Join us for a surf break on the Outer Banks! An arc-shaped string of barrier islands isolated off the coast of North Carolina. This strip of sand appeared less than 1000 years ago! A result of the combination of the cold Labrador Current from the north and the warm Gulf Stream from the south. The constant movement of the islands has earned the Outer Banks the reputation of “the Graveyard of The Atlantic” (with more than 2,000 boats sunk in these waters since 1526).
The Outer Banks are well exposed to all types of East Coast swells. Dozens of piers provide wind protection. Kitty Hawk, Avalon, Nags Head, Jeanettes and Outer Banks create quality waves on both sides. There are summer restrictions for surfing from 9am to 5pm, plus a ban on surfing within 60m of the piers. Rodanthe Pier is the most eastern point on the islands that focuses most of the NE swells and a lot of surfing. Crowds can get intense around the dock where parking can become a problem.
With a 4×4 jeep you can escape the crowds. In the cities of Waves, Salvo and Avon , it will be possible to ride left waves with swells from NE, and right waves when swells come from the south. Avon has a dock with fun little waves. In Cape Hatteras is the Lighthouse, the famous break in front of the tallest lighthouse in the United States, which has recently been moved further inland due to rampant erosion. This erosion constantly changes the waves, which collects most of the swells (those from NE are usually the best). To get Frisco Pier to work you need a fairly large swell heading from south. Take a ferry to Ocracoke Island.
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Double |
|---|---|
| From 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 | € 750 |
Notes
Exchange rate1 EUR = 1.11 USD
Exchange rate variations (more than 3%) will lead to an adjustment of costs. They will be communicated within 20 days of departure.
How to get there: It is an 8 hour drive from New York and a 15 hour drive from Miami. The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh, is 4 hours away or Norfolk, Virginia is 2 hours. To avoid driving many miles, Cedar Island-Ocracoke can be used from the south, but reservations must be made in the summer.
Getting around: It is essential to rent a car paying around $180 a week, preferably a 4WD, because there could be only sand. Driving on the beach is prohibited in some places. Parking near the piers is difficult unless you are a fisherman, and many of the small towns in the summer haven’t free parking.
Accommodation and Food: Buxton is central but not as ideal for surfing as Avon or Rodanthe. Motels / hotels are expensive: Slavic Inn 40-60 dollars; Surf Motel: $ 50-90; B&B 80-100 dollars; but the campsites are as affordable as the $ 15-20 Ocean Waves. Expect to pay as much as $ 10 for a fast food meal.
Climate: The conflicting temperatures of the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream can lead to truly unstable weather. Winters are cold and stormy while summers are humid and mild. The mid-seasons can be anything in between these two. Be prepared with all kinds of clothing and be careful whenever a severe storm is forecast or when hurricanes are approaching. Storms can hit the lower reaches of the islands, blocking access to roads, when they breach the defenses of sand dunes built on the Atlantic side of Highway 12. Climate change is radical and statistics show some of the greatest contrasts seen in the Atlantic, more specifically the water temperatures, which drop below 5 ° C. A swimsuit is sufficient in late summer, but in winter you will need to bring a 5/3 wetsuit including gloves, boots and hood.
Nature and culture: There is great fishing potential. Climb the 248 steps of the lighthouse to check the state of the sandbanks. Visit the Wright Brothers Museum in Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of modern aviation. Bars and nightclubs get very active in the summer, but in the winter they turn into a ghost place in small towns, filled with empty holiday accommodation.
Dangers and annoyances: As in all of the USA there are many laws to be respected. Respect the areas reserved for swimming. There are a lot of mosquitoes in the summer; sharks can be observed without the risk of bites.
Tips: There are dozens of shops, including Whalebone, Secret Spot, Wave Riding Vehicles and Natural Art. The largest cities are Nag’s Head and Kill Devil Hills. Crowds from Virginia descend during the summer and weekends.
Although hurricanes provide the best days, NE swells travel at high speeds in the ocean and hit these shores directly, offering the most consistent conditions with 2-13ft waves from September to May. Winter is always constant in terms of waves but the water temperature can drop below 12 ° C. The classic conditions range from late summer to early autumn, when hurricanes produce perfect swells measuring 4.2-10.8ft. The most exposed beachbreaks don’t hold up much, but if you want to catch bigger waves just wait for Frisco Pier to work. The Outer Banks are often hit by gale force winds but given the shape of the island it is always possible to find offshore wind conditions (except when the wind blows from E. The dominant wind in winter is the NE, while in summer it is the SW) .
The tariff does not include
Duration: 8 days / 6 nights
from € 242 - Excluding flights
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