2 Day Beginner Surf Adventure

The best part of this two-day outing is the mix of surf lessons and coastal camping. You spend a full day near Malibu learning the basics in the water, then sleep in a private tent on a large rural property instead of returning to Los Angeles. The next morning brings breakfast, a hike, and a chance to jump into a natural swimming hole.

I like that the price, whatever it is when you book, is meant to cover the costly pieces: six hours of instruction, boards, wetsuits, transport, camping gear, and three meals. I also like the small-group limit of 12, though the surfing group may be smaller. The major concern is serious: one recent booking report says the experience may no longer operate, despite its strong 4.8 rating from 26 reviews and 96 percent recommendation rate. Confirm availability directly before arranging flights or family plans.

Key points to know before booking

• Six hours in the water: This is more than a quick first lesson, with enough scheduled time to work on standing, balance, and basic surf technique.
• A private tent at Malibu Family Wines: Your overnight stay includes a tent, sleeping bag, and inflatable mat on a remote 1,000-acre property.
• Meals are built in: Dinner, breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee or tea, oatmeal, and fresh fruit are included.
• Malibu by Pacific Coast Highway: The drive follows the famous coastal road, with views of surf spots and celebrity homes.
• A second active day: After breakfast and camp pack-up, you hike in the Santa Monica Mountains and swim or jump into a deep pool.
• Check that it is operating: The supplied booking record includes a warning that the trip may no longer exist, so confirmation matters more than the attractive schedule.

A surf weekend with a real overnight stay

This is not a simple two-hour beach lesson. It is planned as a compact outdoor weekend, combining surfing, food, camping, a coastal drive, and a mountain hike. That combination gives you a fuller taste of the Malibu area than a single activity can provide.

You meet at 4375 Berryman Avenue in Los Angeles, then travel by provided transport toward Malibu. The maximum group size is 12, which should keep the trip more personal than a large coach outing. It also means you will spend two days with the same small group, sharing the practical jobs of packing, eating, and getting ready for the next activity.

The schedule is active but not packed with sightseeing stops. Most of Day 1 belongs to surfing. The overnight camp takes up the evening, and Day 2 moves from breakfast to hiking and swimming. If you want a polished hotel weekend with long meals and spare time, this is not the right shape of trip. If you want to try several outdoor activities without arranging each piece yourself, the format makes sense.

One important point comes before all the fun: verify that the experience is currently running. The available information includes a one-star report from a customer who said the activity was no longer available and had caused major disruption after arranging a family trip to Los Angeles. That warning conflicts with the otherwise excellent rating, but it cannot be brushed aside. Ask the provider to confirm the date, meeting point, transport, and overnight arrangements before you commit to nonrefundable travel.

Day 1: Pacific Coast Highway and six hours of surf practice

The day begins with the drive up Pacific Coast Highway 1. The road through Malibu is part of the appeal. Your guide points out well-known surf breaks and celebrity homes as you head toward a more secluded place for the lesson.

The drive gives the day some local character, but do not confuse it with a dedicated sightseeing tour. The focus is getting you to the surf spot and giving you time in the water. Any coastal views or home-spotting commentary are an added benefit rather than the main event.

The surfing session is the heart of the program. Six hours of instruction is a substantial amount for a first-timer. You have time to learn how to handle the board, practice getting up, and repeat the basic movements instead of rushing through one short lesson. The exact teaching sequence and breaks are not specified, so you should expect a full outdoor session rather than a tightly timed classroom course.

All required surf equipment is included. That means a board and wetsuit are supplied, which saves you from renting unfamiliar gear or trying to bring bulky equipment from home. The wetsuit matters on the California coast, where the water can feel cool even on a sunny day.

For a beginner, six hours can be both useful and tiring. You will probably get more from the lesson if you treat it as practice, not a promise that you will surf confidently by lunchtime. Beginners need time to become comfortable lying on the board, paddling, balancing, and standing. Conditions may affect how much progress you make, and the activity operates in all weather conditions unless poor weather forces a cancellation.

