Private Surfing Lesson in Santa Monica
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Santa Monica, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
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Overview
Immerse yourself in the SoCal lifestyle—and learn the basics of surfing in an accessible, hands-on way—with private surfing lessons. Choose from multiple convenient class times, and meet your instructor right on the legendary Venice Beach. With personalized guidance, you’ll learn the basics on the beach before grabbing your board and trying out your skills in the waves.
- This private class guarantees personalized, one-on-one guidance
- Adults and children aged seven and above are welcome to participate
- This class is suited for beginners as well as those with some experience
- Learn to surf amidst the picturesque scenery of LA's iconic Venice Beach
What's Included
- Surfboards
- Wetsuits
- Photos
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 20 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
We will meet you on the right side of the parking lot off Bicknell Ave. Once you enter the parking lot turn right and you will see the blue surf school bus with pink FUN SURF LA logo on it.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Elizabeth_M
Hands down the best surfing lessons ever. Our instructor Jonathan, I hope I’m spelling his name correctly, was amazing. He was fun and he laughed with us. He laughed at us while we were laughing. All together it was an amazing experience and I would recommend it for anyone!
Reviews
4.9
based on 47 reviews
Amanda_E, Jan 2026
Great experience for my teenager. Cat was a wonderful instructor, and I’m glad we signed up to do this.
Jason_H, Jun 2025
Pepe was great 10/10. Started with some movement coaching on the beach and then moved on to surf. Great experience.
Doug_R, Jul 2024
Rough conditions but was able to pop up a few times. Good coaching!! Brito area but didn’t see the water pollution readings till after!!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! 🌊 We're glad to hear that you were able to pop up a few times despite the rough conditions and that the coaching helped! We understand your concern about the water pollution readings, and we always strive to provide a safe and enjoyable experience. We hope to see you again for another session soon, with better conditions next time! 🏄♂️✨
Elizabeth_M, Jul 2024
Hands down the best surfing lessons ever. Our instructor Jonathan, I hope I’m spelling his name correctly, was amazing. He was fun and he laughed with us. He laughed at us while we were laughing. All together it was an amazing experience and I would recommend it for anyone!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for the fantastic review! 🌊 We're so glad to hear that you had the best surfing lessons with Jonathan! It sounds like you had a lot of fun, and we love that he made the experience both enjoyable and memorable. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back for more waves and laughs soon! 🏄♂️✨
Janda_M, Jan 2024
Johnathan was great and super patience with the kids. It was super cold but it was that time of year. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Jonathan was patient and made the experience enjoyable for the kids. We know it can get chilly at certain times of the year, but we're glad it didn't take away from the fun! We hope to see you again for another lesson soon.
Patrick_y, Jun 2023
Yew the instructor made it a fun and educational first time surfing experience for my 15 yr old son. It was easy to find the meet up spot and the service was great
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It’s fantastic that your son had such a positive first-time experience! It sounds like the instructor really helped make it fun and memorable. Do you think you’ll be back for more surfing lessons in the future?
Shaleen_K, Jun 2023
John was fantastic!! Great instructor and made our experience as first-timers a blast. Unfortunately during our lesson my daughter had a pretty bad nose bleed, but he handled the whole situation incredibly well. I 100% recommend!!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like John handled the situation with care and professionalism, which is great to hear. It's wonderful that despite the hiccup, you and your daughter had a positive experience overall! Thank you for sharing your recommendation.
CHRISTOPHER_C, Mar 2023
The water was very cold, but John did a great job taking care of us. He had us double up on wetsuits which was very helpful. John was a great instructor and we highly recommend him.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you so much for your 5 star review, positive feed back is very important for us and our instructors! We will share your kind words with John!
Heather_W, Feb 2023
Awful expierence. The address sent to me in the email was wrong. I sat there waiting could not get a hold of anyone on the phone. I paid 7 dollars to park at the wrong place and they will not refund. I will never book with viator again or a surf lesson with this company don’t do it!!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
We are truly sorry to hear about the confusion and frustration you experienced. We understand how important it is to have clear communication and a smooth experience, and we regret that we fell short in your case. We want to ensure our guests have a seamless and enjoyable time, and we deeply apologize for the inconvenience. Please reach out to us directly at [contact info] so we can address your concerns and find a way to make things right. Thank you for your feedback.
Jose_P, Aug 2022
I booked a private surf lesson with the instructor Eden and he was amazing! I was a bit nervous going in, but his supportive and encouraging teaching style really made the entire lesson a great experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you Jose for your great review! We are glad you got to experience surfing with one of our amazing instructors! We will make sure to share this review with Eden!
Mehtab_G, Aug 2022
Eden was a great instructor very patient and helpful - we had a great time learning to surf. - ages 12, 21 and 49!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you Mehtab for this great review! Surfing is a great way of spending time with family and friends of all ages!!
Casey_G, Jul 2022
Jorge was fabulous! He was able to work with two young kids, 18 & 8 and they both had a great time, lots of attention to them in a private session and the two kids did great!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Amazing! We love hearing great things about our instructors! They really are passionate about teaching people how to surf! Thank you for your review, surf on!!
Gio_R, Jul 2022
The instructor was very nice and professional. I was up on my feet on the board in just my second try. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you Gio for your 5-star review! We are glad you had a positive surf experience, and would love to host you again!
bianca_c, Feb 2022
We were visiting from Chicago, Illinois oh what a relief it was to get away from the cold and snow! Our instruction, Alex, was so helpful, patient, and explained everything so well! My son had a BLAST! I would definitely recommend this experience and be sure to request Alex! Thank you for such a wonderful experience, we will be back!
