Essaouira Kite Paradise

Essaouira Kite Paradise is a kitesurf and surf school on rue Princesse Lalla Hasna, thirty seconds from the beach and from the launch area of Essaouira bay. It is run by Marie and Taher, a French-Moroccan couple; Taher, the manager, comes from international windsurf competition.

The school is IKO certified and issues the IKO level card after a 15-hour course. Lessons run in three-hour sessions, either in a group of four students sharing two kites, semi-private for two, or one-to-one, and the "no wind, no pay" guarantee means only the hours actually flown are charged. The club is an F-One Pro School: current-year Bandit kites are available for rental, lessons are taught on Ozone gear, and surfers get a wide choice of shortboards and longboards.

On site: changing room with lockers, showers and toilets, a rinsing and drying area for kites, board storage 200 m from the launch zone, and a large shaded garden with sofas, sun loungers and hammocks serving mint tea, tagines and snacks. The school also runs full-day surf trips to Imsouane and half-day trips to Sidi Kaouki, and puts together stays with accommodation at its partner addresses.

Reception open 9am to 6pm, seven days a week. Lessons run until sunset, with the meeting time set according to the best weather conditions. No closing period is published. Landmark: turn at the OLA petrol station along the beach.