Small waves.
Slow days.
A first surf.
Learn to surf in a little corner of calm and peace in West Sumatra. Five days at Pantai Air Manis, Padang.
why this journey
You don't need big waves to start surfing.
And, you don't need to look like a surfer either.
We've found a little beach in Padang where the waves are small,
the water is warm, and the local instructors are happy to start from the beginning.
We'll learn to catch waves, fall off our boards, and get back on them.
Between sessions, there's a quiet village to explore and plenty of time to do nothing much at all.
Five days to give surfing a proper try.
No pressure to be good at it.
the journey
Five days,
four nights.
Catching and riding waves
Begin with little waves, and build from there
Balance and manoeuvres
Balance, inertia and basic manoeuvres
Reading the waves
Wave structure, and spotting the best waves to practise on
Safety and etiquette
Surf safety, hazards, and how to share the water
Six surf sessions
Six 2-hour sessions, with time to rest and review in between
Small groups
Personal coaching from experienced instructors
Surf video
A short clip to review your progress
Keep practising
Use our surfboards after the course to keep going
Arrive & settle in
We take you from Minangkabau International Airport to Pantai Air Manis Secret Surf Camp, tucked behind Padang’s hills. After settling in, we introduce the camp, the beach and the week ahead, and in the late afternoon you have a 2-hour surf intro session.
Your first waves
We start with surf safety and surf etiquette, then take two 2-hour lessons, with time between them to rest and review. Your instructors surf and practise alongside you as you begin catching little waves.
Up on the board
Reading the waves
We look at how waves are structured and how to spot the best ones to practise on, and you try basic manoeuvres. When the tide is low, there is a walk to Little Banana Island for wild guavas and quiet views.
Check out & head home
Check out and take the land transfer back to Minangkabau International Airport. You leave with a short surf clip to review.
Travel thoughtfully
How we try to do this well.
Keeping it local
They know these waves better than we do. They understand the changing conditions, where beginners should start, and when it’s better to stay out of the water.
We think it’s important that the people who know a place best are also the ones introducing it to our guests.
And when people travel here, we’d like more of what they spend to stay with the local community.
Getting to know the local culture
We’re coming here to learn to surf, but we don’t want surfing to be the only thing we remember.
Padang has its own people, food, stories and traditions. We’re exploring opportunities to introduce our guests to some of these, including the traditional Minangkabau performing art of Randai.
But we’d like to approach this through the people who practise and preserve these traditions, rather than simply arranging a performance for tourists.
We’re still having conversations and figuring out what might work for everyone involved.
Four nights at Pantai Air Manis.
We stay at Pantai Air Manis Secret Surf Camp, with air-conditioned twin or triple share rooms. The surf point is less than a 10-minute walk away, with easy access and waves suitable for surfers of all levels.
Room
Air-conditioned twin or triple share
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners of local cuisine
Location
Less than a 10-minute walk from the surf point
Other activities
Island tour, paragliding and waterfall adventure available
Little Banana Island
Walk there at low tide for wild guavas and quiet views
Local legend
The legend of Malin Kundang lingers in the air
Trip includes
- 4 Nights Air-Conditioned Twin/Triple Share Room
- 4 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (local cuisine)
- 2-Way Land Transfer Between Minangkabau International Airport and Air Manis Secret Surf Camp
- 6 Sessions of Surf Lessons (2 Hours Each)
- Surf Instructor Fee
- Surf Board Rental
- Drinking Water
- Surf video (short clip for review)
Trip excludes
- Flight
- Travel & Personal Accident Insurance
- Personal Expenses (e.g. shopping, massage)
- Service Tax 8%
- Other expenses not mentioned above
Small, slow, soft waves. Perfect for learning without feeling overwhelmed.
Price
Per guest
Price TBC
4 breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Airport land transfers both ways
6 surf lessons, surfboard and surf video
Prices are per person and subject to 8% tax. Full payment is required and is non-refundable.
Dates
Tell us when you’re thinking of and we’ll let you know what’s open.
Questions
FAQs
Yes. It is designed for beginners and covers all the basics you need to get started, including safety and surf etiquette.
Beginner-friendly waves: small, slow and soft, over soft sand and shallow, warm water. You learn how to read wave structure and spot the best waves to practise on.
Ages 18 to 60. If you have a medical condition, or think you might, you will need a doctor’s statement confirming you are medically fit to surf.
We provide everything you need, including surfboards. Please bring your own rash guard, sunblock and any personal gear you prefer.
Safety is our top priority. The programme includes thorough instruction on surf safety, understanding the environment, and spotting potential hazards.
Two 2-hour surf lessons each day, with time in between for rest and review. On Day 1 there is a 2-hour surf intro in the late afternoon, after you arrive. On Day 4, only 2-hour lesson in the morning and evenings are free and easy before departure the next morning.
Yes. You can keep using our surfboards after the course to continue practising.
Yes. Solo guests are paired up in a twin share room. If you’d rather have a room to yourself, a single occupancy room is available at an additional cost, and we’ll share the amount when you get in touch.
We arrange the two-way land transfer between Minangkabau International Airport and Pantai Air Manis Secret Surf Camp.
The full price is to be paid to confirm your place, and it is non-refundable.
To be confirmed. We will share this when the departure dates are announced.
Other journeys
Where else we’d take you.
Across the Gulf of Tomini
The Sea In Me (Bali)