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Kitesurfing in the bay at EssaouiraA kite above the Atlantic at EssaouiraA kite at sunset on the beach at EssaouiraA kitesurfer off Essaouira with the Purple Isles behindEssaouira beach looking toward Mogador Island

Chapters / Africa Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Essaouira, keep it open

The north-east trade wind blows into Essaouira's bay for most of the year, and Mogador Island keeps the water inside it small and friendly. Kite schools line the beach just outside the medina walls, sharing the sand with camels, horses and the town.

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33 riders call this homeKite, WingEssaouira

Everything you need to know about Essaouira

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

  • North-east trade winds give cross-onshore wind most of the year, averaging about 15 to 25 knots and building through the afternoon. May to October is high season.
  • The main beach is long, sandy and shallow with no strong currents. A small river-mouth lagoon just south is glassy at high tide but only fits a few riders.
  • Water runs about 15 to 22°C. A 3/2 wetsuit suits most of the year, and a 4/3 in winter.

Sources: The Kite Spot; IKSURFMAG

See the wind right now
A kite above the Atlantic at Essaouira

Access and rules

Local governments and environmental agencies set the terms. The chapter works with them, not around them.

  • There are no formal kiting rules on Essaouira's beach. Riders are asked to set up away from horse and camel tours, tourists and locals.
  • Avoid kiting near the town end of the lagoon, where the wind is gusty and large rocks are hidden.
  • Drones need a special permit in Morocco and can be confiscated at the airport.

Sources: The Kite Spot; no published kite rules found as of 2026

Help hold the launch
A kite at sunset on the beach at Essaouira

Ecology and habitat

Protected lagoons, wetlands and the species that depend on them. Stewardship days keep launches clean inside the protected zones.

  • Mogador Island lies about 1.5 km off Essaouira. It is a nature reserve and has been a Ramsar wetland site since 2005.
  • Visitors need official authorization to land on the island. Eleonora's falcons, a protected species, are studied there.

Sources: Wikipedia

Fund stewardship here
A kitesurfer off Essaouira with the Purple Isles behind

Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

  • Essaouira is on Morocco's Atlantic coast, about a two-hour drive from Marrakech. Essaouira Airport is 15 minutes from town.
  • The main kite beach runs south from the town walls, about a 10-minute walk from the medina. Diabat is a quieter beach about 2 km further south.
  • Summer gusts can reach 30 knots or more, and wind chill makes a wetsuit sensible year-round despite strong sun.
  • Downwinders from the main beach to Diabat are common, with pickup by quad or camel.

Sources: IKSURFMAG; The Kite Spot

Meet the riders
Essaouira beach looking toward Mogador Island

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Schools that teach on this water

Explora MoroccoKite Surf MarocEssaouira Gliss City

Essaouira

North-east trade winds average 15–25 knots and build through the afternoon.

Source: The Kite Spot

Know the spot

Essaouira

High season runs May–October with wind almost year-round.

Source: The Kite Spot; IKSURFMAG

Know the spot

Essaouira

Water stays around 15–22°C : a 3/2 most of the year, a 4/3 in winter.

Source: The Kite Spot

Know the spot

Why Essaouira needs a chapter

Kitesurfing in the bay at Essaouira
Africa

Essaouira is known as one of the windiest towns in Africa. The north-east trade wind, the Charkhi, blows into the bay most of the year, and Mogador Island shelters it enough to make it one of the best places in the world to learn.

33riders call this home
3local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Essaouira chapter, World Wind Sports

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A kite above the Atlantic at Essaouira
Africa

That popularity is the risk. The main beach is a public town beach shared by schools, visiting riders, swimmers, camel and horse tours and fishermen, with no formal kiting rules at all. The town's tolerance is what keeps the beach open.

33riders call this home
3local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Essaouira chapter, World Wind Sports

Back this chapter
A kite at sunset on the beach at Essaouira
Africa

A chapter gives local instructors and riders one voice with the town, sets a shared code for the beach before someone else writes one, and supports stewardship of the bay and its protected islands.

