THE BEST KITE SPOTS OF SRI LANKA
On this website you find everything you need to know about the most amazing kite spots in Sri Lanka. By now, Sri Lanka ranks as one of the top kitesurfing destinations in the world. It made its reputations with its outstanding wind statistics and heaps of flat water.
The most and best kitespots in Sri Lanka are to be found along the North West coast approximately 150 km north of Colombo Airport.
To start off, we like to share some valuable information explaining why Sri Lanka turned into a kitesurfing heaven within just a few years.
Although relatively small, Sri Lanka is blessed with vast geographical diversity. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and calls home to a 1340km long tropical coastline, brimmed with rugged landscapes, soaring mountains, palm tree groves, an almost infinite number of islands and sandbanks, big lagoons and powdery beaches. With its mean geographical latitude of 7° North, the kitespots of Sri Lanka are perfectly placed within the northern trade wind belt.
The “monsoon-winds” as the Tradewinds are called in Asia are consistently blowing for unmatched 8 month of the year. Five months out of a Southwesterly direction and three months out of the North to Northwest. Therefore Sri Lanka’s northwestern coastal area calls home to best kite spots in Sri Lanka and the entire Asia region for 8 months of the year – Sri Lanka has more wind than any other kite destination in the world – AND – its always warm!
Kite spots in North west Sri Lanka
the greater Kalpitiya area
Once arrived in Sri Lanka, head North along the coast for about 2 hours, then turn off to the West onto the 40 km long, sandy peninsula and you will find yourself right inside the Epicenter of Kitesurfing in Asia. Welcome to Kappalady and Kalpitiya, the two main kitespots in Sri Lanka. Great wind, lots of flat water, sandy beaches and islands around, the area is perfect to base yourself for your kitesurfing holiday and to discover the best kite spots in Sri Lanka.
Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka started in Kappalady. It can be called the birthplace of kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. It's a chilled, laid back fisherman’s village facing the kite-lagoons and the Indian ocean. Kappalady is an amazing kite spot to learn kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. From here kitesurfing spread to Kalpitiya and other kite spots around Sri Lanka.
here the best kite spots in sri lanka
KAPPALADY LAGOON
Kappalady Lagoon - the birth place of kitesurfing in Sri Lanka! Kappalady Lagoon is fully exposed to the consistent South West Monsoon winds blowing from May - October. Kappalady packs a much a bigger wind punch than Kalpitiya Lagoon which is often gusty during summer. You cant get lost at Kappalady lagoon. With warm and waist deep water, no rocks, a wide sandbank and steady winds, it is one of the safest kitespots to learn kitesurfing in Sri Lanka - also for kids. There are only 2 kite schools operating at Kappalady and they keep a friendly and relaxed vibe going. Freestylers love the lagoons as here they find the butterflat patches they are looking for to launch their new tricks. And thats not all - from June - September a nice 3-6ft wave line is piling up on the Kappalady reef which gets the wave kiters covered with a nice swell. Many kitesurfers have learned wave kiting at Kappalady reef.
Kappalady ranks as the most versatile kitespot in Sri Lanka in combination with an authentic experience of the tropical simplicity and beauty of Sri Lanka. Kappalady has all in one what you are looking for when searching for your kitespot in Sri Lanka. As a village, Kappalady remains rather quiet. Its not the place to party but rather to enjoy the surrounding nature. The few hotels and resorts are committed to environmental sustainability and community development.
During summer you can do a day trip and kite from Kappalady to Kalpitiya lagoon. On your way you will pass Donkey another great wave spot.
KALPITIYA LAGOON
The Kalpitiya lagoon is the main kitespot in Kalpitiya and the most widely known kite spot in Sri Lanka. After Kappalady was taken, most of the kite schools based themselves here. The best time for kitesurfing is from December to February when the NW wind freely blows into the lagoon. With the sandbank breaking the ocean swell the large lagoon turns into a flat water playground with lots of space. During the main kite season which is from May to September, it gets quite gusty as the wind blows a for kilometers over the land and trees before reaching the lagoon. The wind turbines also disturb the airflow during summer. If you are a beginner and want to learn kitesurfing while having some buzz after your kite sessions, Kalpitiya is a good kite spot to learn Sri Lanka. However, over the last few years tourism has created an overgrowth of hotels and resorts around the lagoon and this kite
spot in Sri Lanka has lost a bit of its authenticity. As a result, during the kite season, the lagoon tends to get crowded. Some like it – some don’t.
What a lot of people do not know is that Sri Lanka has a pretty stellar lineup of amazing kitespots all around its coastline. Besides the above mentioned three main kite spots in the North West of Sri Lanka, there is half a dozen other amazing kite spots with lots of flatwater and amazing wind conditions. On the remote islands and sandbanks of Puttalam lagoon, Dutchbay and Protugal Bay, you will encounter epic kitesurfing and the indigenous local fishing traditions and life with much fewer crowds.
DONKEY POINT
If you are a wave rider, Donkey point is a must for you! It is a great wave spot and alongside with Kappalady reef one of the 2 best kite spots in the North West of Sri Lanka to do wave riding and kiting in the ocean. There is nothing but wind nice waves and a lonely beach and sometimes a herd of wild donkeys. The wind is very steady as there are absolutely no obstructions as long as you stay at the point. But watch out as during summer when it works best as a wave spot, the wind blows side offshore. Refreshing and a good change to the other kite spots in Sri Lanka and around Kalpitiya! In summer it can be reached from Kappalady by kite in 20min or by Tuc Tuc from Kalpitiya town. It is located approximately 10 km South West of Kalpitiya. Ask the Tuc Tuc to bring you to Kandakuli.
PUTTALAM LAGOON