Bring suitable clothing for time outside, and expect your clothes to get wet or sandy. The operator asks you to report medical conditions and dietary needs when booking. That is worth doing early, especially since the day includes prolonged physical activity and the next day includes a hike and water stop.

Evening at Malibu Family Wines

After surfing, you head to Malibu Family Wines, a large 1,000-acre property used as the overnight campsite. The schedule describes a remote camp reserved for the group, with private tents rather than a shared shelter.

Your camping equipment is provided: a private tent, sleeping bag, and inflatable mat. This is a useful middle ground for visitors who want a night outdoors but do not want to fly with a tent or buy a full camping kit for one weekend.

The evening includes setting up camp, relaxing, cooking a barbecue dinner, and watching the sunset. Dinner is included, as are snacks. Wine can be purchased separately at the property, but it is not part of the included package. That distinction matters if you are comparing the overall value. You have an optional local drink to buy, not a complimentary tasting or open bar.

The campsite sounds remote, but the exact facilities are not described. Do not assume hotel-style bathrooms, showers, power, or a full kitchen unless the provider confirms them. Ask about toilet access, charging phones, luggage storage, and what kind of clothing works best at night. The supplied details confirm the tent, sleeping bag, and mat, but not the wider camping setup.

I like this part because it creates a pause after the long surf session. You are not simply transported back to the city after the lesson. You have an evening to eat, watch the light change, and sleep close to the coast. The tradeoff is that camping always demands a little tolerance for dirt, changing temperatures, and basic comforts.

Day 2: Coffee, oatmeal, and a quiet camp morning

The second morning starts at Malibu Family Wines. Coffee or tea is provided, along with a light breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruit. Sunrise is recommended, so early risers can enjoy the property before the group packs up.

This is a simple breakfast, not a large hotel buffet. That is perfectly reasonable after a night outdoors and before a hike, but it may not suit you if you need a substantial morning meal. Tell the operator about dietary requirements at the time of booking rather than waiting until arrival.

You then pack away the tents and prepare for the next activity. The schedule allows about three hours at the campsite, including breakfast and packing. That leaves enough time for a slower morning, but not an entire free half-day.

The inclusion of the tent and camping reservations removes much of the planning work. You do not have to search for a campsite near Malibu, buy bedding, or work out how to move from the surf beach to the overnight property. That convenience is part of the value, especially for visitors without a car.

Santa Monica Mountains hike and swimming hole

The final major stop is in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. You head to a local hiking area, then take a swim or jump from a cliff into a deep swimming hole.

This section adds a completely different setting to the weekend. After the open coast and surfboard work, you get a wooded mountain route and inland water. The hike is described as one of the most scenic local walks in Malibu, but the specific trail name, distance, elevation gain, and swimming-hole conditions are not provided.

That missing detail is important. Ask the guide how strenuous the route is and what footwear is recommended. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not promise that every person will be comfortable with uneven ground, a hike, or a jump into deep water.

You should also treat the cliff jump as an option, not an obligation. A person can enjoy the hike and assess the water on arrival. Never jump until the guide has confirmed the depth and safe entry point for current conditions. The description makes clear that the stop involves deep water, but it does not provide exact safety details.

The timing is listed as about three hours. That includes the hike and the swimming-hole stop, so the pace may be fairly active. You will want swimwear, a towel, secure shoes, and clothing that works for walking. Because equipment lists can change, confirm what you need to bring before departure.

What the package includes, and what that means for value

No tour price is supplied here, so I cannot call it cheap or expensive. I can still assess what you are paying for. The package includes:

• Transportation from the Los Angeles meeting point and back
• Six hours of surfing instruction
• Surfboards and wetsuits
• A private tent, sleeping bag, and inflatable mat
• Camping reservations
• Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and snacks
• Coffee or tea at the camp

That is a good bundle for someone who would otherwise need to arrange a surf school, board rental, wetsuit, campsite, transport, meals, and a mountain outing. The value improves if you are visiting without a car or have limited time in Los Angeles.

