Mention surfing and the mental images conjured up include not just the sport itself but a whole culture, informed by iconic surfing movies, music and literature. Those ultimate surfing destinations are out there waiting, so make your choice, book your flight, check your travel insurance covers surfing and go for it!

Number one on anyone's list of surfing beaches has to be the place where it all started:

Waikiki, Hawaii:

This is the best place in the world to learn to surf, not least because Hawaii is the birthplace and spiritual home of surfing. On Waikiki beach the waves are gentle, there are surf schools a-plenty and the beach boys (and girls) pride themselves on being able to teach anyone to surf. Conditions on Waikiki beach are good for surfing all year round although serious surfers know the best time for surf is late winter to early spring, November to mid-March. Competitions are held around October each year in Oahu on the North shore where there are massive "barrels", the name for waves which roll over into tube shapes, (strictly for the experts, your travel insurance will cover you for personal injury and repatriation but your holiday will be spoiled).

Malibu, California:

Surfing's second home is of course California. Malibu is the beach where Gidget did her thing and the surfing movement really took off. September to November is the best time to surf here, warmer than the summer and less crowded.

Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz:

There are big waves here and it is the birthplace of the wetsuit, so vital to the spread of surfing to cooler climes. The inventor was Jack O'Neill and his son, Pat invented the leash to attach a surfer to his or her board, preventing its loss in the event of a "wipe out" (falling off). It is important to keep control of your board in this way, particularly in crowded conditions when a loose board could cause injury. Check your travel insurance will cover you for injury caused to others, but better not to need it.

Freshwater beach, Australia:

The famous Hawaiian, Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia here in 1915. He made a board 8ft. 6in. long from Australian sugar pine. The Aussies took the sport to their hearts and never looked back. Their technical contribution to the surfing story was the later "shortboard revolution", a reduction in size of board to 6 feet. Modern boards are made of Styrofoam and fibreglass. Look after your board (or "stick") and cherish it, make sure it is covered by your travel insurance. It is your amulet of power.

Bells beach, Australia:

This is where Patrick Swayze as Bodie "ate it" at the end of the film "Point Break" to escape Keanu Reeve's dogged FBI agent.

Bukit Peninsular, Bali:

Another iconic film scene, this time from Albe Falzon's "Morning of the Earth" made in 1971, introduced the cave at Uluwatu and the amazing surf breaks here to the wider surfing world. There's no public transport so you'll need to rent a car. Don't leave valuables on show, you don't want your ultimate surfing experience spoiled by a break-in and your travel insurance won't cover you for theft if you haven't taken reasonable care of your valuables.

Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa:

Some say this beach has the best waves on the planet, creating rides of up to 800m in length. The best time to go is June to August but this is when it is most crowded. Take a chance on the swells that reach the coast from as early as April and as late as September.

Biarritz, France:

A year round surfing destination due to the regular swells that funnel into the Gulf de Gascogne from the North Atlantic.

Hossegor, France:

This is a good example of a classic beach break, holding perfect barrels of up to 20 ft. Not for beginners and the tide is crucial, it's best at low to medium. Best time of year, autumn. You'll need a wetsuit; check your travel insurance covers you for loss of or damage to hired equipment.

Peniche Peninsula, Portugal:

Last but not least, this peninsular offers north and south facing coastlines to virtually guarantee good surfing conditions every day. With more than 20 different surf spots along 15km of coastline all levels of surfer are catered for.

So there you have it, ten of the best to have you never wanting to go back home. Except for the fact that your money and travel insurance have run out. Oh well, back to reality!