Professional Surfing lessons in the heart of Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is at its most approachable when you are standing on a surfboard just offshore, with the city behind you and an instructor close enough to offer quick advice. This private two-hour lesson keeps the focus on your group, not on a crowded class moving at one fixed pace. You learn on the beach and in the water, where the useful work happens.

I like that the price includes the gear, wetsuit, sunscreen, and even a hot drink afterward. I also like the simple meeting plan: arrive at CHILLI Surf School at Hayarkon 40, get fitted, then take a short walk to the beach. The main thing to consider is that you must be able to swim, and the lesson depends on suitable weather and sea conditions.

Key points to know before you book

• Private instruction: Your group receives personal help rather than sharing the lesson with a large class.
• Designed for beginners and improving surfers: You learn the basics of standing up, or work on balance, movement, and wave choice.
• All main equipment is provided: A wetsuit, surfboard, and sunscreen are included.
• A short walk leads to the beach: The school is one block from the shore, according to the practical directions provided.
• Comforts are built in: You can arrive 15 minutes early for free coffee, then use the shower after the lesson.
• Swimming is essential: You do not need surfing experience, but you do need to feel safe in the water.

Starting at Hayarkon 40 in central Tel Aviv

Your lesson begins at CHILLI Surf School, at Hayarkon 40 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The school is near public transportation, and the beach is close enough for a short walk rather than a lengthy transfer. That matters because you spend your paid time learning, not sitting in a van.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start. This gives you time to find the school, have a complimentary coffee or tea, and get ready without rushing. Bring a swimming suit and towel. The school supplies the rest of the main surfing kit, including suitable clothing, a board matched to your size, and sunscreen.

The fitting process is one of the better parts of this setup. Beginners often worry about choosing the wrong board or turning up without the right equipment. Here, you are not expected to solve those problems yourself. The instructor prepares you for the water before the lesson moves to the beach.

The meeting point is also the finishing point. After the beach session, you return to CHILLI for a shower and a drink while you talk through what you learned. That return to the school gives the two-hour activity a clear beginning and end.

Getting ready with the right board and wetsuit

Once you have changed, the instructor provides clothing suited to the lesson and chooses a surfboard for your size. The information does not specify the exact wetsuit type or board model, so you should think of this as practical fitting rather than a gear demonstration.

The included sunscreen is a small but useful touch. You are heading into bright coastal conditions, and having sunscreen ready means one less item to pack. You should still bring your own swimming suit and towel, since those are specifically required.

This is a good arrangement for a first lesson. You can arrive with little more than beach clothes, a towel, and the ability to swim. If you are an experienced surfer, the equipment included is still convenient, though you may want to confirm any preferences before booking if you normally use a particular board or wetsuit.

The private format is important here. The instructor can adjust the board and the teaching pace to your group instead of giving every participant the same basic instructions. That does not guarantee perfect waves or instant progress, but it gives you a better chance to spend time working on the part of surfing that you actually need.

Learning the beach basics before entering the water

The lesson begins with a warm-up on the beach. You then learn how to pop up on the board, the movement that takes you from lying down to standing. For a beginner, this dry-land practice is not filler. It lets you work on hand position, foot placement, and body control before waves add speed and balance problems.

The instructor also explains water safety and the current conditions. This is one of the most valuable parts of the session because surfing is not only about standing up. You need to know how to move around other people, how to read the immediate water, and what conditions mean for your lesson.

The exact length of the beach briefing can change with the group and the sea. That is a good thing. A first-time surfer may need more time with the pop-up, while someone who has surfed before may benefit from getting into the water sooner.

You should expect direct, hands-on coaching rather than a long lecture. The aim is to understand the basics, then test them in the water. The instructor remains with you during the practical part, offering corrections as you try.

Spending most of the lesson in the water

Most of the session takes place in the sea. The instructor helps you catch waves and gives you repeated chances to try standing and surfing. For a beginner, this water time is the heart of the experience. A short beach lesson can explain surfing, but only practice can teach you how the board reacts beneath you.

The instructor works on balance, body movement, and finding suitable waves. These are separate skills, and a private lesson lets you address them one at a time. You might first concentrate on getting your feet into position, then on keeping your weight centered, and later on choosing a wave with enough push to carry you.

The supplied information does not promise a particular number of waves or a specific success rate. That is worth keeping in mind. Surfing depends on weather, sea conditions, timing, and your comfort in the water. Your first standing ride might be brief, but the lesson still has value if you leave knowing what went wrong and how to try again.

The instructor’s patience is a major part of the experience. Ben is specifically named in one account of the lesson, and the school may assign other instructors depending on availability. The useful point is that instruction is personal and encouraging, not a quick demonstration followed by being left alone.

If you already surf, the lesson can focus less on the pop-up and more on refining technique. You can work on balance, moving on the board, and identifying better waves. The activity is therefore not limited to people who have never touched a surfboard, although beginners are likely to get the clearest benefit from the format.

