Kitesurfing in the South of France

The Mediterranean coast of the south of France has some world-class kitesurfing spots. From Hyères in Provence to Leucate-La Franqui in the Languedoc, conditions are very often perfect for kitesurfing.

The Mediterranean sea and both the Mistral and Tramontane winds combine to create a consistent air stream, nice waves and warm water ideal for wind sports. Mediterranean kitesurf spots are organised east to west. Click to Tweet

Right now, Kitesurfing is the world’s fastest growing extreme sport, and for good reason; kitesurfing is exhilarating, quick to learn and physical. Kitesurfing has became a mainstream sport in the south of France, so there are plenty of IKA registered kitesurf schools, and shops to buy and hire quality gear from. That said, there are ample options if you want to get away from the crowds. The Camargue Regional Park, for example, has huge swathes of sand so big, surfers drive along the beach and camp at their favourite spots. So, if you’re thinking about a kitesurfing holiday in Europe, you really should think about the south of France.

Due to the sheer number of spots on France’s Mediterranean coast, we’ve split the guide into 2 parts: The eastern Mediterranean or Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, which stretches from the Italian border to Marseille. And, the western Mediterranean or Languedoc-Roussillon, which stretches from Montpellier to the border with Spain.

PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D’AZUR | LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON

The best kitesurfing spots in the south of France

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Kitesurfing in Saint-Laurent-du-Var | Go >

Ideal spot for intermediates when winds are easterly or south-easterly as Nice airport conveniently shelters the spot from chop. When the Mistral kicks in from the west, the fun picks up, but it’s only suitable for advanced riders as the airport becomes a hazard.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: E,SE,S,SW.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing in Palm Beach, Cannes

Palm Beach is the only official kitesurfing spot in the Alpes-Maritimes and the only spot in Cannes where the sport is permitted. Palm Beach is therefore popular with local surfers.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NE,E,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing in Mandelieu-la-Napoule

Located between the Esterel Massif and the Tanneron woodlands, Mandelieu-la-Napoule is a beach spot. Kiteboarders meet at the watersports centre on the beach. A local kitesurf school offers lifts further out to sea provided you can safely stay upwind.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: E,SE,S,SW.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing at Lac de Serre-Ponçon | Go >

The artificial Serre-Ponçon lake in Embrun, between Gap and Briançon, is great for watersports. The lake is in a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains and the water temperature in summer makes for some unforgettable flat-water sessions. The wind pattern is so consistent you can set your watch by it!
Spot type: Lake/Beach. Best wind: SW,NE.
Rider level: Intermediate/Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille Provence.

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Kitesurfing in Saint-Aygulf

Superb kitesurfing spot popular with surfers from the Alpes-Maritimes. Saint-Aygulf is one of the rare spots on the Cote d’Azur where it’s possible to kitesurf in the height of summer thanks to a special reserved zone.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: S,SE,E,NE.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing in Pampelonne

South of Saint-Tropez, popular Pampelonne beach is a destination of choice for beach activities including wind sports. The prevalent south-westerly wind makes this 4km beach ideal for kitesurfing.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing at Gigaro Beach

The beautiful Gigaro beach is sheltered by the Baie de Cavalaire but in the off-season it can be a good wave spot when the wind blows from the south west.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Nice.

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Kitesurfing at the Fort de Brégançon

More famous for its old fort than as a kitesurfing destination, Brégançon is nevertheless a superb kitesurfing spot and one of the few options if it’s blowing from the west.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: E,NE,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing spot Le Merou

Le Merou favours an easterly wind direction which is the dominant wind around Hyères. Ideal spot in lighter summer winds as the wind direction will get you to shore. The beach gets crowded in summer and is fringed by palm trees so can make launching and landing tricky for beginners.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NE,E,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate/Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing in l’Almanarre | Go >

L’Almanarre beach near Hyeres has long been regarded as one of the top windsurfing locations in France and is now popular with kitesurfers seeking out exceptional conditions. Situated right next to Hyères in the south of France, L’Almanarre has two long sandy beaches.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: E,SE,SW,W.
Rider level: Intermediate/Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing spot Le Brusc, Six-Fours-les-Plages

