# Kite Insider

> Every kite destination on Earth: wind, logistics, schools, and what riders actually say.

Kite Insider (https://kiteinsider.com) is a world atlas of kitesurfing destinations. Each destination page holds the riding season by month, wind and water conditions for every spot, how to get there, costs, rules and hazards, the schools that teach there, and a digest of what riders say in public forums. Country pages cover visas, money, SIM cards, insurance and driving; the airline page lists what each carrier charges for a kite bag. Every record carries its sources; prices and rules carry the year they were read inside the value. Data generated 2026-10-16: 432 destinations, 1505 spots, 1680 schools, 81 countries, 95 airline policies.

## Start here

- The atlas index: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations
- Country guides (visa, money, SIM, insurance, kite-bag rules): https://kiteinsider.com/countries
- Kite bag fees by airline (95 carriers): https://kiteinsider.com/airlines
- The Kitesurfing Compendium, 14 chapters on learning, gear, wind, safety and travel: https://kiteinsider.com/guides

## Destinations with the most data

- Mar Menor, Spain: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/mar-menor-spain (13 spots, 7 schools)
- Bassin d'Arcachon, France: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/bassin-d-arcachon-france (12 spots, 11 schools)
- La Tranche-sur-Mer (Vendée), France: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/la-tranche-sur-mer-vendee-france (11 spots, 16 schools)
- Lagos – Alvor, Algarve, Portugal: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/algarve-lagos-alvor-portugal (11 spots, 6 schools)
- Dakhla, Morocco (Western Sahara — disputed): https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/dakhla-morocco-western-sahara-disputed (9 spots, 19 schools)
- Rügen, Germany: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/rugen-germany (9 spots, 14 schools)
- Ionian and Lecce coasts, Salento, Italy: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/salento-ionian-coast-italy (9 spots, 3 schools)
- Hood River / Columbia Gorge, USA: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/hood-river-columbia-gorge-usa (8 spots, 6 schools)
- Barcelona coast, Spain: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/barcelona-coast-spain (8 spots, 4 schools)
- Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/kalpitiya-sri-lanka (7 spots, 15 schools)
- Lake Garda, Italy: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/lake-garda-italy (7 spots, 15 schools)
- Fehmarn, Germany: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/fehmarn-germany (7 spots, 14 schools)
- Lake Como, Italy: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/lake-como-italy (7 spots, 12 schools)
- Cadiz coast, Spain: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/cadiz-coast-spain (7 spots, 8 schools)
- Lagoa de Albufeira, Portugal: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/lagoa-de-albufeira-portugal (7 spots, 6 schools)
- Auckland, New Zealand: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/auckland-new-zealand (7 spots, 5 schools)
- Mahé, Seychelles: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/mahe-seychelles (7 spots, 2 schools)
- San Francisco Bay, USA: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/san-francisco-bay-usa (6 spots, 8 schools)
- Falckensteiner Strand – Surendorf, Baltic coast, Germany: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/ostsee-falckensteiner-strand-to-surendorf-germany (6 spots, 7 schools)
- Grado, Italy: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/grado-italy (6 spots, 6 schools)
- Icaraí de Amontada, Brazil: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/icarai-de-amontada-brazil (6 spots, 6 schools)
- Kite Beach (Kanaha), Maui, USA: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/maui-kite-beach-kanaha-usa (6 spots, 6 schools)
- North Coast (near Cap Malheureux), Mauritius: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/north-coast-near-cap-malheureux-mauritius (6 spots, 6 schools)
- Guincho, Portugal: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/guincho-portugal (6 spots, 5 schools)
- Isthme de Penthièvre – Petite Mer de Gâvres, Brittany, France: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/bretagne-isthme-de-penthievre-to-petite-mer-de-gavres-france (6 spots, 5 schools)
- Mastichari – Marmari, Kos, Greece: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/kos-mastichari-marmari-greece (6 spots, 5 schools)
- Bonifacio, Corsica, France: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/corsica-bonifacio-france (6 spots, 4 schools)
- Fuseta (Olhão), Algarve, Portugal: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/algarve-fuseta-olhao-portugal (6 spots, 4 schools)
- Kailua, Oahu, USA: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/oahu-kailua-usa (6 spots, 4 schools)
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA: https://kiteinsider.com/destinations/cape-cod-massachusetts-usa (6 spots, 3 schools)

