Wing foiling holidays are becoming more and more popular. Just as windsurfing travel boomed as that discipline gained traction so the same is happening with wing foiling. But where to head for some foiling action?
Read on to find out or click the individual content headings below to jump to your chosen wing foil holiday destination.
Check out the following in this article –
Wing foiling holiday essentials.
Before we get deep into each destination we’ll talk about a few essentials you’ll need to pack for your trip. Whether travelling at home or abroad there are a few items that shouldn’t be left behind. (Of course, your equipment is perhaps something you’ll be taking with you. Although, these days, with excess baggage charges as they are it might be better to hire gear once on the ground).
Flymount Aero-130 Ultralight Wing and Kite Camera Mount
- Flymount Aero 130 action cam mount – essential for capturing all that wing foiling holiday action on the water.
- A decent wetsuit and/or water wear base layer – even if heading somewhere warm you’ll probably need to wear some form of wingsurfing clothing. Even if only to prevent sunburn.
- Booties or reef shoes – it’s always worth taking a pair of neoprene booties or thinner reef shoes. Just in case your chosen location features rocks and other ‘sharpies’.
- Sunscreen! – ensure a high factor sunscreen is packed. UV glare will cause considerable sun damage when out on the water for hours at a time.
- Wing foil harness – if you’re a rider who harnesses up then travelling with your own can be worthwhile. That familiar feel of your own harness will deliver comfort and confidence when at a new spot.
Wing foiling spot types.
Some wingsurfers prefer flat water and more gentle freeride locations. This can be the case if you’re a beginner or early intermediate. Meanwhile, other riders tend to aim for wave venues. Depending on how hardcore you fancy it will be determined by your experience.
The spots we’ve chosen for this article aim to tick multiple boxes for various riders’ moods, tastes and skill. There’s no one perfect location. One of the following should float the boat of many.
Tiree, Scotland.
For wind sports aficionados Tiree should need no intro. The home of the Tiree Wave Classic windsurf wave competition every year Tiree is a gem fairly close to home. A small Inner Hebridean island Tiree has multiple launch sites to choose from.
Loch Bhasapol is a freshwater lake that’s both shallow and safe. Combined with its sandy bottom this is a great place to learn. Gott Bay – a horseshoe-shaped bay – is another great spot. Alternatively, head to the west facing beaches where riders will find plenty of Atlantic swell. Wild Diamond is the local watersports centre on Tiree which is definitely worth hitting up for local knowledge.
Great for – stunning beaches, water and general conditions. Amazing waves on its day whilst also being pretty good for wing foiling beginners.
Best time of year – Tiree works all year but is cold in winter. Summer sees less surf and warmer temperatures.
If no wind – surf, paddle board or relax. Sampling the local whiskey is also an option.
More info – http://www.wilddiamond.co.uk/
Tarifa, Spain.
With Flymount’s connection to Tarifa, we couldn’t omit the southern Spanish wind mecca from this list. Consistently windy, with two prevailing directions (the Poniente – a SW wind that blows cross-onshore, and the Levante – a warm thermally charged E wind that blows cross and cross-offshore).
Tarifa is famed the world over for its reliably strong wind conditions that blow on average 300 days of the year! Add in the warm southern Spanish weather and you can see why the spot is popular. With around 10 beaches to choose from and waves at certain times of the year, Tarifa offers something for every wing foiler.
Great for – consistent wind and warm weather. Tarifa is also relatively easy to get to from the UK. And there are plenty of places to get lessons and rent kit.
Best time of year – works all year round. Summer sees flatter water with less chance of swell.
If no wind – explore or sample the local food and drink. Morocco is just a ferry ride away and worth a visit if there’s no breeze.
More info – https://tarifa.travel/wing-foiling/
Canary Islands.
When compiling this list of wing foiling travel destinations we came to the conclusion picking one of the Canary Islands wouldn’t be possible. They each offer something unique to travelling wingsurfers.
Fuerteventura (meaning windy island) offers a mix of big wave venues (along the northern track), a flat water harbour (Corralejo), moderately exposed launches (Flag Beach and others close by) and accelerated windy flat water locations around Sottovento in the south. Lanzarote is the island for the biggest surf – Costa Teguise offers a more mellow option. Gran Canaria has the fabled high wind spot of Pozo (summer). Whilst Tenerife is a consistent all year round venue with a variety of launch options.
Great for – consistent summer winds and big waves in winter. The Canary Islands also have pretty good weather throughout most of the year. The islands have long been a winter sun bolthole for UK windsurfers. If it’s not windy, other sports like surfing and paddle boarding are all doable.
