The Surf Experience

What The Surf Experience does

The Surf Experience is a private surf school and surf camp operator headquartered in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal, founded in 1992 by operators Toby M and Toby G. The company provides all-inclusive surf instruction and accommodation packages for international leisure travelers, ranging from absolute beginners to advanced surfers, alongside specialist coaching weeks (Longboard, Boot Camp Pro Training, Surf Safaris) and themed retreats (Girls Surf & Fitness, Culture Weeks, New Years Surfing). It serves a globally distributed but predominantly European customer base through a direct-to-consumer model.

The core technology is a multi-language website (English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Portuguese) that handles booking and pricing across six tiers (3-day tasters from €256 to 4-week stays at €1,904 in high season). The proprietary element is the IAM Bands surf-level classification system that segments customers from Explorer to Expert and dynamically splits groups by ability. There are no third-party booking platforms, no mobile app, and no API; deposits are processed via PayPal and balances are settled in cash on arrival. Specialist programs are capped at 6 participants to preserve coaching quality, and instructional ratios are maintained at 1:5 student-to-coach.

Revenue is generated through package bookings, standalone daily lessons (€60-65/day), premium specialist programs (€649-€1,795), and ancillary add-ons such as airport transfers, accommodation upgrades, photography, and massage therapy. Distribution is entirely direct, with bookings sourced through the website, WhatsApp, phone, email, and word-of-mouth from a loyal returning customer base. The business is founder-owned with no external investment, employs 11-50 staff (22 named team members plus contracted specialists), and holds recognition from Turismo de Portugal, AESCV, WSA, and FPS.

Name

The Surf Experience

Legal name

Surfalgarve Lda

Website

https://surfexperience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Surf Experience is a founder-owned surf school and surf camp operator in Lagos, Portugal, founded in 1992, providing all-inclusive surf instruction packages, specialist coaching weeks, and themed retreats for international leisure travelers from beginner to advanced levels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surf school and surf tourism services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ)

Keywords

• Surf school services
• Surf camp packages
• Surf guiding tours
• Yoga retreat weeks
• Beach sports coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Surf Camp Package Bookings: All-inclusive surf camp packages priced per person including accommodation, board and wetsuit, all lessons, beach transport, breakfast and beach veggie lunch, surf analysis, with optional yoga on complimentary weeks. Packages range from 3-day tasters to 4-week stays with seasonal pricing (low, mid, high season).
2. Daily Surf Lessons: Standalone daily surf lessons available from beginner to independent level. Pricing varies by season and package length (single day, 3-day, 5-day packages with volume discounts).
3. Specialist Training Programs: Premium pro coaching packages including Boot Camp with Beau Bromham (€825), Longboard Weeks with Manuel Mestre (€649), and Girls Surf & Fitness Retreats with Mad To Live (€1795). These include enhanced coaching, video analysis, photography, and additional amenities.
4. Airport Transfers: Arranged airport transfers to/from Faro Airport as optional add-on service.
5. Deposit Payments via PayPal: PayPal-based deposit collection system for securing bookings, with final payment made in cash on arrival.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Surf Experience is a surf lifestyle company based in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal that delivers daily surf lessons, all-inclusive surf camp packages (3-day to 4-week stays), surf safaris, and specialist coaching weeks (longboard, boot camp, girls-only, culture, New Years). Each booking combines surf instruction (1:5 instructor ratio, two 90-minute daily sessions), accommodation, breakfast and beach veggie lunch, board and wetsuit hire, beach transport, Thursday video analysis, and optional yoga and fitness add-ons.