## Guides

- The Fundamentals: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/the-fundamentals
- Learning the Sport: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/learning-the-sport
- The Gear: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/the-gear
- Buying Gear & Keeping It Alive: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/buying-gear-and-keeping-it-alive
- Tech & Innovation: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/tech-and-innovation
- Wind, Weather & Water: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/wind-weather-and-water
- Safety & Risk: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/safety-and-risk
- When Things Go Wrong: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/when-things-go-wrong
- Rules & Etiquette: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/rules-and-etiquette
- Advanced Riding: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/advanced-riding
- Spots of the World: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/spots-of-the-world
- Practical Tricks & Life Hacks: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/practical-tricks-and-life-hacks
- The Video Library: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/the-video-library
- Field Notes & Extras: https://kiteinsider.com/guides/field-notes-and-extras

## Kite bag policy by airline

Each line is one carrier and how it treats a kite/board bag, as written in its published policy. Anchors are on https://kiteinsider.com/airlines; the year each fee was read is on the page.

- Aegean Airlines (A3): extra fee — EUR 50 per direction (EUR 55 in places) [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#aegean-airlines
- Aerolineas Argentinas (AR): extra fee — Varies by route and purchase channel, see the route fees [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#aerolineas-argentinas
- Aeromexico (AM): extra fee — Surfboards: $75 USD domestic (within Mexico), $150 USD international. No kite-specific fee is published. [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#aeromexico
- Air Arabia (G9): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-arabia
- Air Canada (AC): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-canada
- Air Europa (UX): extra fee — EUR 75-180 per direction depending on route (see the route fees) [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-europa
- Air France (AF): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-france
- Air Madagascar / Madagascar Airlines (MD): not stated by the carrier. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-madagascar-madagascar-airlines
- Air Mauritius (MK): free within the standard allowance [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-mauritius
- Air New Zealand (NZ): free within the standard allowance — counts as standard bag if under 2m/23kg; excess/oversize baggage charge applies above that (specific amount not published) [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-new-zealand
- Air Senegal (HC): free within the standard allowance. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-senegal
- Air Seychelles (HM): free within the standard allowance — counts as standard bag up to 32kg; excess charged at general excess baggage rates (no kite-specific flat fee published) [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#air-seychelles
- AirAsia (Group: Malaysia AK, Thailand FD, Indonesia QZ, Philippines Z2) (AK): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#airasia-group-malaysia-ak-thailand-fd-indonesia-qz-philippines-z2
- Aircalin (SB): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#aircalin
- Airlink (4Z): extra fee — free up to 15kg (in addition to standard checked baggage allowance); excess charged at ZAR 38.00 per kg plus 15% VAT on domestic South Africa flights [2022]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#airlink
- Alaska Airlines (AS): free within the standard allowance — $30 for the first sporting-equipment bag, $40 for the second -- flat, regardless of standard oversize/overweight thresholds within the program's listed sports. [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#alaska-airlines
- American Airlines (AA): free within the standard allowance [2024]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#american-airlines
- ANA (NH): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#ana
- Avianca (AV): extra fee — Varies by route, see the route fees [2023]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#avianca
- Azul Linhas Aereas (AD): extra fee — R$150 service fee (up to 23kg); additional R$150 if between 23kg and 45kg [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#azul-linhas-aereas
- Bangkok Airways (PG): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#bangkok-airways
- Binter Canarias (NT): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#binter-canarias
- British Airways (BA): free within the standard allowance [2023]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#british-airways
- Cabo Verde Airlines / Bestfly (VR): extra fee [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#cabo-verde-airlines-bestfly
