Surf Kitesurf

Essaouira

The Wind Capital

The wind capital of Morocco — a UNESCO medina on one side, a huge sandy bay and the flat lagoon of Sidi Kaouki on the other. Kite in the afternoon, surf in the morning.

300+ wind days / year Beach + Lagoon Camp accommodation
Camps

Stay & ride in Essaouira

Accommodation, daily coaching, equipment and transfers in one price.

Camp Essaouira

Kitesurf Camp Essaouira

A week of trade wind on a shallow, forgiving bay — the classic place to go from never having flown a kite to riding upwind on your own. Riad, breakfast and all the gear included.

From
€270/person
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Camp Essaouira

Surf Camp Essaouira

Surf the bay in the morning, wander the UNESCO medina in the afternoon. Four, six or eight days with a riad room, daily breakfast and a certified coach in the water with you.

From
€270/person
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Lessons

Book by the hour

Group, semi-private or one-on-one — no accommodation needed.

Lessons Essaouira

Kitesurf Lessons in Essaouira

Morocco's wind capital — 18 to 25 knots almost every afternoon from April to October, on a shallow sandy bay that forgives every beginner mistake.

From
€45/person
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Lessons Essaouira

Surf Lessons in Essaouira

A three-kilometre sandy bay under the ramparts of a UNESCO medina. Mellow morning waves before the trade wind fills in for the afternoon kite session.

From
€20/person
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The Spots

Where You Ride in Essaouira

Kite + Surf

Sidi Kaouki

Wide sandy bay · 25 km S

Advanced

Moulay Bouzerktoun

Wave riding · Strong wind

Beginner

Essaouira Bay

Flat & shallow · In town

Spot Information

Conditions & Practical Info

Essaouira · The Wind Capital

Beach + Flat
Wave type
All levels
Level
16–20°C
Water temp
Apr – Oct
Best season
15 km
From Essaouira ESU
18–25 kt
Trade winds

Month-by-Month Guide

Peak
Shoulder
Quiet
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
★
★
★
★
★

★ = Strongest and most reliable trade winds — peak kitesurf season.

Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Essaouira called the windy city of Africa?
A thermal trade wind, the Alizé, builds through the afternoon for most of the year, blowing side-onshore into a wide sandy bay. It typically runs 18 to 25 knots and considerably more in high summer. That wind is the reason kitesurfers plan their year around this town.
Is Essaouira good for surfing as well?
Yes, but book the right months. The best surf runs from September to April, when the Atlantic swell is consistent and the mornings are cleanest. In midsummer the wind takes over the afternoons, which is superb for kiting and difficult for surfing.
What is the medina like?
A walled eighteenth-century port town and a UNESCO World Heritage site — blue shutters, woodworkers, a working fishing harbour and a long arts tradition. It is the reason Essaouira suits a mixed group where not everyone is going in the water.
Which surf spots do you use around Essaouira?
The town beach for first-timers, since it is sheltered and sandy. When the conditions are better elsewhere we drive to Sidi Kaouki twenty-five minutes south, or further to Tafedna and Imsouane. The spot is chosen each morning on swell and wind.
How do I get to Essaouira?
Essaouira Mogador (ESU) is 15 km from town with seasonal European routes. Most guests fly into Marrakech (RAK) instead, which has far more flights, and take the two-and-a-half hour road transfer.
How cold is the water in Essaouira?
Between roughly 16 and 20 °C through the year, cooler than Agadir and Taghazout because of the exposure and the wind. You will always be in a wetsuit, and we provide one for every session.