Thung Wua Lean Beach has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Monsoon wind, not a thermal that switches on at a fixed hour: it runs through the day and is usually best in the afternoon.
The wind
locals call it northeast monsoon
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Monsoon wind, not a thermal that switches on at a fixed hour: it runs through the day and is usually best in the afternoon.
Typical strength
15-25 knots
The quiver, in words
18-25 knots is the normal core-season strength, so a 75-85 kg rider spends most of a trip on 7-9 m, with the 9 m reported in use about half the time from mid-October to the end of December. Carry a 10-12 m for the lighter days at either end of the season.Indicative, from the wind range and rider reports rather than a local log.
Direction to shore
Side-onshore from the left.
Dominant direction
NE, ENE
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month38
- Feb, riders' month29
- Mar, riders' month11
- Apr10
- May34
- Jun44
- Jul47
- Aug46
- Sep49
- Oct9
- Nov, riders' month36
- Dec, riders' month62
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec.
- 11Jan28°
- 10Feb29°
- 9Mar30°
- 9Apr32°
- 10May32°
- 10Jun30°
- 11Jul30°
- 11Aug30°
- 10Sep30°
- 8Oct30°
- 10Nov30°
- 12Dec28°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | 10.8 kt | NE | 26.4°C | 28.1°C |
| Feb | 29% | 10.1 kt | ESE | 26.8°C | 29.2°C |
| Mar | 11% | 9.1 kt | ESE | 27.7°C | 30.1°C |
| Apr | 10% | 9.1 kt | W | 29.2°C | 31.8°C |
| May | 34% | 9.9 kt | W | 28.5°C | 32°C |
| Jun | 44% | 10.3 kt | W | 27.7°C | 30.4°C |
| Jul | 47% | 10.6 kt | W | 26.8°C | 29.8°C |
| Aug | 46% | 10.5 kt | W | 27.2°C | 30.1°C |
| Sep | 49% | 10.3 kt | W | 26.4°C | 29.7°C |
| Oct | 9% | 8.2 kt | WNW | 26.2°C | 30.3°C |
| Nov | 36% | 10.1 kt | NE | 26.2°C | 29.5°C |
| Dec | 62% | 12.2 kt | NE | 26°C | 28.3°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. 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.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
open Gulf beach with small to medium waves; some flat/shallow sections reported locally
Standing depth
A large sandbank offshore holds a waist-deep flat-water area behind it, and that is the section used for teaching. The rest is an open beach that shelves away normally. Whether the flat area stays usable at every state of the tide is unconfirmed.
Tides
Tide-independent for the wind and for the riding. What the tide changes is the beach: at high tide the dry strip narrows and launch space in front of the resorts gets tight, and at low tide the shallow sections come up.
Temperature
29°C summer · 27°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts/lycra; no wetsuit normally needed.
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
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: About 3 km of sandy beach, so space is not the constraint except at high tide, when the dry strip narrows.
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Roughly 3 km of sand at Thung Wua Laen, also called Cabana Beach, with room to rig anywhere along it and only a short walk from the road. At high tide the usable strip narrows and the space in front of the resorts gets tight.
Space
About 3 km of sandy beach, so space is not the constraint except at high tide, when the dry strip narrows.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Read a strong northeast monsoon forecast twice: it is the best wind of the year and the reason the sea gets dangerous.
- Ask the school what the water is doing before you count on flat-water teaching; small-to-medium surf on an open beach is the normal state.
- Watch the shallow sections at low tide, where reef and sand come up.
- Pack sun protection, not neoprene. Shorts and a lycra are enough at 27 C in winter.
Getting there
Airport
Chumphon Airport (CJM)
Route
Saphli, in Pathio north of Chumphon city, about 16 km from the centre, roughly 30 minutes by road.
Transfer
30 min
Cost level
low
Staying
Beachfront bungalows and resorts sit along or just back from the beach, with bars among them; DKB Club can arrange an accommodation package.
No-wind days
Snorkeling and island day trips, Chumphon temples and cave temples, local markets, seafood, beach bars and diving access.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Thung Wua Laen?
The main season is the winter northeast monsoon, roughly October/November to March, when wind crossing the Gulf is accelerated by the Chumphon coastal mountains.
Is Thung Wua Laen suitable for beginners?
Yes, side-onshore conditions are described as serving both beginners doing first waterstarts and advanced riders, with some shallow sections suited to beginners.
What is the wind like?
Wind is a side-onshore northeast to east-northeast breeze, typically 15-25 knots.
What are the main hazards?
Strong northeast monsoon events can bring surf above 1 m and official small-boat warnings, and shallow sections can expose reef or sand at low tide.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, DKB Club Chumphon runs a permanent operation, with Kiteboarding Asia/KBA also reported to have a seasonal presence.
Last updated: August 2026