MapSri LankaKalpitiyaDonkey PointKalpitiya

Donkey Point

North Western Province · Puttalam District · Kandakuliya / Kalpitiya

also known as Donkey Spot

Part of Kalpitiya →

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

not for beginnerslow crowds

On this page

The spot
Wind
Forecast
Month by month
Water
Level
The scene
Launch
Schools
Tips
Getting there
FAQ

Riding essentials

Season

May–Oct

Months riders and schools name

How windy

18-30 kt

Character: mixed

Room to launch

huge

access rules on record, below

Water

mixed

27 °C in summer

Hazards

Reported by riders

Level

Intermediate to advanced

With a caveat: see Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Crowds

low crowds · busy May Jun Jul Aug

Schools

named at this spot

From the airport

210 min

Colombo (CMB)

Southwest monsoon

09:00 · 10:00

On the clock

12:30 · 13:00

In the southwest season the wind is usually up by 09:00-10:00 and runs to the end of the kiting day. In the northeast season it comes later, building through the late morning and peaking in the afternoon, often around 12:30-13:00, so mornings are for something else.

The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.

Nearbystraight-line distance

Backup spotsWhere riders go when the wind doesn't work here.

KSL Lagoonno page yet
Dream Spot
Salli Reefno page yet

The spot

Donkey Point is the ocean side of the Kalpitiya Peninsula near Kandakuliya, west-facing, outside the teaching lagoon where most of Kalpitiya learns. In the southwest monsoon the wider Kalpitiya area sees 18-30 kt and the ocean here builds rideable waves, so this is where the wave and wingfoil crowd goes when the lagoon gets busy.

Not for beginners

It is not the beginner venue: open sea, board control assumed, and often a downwind leg to sort out afterwards. The same beach is the start of the roughly 7 km downwinder back toward Kalpitiya Lagoon. Rescue is not a given here. No free rescue boat waits at Donkey Point by default, paid transport depends on availability, and an independent rider turning up alone has less cover than in the main lagoon.

When and where

Come between May and October, base yourself in Kandakuliya or Kalpitiya, and count on 3-4 hours by road from CMB.

The wind

locals call it Southwest monsoon / Yala season; lighter northeast monsoon secondary season

Direction

cross-onSSW-SW in summer

Direction to shore

cross-on

Dominant direction

SSW-SW in summer; NNE-NE and sometimes NW in winter around greater Kalpitiya

Kite sizes

5678910111213141516

metres · typical quiver highlighted

The quiver, in words

In the May-October southwest season an average-weight rider is on 8-10 m most days, with a 7 m for the 30-knot-plus afternoons; 9-12 m is quoted for the same season by other local operators. In the lighter December-March season the same rider goes up to 11-14 m, and the biggest sizes only earn their place on the weakest days.

Character

mixed

When it fills in: see above ↑

Average strength

18-25 kt in the main summer season is reported; other figures quoted are 20-25 kt or 18-28 kt.

Typical strength

18-30 kt in the May-October SW season; roughly 15-25 kt in the December-March secondary season around Kalpitiya.

Cleaner and steadier on the ocean side than the main Kalpitiya lagoon in summer. How it actually feels at the launch is unconfirmed and changes with where you start: clean and forgiving on some days, messy waves or a side-offshore edge on others.

A summer wave spot above all. Greater Kalpitiya runs two seasons: the stronger southwest monsoon from about mid-May to mid-October, and a lighter northeast season from about mid-December to mid-March.

May and October are the shoulders, June to August the strongest. A full moon can flatten the wind for three to five days in either season, so check the calendar before you book a short trip.

Forecast

Live forecast

Windguru Windfinder Windy

Month by month

11 ktJan27°
9 ktFeb28°
7 ktMar29°
7 ktApr30°
12 ktMay29°
15 ktJun28°
15 ktJul27°
14 ktAug27°
13 ktSep27°
10 ktOct28°
9 ktNov28°
11 ktDec28°

avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted

Modelled monthly averages. Highlighted: the months riders and schools name (May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct).

Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (1980-2016), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds.

Every figure, month by monthKnots · Wind from · Air · Water

Month	Knots	Wind from	Air	Water
Jan	11.1 kt	N/NE	26.7 °C	27.2 °C
Feb	9.3 kt	E	27.8 °C	27.8 °C
Mar	7 kt	E	28.9 °C	28.9 °C
Apr	7.1 kt	W	28.9 °C	30 °C
May	12.3 kt	W (SW monsoon)	29.4 °C	29.4 °C
Jun	15.1 kt	W (SW monsoon)	28.9 °C	28.3 °C
Jul	14.7 kt	W (SW monsoon)	28.3 °C	27.2 °C
Aug	14.3 kt	W (SW monsoon)	28.3 °C	27.2 °C
Sep	13.2 kt	W (SW monsoon)	28.3 °C	27.2 °C
Oct	9.6 kt	W	27.8 °C	27.8 °C
Nov	8.8 kt	N	27.2 °C	28.3 °C
Dec	10.7 kt	N/NE	26.7 °C	27.8 °C

How this is modelledmodelled · 1980-2016

A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.

A station this far away — often inland or at an airport — can understate accelerated local wind. 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.

Puttalam · Weatherspark (NASA MERRA-2 reanalysis, 1980-2016)

The water

Type

mixed

Tides

Small tides: four a day, high water typically 0.5-0.7 m against lows of 0.1-0.2 m, so barely half a metre of movement. That is why the spot gets called tide-independent in one place and tide-dependent in another.The swing is small, but it is enough to change how much of the rock near the point is covered, so look at the point on a dropping tide before you ride close to it. The figures come from the nearest published station at Puttalam, not from a gauge at Donkey Point.

Temperature

27 °C summer · 27 °C winter

Modelled monthly average: 27–30 °C

Wetsuit

No wetsuit normally needed; boardshorts/bikini or a rash vest for sun and wind chill.

Currents

Exact strength unconfirmed; stronger currents are reported around the point.

Conditions

Ocean-facing point with small to medium waves when the swell lines up, chop in between, and flatter water in places depending on where you launch. Waves reach 1-2 m on a good swell and are forgiving enough for a first wave session. Rocky sections sit near the point, and sharp shells are reported in the nearby lagoon areas.

Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

not for beginners here

Intermediate to advanced is the honest reading: this is an ocean wave and downwinder venue, not the teaching lagoon. The mostly onshore wind gets it called beginner-friendly in places, but that is unconfirmed, and the spot is more often pitched at riders who already hold upwind or who want waves.

The scene

What riders come here for

wavesfoilwingfoilstraplessdownwindersopen-water riding

Freer and emptier than the developed Kalpitiya Lagoon scene: an uncrowded wave lineup and a beach that can feel lonely, while the lagoon itself gets busy at peak season.

Launch and rules

three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you

With a school or a boat

5 schools name this spot

See who they are

On your own

Room to launch: huge

Read the access rules

Somewhere else

7 spots nearby

All 7 spots within 40 km are under Nearby

Rescue

No free rescue boat sits at Donkey Point. Paid transport or a paid pick-up can be arranged subject to availability, and some schools run a boat or a free safety boat for their own guests only. Confirm what cover you actually have before you ride.

Launch

Ocean-side launch near Kandakuliya, a tuk-tuk ride from Kalpitiya and a short walk from the Kitesurfing Lanka and Ozone accommodation. Riders who hold upwind well can kite over from the KSL Lagoon instead of driving. The same beach is the start of the roughly 7 km summer downwinder back toward Kalpitiya Lagoon.

