the coastline, aiming to fit in 2 filmed sessions per day. When we’re not surfing there are plenty of other things to see and do. The surrounding area and the town of Donghe have many restaurants to try out, there are seafood night markets, cultural shows, and beautiful walks along the cape. Forest parks and hot springs are also nearby.

Itinerary and Surf Spots

Day 1: Take the 1 hour flight from Taipei to Taitung then jump in the Van for the 30 minute trip back to our hotel. We’ll unload our stuff and head off for our first surf session and some food.

Day 2 – 7: We’ll have 6 full days of surfing. On top of the spots mentioned above there are also some good spots further north and also down on the south coast which we can check out if we feel like seeing more of the country.

Day 8: Our last day but the plane out doesn’t fly out of Taitung until 1145am so we can get up and have a morning surf before we leave.

The Daily Routine: We’ll be flexible but each day will probably be something like this….

Rise early for a morning surf while the conditions are glassy. We then return to a buffet breakfast at the hotel which generally offers tropical fruit, local Taiwanese options with cooked vegetables and rice as well as granola, pastries, eggs on toast plus great coffee! After breakfast we can relax and review your footage to get clear on what you can do to improve in your next session.

During the day the wind often gets up so we hang out at the hotel for some down time, or you can go off on other adventures. Some days we’ll also do restorative yoga sessions or Smoothstar skateboard drills during the afternoons to get you warmed up for an evening surf once the wind glasses off again.

We’ll usually eat lunches and especially dinners as a group, either at the local restaurants or at the camp restaurant. There are a lot of eateries that do amazing noodles, dumplings and rice dishes. Seafood is plentiful too, and there are a few options for Burgers and Craft Beers. A visit to the Donghe bun shop is a must.

What level is this Surf Trip for?

“Intermediate Surfers” can be interpreted in different ways, but on my scale this trip is for level 3 and level 4 surfers. You can check your level here

Anyone from anywhere can join this trip. Most trips have a base of Kiwis but often a few people from other countries as well. You’ll have the support and camaraderie of the group. Surfers of the same level as you.

Accommodation

The place we’ll be staying is on a beautiful piece of land set between the mountains and the ocean. With tropical coconut palms overhead, spacious gardens and wooden board-walks, it’s the perfect place to sprawl out and switch off from your life back home.

The air-conditioned rooms are spacious, have private bathrooms and ocean or garden views. Free wifi is available and all rooms have tea and coffee making facilities. There are twin rooms available with 2 Queen or King beds, or double rooms that have 1 King size bed.

Across the road is a Cafe where you can have an espresso coffee overlooking the water. Motorbikes are available if you want to explore between surf sessions. The roads are very good, have bike lanes and are much easier and safer to ride on than in Bali or Thailand.

Getting There

Firstly you will need to fly to Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan.

From New Zealand, there are direct flights on Air New Zealand (around $1200 NZD return). Due to the timing of the flights you will need to stay overnight in Taipei, then the following morning catch a 1 hour flight from Taipei’s domestic airport to Taitung (around $220 NZD return).

You will then be collected from the airport and taken to our accommodation which is around 30 mins away, and we’ll get our first surf in that afternoon.

The flights and the accommodation for the 1 night in Taipei are not included in the package but I will provide detailed information, some accommodation options and will help ensure everything runs smoothly.

Packing Checklist

You will need to bring your own surfboards. A short-board that will go well in quality hollow waves or point-breaks plus a fish or twin-fin would be a good plan. That way you are covered for smaller beach break days and if we see some solid Typhoon swell. Board bags longer than 2m run the risk of not being allowed on the domestic flights, however on the last trip we did get through easily with a few slightly longer board bags. Here are a few other tips on what to arrange and what to bring.

• Travel Insurance is a must have for everyone on this trip.
• The water will be tropical but the breeze can be cool compared to places like Indonesia. So bring a long sleeve wetsuit vest or spring suit, especially if you feel the cold.
• Spare fins, legropes, fin keys, wax are a must. There are surf shops but prices may be higher.
• Reef boots from a surf shop are a good idea and will make getting in and out a lot easier until you get used to the breaks. Get a snug fit.
• Mosquito repellent and light long sleeve tops/long pants.
• Some warm clothes like a Hoody or Pants as it can be a bit fresh getting up for the morning sessions!
• First aid kit.

Bookings

To secure your place, a deposit of $450 NZD will be needed, with the remaining balance due 90 days before departure. These coaching trips book up fast, so it is best to get in early to avoid missing out.