Kitesurfing Koh Phangan, Thailand - Kitesurfing Courses

Kitesurfing
koh samui thailand

Kite Surfing Thailand - Koh Phangan

Fiji

Spain

Turkey

Mauritius

Red Sea

Cyprus

Thailand

Brazil

Philippines

Australia

N.Zealand

South Africa

All courses follow the IKO (International Kitesurfing Organisation) assessment system. Our instructors are IKO qualified and at the end of each course students will receive an IKO card with their achieved level. All the necessary equipment is provided for students (excluding food and drinks) and the courses last between 4 and 5 hours per day depending on the wind conditions. Students are advised to wear a hat and apply sun-cream as they will be spending a lot of time in the sun. Students must be 16 years or older, although we can teach children under 16 with their parent’s permission and presence.

kitesurfing thailand koh samui pattaya phuket hua hin chumphon with extreme sports cafe

Koh Phangan, Thailand - The location, and kitesurfing sites.

Location

Seasons

Courses & Booking

Rental

Wind

Books

Koh Phangan, situated 10km north of Koh Samui, still has the island feel that many other islands have lost due to over development. Koh Phangan is renowned for its relaxed special atmosphere and brings people from all over the world back every year.
Koh Phangan is about two third the size of koh Samui and it is a similar mix of sandy coves and a rugged forested interior. Better known for the Full Moon parties held on Haad Rin, than kitesurfing, Koh Pha Ngan is a small island in the gulf of Thailand and is part of the Samui archipelago. However, it should be remembered that Haad Rin is just a small slice of the island's shoreline and Koh Phangan has much more to offer.

A large proportion is covered by coral reef fringed beaches, tropical rainforest and coconut groves. At the foot of the southern Haad Rin hills starts a long, unbroken stretch of beach with a view over Koh Samui that runs all the way up to main town Thong Sala. Extreme Sports Café’s new partner kitesurfing school is located here in a resort along this beautiful southwest coast, 1.5km from Koh Pha Ngan's main village Thong Sala.
The South West of the island is a good choice for those who want to be near the action, while staying in a more quiet area. The main villages of the Southwest are the port town of Thong Sala and the two villages Ban Kai and Ban Tai. A good cemented road makes Ban Kai and Ban Tai easy accessible from Thong Sala (10 minutes drive) and Haad Rin (15 minutes drive).

The main town of Koh Phangan is the port of Thong Sala where most boats dock. Thong Sala has many (tourist) shops, restaurants, bars, jeep and motorbike rental shops and several Internet shops. Here you will also find all major facilities like banks, ATM’s, a post office, telephone and fax facilities, and travel agencies.
The villages of Ban Kai and Ban Tai both have basic facilities like mini marts, Internet shops, motorbike rental, a few bars, shops and some (Thai) restaurants. Ban Tai also has a 7 Eleven supermarket. The kitesurfing centre is 5 minutes from Thong Sala pier, 20 minutes from Haad Rin pier.

Kitesurfing Seasons For Koh Phangan

Extreme Sports Café’s Partner Kitesurfing School is also an IKO Kitesurfing Centre and uses IKO trained instructors as well. Their approach to teaching kitesurfing is based on safety and includes fun and efficiency, with total dedication to our students and obviously a huge amount of patience coupled to a great sense of humor. Kitesurfing lessons take place in a bay, inside the reef, which is blessed by constant side onshore winds. Using Mae Haad beach in November and December, and then from our resort beach as soon as the wind has turned usually in mid January until mid March when the windy season and kitesurfing ends until November again.

Due to its proximity to the equator, Koh Phangan has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 25° - 34° C, with lots of sunshine, high humidity and - as the word tropical rainforest implies - the occasional showers.
Roughly there are three main seasons: the dry season (mid December - April) when it is mostly dry and relatively cool, the hot season (May - September), when it can be very hot with occasional storm showers and the wet season (October - mid December), when there can be a strong and windy monsoon and a lot of rain.

