A family kitesurf holiday works when three things line up: a safe, shallow spot; a kite centre within walking distance of the room; and enough going on that the people who don’t kite have a real holiday too. Get any one of those wrong and it stops being a family holiday and becomes one person’s kite trip that everyone else is attending.
What actually makes it work
We travel with our own families, so this list is not theoretical. The criteria that matter, in the order they matter:
- The non-kiters have a genuinely good holiday. This is first for a reason. A happy family makes a happy kitesurfer.
- The kite centre is next to the accommodation — walking distance, not a drive. With children, a 30-minute transfer each way kills the session before it starts.
- A safe, shallow, forgiving spot, so that if the kids want to try, they can.
- Somewhere that feels safe, with decent medical care within reach.
- Kids’ club or babysitting, so two adults can occasionally be on the water at once.
- Easy travel. With small children, a direct flight beats a better spot two connections away.
The six that manage it
| Destination | Best for | Season | Flight from UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius (Le Morne) | First family trip; luxury; mixed abilities | Jun–Nov | Direct, ~12 h |
| Egypt (Soma Bay, El Gouna) | Reliable wind on a shorter flight; snorkelling | Mar–Nov | Direct, ~5–6 h |
| Morocco (Dakhla) | Wind reliability; avoiding summer heat | Year-round, best Apr–Sep | Via Casablanca |
| Maldives | Warm, calm water; non-kiters who want to do nothing | Dec–Apr, Jun–Aug | Direct, ~11 h |
| Fuerteventura | Short-haul with reliable summer wind | Apr–Oct | Direct, ~4 h |
| Kos & Greek islands | Easiest short-haul family option | May–Sep | Direct, ~4 h |
Mauritius — the default first choice
Direct flights, a shallow flat lagoon at Le Morne, world-class schools on the sand in front of family-focused hotels, and a whole island to explore on light days. Everything from beginner lagoon to serious wave riding is in one place, so a family with different abilities is not compromising. Windsurfing, wingfoiling, paddleboarding and diving are all on the same beach. See Mauritius kitesurfing.
Egypt — the value pick
Reliable wind, shallow lagoons that are close to ideal for learning, and one of the best snorkelling coastlines in the world for the days off. Soma Bay and El Gouna are the two we book most. On a five-hour flight rather than twelve, it is the easier trip with small children, and the Pyramids or a Nile cruise turns it into a proper family adventure.
Morocco — Dakhla
Dakhla Lagoon is world-class for every level, including a genuinely good place for children to learn, and there is now some seriously comfortable family accommodation. Temperatures sit between 26 and 31°C, which makes it a good way to dodge a European or Middle Eastern summer. Add Marrakech, Essaouira or the Atlas Mountains on the way through.
Maldives, Fuerteventura and Greece
The Maldives suits families where the non-kiters actively want to do nothing in beautiful surroundings. South Fuerteventura and Kos are the short-haul answers — four hours, reliable summer wind, and you are on the beach the same day.
Who this doesn’t work for
If your priority is maximum wind days and progression, a family trip is not the vehicle. The destinations that deliver relentless wind — Cape Town in the southern summer, Brazil’s downwinder coast — are demanding places with long transfers and little for children. Do those on a trip of your own, and keep the family week for somewhere the whole group gets a holiday.
For the full range and to talk through which fits your children’s ages, see family kitesurf holidays.
Planning a family kite trip?
Tell us the ages of your children, your dates and who else is coming. We will come back with resorts where the school is on the beach, the kids’ club is real and the non-kiters are looked after — with one price covering flights, transfers, lessons and childcare.
Free, with no obligation and no booking fee. We’re a UK tour operator, trading since 2001 —
every resort we sell has been ridden by one of our own team. Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 UK ·
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Frequently asked questions
What age can children learn to kitesurf?
Most schools will teach from around 10–12 years old, depending on the child’s weight, strength and confidence in water. Below that, many centres offer land-based kite control and foil-kite play, which builds the right instincts without the power of a full water session.
Which is the best kitesurf destination for families?
Mauritius is the usual answer for a first family trip: direct flights, a shallow lagoon, hotels with kids’ clubs directly in front of the kite school, and plenty for non-kiters. Egypt and Morocco cost less and are windier, but need a bit more planning around the resort you pick.
Can a non-kiting partner enjoy a kitesurf holiday?
Yes, if you choose the resort for them rather than for the wind. The trip works when the kite school is on the beach of a hotel that would be a good holiday on its own — pool, spa, restaurants, activities. It fails when the kiting is a 40-minute drive from a hotel with nothing to do.
Do families need to bring their own kit?
Rarely. At the destinations here the schools have modern rental and school kit including smaller sizes suitable for lighter riders. Bringing your own is worth it if you are fussy about your board or riding somewhere remote.
How far in advance should we book a family kitesurf holiday?
School holidays are the constraint, not the wind. For February half term, Easter and the summer holidays we would suggest six to nine months, because the family rooms and the kids’ clubs sell out long before the flights do.
