The week is built around surf coaching. Each day the coaches pick a beach based on the swell and wind, choosing between the south coast and the west coast. The south-facing beaches tend to be calmer and suit beginners. The Atlantic-facing west coast usually gets more consistent and powerful waves for intermediate and advanced surfers. With over 25 beaches to choose from, the group rarely has to share a peak with a crowd.

When you're not in the water, there is yoga in the lodge's garden. It is a good way to stretch out shoulders and hips after a long session, or to loosen up before an early surf. The listing doesn't give a set yoga schedule, so check with the lodge how many classes are included in your week.

What sets this one apart from a big surf hostel is its size. Eight rooms and a 15-guest maximum mean a quiet house, coaching that can be fitted to your level, and a group that knows each other's names by Monday. The lodge describes the stay as luxurious rather than budget, so expect a step up from bunk-room surf camps.

The Algarve also has plenty of other things to do. You can paddleboard along the coast, mountain bike the trails inland, play a round of golf on one of the region's courses, or try wakeboarding at a cable park. Lagos has an old walled town centre, a busy marina and plenty of seafood restaurants. Faro Airport is the nearest international gateway.

The listing does not name the coaching team, so ask the lodge directly who will be teaching and what qualifications they hold. All packages run as full weeks, arriving and leaving on a Saturday.

What's included

- 7 nights in the boutique surf lodge (Saturday to Saturday) - Surf coaching across the south and west Algarve coasts - Yoga classes in the lodge garden - Small group, maximum 15 guests

What's not included

- Flights to Faro - Travel insurance - Stand-up paddling, mountain biking, golf and wake/cable sessions (confirm with the lodge) - Meals out in Lagos - Personal expenses