Overall we would say the best time to visit Koh Phangan for kitesurfing is from November to mid March, when both the sea and wind/weather conditions are usually at their best.

Koh Phangan roughly has two tidal seasons: April to November (low) and November to April (high).

There are a lots of other activities available as well on Koh Phangan or a short ferry ride away on Koh Samui; Thai massage (perfect after kiting!), Island-Trips, Wave-riding in Chaweng, snorkeling, diving, PARTY (!!!), Water ski/Wakeboarding, Thai-cuisine courses, temples, waterfalls, Tiger park, Aquarium, Butterfly Garden, Quad-Biking, Paintball, Shopping and much much more….We don’t have to say anything about the nightlife, do we?

Accommodation when kitesurfing on Koh Samui

If you require accommodation then the Resort that the kitesurfing centre is situated at offers rooms with aircon, hot water and TV or a cheaper option is in bungalows next door with cold water and fan, 400-500 baht per night.

Extreme Sports Café’s new partner kitesurfing school is located in a resort along this beautiful southwest coast, 1.5km from Koh Pha Ngan's main village Thong Sala.

Please contact us for help with accommodation, local flights and transfers.

Kitesurfing Koh Phangan

Extreme Sports Cafe's partner Koh Phangan Kitesurfing School program, has been specifically designed to transform beginners with zero knowledge, to fully autonomous kiteboarders no time at all. We can also tailor kitesurfing lessons to suite any level of rider Intermediate or Advanced.

A typical Kitesufring Beginner's Course:
• Learn to “read” the wind.
• Get your first sensation using a trainer kite to understand the way it flies, how to steer it and get the first theoretical explanation. (And vocabulary)
• Learn to prepare and rig your first inflatable kite.
• Launch it and learn to use the safety systems.
• Learn to self-rescue.
• Learn to control the kite at its different flying position.
• Learn to manage the power of the kite.
(with low power at first)
• Learn to control the kite when you are in movement.
(being dragged in the water, in the direction of the wind)
• Learn to control your moving direction. (being dragged in the water, in both directions cross wind)
• Learn to move against the wind direction. (being dragged in the water) in order to recover your board when you have lost it
• Water start, get up on the board and enjoy your first ride.
• Theory is given throughout the courses, no need to stay long hours in a classroom.

Kitesurfing course prices on Koh Phangan with Extreme Sports Cafe

4-Day Beginner Kitesurfing Course 14,500THB

With our beginner kitesurfing program, you will learn step by step, at your own pace, all the different aspects of the kitesurfing sport, from launching to landing your kite, from using the safety systems to choosing the right kite or the right spot...
This is a comprehensive kitesurfing course and is 12hours of Kitesurfing tuition over 4 days.

All of our kitesurfing courses can be adapted to suit your individual skill level. All you have to do is select how many hours you would like and decide what kitesurfing skills you would like to improve on. We can cater for all kitesurfing skill levels from Beginner to Advanced kitesurfers.

3-Hour Kitesurfing Lesson 4,200THB

6-Hour Kitesurfing Lesson 8,000THB

12-Hour Kitesurfing Lesson 14,500THB

Hourly Private Kitesurfing Tuition 3,000THB p/hour

Get some kitesurfing instruction for all those tricky manoeuvres or to improve on upwind riding, gibing, looping, tracking and much more. All levels welcome Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced.

All students will be certified after completion of their kitesurfing course/lesson with their actual kitesurfing level. All kit needed for the kitesurfing lessons is provided. Each student get's his/her own harness, impact vest and helmet, all being available in different sizes to cover all the existing body sizes. Our helmets are equipped with VHF radio to maximize the instructors' coaching efficiency and your learning experience.

learn to kitesurf in koh samui thailand extreme sports cafe kitesurfing thailand

Our Kitesurfing Equipment

To satisfy the need of our kitesurfing students in any wind conditions, we have an extended line of kites and boards, ranging from 1.8 m2 trainer kites to 16m2 inflatable kites, from 140 to 179 cm long boards.

