2 Day Beginner Surf Adventure

The unusual part of this weekend is the combination: six hours of beginner surf lessons followed by a private tent at a remote Malibu campsite. You are not just taking a beach class and heading back to the city. You are learning a new skill, sleeping outdoors, eating on-site, and finishing with a mountain hike and swimming hole.

I like two things here. First, the equipment, transportation, meals, and camping gear are included, so you can arrive without building your own surf-and-camp kit. Second, the route uses the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, then trades the busy coast for a secluded campsite on a 1,000-acre property.

The main caution is practical: the available information includes one serious report that the activity may no longer operate. The advertised score is strong, at 4.8 from 26 ratings with 96% recommending it, but I would confirm directly with Eat Sleep Surf before arranging flights or bringing children.

Key points to know before booking

• Six hours of surf instruction: You get a full day of beginner coaching, with surfboards and wetsuits supplied.
• A private tent for the night: Camping gear includes a tent, sleeping bag, and inflatable mat.
• Malibu by Pacific Coast Highway: The drive includes coastal views, famous surf spots, and celebrity homes pointed out along the way.
• Meals are built in: Lunch, barbecue dinner, breakfast, and snacks are included, with dietary needs to be reported when booking.
• A more active second day: After oatmeal, fruit, and coffee or tea, you hike in the Santa Monica Mountains and can jump into a swimming hole.
• Small total group: The maximum is 12 people, with the surf camp described as a small-group activity.

Six hours to learn the basics on the Malibu coast

The first day begins at 4375 Berryman Avenue in Los Angeles. From there, transportation takes you north along Pacific Coast Highway 1 toward a secluded Malibu surf spot.

The drive is part of the appeal. Malibu is not simply a place to get wet and practice standing on a board. The route gives you a coastal introduction, with your guide pointing out well-known surf spots and celebrity homes along the way. That helps turn the transfer into part of the day rather than dead time in a van.

The surf session is the heart of the trip. Six hours of instruction is a serious amount of time for a beginner. You should have enough water time to learn the basic mechanics, practice repeatedly, and recover from the inevitable wipeouts. The use of wetsuits matters here, since ocean water can feel chilly even on a sunny Southern California day.

You do not need to bring a board or wetsuit. Both are supplied, which saves you the trouble of renting equipment separately and figuring out how to transport it. Lunch and snacks are also included, a sensible touch for a long physical session.

The wording promises that you can become a surfer within a weekend. I would treat that as an upbeat goal, not a guarantee. Six hours can give you a good first foundation, but your progress will depend on fitness, comfort in the water, balance, and the conditions that day.

The secluded setting may be a plus for beginners who do not want to feel lost in a crowded public lesson. At the same time, a remote surf spot can mean fewer nearby facilities, so arrive ready for a full outdoor day. The activity operates in all weather conditions, although poor weather can lead to a date change or refund.

From the surf van to a private Malibu campsite

After the surf day, the group heads to Malibu Family Wines. The campsite is described as remote and set on the property’s 1,000 acres, giving you a sharp change of pace from the shoreline and highway.

You will set up a private tent, then have time to relax, cook a barbecue dinner, and watch the sunset. Your camping package includes a sleeping bag and inflatable mat, so this is not a bare-bones night where you must carry every item from home.

That setup should appeal to you if you want the feel of camping without buying or packing a complete kit. It also keeps the group together. Instead of splitting up after the surf lesson to find separate lodging and dinner, you eat and sleep at the same base.

Wine is available for purchase at the property. It is not included, so budget for it separately if you want a glass with dinner. You should also remember that this is still camping. The private tent gives you personal space, but it does not turn the night into a hotel stay.

The sunset is likely to be one of the calmer parts of the weekend. After six hours of lessons, you may be ready to sit still, eat, and enjoy the view. I like that the overnight stay is not treated as a rushed necessity. Twelve hours are allocated to the campsite portion, which leaves room for dinner and a slower evening.

The exact sleeping conditions and campsite facilities are not specified, so ask Eat Sleep Surf what is available before booking if bathrooms, showers, or other camping comforts matter to you. The supplied details confirm the tent, sleeping bag, mat, meals, and reservation, but not every facility on the property.

A simple breakfast and a second outdoor day

Day two starts at the Malibu campsite. You can wake early for sunrise, then have coffee or tea with oatmeal and fresh fruit. Breakfast is light, which makes sense before hiking, but you may want to bring extra food if you normally need a larger morning meal. Snacks are included during the activity.

You will pack up the tent before heading to the next stop. This is a useful part of the plan for anyone who wants a short introduction to camping rather than a full multi-night trip. You get the overnight experience, but you do not need to manage a long camp setup or several days of supplies.

The morning is listed as three hours, including time to relax, eat, and pack. If you want sunrise, set an alarm. It is recommended rather than required, and the campsite setting gives you a reason to get up early rather than sleep through the whole morning.

Hiking, swimming, and cliff jumping in the Santa Monica Mountains

The second major stop is in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The plan is to hike to a local swimming hole, take a dip, and make cliff jumps into deep water.

This gives the weekend a different kind of challenge. Day one is about balance and ocean movement. Day two shifts to walking, swimming, and the choice of jumping from a cliff. The hike is described as one of Malibu’s most beautiful local areas, so even if you decide not to jump, the setting is intended to be part of the reward.

