Kitesurfing in Essaouira, Morocco: The Ultimate Guide In 2024

The term “Slice of life” didn’t mean anything to me before this trip to Morocco. It’s the name of the kite-surfing camp run by KiteWorldWide, in collaboration with Tom Court.

I guess it’s more of a concept, I thought it was just a fancy name. After a few days here, I realised that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. It’s a lifestyle that epitomises Kite-surfing, and a lifestyle that KiteWorldWide are doing a great job of promoting.

The clinics KiteWorldWide offers are for a variety of levels, from beginner to experienced, and typically the Slice of Life camps will look to improve an intermediate-level kite surfers to an advanced one. With one-to-one tuition from Tom, filming your technique to learning moves and tricks. And in addition to that, they are all over the world!

In this post, I’ll go through my experience, and how I learned kitesurfing in Essaouira.

Introduction to Kitesurfing in Essaouira

I have been to Morocco before, on a trip that took me from Marrakesh to the Sahara. Since then I’ve always wanted to go back and explore the coast.

When I arrive somewhere new, I like to go with my first instinct about the feeling I get, and it’s not usually wrong. Essaouira is one of those places I was right about. I instantly felt at home, at ease.

Essaouira is known as the windy city of Africa, and the expansive, uncrowded beaches make it a kite-surfing hotspot. If you’re looking fo a surf school anywhere, this is a great choice.

Accommodation in Morocco is generally in the beautiful traditional Riads inside the Medina, here was no different. KiteWorldWide typically offer mid-range hotels, which is perfect when you aren’t likely to spend much time in your room anyway.

Our Riad was booked out exclusively for KiteWorldWide. Our first night we were spoiled with a variety of traditional Moroccan dishes, it was a real feast and a chance to get to know everyone and enjoy a beer.

Enjoy Essaouira Kite Surfing

Essaouira stands out as a kitesurfing paradise for several compelling reasons. The city is blessed with consistent trade winds, which blow almost year-round, offering ideal conditions for kitesurfing.

The waters here are also versatile, with areas having gentle waves for beginners, as well as more challenging spots for experienced riders.

Additionally, Essaouira kite surfing is great but you should also enjoy the unique blend of Moroccan culture, vibrant local life, and the availability of quality kite schools and equipment add to its appeal as a top kitesurfing destination.

Kitesurfing Season in Essaouira

The Essaouira kitesurf season is typically from April to November, when the winds are most favourable.

During these months, the northeasterly trade winds, known locally as the ‘Chergui,’ provide consistent and strong winds ideal for kitesurfing. The summer months, June to August, see the strongest winds, attracting more kitesurfing lovers.

However, for those who prefer milder conditions, the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October offer a perfect balance of good wind and pleasant weather, and that’s a good Essaouira kitesurf season too.

Kitesurfing Lessons in Essaouira: What to Expect

On our first day, we headed to Essaouira beach, only a 15-minute walk from the Riad, only to find out that it the aforementioned “windy city” had let us down a little!

Instead of grabbing the kites we were picking up our surfboards as the waves were still big enough. In fact, they were the perfect size for beginners.

I’ve surfed a few times, despite a recurring jinx which involves standing on a Weever Fish, breaking my foot and spraining my ankle. This time there were no such problems, and we all got in the unbelievably fresh Atlantic Ocean for our surf lesson.

It was a nice way to ease in to the trip, and great to see there are plenty of alternatives on offer if you can’t kite-surf.

Eat lunch here: Ocean Vagabond – a chilled brasserie overlooking the main beach conveniently next door to Explora Watersports.

My Experience Kitesurfing in Essaouira Morocco With KiteWorldWide

Tom and the team at Explora Watersports had us totally looked after, from kite pumping to attaching the lines, everything is ready to go.

The more experienced guys head off with their instructor, and the beginners in another group. We learn all the key components to kiting, from wind direction, setting up the kite, kite control and of course safety. Each of us have a go controlling the kite, which you are harnessed into.

Tom would float between the groups, and jump out for a surf himself, including showing us some tricks and kite-surfing over the top of a camel. Yes, you did read that correctly.

When the wind was up there were so many kiters enjoying it, watching that alone was brilliant. Along with the chilled (almost hippy) like vibe to Essaouira Morocco.

We didn’t get to kite much more than that, the following day we surfed again hoping that the wind would pick up in the afternoon. It wasn’t to be, but that did give us a chance to explore the medina and harbour, grabbing a fresh fish barbeque lunch at the port. The fortress ramparts were also used for filming in Game of Thrones season 3. The day was topped off with a group camel ride along the beach at sunset.

The evenings were a chance to enjoy some delicious food and swap stories about our day or listen to kite-surfing stories. The first evening spent in the Riad, the second in the medina, and the third enjoying a rooftop barbeque.

It’s not a party holiday by any means but having a few drinks and getting to know your new friends is a must. You’re typically on this kind of trip with likeminded people, who all have one major interest in common, so the social side is a big draw.

It was as I spoke more to Tom and the team that I started to understand the Slice of Life mentality. I appreciated what it meant. Kite-surfing is a community, and by no means a closed one. You could walk to any kite-surfing hotpot on your tod, connect the lines, get ready to launch, and someone will help you.

The same person you’ll see later having a beer, who’ll invite you into their group for dinner. It is very much a way of life with kite-surfing at the core.

KiteWorldWide Destinations

There are other kite spots that you should check out if you like your experience in Essaouira and its long sandy beach, including:

• Brazil: Tatajuba, Prea, Jericoacoara
• Cape Verde:  Sal
• Egypt:  Seahorse Bay
• Greece: Kos
• Italy: Sicily
• Morocco: Essaouira Bay, Dakhla
• South Africa: Cape Town
• Spain: Tarifa
• Sri Lanka: Kalpitiya
• Tunisia: Djerba
• Zanzibar: Jambiani / Paje

Conclusion – Kitesurfing Essaouira

In conclusion for this kite trip, Essaouira stands as a jewel in the crown of kitesurfing destinations. Its perfect combination of reliable winds, incredible beaches, and welcoming waters for every level of kitesurfer.

Whether you’re riding the waves under the Moroccan sun or exploring the vibrant streets of the medina, Essaouira promises an unforgettable adventure.

I travelled as a guest of KiteWorldWide and my trip was covered by them with the flight’s courtesy of the Moroccan Tourism board. A 7-night kite-surfing package starts from £650 per person based on two people sharing. It includes breakfast, 12-hours of kitesurf lessons, kite-hire, SUP rental and some evening meals. Our surf lessons were with the team at Explora Watersports.