If you have the time and flexibility, I highly recommend some if not all the travel destinations I am about to present to you. Exploration and adventure are way underrated. So give these not so popular, but popular travel destinations a try. You just might find yourself in paradise, happy as you could possibly be. You may be able to experience life with a totally new culture or surfing alone with just a few friends. As with all travel plans, further research is required to maximize your expectations given the time of year.
Here are some brief descriptions of some of my favorite places to be happy and surf.
1. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Epic surf in Sri Lanka! Arugam Bay also known as A-bay, is a great place for all travelers. The town has many things to offer such as: surfing, swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, safaris, and a booming nightlife.
Finding good food and accommodations was pretty easy considering it’s becoming a huge developing travel destination. It wasn’t quite as cheap as other parts of Sri Lanka but still very affordable. For the experienced surfers, I recommend checking out some other nearby surf spots just a quick tuk-tuk ride away. Main point is an amazing wave right in town that can break for half a mile, if not longer. However, it does get crowded. For the non surfers you can enjoy the culture, beautiful beaches, or take a nearby safari. You never know, you just might see a leopard.
2. Siargao, Philippines
Siargao was my favorite surf island in the Philippines. It’s famous for its perfect barreling right that breaks right in front of town called “Cloud Nine.” It’s extremely affordable once you are there. There is a range of inexpensive to expensive accommodation to cater to everyone.
Siargao also offers many good food options as well. Me being vegan, surprisingly I found many good healthy places to eat. My favorite thing about Siargao is that everyone in town surfs, and they all seemed super happy and positive, from the little kids to grown men and women. There are many locals who are willing to assist your every need if desired.
The cons are that “Cloud Nine” gets packed, but not to worry, there are many other breaks nearby. Also, there are plenty of locals who will offer to take you to other spots on a boat for a reasonable price. For non-surfers I highly recommend taking the islands tours nearby or just relax, recharge, do yoga and absorb some of the good vibes that Siargao has to offer.
3. Mentawais, Indonesia
I recently went to the Mentawais on a birthday surf trip. I soon discovered it was my new favorite place in the world. It consists of many perfect waves around every corner of almost every island I saw. You can book a charter boat to stay on, or find a reasonably priced resort near all the surf breaks. It is on the expensive side but totally worth the journey.
The islands have great fresh food and endless amounts of white sand beaches with crystal clear warm waters. For the non-surfers, the Mentawais offers some of the best snorkeling and diving I’ve ever seen.
4. Black Sea, Bulgaria
You can always find a way to happiness in Bulgaria. Bulgaria offers amazing ruins, mountains, white sand beaches, new cites, old cities, and extremely nice people when you get to know them.
A person can’t just stop by a friend or families house just to say hi or drop something off, they will invite you to stay for a while. You will quickly discover what Bulgarian hospitality is all about. Without asking, within seconds you will have food, Rakia (home-made brandy), beer or anything that the host might think you would want right in front of you. Bulgaria has many unique traditions that need to be recognized and would be really cool for any traveler. So try to see as much as you can.
For surfers, you have to be extremely lucky to find waves, but they do exist. In case there ware no waves, the beaches are enough to keep you entertained with their beautiful views, beach bars, parties and camping available almost anywhere. The beaches are packed with young and older, vibrant people with positive vibes. So if you’re into something new and cool, I advise you to check out Bulgaria.