- Caribbean Airlines (BW): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#caribbean-airlines
- Cebu Pacific (5J): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#cebu-pacific
- China Southern (CZ): extra fee. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#china-southern
- Condor (DE): extra fee [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#condor
- Copa Airlines (CM): extra fee — $150 USD international / $50 USD domestic / $100 USD when Panama is the destination or a stopover (per 2023-era published policy) [2023]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#copa-airlines
- Delta Air Lines (DL): free within the standard allowance — Counts as standard checked bag: no separate sporting-equipment fee; normal first/second bag fee applies (~$30-40 domestic). [2019]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#delta-air-lines
- easyJet (U2): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#easyjet
- Egyptair (MS): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#egyptair
- Emirates (EK): free within the standard allowance — counts as standard bag - no extra fee if within the free checked baggage allowance and 300cm combined dimensions [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#emirates
- Ethiopian Airlines (ET): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#ethiopian-airlines
- Etihad Airways (EY): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#etihad-airways
- Eurowings (EW): extra fee [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#eurowings
- EVA Air (BR): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#eva-air
- Fiji Airways (FJ): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#fiji-airways
- flydubai (FZ): free within the standard allowance — free within checked baggage allowance up to 20kg per item; items with combined dimensions of 160-189cm are charged AED 150 per item per flight [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#flydubai
- FlySafair (FA): extra fee — ZAR 285 per item per person per flight [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#flysafair
- Frontier Airlines (F9): not stated by the carrier — Standard checked bag fee (varies by fare bundle purchased) + overweight fee ($75-100) and/or oversize fee ($75) if applicable. [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#frontier-airlines
- Garuda Indonesia (GA): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#garuda-indonesia
- GOL Linhas Aereas (G3): free within the standard allowance [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#gol-linhas-aereas
- Hawaiian Airlines (HA): free within the standard allowance — counts as standard bag - no additional surfboard/sports-equipment fee since January 8, 2025 [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#hawaiian-airlines
- Iberia (IB): extra fee — Short/medium-haul: from EUR 40 booked online, up to EUR 77 at the airport. Long-haul/intercontinental: EUR 130-187 [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#iberia
- IndiGo (6E): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#indigo
- InterCaribbean (JY): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#intercaribbean
- ITA Airways (AZ): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#ita-airways
- Japan Airlines (JL): extra fee — approx. JPY 10,000-20,000 per bag on international routes, with figures up to approx. USD 200 quoted on long-haul - NOT covered by free baggage allowance. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#japan-airlines
- JetBlue (B6): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#jetblue
- JetSMART (JA): extra fee [2022]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#jetsmart
- Jetstar (JQ): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#jetstar
- Kenya Airways (KQ): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#kenya-airways
- KLM (KL): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#klm
- Korean Air (KE): extra fee — USD 100 for general sports equipment (golf clubs, skis, snowboards); USD 150 for surfboards/windsurfing boards. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#korean-air
- LAM Mozambique (TM): not stated by the carrier. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#lam-mozambique
- LATAM Airlines (LA): extra fee — Varies by route, see the route fees (no flat global fee published) [2023]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#latam-airlines
- Lion Air / Batik Air (JT): partly included — IDR 200,000 per board, paid in cash at check-in, per flight leg [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#lion-air-batik-air
- Lufthansa (LH): extra fee [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#lufthansa
- Maldivian (Q2): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#maldivian
- Norwegian (DY): extra fee — EUR 35 each way if booked online, EUR 60 each way if added at the airport [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#norwegian
- Olympic Air (OA): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#olympic-air
- Oman Air (WY): free within the standard allowance — included in standard allowance if within fare weight/piece entitlement; beyond that, charged as Special Baggage at route-dependent rates [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#oman-air