Cliff jumping is the part that requires the most personal judgment. The details do not state the height of the jump, the exact trail, or whether participation is optional, so ask the guide before committing. Do not assume you must jump simply because it is included in the plan. If you have a medical condition, tell the provider when booking.

The information says most people can participate, but this is not a passive sightseeing trip. You need to manage a long surf session, a night outdoors, a hike, and a swim. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. Families should also decide whether their children are comfortable with camping and cliff jumping before booking.

What the included package is really worth

No tour price is provided, so I cannot call this a bargain or an overpayment based on the information available. The right comparison is not just the cost of a surf lesson. You are also paying for transportation, six hours of instruction, board and wetsuit use, lunch, snacks, barbecue dinner, breakfast, camping reservations, a private tent, sleeping bag, inflatable mat, and the second-day outing.

That bundle can offer good value if you would otherwise rent equipment, book a surf class, arrange transport to Malibu, buy meals, and pay for a campsite. It is less useful if you already have a board, wetsuit, car, camping gear, and a place to stay.

The package also saves planning time. You do not need to work out how to move from Los Angeles to Malibu, where to camp, or what to eat after a demanding lesson. For a short visit, that convenience can matter as much as the individual inclusions.

Wine is extra, and a GoPro video is not included. If you want a record of your first surf weekend, bring your own approved camera setup or ask whether video can still be arranged. The available details do not promise footage.

Group size, guides, and what to clarify

The maximum group size is 12 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large coach outing, although the information does not state the exact surf-instructor-to-student ratio. Since the surf portion lasts six hours, I would ask how many people will be in each lesson group.

No guide names are supplied. The activity may be operated by a multilingual guide, and the advertised language is English. If you need instruction in another language, confirm that it will be available on your date rather than assuming it from the multilingual note.

You should give the provider any dietary requirements when booking. Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and snacks are included, but the details do not list specific substitutions or menus beyond oatmeal and fresh fruit for breakfast.

The meeting and return point is 4375 Berryman Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90066. The tour ends back there after the second day. It is near public transportation, but the supplied information does not identify a specific bus or rail route, so check the route from your accommodation before setting your arrival time.

Confirmation is issued at booking. Still, I would not rely on that alone. One serious report says a family arrived in Los Angeles expecting the activity only to find it was no longer operating. Because that warning conflicts with the otherwise strong 4.8 rating and 96 percent recommendation figure, contact Eat Sleep Surf directly and confirm the date, meeting point, and current operation before you book flights or nonrefundable plans.

Weather, fitness, and what to pack

The activity runs in all weather conditions, so bring clothing suited to changing coastal conditions. A wetsuit and surfboard are supplied, but you still need practical outdoor clothing for the drive, campsite, hike, and evening.

I would pack a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, water bottle, warm layers, sturdy walking shoes, and a change of dry clothes. These are sensible items for an ocean lesson, an outdoor night, and a swimming hole, although only the supplied equipment and meals are formally specified.

Good weather is required for the activity to proceed. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. That is different from changing your mind late, so watch the cancellation deadlines: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund, two to six full days ahead for a 50 percent refund, and less than two full days ahead for no refund.

Who should book this Malibu weekend?

I would recommend this to an active beginner who wants more than a short surf class. You get a clear progression: instruction in the ocean, a camping night, then a mountain hike and swimming stop.

It also suits people who value an organized package. The transport, meals, equipment, and campsite reservation remove much of the work that can make a two-day outdoor trip awkward.

I would be more cautious if you want a relaxed Los Angeles sightseeing weekend. This schedule is physical and tightly focused on the outdoors. It is not a city tour, a luxury camping trip, or a gentle beach break.

Families can consider it if the child is under adult supervision and comfortable with the activities. Adults who dislike camping, need a quiet hotel room, or do not want to swim and hike should choose something else.

Should you book the 2 Day Beginner Surf Adventure?

On paper, this is a well-shaped beginner weekend. I like the long surf lesson, the included equipment, the private tent, and the way the second day adds a mountain swim instead of repeating the same activity.

My deciding factor would be current availability. The strong rating and 96 percent recommendation are encouraging, but the report that the tour may no longer exist is too important to ignore. Confirm directly with Eat Sleep Surf before paying, then book if you want an active Malibu weekend and are comfortable with camping, variable weather, and a demanding schedule.

FAQ

Where does the activity start and finish?

It starts and ends at 4375 Berryman Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA.

How long is the activity?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The first day includes about six hours in Malibu and an overnight campsite stay. The second day includes about three hours at the campsite and three hours in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Is surf equipment provided?

Yes. Surfboards and wetsuits are included, along with six hours of surf instruction.

Is camping equipment included?

Yes. The package includes a private tent, sleeping bag, inflatable mat, and camping reservation.

What meals are included?

Lunch, barbecue dinner, breakfast, and snacks are included. Breakfast consists of oatmeal and fresh fruit, with coffee or tea available. Tell the provider about dietary requirements when booking.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Can children join?

Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The activity states that most people can participate, but it includes surfing, camping, hiking, swimming, and cliff jumping.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The activity operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before the start receives no refund.