Lunch is included, though the schedule does not clearly state when it is served or which day it covers. Dinner is the barbecue on Day 1, and breakfast is the oatmeal and fruit on Day 2. Ask about lunch timing and menu details if food planning matters to you.

The main extra cost listed is the GoPro video. It is not included, so do not assume you will receive recordings of your surf attempts. Wine is also available for purchase at Malibu Family Wines and is separate from the tour cost.

The small group is another part of the value. The maximum is 12 people, and the surf lesson may have a smaller working group depending on how the operator organizes the session. A group of this size can make transport and camp life manageable, though you will still need to share the general schedule and outdoor space.

Who will get the most from this weekend

I would choose this for a first-time surfer who wants more than a lesson but less planning. You get repeated practice, gear, transport, and a night outdoors in one booking. It also suits a visitor who wants to see more of Malibu than the usual beach stop.

It works well for active adults and families with older children, provided everyone under 18 is accompanied by an adult. The operator says most people can participate, but the schedule still calls for a full surf session, a hike, and a water activity. Fitness, comfort in the ocean, and comfort with camping all matter.

I would be more cautious about booking it for someone who needs a quiet, low-effort break. Six hours of surf instruction can leave a beginner tired, and the second day does not offer a lazy morning followed by a short walk. The cliff jump may also be unsuitable for anyone uneasy around deep water.

The experience is offered in English, and the guide may be multilingual. That could help a mixed-language group, but you should not assume that every part of the instruction will be available in a language other than English.

Practical details before you commit

The meeting point is 4375 Berryman Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90066. The activity ends back at that same meeting point, so you need to plan your hotel transfers around both departure and return.

The location is near public transportation, but transport details from your hotel are not included. Check the first meeting time carefully, especially if you are staying far from the starting point. The exact surf beach and campsite are not supplied in advance, so the meeting point is your key fixed location.

The activity operates in all weather conditions, and you are told to dress appropriately. Poor weather can lead to cancellation, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is useful, but it does not remove the risk of changing plans around California weather.

The standard cancellation terms are strict. Cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. Cancel two to six full days before the start for a 50 percent refund. Within two full days, you receive no refund, and changes are not accepted. Because one booking report raises an availability concern, I would confirm operation before making other arrangements and keep written confirmation.

Is this two-day surf adventure worth booking?

The planned experience is appealing: surf for a full day, camp on a private coastal property, eat included meals, then hike and swim in the Santa Monica Mountains. For a beginner who wants an active weekend and does not own outdoor gear, the package covers a lot.

But I would not book it blindly. The strong rating of 4.8 from 26 reviews and 96 percent recommendation rate is encouraging, yet the report saying the experience no longer exists is a major warning. Contact Eat Sleep Surf and confirm that your exact date is operating, that the meeting point is correct, and that the campsite and transport are secured.

Book only after that check. If the trip is confirmed, you enjoy outdoor activity, and you are comfortable with basic camping and deep-water swimming, it could be a memorable way to meet Malibu beyond the usual city tour. If the provider cannot confirm it clearly, choose a currently operating surf lesson and arrange the camping separately.

FAQ

Where does the experience begin and end?

It begins at 4375 Berryman Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90066, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the surf instruction?

The experience includes six hours of surfing instruction. The first day is scheduled around the surf session in Malibu.

Is surf equipment provided?

Yes. Surfboards and wetsuits are included.

What camping equipment is included?

You receive a private tent, sleeping bag, and inflatable mat. Camping reservations are also included.

Are meals included?

Yes. Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and snacks are included. The camp morning includes coffee or tea, oatmeal, and fresh fruit.

Is wine included at Malibu Family Wines?

No. Wine is available for purchase, but it is not listed as an included item.

What happens if poor weather cancels the activity?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.