Surfing safaris around the world

Getting there

Malé International Airport is the point of entry. There are connecting flights through Colombo in Sri Lanka. Flights from Hong Kong to Malé cost from HK$5,449 with Qatar Airlines. The Princess Rani costs from US$198 per person per night for one to 10 people, or US$2,750 for private use. This includes full board in twin air-conditioned rooms, surf guide and support boat. livethelife.eu/princess-rani-luxury- surf-charter-maldives

The Maldives make a good introduction to surf boat charters since the waves are rarely too big or too demanding, unless you sail to the more exposed outer atolls.

For more challenging surfing, there are many other surf boat charter options, including the following:

Bali: escape the usual mainland breaks and experience uncrowded bigger waves. Bali Wave Hunter offers trips from March to November, the main season. baliwavehunter.com

Fiji: year-round waves can be accessed from the luxurious French-built sailing yacht Stellar, including a number of seldom surfed "secret spots". wavehunters.com

New Caledonia: a 14-metre Bahia catamaran takes up to eight guests around the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia, where the best waves can be caught from April to September. Huge swells from the north can also occur in winter. theperfectwave.com.au