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Surfing in Taiwan – Yes, Formosa’s got Waves!

Table of Contents

    • Welcome to the new surfing mecca in Asia – TAIWAN!
  • Taiwan is now officially on the map for wave maniacs
  • Looking for a Surf Base Camp?
  • Top Reasons Why Surfing in Taiwan is so Awesome!
    • 1. People are so nice!
    • 2. You don’t have to fight to get on a wave
    • 3. Off the beaten track and unique
    • 4. Surfing in Taiwan – All Budgets Welcomed!
  • Top Surfing Beaches in Taiwan
  • Taiwan Surf Report and Forecast
  • Related Taiwan Articles

Welcome to the new surfing mecca in Asia – TAIWAN!

taiwan surf destination
Taiwan is now well-established as a top surf destination in Asia. The beautiful and wild East Coast is a true paradise for surf-obsessed travellers.

Thinking about Taiwan for your next surfing adventure? Good idea. I promise you simply cannot regret it – Taiwan has it all: big waves, friendly locals, amazing food, affordable accommodation, stunning scenery, and on top of that, it still enjoys a relatively off-the-beaten-track vibe.

surfing in taiwan donghe
A surfer tackles a wave in Donghe, on Taiwan’s East Coast. Donghe has one of the most powerful breaks on the island.

Here, I’ll help you find information about surfing in Taiwan, as well as other practical stuff to prepare a trip of a lifetime to Formosa.

surfing lesson taiwan kenting
Henri, the guy in the middle, is the owner of Wild East Guesthouse, in Manzhou. Contact him through his Facebook page to get info about Surfing in Kenting. He also offers surfing lessons to his guests.

Taiwan is now officially on the map for wave maniacs

It’s no longer a secret that Taiwan has become one of Asia’s top spots for surfing. Over the past 18 years, I’ve seen Taiwan go from a completely “unknown” surf destination to “man-you-gotta-check-this-place-out!”

I live only 10 minutes away from Jialeshui, one of Taiwan’s most popular surf spots, in Kenting National Park.

jialeshui taiwan
Jialeshui Beach, near the southern tip of the island

I surf, and have two boards, but I don’t consider myself a true hard-core surfer like my friends. I have a surfer’s camper van, but it mostly carries camping gear and my rock climbing equipment.

Read about surfing in Kenting National Park and Jialeshui.

surfing trip to kenting taiwan
One of the ultimate highlights of a surfing trip to Taiwan is the incredible, wild nature. Taiwan is an island of stunning beauty. Kenting National Park (above picture) should be a must-go destination on every surfer’s itinerary!

I have friends (both foreigners and Taiwanese) who only talk about waves, swells, weather, wind, tubes, hidden beaches, local surfers attitude, and other aspects of the ever-evolving, ever-developing surfing culture on Formosa.

surfing van taiwan
My van, my surfboard @ Jialeshui, southern Taiwan

Looking for a Surf Base Camp?

My friends Henri and Cindy are the owners of Wild East Country House, in wonderful and picturesque Manzhou, in the heart of Kenting National Park. Henri is the most enthusiastic surfer I know on this island, he wakes up at first light almost every morning to catch the waves at Jialeshui Beach as well as other spots around Kenting, at the southern tip of Taiwan.

taiwan surf house kenting
Wild East Surf House in Manzhou, Kenting, at the southern tip of Taiwan

If you are coming to Taiwan on a surfing trip, I would highly, HIGHLY suggest that you contact Henri to get information about surfing conditions around Kenting. He’s got tips and “secrets” I’m not allowed to disclose on this website – by respect to the local surfer’s community. Staying at his lovely B&B will undoubtedly unlock some of these precious gems of tip and advice he’s gathered over the years surfing at all the magic spots in this area.

Top Reasons Why Surfing in Taiwan is so Awesome!

Whenever I meet international travellers who are here on a surfing trip, I always ask them the same questions. I am genuinely curious why people choose Taiwan as a surfing destination. I also really want to know how Taiwan stacks up against other Asian surfing hot-spots such as Bali, Australia, and Sri Lanka.

taiwan surfing waves
The beautiful East Coast of Taiwan

1. People are so nice!

You’d think the main answer why travellers enjoy their surfing experience in Taiwan is related to the waves… Nope. By far the most common positive thing I hear from folks traveling here is related to the amazing friendliness of the locals.

