Mallorca Novelty Waves with Ben Gravy

This is not a typical Spain surf trip. Set on the wild eastern edge of Mallorca, our Novelty Waves week with Ben Gravy is a small-group mission built around one idea: chase the Mediterranean when it turns on, and surf the kind of hidden, quirky waves most travellers walk straight past. Think secret reefs, tucked-away points, wind-swell wedges and the odd wave nobody has a name for yet — the fun, off-the-radar side of European surfing.

September is a sweet spot for surfing Mallorca. The summer crowds have thinned, the water is still a warm 24–26°C, and the first autumn swells begin pushing into the Mediterranean with real purpose. It's the month when local surfers start getting excited — a mix of lingering heat, clear water, and the chance of quality waves that can turn a quiet cove into a genuine surf spot for a few hours. That warm water means you can trunk it or wear a light spring suit all day, and the late-summer light makes every session feel golden.

Mallorca itself is a perfect novelty-wave playground. The island's varied coastline — rocky points, hidden coves, reef shelves and wind-exposed beaches — means there is almost always somewhere working when the swell is running. With Ben Gravy and a fleet of 4×4s, you can hunt down corners of the island most travellers never see, surfing waves that don't appear on any map. The combination of warm Mediterranean water, off-the-beaten-track locations, and the unpredictability of novelty surf makes every session an adventure.

You'll be based at Canyamel Park Hotel & Spa in the quiet resort village of Canyamel, a laid-back coastal pocket surrounded by pine-covered hills, dramatic cliffs and the crystal-clear Cala Canyamel bay. Canyamel itself has its own unique surf character on the right swells — a rare Mediterranean set-up that becomes the perfect home base between missions.

This is a novelty-wave trip, which means there are no guarantees — some days the Mediterranean delivers, and some days it doesn't. But that is part of the adventure. If the surf is flat, the 4×4s become exploration vehicles: hidden coves, dramatic viewpoints, secret swimming spots, and dusty tracks to corners of the island you'd never find without a local crew. Either way, every day is an adventure.

This is also a unique opportunity to meet and surf with Ben Gravy in person. He will be joining the missions, reading the conditions, and sharing the stoke — and if the waves show up, you might just find yourself featured in one of his YouTube films from the trip.

Each day, we load up multiple 4×4s and drive to whichever corner of the island is firing — Ben and the local crew reading the wind, the swell direction and the forecasts to pick the best spot on the day. Some days you'll surf Canyamel out the front. Other days it's rocky points, hidden coves, or long dusty tracks to a wave you'd never find on your own. Between sessions: long Mediterranean lunches, hilltop views, quiet evenings back at the spa. Come for the novelty waves, stay for a week of surf travel done properly.

Please note: this is a surfers-only departure. You must be a confident surfer and bring your own equipment — boards and wetsuit. No hire is provided on this trip.

Home for the week is Canyamel Park Hotel & Spa, a relaxed adults-only (16+) resort tucked into the pine forests just above Cala Canyamel on Mallorca's quieter eastern coast. It's the perfect base for a mission-style trip — comfortable, calm, well-fed, and only minutes from the beach when the surf is on.

You'll stay in the hotel's Premium Double Rooms (new for 2024) — 28m² of interior space plus a 7m² private balcony, designed for extra comfort and exclusivity. Each room has two 2×1m beds that can be joined into a large 2×2m double, a spacious bathroom with twin sinks and separate toilet, air conditioning, a 50" Smart TV, minibar, Nespresso coffee machine (with complimentary capsules), safe, desk, Wi-Fi, and a complimentary beach towel for the surf missions.

Beyond the room, the hotel has an outdoor pool, gardens, restaurant and full spa with sauna, jacuzzi and treatment rooms — ideal for unwinding after long days chasing waves in the 4×4s. Your stay is on Half Board: breakfast and dinner included daily, keeping mornings simple and evenings social so the group can focus on the surf.