Best time of year – all year round. Summer can bring more consistent wind. Winter has more chance of bigger waves.
If no wind – surfing and paddle boarding are all options in the Canaries. Or take a ferry and visit one of the other islands.
More info – https://flagbeach.com/wing-foiling/
La Tranche sur Mer, France.
Situated on the west coast of France, in the Vendee, La Tranche sur Mer is predominantly a European summertime venue. The wind is thermal, with La Tranche’s microclimate helping to accentuate the phenomenon. Often a few degrees warmer than further inland, La Tranche sur Mer mornings feature light offshore winds that slowly swing around to a crosshore direction during the middle part of the day. With sun and heat in the mix, you’ll most likely get a decent 15-20 knots blowing as it funnels between Ile de Re and the mainland.
The town has a fairly large beach with a curving coastline to the right. This can make the wind a tad gusty if dead sideshore. Once out in the bay, there’s a reef which can kick up swell at high tide, The wind’s cleaner out back too. Le Phare is a point break off the headland that needs experience. Whilst further round you’ll find La Terriere which is the main surfing beach in the area. All along the coastline are potential spots.
Great for – family holidays with some wing foiling thrown in. The whole area is geared towards watersports with windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, paddle boarding and sailing all available. La Tranche has a number of watersports schools.
Best time of year – summer is best for La Tranche. Usually June to Sept.
If no wind – choose any of the aforementioned sports or go sightseeing. A visit to La Rochelle or Ile de Re is worth it.
More info – https://www.severnesails.com/locations-feature-wave-school-la-tranche-sur-mer/
Lake Garda, Italy.
Lake Garda, in northern Italy, is known for its fresh water and regular thermal winds. Garda has been a mainstay of windsurfing for many years. In recent times wing foiling has gained traction there. It’s now a hotbed of foil wing talent. And many brands use the spot as testing grounds for new equipment and photoshoots.
The lake has two distinct winds. Ora winds are southerly and start around lunchtime. It can then blow until early evening when it peters out. Peler winds (also known as Vento) is northerly in direction and starts during the second half of the night. This usually lasts until around mid-morning. Both winds are a result of changing temperatures between land and water. The mountains also funnel the breeze at points making it stronger or weaker in certain areas.
This article tells where to launch for each wind direction and whether you want stronger or lighter conditions. Garda doesn’t really have waves, although downwind foiling in the lake’s chop is possible. Plenty of schools and rental businesses exist in the area.
Great for – scenic family wing foiling holidays in summer.
Best time of year – summer is warmest with more chance of breeze. But it can work in winter. Beware of colder air and water temperatures though.
If no wind – go paddle boarding, mountain biking or relax and soak up the culture and mountain vistas.
More info – https://360gardalife.com/en/sport-lake-garda/wing-foil/
Vassiliki Bay, Greece.
The Southern Ionian, Greece, has long been a mainstay of sailing sports. Vassiliki Bay, found on the south side of Lefkada Island, is hallowed ground for windsurfing. The freakish summer wind (referred to as Eric in the past) funnels down the mountainside and blasts crosshore in the bay. Calm, onshore mornings are great for paddle boarding or taking those first windsurfing steps. Come lunchtime the wind direction switches signalling the imminent arrival of a much stronger breeze.
Like a hairdryer blasting warm air, the blow can be anything from moderate to super strong. And all with blazing sunshine and blue skies. Traditionally a stronghold for windsurfing, recent years have seen more and more wing foilers flying back and forth across the bay. Many of the beachside schools now offer wingsurfing lessons. Whether beginner or advanced Vass can be an awesome spot for a summer foil wing holiday.
Great for – beginner wing foilers and advanced freestyle riders. Also perfect for families wanting something for everyone.
Best time of year – summer (May-Sept) with June, July and August being the hottest and windiest months.
If no wind – paddle boarding, eFoiling and eBiking (via eVass) or a tour around Lefkada island.
More info – https://clubvass.com/foiling/wing-foiling/
Dahab, Egypt.
Dahab has traditionally been a flat water windsurf training ground for many Europeans. With the Arab Spring protests of 2011 Egypt in general became trickier to get to. In recent times travel routes have opened back up making Dahab and other Sinai windy locations doable again.
Dahab is perhaps, out of all Egyptian windsurfing locations, the defining spot. The resort itself offers several launch locations. The bay, the lagoon (although this is too shallow for foiling) Speedies, Baby Bay and Kamikaze. The bay is protected by an offshore spit, the other side of which is Speedies and Baby Bay.