Last week I was talking to a South African guy who was teaching in Hanoi. He came to surf in Kenting for a week because plane tickets to Kaohsiung were so cheap. He told me that he was now thinking about moving to Taiwan because the surfing conditions were so awesome and Taiwanese were some of the friendliest people he had ever met on the road.

friendly taiwanese people
Taiwanese have a long-established reputation of a super-friendly, welcoming people.

2. You don’t have to fight to get on a wave

Although I personally find the waves at Jialeshui and Donghe unbearably crowded, especially on weekends, most traveller are surprised at how few surfers are in the water in Taiwan, even during perfect surfing conditions. “It would be impossible to get a prime spot anywhere near the best waves where I live in Bali” an Australian guy tells me. “You have to be aggressive and take your place in the pack when you surf in Bali or Australia. Here in Taiwan, locals are cool, they don’t care, they’ll just smile at you.”

Jinzun harbour, donghe, taitung
Jinzun Harbour, near Donghe, Taitung. One of the top surfing spots in Taiwan!

3. Off the beaten track and unique

Wether you’re in Vietnam, Lombok, Thailand, or Bali the main thing you’ll see are tourists and businesses that cater to the tourism industry. In a way, every place looks and feels the same: backpackers hostels, cafes, gift shops, Hotel California…

Taiwan is very different! Somehow, the island has escaped the wrath of mass-tourism, and hordes of backpackers are basically non-existent. Most villages have a distinctive local charm that doesn’t quite compare to anything else you can witness in Southeast Asia or other surfing destinations. Taiwan is very “real” and “authentic” in a way that it hasn’t converted itself to what tourists expect it to be – which makes the whole surfing in Taiwan experience the more interesting!

Taiwan mountain chain
Good news! If you ever get tired of surfing and feel like having a “day-off” from the sea, you can head to the mountains for a hike! Taiwan is filled with majestic peaks.

4. Surfing in Taiwan – All Budgets Welcomed!

Wether you’re a backpacker surfer who wants to sleep on a bunk-bed in a dorm and spend as little as possible for each meal, or wether you’re wanting your own king-size bed in a private suite with a marble bathroom, you will find accommodations and restaurants that fit your budget. You can have an enjoyable and memorable surfing trip to Taiwan wether you’re on a super-tight, or super-high budget.

If you’re planning on spending some time down at the southern tip of Taiwan in Kenting National Park, make sure to take a look at Koti B&B and Wild East Guesthouse, in picturesque Manzhou. They are some of the coolest surf houses you can find in all of Taiwan!

taiwan surf house
Taiwan is filled with unique B&Bs like this surf house in Kenting National Park. You don’t have to bust your budget in Taiwan to have a great place to stay.

Top Surfing Beaches in Taiwan

Here is a quick list of the most popular surfing spots in Taiwan. The 2 hottest surf spots on the island are by far Donghe and Jialeshui in Kenting.

  1. Jinzun Harbor, Donghe (Taitung County)
  2. Chenggong (Taitung County)
  3. Jialeshui, Kenting (Pingtung County)
  4. Nanwan, Kenting (Pingtung County)
  5. Baishawan, Kenting (Pingtung County)
  6. Bashien Dong (Taidong County)
  7. Toucheng, (Yilan County)
  8. Waiao Beach (Yilan County)
  9. Fulong Beach (New Taipei City)
  10. Jici Beach (Hualien County)
  11. Chu Nan, Zhunan, (Miaoli County)
Baisha Beach in Kenting National Park
Drone-shot of Baisha Beach in Kenting National Park

Taiwan Surf Report and Forecast

For the best Taiwan surf reports and surf forecast, make sure to bookmark or download the app Magic Seaweed!

Related Taiwan Articles

  • Visit Taiwan’s Finest Beaches in Kenting National Park
  • Hiking in Taiwan Travel Guide
  • Highway 11 Road Trip
  • Hengchun Travel Guide
  • Manzhou Township, the wild side of Kenting NP

Filed Under: Travel Info Tagged With: Beaches, Kenting, Outdoor

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Hello, I’m Ugo

ugo taiwanese secrets websiteI’m the weirdo behind this site. I’ve been living in Taiwan since 2000, so basically I’ve spent half my life here. I have a big passion for everything Formosa and I’ve been working on this website since 2008 to share the beauty of Taiwan with the world! Read more about me.

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