Product overview

The Surf Experience is a premier surf school and surf camp operator based in Lagos, Portugal, founded in 1992. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services centered around its core Surf School offering daily lessons for all skill levels. The product suite includes all-inclusive surf camp packages (accommodation, meals, lessons, equipment), specialist training weeks (Surf Safaris, Longboard Weeks, Boot Camp Pro Training with pro coaches), themed retreats (Girls Surf & Fitness, Culture Weeks, New Years Surfing), and add-on services (Yoga, Day Trips, Airport Transfers). Accommodation options range from the social Surf House hostel to private ensuites and partner hotels. The offering is unified by a central booking system with flexible deposits and supported by included services like meals, beach transport, video analysis, and rooftop social events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Surf School Core daily surf instruction service for absolute beginners through advanced surfers, delivering two 90-minute sessions per day with qualified instructors (1:5 ratio), equipment rental, beach transport, and Thursday video analysis in Lagos, Portugal.
• Surf Camp Packages All-inclusive multi-day surf camp packages bundled with accommodation, breakfast, beach veggie lunch, surf lessons, board and wetsuit hire, beach transport, Thursday video analysis, and complimentary yoga. Available as 3-day tasters, 5-day classic, 7-day full week, and 4-week extended stays with Low/Mid/High season pricing.
• Surf Safaris Surf guiding weeks for intermediate to advanced surfers featuring a Land Rover driver and guide targeting the best waves daily across Algarve south and west coasts. Includes filming at least twice per week and optional pro surf photography.
• Longboard Weeks Specialist longboard training weeks coached by Portuguese longboard legend Manuel 'Necas' Mestre, limited to 6 participants per week. Includes theory and practical longboard sessions, filmed sessions, and nutrition-focused lunches, priced from €649 per person (€724 with rental).
• Boot Camp Pro Training Intensive pro surfing coaching weeks run with Beau Bromham (former GB team junior coach and 8-year coaching specialist), limited to 6 participants. Includes multi-angle filming, daily video analysis, pro-level nutrition, one 30-minute sports massage, pro photography, and access to Firewire test boards, priced at €825 per person.
• New Years Surfing Extended seasonal surf holiday package running December 26th to early January, featuring world-class winter sunshine waves at Lagos, a New Year's dinner, live music performances, fireworks, and fancy dress surf sessions.
• Girls Surf & Fitness Weeks Women's-only retreat co-hosted with Mad To Live Retreats at a Praia da Luz villa, combining surf coaching with yoga, mountain biking, horse riding, hiking, and SUP. Includes on-site chef, professional coaching, video analysis, nutrition-focused meals, and Faro airport transfers, priced at €1,795 per person.
• Surf, Skate & Culture Week Culture-focused weekly program combining surf instruction with Carver skateboard lessons and Portuguese cultural experiences including visits to megalithic monuments, local cuisine, and historical sites. Hosted by archaeologist and surf enthusiast Nina and hosted at 3 Marias Hotel, priced from €849 shared twin.
• Daily Surf Lessons (Day Trips) Standalone daily surf lessons available by the day for beginner to independent surfers, with equipment rental, beach transport, and lunch included. Seasonal pricing with volume discounts on 3-day and 5-day packages; €65/day High Season and €60/day Low Season.
• Yoga Program Yoga add-on service offering complimentary yoga weeks monthly plus Monday yoga sessions included with surf camp stays. Sessions hosted at Alchemy Lagos studio featuring ice bath, infrared sauna, and hot shower facilities, with Surf Experience guests receiving a 15% discount code for additional sessions.
• The Surf House Accommodation Central Lagos townhouse accommodation (the original surf house) offering shared and private rooms, daily maid service, free Wi-Fi, rooftop bar and BBQ area, board storage, and included breakfast and lunch. Functions as the social hub of the surf camp experience.
• Private Ensuites Two private ensuite rooms at Praça das Laranajas, 2 minutes from the main surfhouse, with shared lounge and kitchen facilities. Includes double ocean-view and twin-room options overlooking an orange tree square.
• Rosaria's Loft Ensuite Private ensuite twin or double room hosted by Rosaria, located 2 minutes from the main surfhouse. Available as a self-catering option with seasonal pricing.
• Traditional Pensão Accommodation Budget-friendly traditional pensão accommodation with shared rooms and facilities in quiet streets near the main surfhouse. Seasonal pricing from €20-35 per night per person.
• Alternative Hotel Accommodation Options Partner hotel and hostel recommendations for guests seeking higher-end or alternative lodging, including Casa Mae 5-star, Orange3 Hostel, Bora Dormir, Lagos Mar, and Tivoli 4-star.
• Airport Transfers Arranged airport transfer coordination to and from Faro International Airport. Multiple options including train (€7 each way), taxi (€110-140), Bolt rideshare, and shuttle services, bookable as an optional add-on.
• Food & Nutrition Service On-site catering service featuring daily homemade breakfast, vegetarian beach lunches prepared by dedicated chefs, and twice-weekly rooftop BBQ dinners offering 3-course meals. Dietary accommodations available on request and bundled into surf camp packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small group instruction (1:5 student-to-instructor ratio) ensures personalized attention and faster skill development