When the Mistral kicks in, strong, gusty north-westerly winds will generate some good chop. You’ll need to be good upwind to escape the crowds and the many windsurfers who slalom near the beach. Gets super crowded on good wind days. Note that kitesurfing’s banned within 300 m of the beach during the summer holiday season.
Spot type: Beach/Reef. Best wind: SW,W,NW,N.
Rider level: Intermediate/Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing spot La Ciotat | Go >

Superb spot in a strong southerly wind with some nice waves in front of the breakwaters. There’s not a lot of room to set up and the road runs parallel to the narrow beach, so you’ll need to be confident launching, landing and staying upwind. Note that kitesurfing’s banned within 300 m of the beach during the summer holiday season, however local kitesurf schools can provide boat access.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: W,SW,S,SE,E.
Rider level: Intermediate/Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing at Epluchures Beach

Situated right in the city of Marseille, the capital of the Mistral wind, Epluchures Beach is the waveriding or freeride kitesurfing spot along this section of coastline. Note that kitesurfing’s banned during the summer holiday season.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: S,SE,NW.
Rider level: Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing at La Pointe Rouge

The small bay of La Pointe Rouge immediately south of Marseille comes alive with every gust from the Mistral, often with quality waves to get the juices flowing! A good stretch of shallow water suits beginners well.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW,W,NW.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing at Le Jaï, Etang de Berre | Go >

You’re almost guaranteed a good kitesurfing session at L’Etang de Berre because the wind will blow here from multiple directions. It’s a lagoon, so it’s popular with beginners and it’s the spot to head to if the Med gets too rough.
Spot type: Lake/Beach. Best wind: W,NW,N,E,SE,S.
Rider level: Beginner-Intermediate. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing in Carro | Go >

Just 40km from Marseille, Carro is one of the top kitesurfing destinations in the south of France, renowned as much for the quality of the waves as the strength of the winds. Tricky launch, big waves and strong currents make Carro suitable only for experienced surfers.
Spot type: Reef. Best wind: W,NW,E,SE.
Rider level: Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing spot Carteau, Port-Saint-Louis

No waves in Carteau, but if you like carving flat water you’ll have a blast. It’s is a great spot for beginners – there’s a large grassy area to get set up on, and the water is mostly waist deep. The downside is they farm mussels here, so there’s a bit of a whiff…
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NE,E,SE.
Rider level: Beginner-Intermediate. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing spot Plage Napoléon, Port-Saint-Louis

Plage Napoléon on the Presqu’ile de Mazet near Port-Saint-Louis is an isolated spit of sand that stretches up to Pointe de la Gracieuse. It’s a pretty unique spot; a protected area just 50 minutes from Marseille, there’ll often only be a handful of surfers out even in the height of summer. The sandy beach is exposed to all wind directions and the flat water is shallow enough to touch the bottom for hundreds of metres. The Mistral blows offshore.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: W,SW,S,SE.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing in Beauduc | Go >

If you are looking for a truly unique and wild kitesurfing location, Beauduc welcomes you with open arms. In the heart of the Camargue in the south of France, this spot is always on, all year, and every wind direction! The spot is located about 17 km from Salin de Giraud and the last part of the drive is on sandy track that is narrow and in poor condition. If you drive slowly you can get through in a normal car.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: N,NE,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.

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Kitesurfing in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

This spot is wild and beautiful and is renowned for its super-fast channel of off-shore wind, but the beach can also offer exceptional conditions. In an east to south-easterly wind, you’ll find waves breaking to the right of the harbour.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: W,E,SW,S,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate-Advanced. Nearest airport: Marseille.
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Kitesurfing spot L’Espiguette | Go >

Great spot for beginners with a huge area to rig up and shallow water for a good way out, although be wary of the wind switching to offshore. The 600m trek across the dunes from the car park means you won’t see many windsurfers.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SE,S,SW,W,NW.
Rider level: Beginner-Intermediate. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Port Camargue – Plage Sud

Plage Sud in Port Camargue is a huge stretch of sandy beach and if it’s blowing north or north-west you can really let fly. It’s a popular spot and can get pretty crowded, and watch out for the breakwaters. Kiting’s banned in the summer holiday season.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NW,N.
Rider level: Intermediate-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Le Grau-du-Roi – Plage Nord

Straight forward launch and land makes Le Grau-du-Roi a great spot for beginners despite the narrow beach. The wind can whip up some chop making it a fun bump and jump location for freeriders. Kiting’s banned in the July/August holiday season.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NW,N.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Le Boucanet

