Cherating is Malaysia’s surf town — and the reason to come in the season everyone else avoids. From about November to March the Northeast Monsoon sends long, gentle point-break waves down this coast: mellow, sand-bottom and forgiving, which makes Cherating one of the best places in the country to learn. Local schools run beginner lessons with boards and rashguards provided. It’s the wedge the resorts can’t sell you — the surf season is the rainy season.
Where
Cherating village
Time needed
A beginner lesson is about 2 hours
Hours
Surf schools operate seasonally — busiest November–March
Best months
November–March (best swell December–February); flat and calm the rest of the year
What it costs
Beginner lessons roughly RM 150–290 per person depending on the school and whether it’s a group or private session (e.g. Cherating Point Surf School lists private lessons around RM 280 adult / RM 290 child). Board hire is cheaper. Verify current rates with the school.
What to expect
- Long, gentle point breaks — rides can run a few hundred metres
- Sand-bottom and forgiving — one of Malaysia’s best places to learn
- Beginner lessons with boards and rashguards provided
- Schools include Cherating Point Surf School (ISA-certified) and Surf Village Cherating
- The reason to visit in the “off” (monsoon) season
Our independent tip
Time it right: there’s essentially no surf outside roughly November–March, so don’t come in June expecting waves. The trade-off is that surf season is monsoon season — wetter, rougher seas and the odd washed-up litter — so pack for rain and book a chalet (Tanjung Inn, Payung) or Eastana near the surf beach. Lessons are instructor-led in small groups; expect to wait for sets.
Real travelers filmed this
Curated trip videos that cover this — watch before you go.
Cherating vlog — last minute surf trip, girls & boardsWatch if you want to come and surf on a budget — the real reason people visit in monsoon season — and want to see the chalets, the point break and the food before you go.Bella Kuan
Best Beach in Peninsular Malaysia: Cherating Beach! (Our Favourite)Watch if you want the laid-back, island-vibe side of Cherating — empty beach, batik craft, beach cafés and a quieter alternative to the Perhentian islands.JetLag WarriorsFrequently asked questions
When can you surf in Cherating?
Roughly November to March, during the Northeast Monsoon, with the most consistent waves around December to February. Outside that window the sea is generally flat, so Cherating is a calm swimming-and-sunset beach rather than a surf spot.
Is Cherating good for beginner surfers?
Yes — it’s one of the best places in Malaysia to learn. The waves are long, mellow point breaks over sand, and local schools like Cherating Point Surf School run instructor-led beginner lessons (about two hours) with a board and rashguard included.
How much are surf lessons in Cherating?
Roughly RM 150–290 per person depending on the school and whether it’s a group or private lesson — Cherating Point lists private lessons around RM 280 for adults and RM 290 for kids. Board hire on its own is cheaper. Confirm current prices with the school.
More things to do in Cherating
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