Portugal
First choice for the Autumn surf traveller is “anywhere hotter than here.” So Porto, in Portugal, should make a pretty good start. The surf here reaches it’s seasonal peak in October, with consistent, clean waves in the 8ft plus range. It’s a great place to head for experienced surfers.

Photograph: Places 2 Explore

Nearby beaches include Espinho to the south and Matosinhos to the North, with more beaches extending in both directions. Porto offers accommodation for all budgets, and, as the second largest city in Portugal, you won’t find yourself short of a decent post-surf party.

Morocco
For a more remote and “undiscovered” feel, Morocco’s increasingly popular surf town of Tagazhoute is a great option. It’s relatively warm water, lack of sharks and interesting local culture make it a sound choice for an Autumn visit.

There are fewer accommodation options and travel can be tricky unless you hire a car in Agadir. A couple of well established surf-tour hostels are probably your best bet in terms of tapping in to local knowledge. Try Surf Maroc or Surf Berbere for package deals, or fly to Agadir with a mate, board and wetsuit and see where the wind carries you.

Senegal
If you want a serious surf adventure, hit up the West Coast of Africa by taking in Senegal’s top notch autumn waves. There are plenty of choices for quality spots and access to the breaks is typically easy and cheap. Local life in the old colonial town is also cheap, making accommodation and food pretty easy going on the wallet.

Reputedly, the Almadies Peninsula, just outside Dakar has the largest swell window of the Senegal coastline, so it’s ideal as a place to start your trip. It gives you surf in the best range of swell conditions and offers a variety of breaks for different winds.

October to March is the best time to visit, when the winter swells roll down from the north. August & September get smaller but consistent swells in the 3-6ft range. As a bonus, the late-finishing dry season is likely to ensure a pleasant trip.

Senegal’s most famous wave is an unmissable tick in the box for your surfing portfolio: the righthander at N’gor beach – a classic break made famous when it featured in The Endless Summer.

England
Ok, we admit it, to travelling to exotic destinations is dreamy, but you’ll need a bit of cash. At the end of the summer holiday, if your wallet is already a shadow of it’s former self, surfing on your home turf is still an option. Just beg, borrow or steal a cold-water wetsuit (a standard 5 millimetre one with taped seams will see you right) and head down to Croyde bay in North Devon.

Camp at Lobb Fields campsite for quick access to mellow Saunton Sands (4 mins drive), powerful Croyde Bay (7 mins) and the beautiful, endless Puttsburough and Baggy Point (15 mins).

Not quite ready to go travelling to surf? You might need some lessons! You could try this Big Break Weekender for a serious dose of the good stuff, or, if you want to get significantly better at surfing, quickly, try a one to one lesson at the O’Neil Surf Academy in Cornwall.

Happily though, we’ve found a good person to ask. Joann Kruger has been involved in South African tourism for fifteen years. She can take you anywhere in the country and tell you everything you’ll want to know.

I asked her where she would take me if I knew nothing about the country when I arrived. “Firstly I would find out what your interests are, how long you intend on staying in the country and the reason for your visit,” she tells me. “I recommend Cape Town, Kruger Nationa Park and the UNESCO world heritage sites such as the Cradle of Mankind as well as historical sites such as Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, Constitutional Hill and Voortrekker Monument.” I feel like a child in a sweet store listening to the seemingly endless list of things to do.

Joann goes on to list things you could squeeze in between: “walking with wildlife, white water rafting, rock climbing, abseiling and canopy rides.” Having been lucky enough to have experienced a two day safari in Tanzania, I can vouch for the breathtaking moment when some story-book wild animal emerges from the undergrowth, slinking majestically across the track ahead, ignoring the hum of your vehicle as though you we’re a ghost: it’s heart-stopping.

Joann is quick to reinforce my view when I ask her about her biggest passion: “any experience to do with the bush and wildlife, whether it’s a game reserve or a national park has a certain peace, uniqueness and beauty about it.” She tells me, “no two days are ever the same; this experience should be on your list of 25 things to do before you die. I don’t know anyone who has not enjoyed this experience.”

Joann’s experience isn’t limited to the land, however. She’s a keen sailor and scuba diver and she’s happy to incorporate these activities into a custom itinerary for people who want to draw on her vast experience as a guide. “I usually combine these with overland safari to give the clients the best of both worlds.”

Joann is a freelance guide, so most of her business comes from tour operators who need experienced guides for their groups. She’s a keen social networker too using Facebook, Twitter, Link In and so on to find more business and she has her own blog. But now you’re in the know about Joann, you can email her yourself and find out what a mine of passion for South Africa and its heritage she really is!