Kiting in Morocco May/June - advice please!

Hey kiter-monkeys!

I'm planning a trip to Morocco (Essaouira) May/June and would appreciate any advice or yarns from anyone who's been kiting there. In particular:

- Is it an ok place for a beginner? (How much variety in locations/kiting space would I have? Is it a difficult place to launch/land alone?)

- What are the local shops like? (for gear hire, lessons etc)

- If there's no wind, how much other sport-related entertainment would there be around Essaouira to keep me from going postal?

- Are the good wind conditions for Essaouira similar to those for Dakhla?

I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences there, thanks!

I was planning to go to Dakhla early June for 3 weeks.
Decided to go elsewhere based on :

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Morocco
Three kidnappings in Western Sahara by terrorists last year.
General unrest in North Africa.
Long standing cease fire in place but still no official end to the war.

Many tourists still go and are ok.

Rob

Essaouria is awesome - i was there for ~1week in Aug 2009. The wind was good about half the days, the other days were spent hopping from restaurant to restaurant drinking mint tea and eating pancakes!

The beach is a bit different - gotta dodge camels, camel sh%t and people who generally dont understand what the hell you're parachuting on the beach for. The beach is prob the worst of it in terms of being a beginner - just find a quiet spot if u can. The conditions when i was there were suitable for most - not too much chop, had my 12m and was chugging along nicely.

Could even sneak up to Tarifa if you've got more time/$.

In general i didnt have any problems, had an awesome time and have preached this to anybody that asks. Enjoy!

By the sounds of it, just book a one way ticket.

That way if you get kidnapped you wont lose out on the cost of return trip

Thanks for the feedback guys! Sounds like I'll be able to keep myself entertained over there.

....And I don't think having to dodge camel sh#t on the beach will be a problem. Sounds pretty much the same as having to put up with the boys in Newcastle really

maybe the guy in the red suit will bring you a new cardboard

Hey, I would strongly recommend Dakhla. I have been there twice in the last two years and its one of the best kitespots in the world. Constantly 20-25 knots sideshore winds. Huge lagoon with downwind trips of up to 40km. I stayed at camp Attitude directly at the lagoon and had a blast.

Cheers

Dakhla is by far the best spot. Essaouira is better for windsurf.

If you like being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by desert and water, go there. Constant wind, beautiful spot, not too crowded, and amazing downwind to the "Dune Blanche".

I stayed at ocean vagabond (there is one at Essaouira too), it's the most ""luxury"" place, opened two years ago. IMHO it's the best located hotel, above all for beginners (at the bottom of the lagoon, just at the right of the picture above).

Fly out of Australia FIRST! (Singapore is a nice first stop). That's how you will save $.

When I looked a month ago Qatar Airways was the cheapest (Singapore-Doha-Tunis-Casablanca), for around 1100$...But the prices are always changing

Well there is nothing better than finding out first hand about a kite spot. Just spent 7 days/nights at Dakhla Attitude
http://www.dakhla-attitude.ma/index_en.php
Kited every morning and arvo for 7 days straight. Wind was strong and constant. Only used 9.5 or smaller. Ride 15 at home.
Ill up date more when i learn how to use a Moroccan key board :)
And post photos when i get home



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Nice 1 Ric yes they have a bar, the local beer is Stork, but no karva.
You can use the rental gear between 9am-1pm and 2- 6pm, choice of kiting in front of camp, flat water spot round the corner, arvo 10km down winder to a sand dune flat water + surf trips where cross on made for glassy right handers behind a little headland.