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Thank you, we are looking forward to seeing you again!
Shannon_C, Jan 2022
My teens had a great time learning to surf with Alexei. He was a patient teacher and even took photos of them out in the water for me. Highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like your teens had an awesome time! It's great to hear that Alexei was patient and went the extra mile by taking photos. That personal touch definitely makes the experience even more memorable. Do you think they'll want to surf again next time?
Jose_Q, Jan 2022
The experience was amazing. Much more than we could imagine. The instructor was patient, and he was very attentive. He made sure we were having a good time all the while assuring we were safe. A must in Venice Beach.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like a fantastic experience! A great instructor who ensures both fun and safety really makes all the difference. Venice Beach is such an iconic spot for surfing, and it’s great that you had such a memorable time there. Would you consider returning for more lessons next time?
Sean_H, Aug 2021
This service was excellent! Our instructor, Alex was a great guy and a very patient teacher. Well worth every penny! My wife and I had an absolute blast!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like Alex really made your experience enjoyable with his patience and teaching style! It’s great to hear that you and your wife had such a fantastic time. Would you both consider taking another surf lesson in the future?
Asad_M, Aug 2021
Anto was awesome
She gave the right amount of instruction and spent most of the time helping catch waves
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like Anto made your surfing lesson a great experience! It's always nice to have an instructor who knows how to balance instruction and hands-on guidance. Would you go back for more lessons with her?
Michelle_A, Jul 2021
Excellent instructor. Great waves. It was awesome. The instructor was very thorough and stayed with the kids while they were surfing
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It sounds like you had a fantastic experience! Great instructors can make all the difference in a fun and safe learning environment, and it's wonderful to hear that Matias was very thorough and attentive to the kids while they were surfing. Providing a sense of security and support is just as important as teaching the skills themselves, and it's clear that Matias excelled in this regard.
Great waves can also make all the difference in making an experience enjoyable and memorable. It's great that the conditions were favorable for surfing, allowing you to have a blast with your kids.
It's also lovely to hear that you were able to relax and enjoy the experience while knowing that the kids were in good hands. A fun family activity like surfing can create lifelong memories, and it's wonderful that you got to share this experience together!
Sophie_M, Jul 2021
An amazing first surf lesson! Álexeis was informative, down to earth, and very encouraging. I had the best time! Would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
An amazing first surf lesson! Álexeis was informative, down to earth, and very encouraging. I
had the best time! Would highly recommend.
Leah_H, Jun 2021
Alejandro was a patient, kind, thorough instructor. We had no experience & we all managed to get up (at least briefly). If I lived locally, I would try to get frequent lessons from him. Great instructor! Thank you so much for such great memories.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
It’s wonderful to hear that Alejandro made such a positive impact on your surfing experience! It sounds like he really knows how to cater to beginners, which is crucial for building confidence. Getting up on the board, even for a little while, is an achievement to be proud of! It’s great that you created such lasting memories together. If you ever find yourself back in the area, it sounds like you know who to reach out to for more lessons! Happy surfing and making more memories in the future! 🏄♂️🌊✨
Christy_M, Jun 2021
This was a fantastic purchase. Alejandro gave the private lesson and I could not ask for better. He made me feel safe and confident the entire time! Thank you for making my birthday fabulous Alejandro!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday! It sounds like Alejandro provided an amazing private lesson that really made a positive impact on your experience. Feeling safe and confident while learning something new is so important, and it’s great to hear that you had such a fantastic time. Cheers to you for treating yourself to an awesome birthday experience! If you ever decide to continue surfing, I’m sure you’ll keep making wonderful memories. Happy belated birthday! 🎉🏄♀️🎂
Viktoria_H, Jun 2021
I took that lesson with my friend, we were both beginners and really sucked, but our teacher Alexis was so nice and patient with us. We really enjoyed it! Would def do it again! 10/10 Recommend
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear that you and your friend had a great time with Alexis. It's wonderful that you felt supported and enjoyed the lesson, even as beginners! We really appreciate the 10/10 recommendation, and we can't wait to have you back for another session. Keep surfing and having fun
Connor_L, May 2021
Not even sure where to begin. Our son just turned 18 and he wanted to learn to surf. We found
Fun Surf LA through Viator. The entire experience was Amazing with a capital A. His private lesson was led by Nick, who was incredibly knowledgeable and took our son under his wings. It was so evident that Nick loved to surf (this wasn't just a job) and his passion came through. Within a few minutes our son was in the ocean attempting to ride waves - due to Nick's guidance and support, our son had no fear. Our son's comments -- he can't wait to have another lesson and he felt like Nick was a big brother - so easy to talk to and learn from. What more could one ask for. We highly recommend Fun Surf LA and a private lesson with Nick.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
What a wonderful experience for your son’s 18th birthday! It sounds like Nick’s passion for surfing truly made a difference in your son’s learning journey. It’s amazing to hear that he was able to overcome any fears so quickly and enjoyed himself so much. Having an instructor who feels more like a big brother can really enhance the learning experience. It’s great to know that you all had such a positive experience with Fun Surf LA! Here’s to many more waves and lessons in the future! 🌊🏄♂️🎉
JeanJacques_M, Sep 2023
Le professeur Jonathan était agréable et très professionnel. Je recommande vivement .très pédagogue il m a permis de progresser rapidement
Response from Host, Jan 2025
C'est génial que tu aies eu une telle expérience avec Jonathan ! C'est toujours agréable de recevoir des conseils d'un instructeur aussi professionnel et pédagogue. Merci pour ta recommandation !
From $125.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Surfing Lesson in Santa Monica
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