Hazards riders report 12 reported

Wind

Side-offshore or offshore-feeling sections, depending on where you launch and the wind angle

Bottom

Possible rocky sections near the point

Waves and currents

ocean waves/shorebreak
Ocean waves and shorebreak or messy wind swell on some days
Reported stronger currents around the point
Stronger current around the point, strength unconfirmed
Ocean-side waves can reach 2.5 m in the southwest season, well above the 1-2 m usually quoted

Protected areas and rules

remote location away from main lagoon rescue cover
Sharp shells in nearby lagoon areas if riders use the lagoon side
Fishing nets and local fishing activity in the broader Kalpitiya lagoon system

Other

Remote beach by Kalpitiya standards, with no public rescue cover confirmed
A naval base sits behind part of this shoreline; keep your distance from it when riding close in

Rules & access

1 min read

2023: the Sri Lankan tourism authority's guideline for kitesurfing, kiteboarding and windsurfing binds the operators rather than you, and it shapes what you can book here.

Offshore wind requirements

Lessons, rentals and trips cannot run in offshore wind unless a safety boat is already on the water before the session starts, with a backup boat within sight. Rentals and guided trips are only for riders who can ride upwind.

Student qualifications

Students must be able to swim in open water and sign a waiver. The operator must display a location map marking safe and hazard zones, hold public liability insurance, and use instructors certified by a recognised national or international body with first aid/CPR, a powerboat licence and an open-water lifeguard certificate.

Registration and local rules

Adventure operators must be registered with the tourism authority and may only work in demarcated areas. No municipal permit, launch fee or seasonal closure specific to Donkey Point was found for 2026. A naval base sits behind part of this coast: keep your distance when you ride close to shore.

Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.

Schools that ride here

Rider tips

Confirm the launch and the rescue arrangement with a local school before you ride: rescue here is optional and fee-based, not free by default.
Pack small for the southwest monsoon; 7-10 m covers most days for an average-weight rider.
Use Donkey Point for wave progression only once you hold upwind confidently and can self-rescue in open water.
Wear booties if you plan to use the lagoon side: sharp shells are common around the Kalpitiya lagoons.
For the 7 km downwinder, arrange a guide or a pickup unless your group already knows the route and the landing options.
Check the moon before booking a short trip: a full moon can cost you three to five days of wind in either season.

Getting there

Airport

Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo (CMB)

Route

Most riders fly into CMB and take a private transfer up to the Kalpitiya and Kandakuliya coast. Bus or train via Puttalam and Kalpitiya is possible, with a tuk-tuk for the final stretch, and it is awkward with kite bags.

Transfer

210 min

Cost level

medium: 2026 figures quote roughly 3-4 hours by road; private-transfer prices range from about EUR 35-55, EUR 70, or USD 80-100 depending on operator, vehicle and destination.

Staying

Kite camps, lagoon lodges, bungalows, budget eco stays and higher-end beach resorts sit around Kandakuliya, Kalpitiya Lagoon and the nearby coastal villages. Several schools package the room with meals, lessons, rental and trips.

No-wind days

Dolphin and whale watching from November to April, diving and snorkelling on the nearby reefs, Wilpattu National Park, kayaking in the mangroves, SUP, yoga, wake-foil at some schools, Kalpitiya Fort, and cultural runs to Anuradhapura or Sigiriya.

FAQ

When is the best time to kite Donkey Point?

The SW monsoon runs roughly May to October, with June through August the strongest months and wind typically starting around 09:00-10:00.

Is Donkey Point suitable for beginners?

The safest classification is intermediate to advanced, since this is an ocean wave and downwinder venue rather than the main teaching lagoon, and riders need upwind control and self-rescue ability.

What is the wind like at Donkey Point?

Summer wind runs about 18-30 knots from the SSW-SW, generally cleaner and steadier on the ocean side than the main Kalpitiya lagoon.

Is there rescue support at Donkey Point?

Kitesurfing Lanka reports no free rescue boat by default at Donkey Point, though paid transport and rescue can be arranged subject to availability; some operators provide it for their own guests.

What hazards should riders watch for at Donkey Point?

Ocean waves and shorebreak, a remote location away from the main lagoon's rescue cover, possible rocky sections and reported stronger currents around the point are the main hazards.

The bigger pictureEverything about Kalpitiya

Last updated: August 2026