Why travel when you can try new and exciting challenges in your own country like surfing or stand-up paddling (SUP)?
Whether you’re experienced or a novice, you can ride Mediterranean waters off Lebanon’s coast for an incredible experience this summer.
Here are some places where Lebanon’s growing surfer and SUP communities get amped for their favorite water sports.
And it’s only fitting to turn up that classic surf playlist featuring Dick Dale, aka Richard Anthony Monsour, the Lebanese pioneer of surf music as we know it today!
#1 Surf Lebanon
Run by Lebanese-Californian Ali El-Amine, Surf Lebanon is a surf school/shop that caters to all kinds of water sports including surfing and SUP. Certified instructors are ready to teach beginners how to do both properly by the International Surfing Association’s standards.
Surf Lebanon is located in Jiyeh where you’ll be able to surf Mustafa’s A-Frame, possibly Lebanon’s most popular wave, named after the surfing pioneer and Surf Lebanon VP Mustafa El-Hajj.
#2 Routes
Routes LB was born as an ecotourism concept in Batroun offering packages that encourage tourism by bike, hiking, and water activities. Routes’ water sports school provides classes in SUP, surf, and kayaking. You can also go on various magical sunrise or sunset kayak or SUP tours with Routes.
#3 Board’n’Surf
Grab your boardshorts and catch some decent waves and some sunrise sessions with Board’n’Surf’s surf school located in Le Phenix de Byblos resort in Jbeil.
#4 Surf Shack
Surf Shack provides a variety of engaging water sport activities from surf lessons to SUP yoga sessions. You can find Surf Shack branches in Jounieh Bay, Halat Sur Mer, and Odom Retreat – Le Plateau De Bekish.
#5 Batroun Water Sports
Founded in 2007 by champion windsurfer Malek Daou, Batroun Water Sports is an NGO dedicated to cultivating and promoting a relationship of respect and preservation with the sea. It’s doing so by teaching lessons in surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and SUP all year round to help people find that ultimate inner peace and oneness with the water.
#6 Colonel Reef
Colonel Reef is a beach resto-bar in Batroun offering SUP and kayak rentals and provides lessons in windsurfing, dinghy sailing, and diving.
#7 Halat Sailing Club
Halat Sailing Club is a beach restaurant offering different kinds of water activities, including SUP, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, and more.
Note: Keep in mind that peak surf season isn’t exactly in summer, but it’s a great opportunity to take lessons.