- Pegasus Airlines (PC): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#pegasus-airlines
- Philippine Airlines (PR): extra fee [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#philippine-airlines
- Precision Air (PW): not stated by the carrier. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#precision-air
- Qantas (QF): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#qantas
- Qatar Airways (QR): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#qatar-airways
- Royal Air Maroc (AT): free within the standard allowance — free/complimentary for kitesurf equipment up to 23 kg and max 220 x 40 x 40 cm; any excess weight or dimensions is processed as standard excess baggage (2026) [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#royal-air-maroc
- Ryanair (FR): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#ryanair
- SAS (SK): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#sas
- Saudia (SV): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#saudia
- Sky Airline (H2): extra fee. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#sky-airline
- South African Airways (SA): extra fee — free as additional piece if <=200cm and <=23kg economy / 32kg business; standard excess baggage fees apply beyond that; no flat kite-specific fee is published [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#south-african-airways
- Southwest Airlines (WN): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#southwest-airlines
- Spirit Airlines (NK) — ceased operations on 2026-05-02; the policy below is the last one published: extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#spirit-airlines
- SriLankan Airlines (UL): free within the standard allowance. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#srilankan-airlines
- SunExpress (XQ): extra fee — 49.99 EUR international / 99.99 TL domestic per item, per direction [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#sunexpress
- TAP Air Portugal (TP): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#tap-air-portugal
- Thai Airways (TG): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#thai-airways
- Transavia (HV): extra fee — EUR 44 per direction (EUR 88 return) when registered in advance. [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#transavia
- TUI fly (X3/TB (multiple TUI fly AOCs)): extra fee — EUR 65 one-way per piece when prebooked; the airport-declared rate adds EUR 7.50 per piece per leg as an administrative surcharge on top. [2025]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#tui-fly
- Turkish Airlines (TK): extra fee — 209 TRY domestic; EUR 30-60 international depending on zone [2023]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#turkish-airlines
- UNI Air (B7): not stated by the carrier. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#uni-air
- United Airlines (UA): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#united-airlines
- Vietjet (Thai Vietjet / Vietjet Air) (VJ): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#vietjet-thai-vietjet-vietjet-air
- Vietnam Airlines (VN): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#vietnam-airlines
- Virgin Australia (VA): free within the standard allowance [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#virgin-australia
- Viva Aerobus (VB): extra fee — Approximately $30-69 USD-equivalent for international flights, ~$59-69 for domestic flights when booked online in advance; airport/day-of pricing is higher. [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#viva-aerobus
- Volaris (Y4): extra fee [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#volaris
- Volotea (V7): extra fee — EUR 60 per item per flight if booked online in advance, EUR 80 if added at the airport [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#volotea
- Vueling (VY): extra fee — From EUR 45 per direction if booked in advance online, from EUR 55 if paid at the airport; final price varies by destination [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#vueling
- WestJet (WS): extra fee — $50-59 CAD handling fee per board at the airport, plus standard checked-bag fee and an oversize fee if the board exceeds 62 in (157 cm). [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#westjet
- Winair (WM): not stated by the carrier [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#winair
- Wizz Air (W6): extra fee — EUR 45 per flight/per passenger/per bag if booked via wizzair.com or the call centre; EUR 65 per flight/per passenger/per bag if bought at the airport [2026]. https://kiteinsider.com/airlines#wizz-air

## Machine-readable

- The full atlas in plain text (every destination and spot with its season and link): https://kiteinsider.com/llms-full.txt
- Data sources, method and reuse terms: https://kiteinsider.com/sources
- Sitemap index: https://kiteinsider.com/sitemap.xml
- Machine access: MCP endpoint https://kiteinsider.com/mcp, five read-only tools; the same data as the pages.
- Every page carries schema.org JSON-LD (TouristDestination, Place, Country, BreadcrumbList, Article, FAQPage where the page renders Q&A).