Across the main reef, and out into the open Gulf of Aqaba is what locals call Kamikaze. This is awesome for BIG rolling swell and jumps and downwind riding. But you’ll be on your own here if it goes wrong. Back into Masbat town (a bustling holiday resort), there’s the lighthouse spot for those with more experience and skill.
Great for – reliable and consistent flat water wind conditions. Warm weather and a unique culture await visitors.
Best time of year – all year round destination. Dahab does offer respite from colder Euro destinations in winter.
If no wind – paddle boarding, diving or just chilling when there’s no wind. A hike into the desert and scaling one of the many dunes is also possible. Heading up Mount Sinai for sunrise is also a must-do.
More info – https://www.harry-nass.com/en/wing-foiling-dahab/
Barbados, Caribbean.
For riders looking at further flung destinations Barbados is always worth a punt. With its consistent Trade Winds and abundant (fun) surf conditions Barb is a great choice. Wing foiling is well catered for around the SE of the island at Silver Rock. Here you’ll find De Action Man’s (Brian Talma) watersports school with plenty of gear and lessons.
If you’re experienced, Barbados has a few choice wave spots to choose from. And should the wind go light, the awesome surf of Soup Bow (Bathsheba) is one to check out.
Great for – warm and consistent wing foiling conditions with plenty of surf and flat water. The Bajan and Caribbean culture is truly exotic and fun to immerse yourself in.
Best time of year – winter can be drier and deliver a higher chance of scoring wind. June can also be a good month but it’ll be much more humid.
If no wind – Bajan culture is exotic and colourful. Get involved! Go visit Bridgetown and don’t miss an evening out in St Lawrence Gap. Surfing and paddle boarding are other watersports on offer.
More info – https://kitesurfingbarbados.com/where-to-wing-foil-in-barbados/
Grenada (the Spice Isle), Caribbean.
Another Caribbean gem – albeit one that’s slightly under the radar – is the Spice Isle of Grenada. So nicknamed because of its nutmeg and mace production the Spice Isle is a relaxed and mellow destination where watersports still haven’t gotten hold. As such, it’s a much quieter choice of destination where you’ll be going it alone. So experience is a must.
That said conditions are never too full on. It’s more the side offshore winds in Grande Anse Bay you’ll need to give due consideration to. Across on the Atlantic side, where you’ll find swell – Westerhall Bay for wing foiling. Or Lance Aux Epines Beach gives another protected flat water launch choice on the Atlantic side.
Grenada is really untouched and has a whole heap of locations waiting to be discovered. Hit up Derek Pickell online who’s a Canadian living in Grenada and has a wealth of watersports knowledge about the island.
Great for – chilled wing foiling with the chance to discover some new spots. A chilled vibe and super friendly locals only add to the experience.
If no wind – there are a few surf spots should the wind die off. But you’ll need to search them out. Paddle boarding at Morne Rouge is fun. Head up to Grand Etang Lake in the rainforest. Or visit St George’s – Grenada’s capital – for a lesson in colonial history.
Best time of year – all year round. Although winter is drier with slightly stronger wind. Grenada isn’t in the hurricane belt but the higher humidity of summer sees more chance of Tropical storms. And Grenada has been hit in the past.
More info – https://mcconks.com/mcconks-bitesize-international-sup-travel-guides-grand-anse-bay-grenada-spice-isle-caribbean-west-indies/
Maui, Hawaii.
No wing foiling holiday guide would be complete without mention of the mecca that is Maui, Hawaii. A hotbed of all things windsurfing, and now wingsurfing Maui is proving grounds for anyone who fancies testing themselves. And yet, there are plenty of spots not so hardcore. Ho’okipa is the main wave sailing location along the north shore. Whilst Kanaha is a more mellow flatter water spot with a reef out back. Winter is when huge swells pound the Hawaiian archipelago. Whilst summer sees the strongest and most consistent Trade Winds which funnel down Mount Haleakala.
Summer also sees more swell – albeit often less life threatening – on the southern side of the island. On any given day you’ll most likely come across pros ripping it up. But equally, there are conditions for all rider skill levels.
Note: Whilst Maui is open for tourism it should be considered that the devastation caused by wildfires to the island’s tourist centre of Lahaina in 2023 is still ongoing. There’s lots of fallout from the catastrophe with families and residents without homes. Most of Lahaina was destroyed. It’s therefore wise to stay clear of the area and be respectful. If you want to help and donate you can do so via Maui Nui Strong here.
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