33riders call this home
3local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Essaouira chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Essaouira

Riders from Essaouira, Sidi Kaouki, Diabat, Ghazoua, Moulay Bouzerktoun and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board
EExplora MoroccoLocal school teaching on this waterKKite Surf MarocLocal school teaching on this waterEEssaouira Gliss CityLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.EExplora MoroccoLocal school teaching on this waterKKite Surf MarocLocal school teaching on this waterEEssaouira Gliss CityLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.
nouredine jalilInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraBader HalbaCoach Level 1 - Wing Foil, EssaouiraAbdelilah Ait ChlihInstructor Level 2, Essaouiramohammed balkhouInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraZakaria LakratiInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraYassine El YousfiInstructor Level 2, Essaouiraaymane outalebInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraSamir essaddiqiInstructor Level 1, Essaouiramouad GarirInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraAchraf khoubazInstructor Level 1, essaouiraabderrahmane el idrissiInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraOussama FarzouzInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraomar bantourInstructor Level 1, Sidi KaoukiAli BaoubaouInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraSami el abdiInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraabdelfattah karkarInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraachraf agdourouInstructor Level 1, Essaouirawalid seffakInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraAmine AbaidInstructor Level 3, Essaouiramohamed amine NassouhAssistant, EssaouiraMourad seffak SeffakLevel 3N, EssaouiraAnas jehouaniLevel 2I, EssaouiraJalil LamaachiLevel 3L, EssaouiraNassouh AmineCertified rider, EssaouiraReda EddouCertified rider, EssaouiraYouness BizakarnCertified rider, EssaouiraSSaad ait lahcenLevel 3J, EssaouiraMMehdi HabachiLevel 4W, EssaouiraRRodolphe VermerLevel 2I, EssaouiraNNora iffaLevel 3K, EssaouiraMMohamed Rabia ZaitarLevel 2I, EssaouiraBBalga Toufik LiloLevel 1E, EssaouiraLLoup DeflandreCertified rider, Essaouiranouredine jalilInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraBader HalbaCoach Level 1 - Wing Foil, EssaouiraAbdelilah Ait ChlihInstructor Level 2, Essaouiramohammed balkhouInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraZakaria LakratiInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraYassine El YousfiInstructor Level 2, Essaouiraaymane outalebInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraSamir essaddiqiInstructor Level 1, Essaouiramouad GarirInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraAchraf khoubazInstructor Level 1, essaouiraabderrahmane el idrissiInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraOussama FarzouzInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraomar bantourInstructor Level 1, Sidi KaoukiAli BaoubaouInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraSami el abdiInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraabdelfattah karkarInstructor Level 1, Essaouiraachraf agdourouInstructor Level 1, Essaouirawalid seffakInstructor Level 1, EssaouiraAmine AbaidInstructor Level 3, Essaouiramohamed amine NassouhAssistant, EssaouiraMourad seffak SeffakLevel 3N, EssaouiraAnas jehouaniLevel 2I, EssaouiraJalil LamaachiLevel 3L, EssaouiraNassouh AmineCertified rider, EssaouiraReda EddouCertified rider, EssaouiraYouness BizakarnCertified rider, EssaouiraSSaad ait lahcenLevel 3J, EssaouiraMMehdi HabachiLevel 4W, EssaouiraRRodolphe VermerLevel 2I, EssaouiraNNora iffaLevel 3K, EssaouiraMMohamed Rabia ZaitarLevel 2I, EssaouiraBBalga Toufik LiloLevel 1E, EssaouiraLLoup DeflandreCertified rider, Essaouira
iSportsKite, WingiWind spotEssaouiraiKnow thisEssaouira, on Morocco's Atlantic coast about two hours' drive west of Marrakech.iKnow thisNorth-east trade winds, about 15 to 25 knots, windiest May to October.iKnow thisNo formal kiting rules; riders share a busy town beach with tourists and animal tours.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotEssaouiraiKnow thisEssaouira, on Morocco's Atlantic coast about two hours' drive west of Marrakech.iKnow thisNorth-east trade winds, about 15 to 25 knots, windiest May to October.iKnow thisNo formal kiting rules; riders share a busy town beach with tourists and animal tours.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Essaouira

Full forecast

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