California Surf & Yoga Retreat: Ride Waves, Find Balance

A typical day starts early, because that's when the wind is offshore and the waves are cleanest. You'll meet the crew, grab a board, and get into the water with an instructor who's watching you paddle, position, and pop-up. Groups are split by ability, so first-timers aren't sitting in the shorebreak while experienced surfers paddle out to the good bank.

After the morning session there's breakfast, then a gap before the second surf or a yoga class, depending on conditions. The yoga is real yoga — vinyasa or hatha, usually on a deck or in a studio — and it's there to undo what surfing does to your shoulders and hips, not as a separate wellness add-on.

One thing that sets this apart from a lot of surf camps is the accommodation. The school says they've 'curated' their spaces and that they pick places they'd want to stay in themselves. In practice that means houses or small hotels near the beach, not hostel dorms with eight bunks and a shared bathroom down the hall.

The school itself has been running since the early 2000s and has taken around 20,000 people through its programmes. It's Swedish-run, which explains the organisation and the fika culture that tends to show up on these trips. Instructors are surfers first, teachers second, and they're used to working with adults who've never touched a board.

Because it's California, the water is colder than people expect — you'll want a wetsuit, which the school provides. The waves in the areas they operate are mostly beach breaks, good for learning and for intermediate surfers trying to get more consistent. If you're an advanced surfer looking for heavy reef breaks, this isn't that trip.

Evenings are low-key. Some nights the group eats together, other nights people go their own way. There's no enforced schedule after the afternoon session, which is why a lot of people come back.

What's included

- Daily surf sessions with qualified instructors - Surfboard and wetsuit hire - Daily yoga classes - Accommodation in shared rooms (private upgrade available) - Some breakfasts and group dinners (as specified per departure) - Video analysis of your surfing (conditions permitting) - Group transfers to surf spots - Welcome meeting and local orientation

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers unless arranged separately - Travel insurance - Lunches and some dinners - Personal expenses (drinks, snacks, souvenirs) - Optional extra activities - Private room upgrade (available at extra cost)