15 Thailand Surf Trips Worth Booking

1.Mangroves SUP Tour Phuket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · from $55Our pick

Join Tan, and possibly Kate, for a private five-hour stand-up paddleboard outing from Phuket’s east coast. You’ll learn on calm water, paddle through mangroves, reach Phang Nga Bay, and visit a local fishing village. Gear, pickup, water, snacks, and photos are included.

“The tour was great, the guide was very friendly and we had interesting discussions while paddling. I had never been on paddle boarding before, but with the instructions I managed it:) Great experience, highly recommended!”

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2.Sunset Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Tour in Koh Samui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $57

Meet instructor Ian at Secret Garden Beach Resort for a relaxed sunset SUP session from Bangrak or Choeng Mon. You’ll learn the basics, paddle calm Gulf waters, receive equipment and water, and get photos afterward. No prior SUP experience is needed, but you should be reasonably fit and at least 15.

“It was great fun! I was the only one booked that evening so I got some fab instruction for my first time SUP. The sunset over the sea is fantastic- and you get the best view from your board. Ian took care of taking some lovely photos, so I couRead more”

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3.Krabi Stand-Up Paddleboard Illuminated Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $66

At Railay Beach, Freebird Paddle Co. guides you from a 15-minute beach lesson to a sunset paddle under LED-lit boards. Lam and the team help first-timers get steady, then lead you along the coast as bioluminescent plankton lights the water. Good fitness and an early longtail boat are essential.

“Really really fun! It was my first time paddle boarding and I felt very secure throughout. Lam and the other two guides were extremely nice and helped me a lot because I was by myself. It's great because you go at night and water never gets too deep. We saw jumping fish and bioluminescent plankton!”

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5.1.5 – 2 hour afternoon SUP class for all ages and levels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $22

Meet at Royal River Khwae Resort at 3 pm for a private SUP lesson on the River Kwai. Your instructor covers balance, paddle technique, and river safety before guiding you downstream. Beginners, children, and experienced paddlers can join, with sunset paddling and hotel transfers available.

“This is our 6th trip with SUP Hire Thailand, our group sizes have varied from 2 - 24 people. Troy and his team have always accommodated our requirements and approached our requests with the utmost professionalism, care and of course making sure we have the best time of our lives. Look forward to seeing the team next year.”

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6.Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Tour in Koh Samui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $56

Meet instructor Ian for a 6:00 AM sunrise paddle from Bangrak or Choeng Mon Beach. You’ll learn basic SUP skills on calm Gulf waters, use premium Starboard equipment, and receive hotel pickup, drinking water, and photos. Groups are limited to four people, with no experience needed.

“A lovely calm experience and fantastic way to start the day - Ian is a fantastic guide and paddleboard instructor. My first time paddleboarding and managed to stand up and paddle after falling in on my first 2 attempts. Just me and my wife buRead more”

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7.Bang Tao Beach: Group Or Private Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 18 reviews · from $31

Talay Surf’s 1.5-hour lesson at Bang Tao Beach starts with beach instruction on paddling, standing, and reading waves, then moves into the water. Choose private or small-group coaching in English or Thai, with one, three, or five-day class options.

“I recently had the pleasure of taking my first surf lesson with instructor Pop, and I was thoroughly impressed. The well-structured lesson expertly balanced theory and practice, with clear and concise demonstrations and explanations. Despite the rain, I had a fantastic time, learned a new skill, and genuinely enjoyed myself. In fact, the overcast weather even proved beneficial, eliminating from the sun. I highly recommend this activity to anyone looking for an exciting alternative to lounging on the beach!! Thanks😊”

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8.Surfing Lesson in Phuket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $16Best value

Meet your instructor at Bangtao Beach for a 1.5-hour lesson in the warm Andaman Sea. You’ll practice on sand, then try gentle waves with a surfboard, leash, sunscreen, and personal instruction included. Private and small-group options suit beginners and improving surfers.

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9.Phuket: Private Surfing Lessons at Beautiful Kata Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 16 reviews · from $49

Meet your Thai, English, or French speaking instructor at SSS Phuket Surf Shop beside Kata Beach. You’ll receive a fitted board and rash guard, learn the basics in a private 1.5 hour lesson, and take home photos and video of your progress.

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10.Phuket Stand Up Paddle Board Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $36

Spend about two hours learning stand-up paddleboarding around Bangtao Bay with a local instructor. Choose a gentle lesson or the Adventure route, which reaches Laem Son Pineapple reef, private beaches and a snorkeling area. Guides including K, Pop, Tom and Toni have helped beginners gain confidence.

“First time to try surfing and don't know how to swim. The instructors K and Pop are so nice and patient to encourage and teach me. Will try next time”

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11.1.5 – 2 hour morning SUP boarding class for all ages and levels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $18

Start at 8:00 am with Troy, Ohm, or another SUP Kanchanaburi instructor at Royal River Khwae Resort. Learn the basics, practice safely, then paddle downstream toward a temple on the River Kwai. Boards, paddles, and flotation devices are included.

“We had such a fantastic time on our morning paddleboarding that we arranged a second trip a couple of days later. It was a highlight of our family holiday to Thailand. Our guides were lovely - really fun and engaging but also knowledgeablRead more”

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12.Khao Lak: 1.5-Hour Small Group Surfing Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 11 reviews · 1h 30m · from $48

Learn surfing at Memories Beach in a group of just 2 to 3 people. Your English or Thai-speaking instructor, including Man, Mek, Ohm, or Tong, starts with beach safety and technique, then helps you catch waves for 60 minutes. No swimming or surfing experience is required.

“Det var virkelig sjovt, og de var gode til at håndtere nogen som er komplet nybegyndere. Allerede på vores lektion på 1,5 time nåede vi at komme op helt op stå på boardet. Og de lærte os hvordan vi ku klare det hele uden at komme til skade. Vi havde instruktørerne Mek og Ohm som var super søde og sjove virkelig en sjov dag vi havde hos dem. Og så er der god café også på memories beach så man kan få noget vand og noget at spise bagefter. Så virkelig en god oplevelse!”

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13.No.1 Chiang Mai: Stand Up Paddle Board through Mae Taeng Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $71

Spend about four hours paddling the Mae Ping River through Mae Taeng Forest Reserve. A guide such as Aidan teaches beginners, supplies boards, kayaks, helmets, and life vests, then leads you to lunch at a mango plantation. Choose a kayak if SUP feels tiring.

“Absolutely love this company. Have now done 4 different tours through them including 2 paddleboard tours, a bike and kayak tour, and a kayak tour. All tours were different and amazing locations. Guides speak excellent English, were really fuRead more”

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14.Private Surf Lesson: 1-Hour Wave-Riding on Kata Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $39

Meet your instructor at SSS Phuket, choose a board, practice pop-ups on the sand, then spend about an hour riding small waves at Kata Beach. Your coach helps with stance, balance, paddling, and wave choice. Photos and videos are included, but hotel transport is not.

“Joined both surf lesson and racha yai diving experience with SSS, and we loved it! The surfing coach lady was super helpful and encouraging, even the wave was difficult that day but she was very attentive and we felt very safe the whole Read more”

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15.Bang Tao Beach: SUP Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $31

Meet your English-speaking instructor at Arinara Resort on Bang Tao Beach for a one-hour SUP lesson and tour. You’ll learn efficient paddling, use the included board and paddle, and enjoy Phuket’s warm, clear water in a group limited to eight.

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