What makes the private format worth $62

At $62 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours at the beach, but the price covers more than a board rental. You receive a private lesson, equipment, wetsuit, sunscreen, instructor support, shower access, and a hot coffee or tea. Those inclusions make the price easier to assess than a bare rental rate.

The main value comes from the instructor’s time. If you rent a board alone, you must work out the pop-up, wave timing, and safety points by trial and error. Here, you get immediate feedback while you are actually attempting the skill.

The group discount may improve the price for a larger booking, though the exact discount is not provided. Since the activity is private, it works well for friends, couples, or families who want to learn together. You should confirm the group details when booking if you need a precise per-person total.

The lesson is also efficient. The school is near the beach, equipment is ready on site, and the return to the same location includes a shower and drink. You are paying for a compact, organized introduction rather than piecing together transport, rental gear, and instruction on your own.

Still, value depends on your goal. If you only want to sit on the sand and watch the sea, this is not the right use of $62. If you want practical instruction and a real attempt to catch waves, the included coaching makes the cost reasonable.

The post-surf shower and coffee

After the water session, you walk back to the school for a shower. This is a small detail, but it changes how easy the activity feels. You do not have to end the lesson cold, salty, and searching for a public facility before continuing your day in Tel Aviv.

The complimentary coffee or tea gives you a calm finish. You can sit with the instructor, talk through the lesson, and review what to work on next. That wrap-up is useful because your best correction may only become clear after several attempts in the water.

You might learn that your stance was too narrow, that you were looking down instead of ahead, or that you were choosing waves too late. The supplied details do not list a formal written assessment, so think of this as an informal conversation rather than a certified progress report.

I like this ending because it leaves room for questions. A first surfing lesson can move quickly, and the short discussion afterward helps you connect the beach instructions with what you felt on the board.

Who will get the most from this Tel Aviv lesson

This activity suits you if you can swim and want a guided first try at surfing. You do not need previous surfing experience, and the instruction is adapted to different ability levels. The private setup is especially useful if one person in your group is nervous or if members of the group have different amounts of experience.

It also suits a short Tel Aviv visit. The meeting point is central, the beach is nearby, and the full activity takes about two hours. You can fit it into a morning or afternoon without giving up an entire day.

Friends may enjoy the shared challenge, while couples can turn it into an active beach outing. Families should note the stated requirement that participants be able to swim. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not give a minimum age, so ask the provider about children before booking.

You should choose another activity if you dislike getting into the sea, cannot swim, or want a guaranteed calm-water session. Surfing is affected by weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a refund.

Service animals are allowed, and the school is near public transportation. The information does not give detailed accessibility specifications for changing areas, the walk to the shore, or entry into the water. If you need step-free access or particular assistance, contact CHILLI before paying.

Timing, weather, and the small details that matter

The lesson lasts about two hours, but arriving 15 minutes early is wise. You need time for the drink, changing, equipment fitting, and sunscreen before the walk to the beach.

Bring a swimming suit and towel. Those are the only personal items specifically requested. The school provides the surfboard, wetsuit, and sunscreen, so you do not need to carry bulky surf gear across Tel Aviv.

The activity requires good weather. If conditions are poor, you are offered a different date or a full refund. This policy protects you from spending the morning on a canceled water activity, but it also means you should keep some flexibility in your schedule.

The cancellation terms are simple: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Inside that 24-hour window, you will not receive a refund, and late changes are not accepted. Confirmation arrives when you book, and the activity ends back at Hayarkon 40.

The experience usually sells about six days ahead, which suggests you should not wait until the last minute if your Tel Aviv dates are fixed. That timing is not a guarantee of availability, but booking several days early is sensible.

My call on CHILLI’s private surf lesson

I would book this if you want a practical, well-supported introduction to surfing in Tel Aviv. The strongest reasons are the private instruction, the amount of water time, and the fact that the $62 price includes the main gear and a shower afterward.

You should book with realistic expectations. The lesson cannot control the waves, and no beginner is promised a long ride. What it can give you is a safe starting point, repeated attempts, and personal feedback from an instructor such as Ben.

For a first surf experience, the setup is hard to fault. Just remember the three essentials: you must be able to swim, bring a swimming suit and towel, and leave at least 24 hours if you need to cancel. If those conditions work for you, CHILLI offers a focused way to trade a few hours of sightseeing for a memorable morning on Tel Aviv’s beach.

FAQ

Where does the surfing lesson begin?

The lesson begins at CHILLI Surf School, Hayarkon 40, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity finishes back at the same meeting point on Hayarkon 40.

How long does the lesson last?

The surfing experience lasts approximately two hours.

Do I need prior surfing experience?

No. The lesson is suitable for all surfing levels, including beginners, as long as you can swim.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. Swimming ability is required for this experience.

What should I bring?

Bring a swimming suit and a towel. The school provides the surfboard, wetsuit, and sunscreen.

Is surfing equipment included?

Yes. A surfboard and proper clothing are included, along with sunscreen.

Can I arrive early?

Yes. You are welcome to arrive 15 minutes before the lesson begins for preparation and complimentary coffee or tea.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.