If you want to learn to kitesurf in Europe, there are some important factors to consider. Firstly, you’ll want somewhere where there is a calm, shallow teaching area, such as a sheltered bay, ocean lagoon or estuary. Waves and deep water are not friends of the novice kitesurfer. You’ll also want consistent wind conditions, as you may find some kitesurf destinations offer strong or gusty winds, not suited to learning.
You might also want to avoid areas with onshore and offshore wind, unless you want to injure yourself, or end up in the middle of the ocean. The best kitesurf locations offer specific areas for kiting, where there are few or no swimmers and windsurfers. The quieter the water, the more confidence you will have and the quicker you will learn.
Choose a good quality IKO or BKSA kite school, with registered and experienced English speaking instructors. The best school will have one instructor to a maximum of four students. Lastly, you will want lots of sunshine, as that’s the reason you want to get out of the UK and to learn to kitesurf in Europe, right?
Sotavento, just outside the resort of Costa Calma in the south of Fuerteventura, offers year-round sunshine and consistent winds. Coupled with a stunning location and great hotels, it offers the perfect kitesurf location for beginners. The huge ocean lagoon is tidal, so check the tide chart to see what dates the lagoon is full, before you book.
The resident kite school has been operating top quality IKO courses for years now and offers quick progression courses. With just three students per instructor and radio helmet training, you get the most out of each lesson. The 4* Melia Gorrionnes is the only hotel directly on the lagoon and offers exceptional service and lots of facilities.
There are also various hotels and apartments available just down the road in Costa Calma, to suit a range of tastes and budgets. Complimentary transfers to and from the kite centre are included in kite courses. Although the wind blows all year round, the ideal time for beginners is September to March.
If you want to learn to kitesurf in the Canary Islands then contact www.travelaction.co.uk
Alvor was once a small fishing village and still retains a lot of the traditional charm, with narrow cobbled streets and lanes, dotted with traditional restaurants and shops. It is now one of Portugal’s premier kitesurf destinations. The main draw for beginners wanting to learn to kitesurf in Europe is the huge, shallow estuary. It is protected from the ocean and offers calm, flat, warm waters that are ideal for beginner lessons.
There is a good quality IKO kite school offering beginner courses located five minute’s walk from the centre of town, on the estuary beach. If you want to learn to kitesurf in Europe the summer months are best for beginners, from early May to October.
If you want to learn to kitesurf in Portugal then contact www.travelaction.co.uk
Kremasti’s quiet beach, protected teaching area and lack of swimmers and windsurfers, mean beginners will have lots of room to learn and practice. The relatively light Meltemi winds over flat, calm waters offer great conditions. We recommend early May to October for the best beginner conditions if you want to learn to kitesurf in Europe.
Kremasti is a small relaxed resort with a good choice of traditional tavernas and restaurants. If you want to party, jump in a cab to nearby Ialysoss where there is a wide range of bars and clubs open to the small hours. This is also one of the best value places to learn, with a range of self-catering apartments close to the kite centre and cheap flights from various UK airports.
This is a truly unique holiday experience. Stay in beautiful Keros Bay, away from the hustle and bustle, in a luxury safari tent a short stroll from the warm, turquoise waters. If you aren’t looking for nightlife, waterparks, big hotels, then Keros Bay is the perfect secluded destination for you.
This is the beach life, where you will live in your flip flops, on the beach or in the water each day and night. If you go in early June you may still see the huge flocks of flamingos that inhabit the salt lakes. The IKO kite centre offers excellent courses, as well as a range of other activities to keep you busy when you’re not kite surfing.
Holidays are available from June to the end of September, with direct flights out of Gatwick. There are limited spaces available so make sure you book early for this option.
If you want to learn to kitesurf in Greece then contact www.travelaction.co.uk
Turkey’s premier kite surf destination is a great place to learn. This huge shallow bay has long been a favourite for kitesurfers and windsurfers alike. The kite lessons are taken across the bay, in the calm shallow waters. You’ll access the bay by shuttle boats from the kite school. Sometimes lessons may be taken on the flat waters of Urla Bay a short drive away.
The consistent summer winds are a feature of Alacati, combined with the excellent kite schools and calm, shallow waters. To get the best conditions for beginners, travel from April to September.
The town itself, offers a range of accommodation including a range of luxury boutique style hotels and guest houses. This is where the cool, well-heeled Turks come for the weekends and is one of the country’s more upmarket resorts. It still retains a lot of old-world charm, with narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. With much more of a party atmosphere, Cesme lies a few kilometres down the road, where there are numerous bars and clubs.
If you want to learn to kitesurf in Europe at any of these destinations then contact www.travelaction.co.uk