Windsurfers and a kite, Mogador island behind. — Photo: Lars Curfs

A kiter cruising the small waves off Essaouira. — Photo: Isabelle Lemelin

Sails and a kite beyond a horse rider, main beach. — Photo: Patrick Nouhailler

Kites over the bay under a heavy sky. — Photo: Isabelle Lemelin

A kite still up over the beach at sunset. — Photo: Goldfinchshuffle

Morocco

Jul · 74% rideable

Essaouira

What it's actually like

Kiters launch from shallow sand in front of the clubs, with the trade side-shore from the right and small waves further out to boost off. Stay off the town end, where hidden rocks sit under the water.

Salam. It means peace, and it is how the town greets you. Essaouira is a town beach before it is a wind spot. The sand runs south from the medina walls, with Mogador island across the bay and the gulls wheeling overhead. You rig with the old town along the bay to your right. A sleepy morning turns into a bay full of sails by the afternoon, and that turn is the best bit. On a proper day the bay hands you the rush.

The wind here is the alizé, French for the trade wind. In summer it blows north to north-north-east, side-shore from the right on the main beach. Mornings are light and the afternoon builds. From June to August the thermal adds five knots or more, and afternoons are often strong, up to 30 kt, harder than the morning told you. Bigger kites come out early, smaller ones later; in summer 7 and 9 metre kites do most of the work. May to August is the season, and July is the pick.

Winter is the honest picture. From October to April the direction wanders and there is no single wind to bank on: roughly a third of January days are rideable. The big swells roll in then for the wave riders. The sea is cold for Africa, because the trade wind and the Canaries Current drive an upwelling of cold water along this coast. It sits around 16°C in January and 15 to 20°C through the year, so learn to change out of a wet 5/3 in seconds.

You walk down from the clubs on Boulevard Mohammed V, rig on the wide sand and wade out over a shallow sandy bottom. Further out there are small waves to boost off, 1 to 2 metres in spring and autumn and 0.5 to 1 metre from June to August. At high tide the river mouth south of the kite beach fills into a small glassy lagoon with room for a few riders. Diabat, further south in the bay, has more regular wind and more waves, pebbles underfoot and no supervision.

Rules and safety. Essaouira beach holds a Blue Flag, renewed for the 2026 summer season. Bathing areas patrolled by lifeguards must be clearly marked out. Read the information board, keep out of those areas and ask a school where to launch on the day. Near the town end of the bay there are hidden large rocks in the water. The wind is uneven where it comes over the town, so avoid kitesurfing near the town end. Horse and camel rides use the beach, so set up out of their way.

The crew on the beach is a proper mix. Windsurfers, kiters and wingers share the bay. Learners work the shallow zone in front of the clubs, and riders after bump and jump head out to the waves beyond. Once you are riding upwind with confidence, schools run downwinders for intermediate and advanced kiters south to Sidi Kaouki, about 25 km along the coast. Legs burning, walking up the sand at the far end: that is a day you will remember.

For the wave spots up and down the coast, Moulay Bouzerktoun is about 30 km north and Sidi Kaouki lies to the south. The bottom is rock at Moulay and the currents can be strong at Sidi Kaouki, so go with a centre the first time. When the sun drops, Essaouira is not about wild parties: think laid-back bars, live Gnawa music and a lot of talk about who went biggest. Look at the sky over the island before you rig.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelBody dragger to jumper
Learn on the shallow sand by the centres; Sidi Kaouki downwinders suit intermediates and up.
WaterSmall chop to head-high
Shallow inside, waves outside to boost off: 0.5 to 1 m in summer.
LaunchMind your feet
Sandy bottom in the main bay; stay off the hidden rocks near the town end.
Wetsuit4/3 steamer
Sea about 19 °C in July: a 4/3, nippy on the first run, then sweet.
AprèsLively
12 bars and 183 places to eat within 5 km: plenty for after the session.
CostMid
Kite kit from €60 a day at Seagull Club; partner stays from €30 a night.

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Parking
School
Stay

Main beach

The sand in front of the beach clubs on Boulevard Mohammed V.

For kite, windsurf, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

Getting there

Nearest airportEssaouira (ESU). The airport sits about 15 km from town. Marrakech (RAK) is the long way in if you cannot get a flight here.
Flying with a board bagRyanair. Flying into Essaouira (ESU)? Tap through to their board bag rules and fees before you book.
Kit storageOcean Vagabond storage service. Ocean Vagabond, on the beach at Boulevard Mohamed V, will store your windsurf kit and keep it in good nick between sessions.
Getting aroundOn foot from town. The beach clubs line the seafront road, Boulevard Mohammed V, so you can walk from town.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Riad Zahra

Our pick: 290 m from the launch

A 23-room riad two minutes’ walk from the beach, with a pool sheltered from the trade wind. An ION Club partner, from 32 euros a person a night.

Book on Booking.com

Le Vent des Dunes

Small family-run hotel with breakfast on the roof terrace, a few minutes’ walk from Ocean Vagabond. An ION partner, from 35 euros a person a night.

Book on Booking.com

Villa Quieta

$$$

Guesthouse with a pool, hammam and parking, close to the beach and to Ocean Vagabond. From 72 euros a person a night.

Book on Booking.com

Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pocket Guide

Essaouira, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Essaouira

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Main beach

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Riad Zahra

Le Vent des Dunes

Villa Quieta

Dar L’Oussia

Riad Maison du Sud

Palais des Remparts

Ocean Vagabond (ION Club)

Seagull Club

KSE Kite & Surf Essaouira

NaneaKite

Flyin' Surf

Ocean Vagabond (ION Club)

Seagull Club

KSE Kite & Surf Essaouira

Essaouira, in your pocket

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