Top 10 Surf Trip Ideas For Fall

For most surfers, nothing beats surfing in the fall.

It’s the only time of year when surfers could enjoy crisp mornings, offshore winds, cooler water, and a mix of swells.

Plus, there are fewer tourists, which lets you enjoy the waves more!

There are lots of good places to surf this fall and in case you are looking to jump start you surf trip idea brainstorm we put together this quick list of options.

Here are some of the top and the best surf trips you should definitely consider this fall.

California

Fall is indeed the best time for surfers to visit the Golden State. Aside from the magnificent warm weather and water, you can enjoy endless morning offshores, evening glass-offs, and swells from every angle! And since kids are back to school and summer is over, most beaches in the state are less crowded giving you more space to enjoy the waves.

This is surely the perfect time to go surfing as waves are continuously forming, beach breaks are still peaky and points are still holding. Everything you missed to enjoy in the summer, you can definitely indulge all by yourself this fall – well, with several other surfers who have the same plan in mind.

Some of the best beaches you could go to in California this fall include Malibu, the Zuma Beach, Leo Carillo, and Topanga. These all promise amazing waves throughout the fall season, which you can enjoy without the usual crowds during summer.

Southwest France

Fall is definitely the best time to surf in Southwest France. Most of the tourists have already left, leaving you alone with the lines of swells and beachbreaks. It is most advisable for surfers to visit in September, when weather patterns are shifting resulting to low-pressure systems in the North Atlantic, which creates continuous swells in France’s beaches and shores.

If you’re looking for the perfect waves, Southwest France will never fail you. You can enjoy green beachbreak barrels, solid rock shelf peaks, and the best rivermouth! And if you’re too tired to surf, you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy France’s fine wine, and the gorgeous women lounging around the beach.

Our bros at Wave Tribe put together a complete surf guide on Southern France, you can download it for free here.

Northern Spain

If you want to visit Spain, do that during fall and you’ll be rewarded with endless swells and waves including one of the best waves on the planet that you can catch at the Mundaka beach. Plus, the weather is perfectly warm during the fall season, helping you enjoy your surfing more.

While there are an endless number of tourists milling in Spain’s beaches, you can still have the waves all for yourself early in the week as there are few people during these days. Aside from the Mundaka beach, there are other beaches that you could visit in Spain in the fall – Playa de los Caballos, Isla de Santa Marina, Menakoz, Bakio, Roca Puta, and Playa de la Zurriola.

Scotland

When speaking about surfing and waves, it’s impossible not to mention Scotland. It’s only of the most stunning surf destinations on the planet and is always among the top surf spots everywhere.

The best months to visit the country for surfing are September, October, and November when there is warmer water temperatures and mellow weather. When winds are stable, you can be assured that continuous and undisturbed swells.

When considering going in Spain, consider the beaches of Europie, Sandwood Bay, Torrisdale, Melvich, Sandside Bay, Brims Ness, Pease Bay, Thurso East, and Gills Bay.

Portugal

Portugal is perfectly situated so it can pick up everything that the Atlantic Ocean sends its way. So, if you want super consistent waves and swells all year round, you should definitely check out Portugal.

If you loved 4-6 foot waves in the country in summer, you will surely enjoy even bigger waves in fall and spring, ranging up to 8 feet high. Weather during the fall season in Portugal is generally stable with the North Atlantic low pressure cells sending lines of groundswells throughout the day.

Baja California

If you can’t find a nice enough less crowded place in California to surf, you can opt to continue to Baja California. It is part of the northwestern state of Mexico and is just south of the border of California.

Baja California is a popular tourist spot especially in summer when it could get very crowded. So if you want to enjoy waves all to yourself, visit the place during fall when tourists are starting to go home, the lingering summer gloom has lifted, and winds start blowing offshore.

You’ll enjoy south swells along with north swells, which are just starting up. Some of the hottest surf spots in Baja California that you might want to consider include Baja Malibu, San Miguel, and Isla Natividad.

Canada

Even though Canada is most famous for its cold climate, there are still some places for a good surf in the country. Basically, most surfers seek out Canada’s lakes and rivers. Plus, there are sections of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean that could be accessed in Canada for the best surfing opportunities.

Some of the best places for surfing in Canada include Toronto, Lawrencetown Beach, Ingonish Beach, Kincardine, and Lake Superior. During fall, one of the best places to surf in the country is Nootka Island. However, its aggressive waves are not recommended for beginners.

Ireland

Fall months in Ireland are from September to November. This are the perfect months when the North Atlantic starts sending low pressure systems to the country’s beaches.

The best part of surfing in Ireland during these months is the warm weather and fewer tourists, making accommodation plentiful and cheaper. During your stay, expect at least one solid double overhead swell. Ireland’s beaches have never failed.

Taiwan

There are lots of surfing spots in Taiwan these include Daxi, Honeymoon Bay, Fulong Beach, South Bay, Shanyuan Resort Beach, and Jia le Shuei. Every part of Taiwan, there is continuous swells and breaks especially in the North coast where there are amazing rips to challenge every surfer. Taiwan’s fine surfing condition is a result of the monsoon weather and a consistent ocean swell.

Japan

Despite its relatively smaller size than other countries, Japan still boasts of admirable surfable points that sometimes produce world class waves. Among the many surfing spots in the country are primary found in Chiba, Shonan, and Shizuoka. If you’re looking for Indo class waves with reef break options, Japan is definitely where you should be.

If you need some great gear for your trip check out wavetribe.com