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If your idea of a dream getaway involves swapping your local lap pool for bath-warm barrels in the Maldives, here’s your cue. This July, Australian surf royalty Luke Stedman is heading back to one of Asia’s home of barefoot luxury – Soneva Fushi – for an exclusive surf residency. And we’re calling it, this might be the world’s most high-end surf camp.
Running from July 15 to 30, 2026, the program will unfold in the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, where reef breaks meet some of the most pristine marine life on the planet. It’s a setting that looks impossibly perfect: glassy waves, manta rays cruising past, and dreamy villas perched over the water. The setting alone would get most ocean enthusiasts across the line, but the surf coach in question is this retreat’s key calling card.
Stedman, who cut his teeth on the World Championship Tour (beating the likes of Kelly Slater along the way), is bringing his high-performance coaching and ocean-first philosophy to the island for a group of incredibly lucky guests. These days, he channels that energy into mentoring via his company Blackball. According to the team, this residency is about elevating your surf game under the guidance of one of the world’s best – whatever your level.
If you’re keen to go all in, the five-day surf camp (running July 18–22 or 23–27) is a luxe deep-dive into the practice. Days start early with sunrise surfs or breathwork sessions, followed by video analysis, technique drills and afternoon wave sessions, followed by group debriefs. It’s equal parts performance training and mindful retreat, designed to connect you more deeply with the ocean (and, let’s be honest, dramatically improve your pop-up).
Unlike many surf camps that follow a pretty rigid structure, the offering here is super flexible. Not ready to commit to a full boot camp? Dip in with modular sessions: complimentary sandbank prep classes, beginner-friendly intros for teens, or three-hour guided surf trips to nearby breaks.
Of course, this is Soneva Fushi – so when you’re not chasing waves, you’ll be snorkelling coral gardens, dining under the stars, or settling into an open-air cinema with sand between your toes. There’s even an artisanal chocolate room – because balance.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned surfer, this is the kind of experience that blurs the line between bucket list experience and full-blown fantasy. You can learn more and book over here.
Have you heard? The world’s first female-only surf camp is right here in Asia