Le Boucanet marks the spot on the map where the Mistral gives way to the Tramontana, and when the latter is on, this is a top bump and jump spot. It also works in a south-easterly but downwind, the groynes become a hazard. Kiting is only permitted in the evenings in summer.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NW,N,SE.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot La Grande Motte

Montpellier’s most popular spot, La Grande Motte, although busy even during poor weather, has a good atmosphere and no particular hazards. Local kitesurf club Objectif Kiteloop control a launch/landing area exclusively for kitesurfers. Works best in a south easterly.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: S,SE.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Carnon – Plage du Petit Travers

A popular spot with local wave riders who shred the shorebreak in an onshore south-easterly. Kiting is banned in the summer holiday season, so you’ll need to head east towards La Grande Motte. It’s a busy beach and rules for launch and land have to be observed.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW,SE,E.
Rider level: Intermediate-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Palavas-les-Flots

South-westerly winds provide the best conditions at Palavas, which can be bolstered by an offshore Tramontana to up the ante for freeriders. Wave riders will be in their element in a south-easterly when a good-sized swell can build, just watch out for the harbour wall.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW,W.
Rider level: Intermediate-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Les Aresquiers

Excellent spot especially in a north-easterly, but a narrow and pebbly beach makes launching and landing your kite a bit delicate. It’s best to wade out a bit and launch from the water. There’s more of a wave here than at Espiguette, but in a south-easterly the resulting shorebreak coupled with the tightly packed groynes make an exit tricky. The Etang behind the beach is popular with beginners.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW,W,NW,N.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Pont Levis, Etang de Thau | Go >

Le Pont Levis at the Sète end of the Etang de Thau lagoon is a top spot when the northerly Tramontana is blowing and you want to avoid kiting the Med in off-shore conditions. In Tramontana the spot can get busy and there’s strict rules with launching and landing; only one kite at a time is permitted to launch or land from a designated ‘safe zone’. The Etang de Thau is huge, the water’s only about 1 metre deep and there’s chop for jumping.
Spot type: Lake. Best wind: NW,N.
Rider level: Intermediate-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Sète, Les Trois Digues | Go >

This spot on the beach 2 km west of Sète benefits from being one of Montpellier’s few official kitesurf zones during summer. If you’re looking for a spot with plenty of space to cruise, you’re in the right place. The spot works best in south-west to south-easterlies. Heading out in a northerly Tramontana conditions is ill-advised, the spot gets gusty and blows off-shore. But if it’s like that, just kite the Etang de Thau instead.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: SW,S,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Cap d’Agde | Go >

The kitesurf schools in Cap d’Agde operate in open water with boat support as the harbour wall at the eastern end of the beach makes kiting from the beach a sketchy endeavor. The same applies to La Tamarissière just to the west where the narrowly-spaced groynes can make life difficult. A southerly wind generates some decent waves. A westerly is perfect for freestyle riding as the groynes render near glassy conditions. The northerly Tramontana can be quite gusty near the shore but advanced kiters can ride flat out in open water and enjoy epic cross-shore conditions round the peninsula towards Marseillan Plage.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: W,SW,S,SE.
Rider level: Intermediate. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Saint-Pierre la Mer

Located about midway between Montpellier and Perpignan, just to the north of Gruissan Plage, Saint Pierre la Mer has a huge beach and a dedicated kitesurf zone. The spot works in most wind directions. The northerly Tramontana brings about flat conditions, ideal for freestyle riders and beginners. Summer thermals and the warm Marin which blows in from the south-east both produce waves. The spot plays host each April to the to the Junior European Kitesurf Championships. There’s a huge car park by the beach on Boulevard des Embruns.
Spot type: Beach. Best wind: NE,E,SE,S.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Montpellier.

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Kitesurfing spot Leucate-La Franqui | Go >

Leucate is firmly on the world kitesurfing map and plays host to the “Mondial du Vent” competition each April. The beach is fine for beginners in lighter cross-shore winds, but becomes off-limits to anyone but advanced kiters if the offshore Tramontana kicks in with gusto. The Etang de Leucate, a sea-lake behind the beach is great for kitesurfers of all abilities.
Spot type: Beach/Lake. Best wind: NE,E,SE,S.
Rider level: Beginner-Advanced. Nearest airport: Perpignan.

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Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your kitesurfing trip to the France, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Bonnes vacances !

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