Nearby Anissaras 26 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon is the most reliable period in modelled data
The wind
locals call it Meltemi / summer thermal
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon is the most reliable period in modelled data
Typical strength
15-25 in June-September; elsewhere given as 5-15 m/s.
Also on record
7.5 year-round in one modelled dataset
The quiver, in words
7-12m
Direction to shore
Onshore to cross-onshore in the N/NNW Meltemi; an easterly comes in side-shore.
Dominant direction
N/NW/NNW; WNW and NNE also occur
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan32
- Feb54
- Mar42
- Apr52
- May37
- Jun, riders' month48
- Jul, riders' month76
- Aug, riders' month65
- Sep, riders' month43
- Oct39
- Nov43
- Dec32
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 32%Jan17°
- 54%Feb17°
- 42%Mar17°
- 52%Apr18°
- 37%May20°
- 48%Jun25°
- 76%Jul27°
- 65%Aug28°
- 43%Sep26°
- 39%Oct24°
- 43%Nov21°
- 32%Dec19°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | 47% | 40% | 11.9 kt | NW | 15:00 | 12.4°C | 17.4°C | 62 |
| Feb | 54% | 65% | 63% | 13.6 kt | NNW | 15:00 | 12.5°C | 16.8°C | 57 |
| Mar | 42% | 55% | 52% | 12.7 kt | NNW | 14:00 | 13.5°C | 16.8°C | 62 |
| Apr | 52% | 62% | 57% | 13.9 kt | NW | 14:00 | 17.1°C | 18.1°C | 60 |
| May | 37% | 50% | 45% | 11.7 kt | NW | 14:00 | 20.8°C | 19.9°C | 62 |
| Jun | 48% | 55% | 50% | 12.2 kt | NW | 15:00 | 25.1°C | 24.5°C | 60 |
| Jul | 76% | 81% | 77% | 14.4 kt | NW | 14:00 | 28°C | 27.2°C | 62 |
| Aug | 65% | 76% | 68% | 13.7 kt | NW | 14:00 | 27.9°C | 27.9°C | 62 |
| Sep | 43% | 60% | 55% | 12.1 kt | NW | 15:00 | 24.7°C | 26.2°C | 60 |
| Oct | 39% | 47% | 40% | 10.6 kt | NW | 15:00 | 20.9°C | 24.3°C | 62 |
| Nov | 43% | 52% | 47% | 11.6 kt | NNW | 14:00 | 17.5°C | 21.3°C | 60 |
| Dec | 32% | 44% | 39% | 11.2 kt | NNW | 15:00 | 14.5°C | 19.2°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
mixed
Standing depth
Shallow/standable near shore, with progressive sandy depth.
Tides
Not tide dependent.
Temperature
27°C summer · 17°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts or a lycra in high summer; a 2 mm or shorty in the shoulder season, a 4/3 in winter.
Currents
Coastal current possible, and reportedly a strong current near the channel; which channel is unconfirmed.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
3 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium to good, reduced by tourism setup in season
Somewhere else
Anissaras, 26 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Wide sandy beach with room to launch between the windsurfers and the swimmers. Use the marked zones and keep away from the parasols and sunbeds and the busy bathing sections.
Space
medium to good, reduced by tourism setup in season
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Bring a 7-12m quiver; the wind range here needs it.
- No car needed: several bus routes run from Heraklion, and there is plenty of parking if you do drive.
- Rig away from the parasols and the marked swimming zones, June through September especially.
- The airport windsocks are a decent local wind gauge; look at them on the way in.
- Watch for ships leaving Heraklion port and for current near the channel before you go far downwind.
- Keep the kite low; the airport is next door.
Getting there
Airport
Heraklion International Airport (HER)
Route
Just west of Heraklion, about 5 km from the centre; from the airport it is around 12.6-12.8 km by road and the direct bus takes about 40 minutes.
Transfer
40 min
Cost level
moderate
Staying
Beachfront hotels in Ammoudara/Gazi, city hotels in Heraklion, and restaurants and shops within walking distance of the sand.
No-wind days
Heraklion city, Knossos/Heraklion museums, beach time in Ammoudara and north-coast Crete sightseeing.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Ammoudara?
The season runs June through September, with July and August rated the most reliable, driven by the summer Meltemi thermal.
Is Ammoudara suitable for beginners?
Shallow water and a large launch make it workable for supervised beginners, though the busy tourist beach and onshore chop mean independent beginners should avoid crowded summer swim zones.
What is the wind like?
Summer brings a Meltemi/thermal wind from the north to northwest, typically 15-25 knots between June and September, most reliable in the afternoon.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Surf In Crete, Elafonisi Kite and iKiTe operate in the area.
Are there any rules to follow?
Riders are expected to respect swimmers and marked bathing zones; no official municipal kitesurfing ordinance was found as of 2026.
Last updated: August 2026