All our kites are changed twice a year to ensure that our students always learn with up to date kitesurfing equipment.

Kitesurfing rental packages
Kitesurfing Equipment	Duration	Price
Package*	1-Hour	1,000THB
Package*	1-Day	3,000THB
*Package includes Board, Kite, Harness, Flotation Jacket & Helmet.

*To be able to rent gear you have to be iko level 3 or equivalent kitesurfer.
*For those who do not have any certification, we will give you a check-out to estimate your level and then issue you your certification, the necessary time to do so is deducted from your rental time.

Safety & Rescue Boats Koh Phangan

Our fleet of safety boats is composed of:
• Semi rigid Zodiac with 85HP Yamaha.
• Rigid 6m boat with 30 hp Yamaha.
• Rigid 4m Boat with 20 hp Yamaha.
• 650cc Yamaha Jet Ski.

Current wind conditions for Kitesurfing on Koh Phangan, Thailand.

Wind Conditions:
November - December: N-E 15-22 knots.
January - March: S-E 12-20 Knots.
April – May: Not Constant.
June - November: S-W 12-20 Knots.

Water conditions:
Flat, waist deep warm water.
Water temperature: 24-28°C (75-82 °F)
Very low tide during the day, from April to October.

Koh Phangan roughly has two tidal seasons: April to November (low) and November to April (high).

Nightlife on Koh Phangan

The main town Thong Sala has many bars, Thai and Western restaurants. Some bars have pool tables and TV’s for live sporting events. If you want to eat cheap and authentic Thai food the Thai food market next to the 7 Eleven supermarket is a great place to find different food stalls.

In Ban Tai the Black Moon Party is held once and the Half Moon Party is held twice a month, playing progressive and trance music. The villages of Ban Kai and Ban Tai are relatively sleepy in the evening. However on the party on koh samui and koh phangan on your kitesurfing holiday with extreme sports cafe main road between Ban Tai and Thong Sala there are quite some beer and lady bars. On the beach there are some Thai style bars as well.

Haad Rin popularly know for the Full Moon parties once a month also quite a few (tourist) shops, restaurants, bars, jeep and motorbike rental shops and several Internet shops. Here you will also find all major facilities like banks, ATM’s, telephone and fax facilities, and travel agencies.

Getting Around On Koh Phangan

Taxi
An easy way to get around the island is by taxi, or songthaew. Prices are negotiable and vary depending on the amount of people in the car.
You are advised to take great care if you rent a vehicle or Motorbike, as the roads can sometimes be very difficult, and are closer to rally roads than to speedways!!!

Motorbike
The most common way to explore Koh Phangan is by motorbike. You can hire motorbikes in every village. Although there are still many dirt roads, it is possible to visit a rather big part of the island. The Southwest and Northwest areas have the best-cemented roads.
Please note that having a "Koh Phangan Tattoo" is a very well known expression on the island for scaring left by motorcycle accidents; so remember to drive very carefully. For the less experienced drivers it is advised to use the rear brake instead of the front brake as much as possible.

Jeep
As there are still a lot of (steep) dirt roads, 4WD jeeps are also an excellent way to get around most parts of the island. Most of the hired jeeps are not insured, so shop around if you want insurance. Hiring a jeep is a great way for making daytrips to the more remote parts and attractions of Koh Phangan like the Than Sadet waterfall, Thong Nai Pan or Haad Rin.

Getting To Koh Phangan

Airplane - The quickest and most comfortable way to get to Koh Phangan is flying from Bangkok to the neighbouring island of Koh Samui (which takes about 1 hour) and then take a boat from there.
Bangkok Airways does about twenty return flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui daily.

Arriving by airplane on Koh Samui.
On arrival at the cosy International Airport of Koh Samui you can ask at the information desk for a taxi and boat ticket to Koh Phangan. There are several boats you can choose from.
To get to the Kitesurfing School and resort, either ferry is ok; we are 5 minutes from Thong Sala pier, 20 minutes from Haad Rin pier.

