Kiteboard Thailand - Destinations - Thailand - Koh Samui

Contributors: Brett Murrell

Location and distance (from major city): 1 ½ hours flight from Bangkok, 14 hours bus or train and ferry from Bangkok, 1 hour ferry from Surat Thani (mainland)

Location Summary: Koh Samui is an island 21 km at its widest and 25 km long, which makes for diverse kiteboarding locations depending on the wind direction. Most kiting locations on the island are not suited to beginner or intermediate kiters due to small launch areas and rocks. Some locations are good depending on the tide and wind direction but then sometimes they are really bad at other times. Make sure you know what you are doing. Below I have listed a number of locations that are kiteboardable with some tips. Please send us your comments if you have tried any of these spots.

Seasons and Wind Information:

Locations for the NE monsoons on Koh Samui (November to March)

KBA Kitesurfing School - Samui Orchid Resort - Hua Thanon - A great location for all levels.

Location map and safe kiteboarding guidlines.

above : Samui Orchid Resort on Easterly winds (January)

Lamai Beach - Wind is less than at Samui Orchid. Choppy wave conditions and big beach break. For best chance of good conditions go to the northernmost point of Lamai beach. Intermediate to expert kiteriders only.

Chaweng Beach - Big beach break, launch north by the reef. Watch out for the planes coming in to land. Not sure if it is legal to kite too close to the airport, if in doubt try further south. Be aware that this is the busiest beach on Samui and so please stay away from all beach users. Expert kiteriders only.

North of Chaweng beach (between the island and shore) - Great spot on northerly winds. At high tide depth well over head height. Intermediate to expert kiteriders only. Low tide, knee deep, beginners ok . With a north wind, downwind is the big blue ocean, so make sure you know what you're doing.

above : North of Chaweng beach between the island and beach (north winds)

Maenam Beach - Wind direction makes for gusty conditions, with wind coming over land. A true NE direction can be good. Usually 100-200 meters out the wind can be better. Generally wind will be stronger on a easterly/ south easterly direction due to throttling effect but will be gusty. A big beach with safe areas down wind, deep water. At high tide there is a narrow beach, low tide enough beach for launching. While it is possible for beginners with the help of a experienced friend we recomend intermediate to expert kiteriders only.

Maenam Beach looking upwind SE wind (february)

Coconut Villa (south west side of Samui) - Great spot during January to March during low tides and SW winds (no good during November / December NE winds). Wind is onshore, but low tide makes water depth from knee to waist deep. Beginner to expert.

above : Coconut Villa on SW wind (late January)

Location for the SW monsoons on Koh Samui (May - August)

Shamballa resort / 100 degrees east (Big Buddha beach) - Shallow sandy bay, generally 5-10 boats anchored in bay. There are boat wharfs downwind from the riding area, so make sure you know what you are doing. When the wind is from SW it can be gusty as it comes over the land. Generally out about 100 meters the wind is more stable. Otherwise wait until wind is more westerly, generally later in the season. Expert kiteriders only. We will be teaching from this location using a boat, thus getting the students out into the cleaner wind in the middle of the bay.

Beach looking towards northwards at the Shamballa resort on SW winds (June)

Lipa Noi Beach- A great place to kitesurf for the beginner to advanced. Sandy shallow bay great for practising. Try starting at the temple (Wat), if you go to close to Big Johns seafood, wind tends to be gusty, coming over the land on the left.Beginner to expert.

Lipa Noi Beach from the Wat on SW winds (late June)