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alchemy LagoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Yoga partnership with Alchemy Lagos studio owned by Wiebke. Provides complimentary yoga weeks for Surf Experience guests with access to ice bath, infrared sauna, and hot shower facilities. Located 2 minutes from main surf house. Surf Experience guests receive 15% discount code (Surfexperience15) for additional sessions.
• Beau BromhamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Pro surf coaching partnership with former GB team junior competitor and 8-year coaching specialist. Beau provides Boot Camp Pro Training programs limited to 6 participants with multi-angle filming, daily video analysis, and sports massage. Programs priced at €825 per person.
• Mad To Live RetreatscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-hosted Girls Surf & Fitness Retreat in Praia da Luz Portugal. Mad To Live handles retreat programming including mountain biking, horse riding, hiking, and SUP sessions while The Surf Experience provides surf coaching, accommodation coordination, and on-site hosting. Retreat priced at €1795 per person.
• Manuel 'Necas' MestrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Longboard specialist coaching partnership with 4x Algarve Champion, 2x National Champion, European ranking 4, World ranking 16. Longboard weeks limited to 6 people priced at €649 per person (€724 with board rental).
• PayPalminorOthersPayment processor for deposit collection. Deposits accepted via PayPal button at [email protected] with currency in EUR.
• Ocean & EarthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSurf equipment brand whose logo appears in website footer alongside Firewire, FPS, Turismo de Portugal, WSA, and AESCV logos indicating partnership relationships.
• Firewire SurfboardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium surfboard brand. Firewire boards available for testing during Boot Camp programs. Logo appears in website footer.
• Surfing Portugal (FPS)minorOthersNational surfing federation. Logo displayed in footer indicating official recognition and association membership.
• Turismo de PortugalminorOthersPortugal's official tourism board. Logo displayed in footer indicating official tourism recognition.
• Water Skills Academy (WSA)minorOthersWater skills training organization. Logo displayed in footer indicating professional certification partnership.
• Algarve Surf Schools Association (AESCV)minorOthersRegional surf school trade association. Logo displayed in footer indicating industry membership and adherence to association standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Surf Maroc: Surf Maroc operates high-end surf camps and yoga retreats in Taghazout, Morocco, with a comparable all-inclusive, multi-spot, specialist-coaching product mix. It targets a similar European tourist customer and competes for the same shoulder-season Mediterranean/Atlantic surf-holiday demand.
• Dreamsea Surf Camp: Dreamsea runs surf-camp packages with accommodation and lessons in Portugal and other destinations, targeting a similar international, beginner-to-intermediate customer with bundled all-inclusive stays. It competes most directly on price, experience format, and Algarve/Southwest Europe presence.
• Lapoint Camps: Lapoint operates all-inclusive surf camps with accommodation, meals, and lessons across multiple international locations (Portugal, Morocco, Costa Rica, Nicaragua). It is the closest direct competitor to The Surf Experience in terms of full-package surf holiday model and multi-country brand ambition.
• Nomad Surfer: Nomad Surfer runs surf school and camp operations out of Lagos and other Portuguese locations, offering lessons, multi-day packages, and accommodation. It is one of the most direct day-to-day competitors in the local Lagos market.
• Surf & Stay Lagos: Surf & Stay is a Lagos-based surf school and camp offering lessons, accommodation packages, and equipment hire. As a same-town competitor, it most directly overlaps The Surf Experience's core market and product set, differentiating primarily on style and pricing.

Others

• Alchemy Lagos (yoga partner): Local Lagos yoga studio providing complementary yoga sessions, ice bath, and sauna access to The Surf Experience guests. Comparable in customer overlap and wellness-adjacent positioning, and a direct ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Ocean & Earth (brand partner): Surf hardware and accessories brand whose logo appears on The Surf Experience website footer. Relevant as a supplier partner in the same surf ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Firewire Surfboards: Premium surfboard manufacturer whose boards are made available for testing at The Surf Experience's Boot Camp. Functions as a brand/equipment partner in the same surf-skills category, not a competitor.

Regional players

• Ericeira World Surfing Reserve (EWSR) member schools: Cluster of surf schools operating under the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve brand offering lessons, camps, and certification. Comparable to The Surf Experience in instruction-led offering and European tourist focus, but with a different home break and regional identity.
• Surfvive Surf School (Ericeira): Ericeira-based Portuguese surf school offering lessons, surf camps, and accommodation packages. Comparable to The Surf Experience in service mix and target customer, but operating on the Lisbon-coast surf reserve rather than the Algarve, so it is a regional rather than direct overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/surfexp92
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesurfexperienceportugal
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_surfexperience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Surf Experience