The Haad Rin Queen ferry leaves from the Big Buddha pier in Bophut, near the airport and takes about 45 minutes to get to Haad Rin in Koh Phangan. It makes its way there and back between Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan four times a day.

The Lomprayah Catamaran offers a high-speed service and leaves from Mae Had in the Northwest of Koh Samui and takes about 20 minutes to get to main town Thong Sala in Koh Phangan.

The car ferry and the Songserm or Seatran Express Boats leave from Nathon on the west side of Koh Samui and all take about 45 minutes up to an hour to get to main town Thong Sala in Koh Phangan.

Arriving by Train.
The State Railway of Thailand offers an efficient rail service from Bangkok to the South of Thailand (southern line). The overnight sleeper trains with clean and secure carriages are the best way to go. Once you get on the train and you only see seats and no beds, don't be afraid you entered the wrong coach. In the evening the seats are changed into beds.
Check the latest prices and schedules via the service link on: http://www.railway.co.th/
All trains stop in Suratthani, where you will be provided with a connecting bus to the ferry pier. The total trip by train and boat takes about 11 to 16 hours.

Arriving by Bus.
To get to Suratthani from Bangkok it is best to choose between two types of buses: the Luxury buses with toilets and air con and the VIP buses with two floors, a toilet and air con, you'll get here much more relaxed than with the cheap bus.
You can buy joint tickets for the bus and the boat to Koh Pha Ngan at most travel agencies. The government bus leaves from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, where you must also buy the ticket, and will cost around 900 baht (one way).

Arriving by train or bus in Suratthani.
A boat ticket from Suratthani to Koh Phangan is usually included in the 'joint ticket' you already bought when buying a train- or bus ticket in Bangkok. Joint tickets also include transport from the bus or train station to the pier.

GENERAL CONDITIONS
You must be able to swim and be comfortable in the water.

REFUNDS
In case of adverse weather conditions, we will change the kite surfing lesson schedule to another date.
If this is not possible then the guests will receive a refund of the prepaid missed lessons*.
*Please see notes on our Terms and Conditions page.

PRE-BOOKING
We recommend you to pre-book as soon as you can.
We will ask you for a 10% deposit when booking.
The balance of the fees can be paid on arrival at our school.

CANCELLATION
Please see our Terms and Conditions.

For Hotels, accommodation and booking please contact us.

The rest of the world...

Make sure you ask us about our other locations around the world for Kite Surfing...

MAURITIUS
CABARETE
BARBADOS SILVER SANDS
EL YAQUE
ST LUCIA
CAPE VERDE
TARIFA VALDEVAQUEROS
GOLF DE ROSES
RAS SUDR
SAFAGA
ALACATI

Also available are combined Wind and Kite Surf packages... be sure to ask for details...

ESC conducts all its courses using IKO Instructors, following IKO Guidelines.

Extreme Sports Cafe can introduce you to the best instructors and equipment in this exciting and rapidly growing water sport.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US NOW TO START YOUR KITESURFING ADVENTURE

Kitesurfing books we recommend....

kiteboarding extreme sports cafe kitesurfing thailand

Kitesurfing: The Complete Guide

In this guide, Ian Currer takes you through the complete basics of the exciting, yet complex sport of kite surfing, or kiteboarding. He uses simple language which even the novice has no trouble interpreting, accompanied by helpful diagrams and at all times keeps your interests focused on kitesurfing.
Even as an intermiediate kitesurfer, I have picked up many useful tips from the guide, which has helped me improve my jumping considerably. I recommend anyone who is serious in taking kitesurfing as a sport, to get hold of this book.

For a personal consultation, or to book a course:give us a call, or log on for a live web chat...

For an information pack please complete our On-line Enquiry form.

Alternatively, drop us an email: info@extremesportscafe.com