Choosing a kite school abroad is mostly about trust: will the people on the beach keep you safe, explain things clearly and not waste your holiday? This page is our attempt to answer that honestly — who teaches, where and when we teach on Koh Samui, how a lesson is organised, what it costs and what we do not promise.
Who Is Behind the School
Kite Club Koh Samui was founded by Sergei, who is the head instructor, and he teaches alongside Abdulla. Both hold IKO Level 3 instructor certification. They are the people you will meet on the sand, fly your first kite with and hear through the radio helmet on your first rides.
Our sister school, Kite Club Koh Phangan, teaches on the neighbouring island. The Samui school has its own beaches and its own seasonal schedule, but the IKO and IWO course structure is the same, so if you visit both islands you will recognise the way lessons are run.
Two Beaches That Follow the Monsoon
Samui gets wind from two different directions over the year, so the school moves with it rather than closing for half the year.
Lamai Beach, December–April. A long sandy bay on the east coast, with the famous Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks at its southern end and the restaurants and guesthouses of Lamai behind it. The northeast monsoon usually delivers 12–20 knots, and January to March is the most consistent period of the year.
Nathon Beach, May–October. On the west coast, right beside Nathon town and the ferry pier. The southwest monsoon brings roughly 10–18 knots, less steady than in the Lamai season, so we plan lessons day by day around the forecast.
October and November are a changeover period with light and variable wind, and the rainy season falls roughly between October and December. On calm days we switch to e-foil, SUP and kayak, which do not need wind.
Getting here
Samui Airport (USM) has direct flights from Bangkok and other hubs, so you can reach either beach by taxi soon after landing. Arriving by ferry at Nathon puts you right next to the west-coast spot.
What We Teach
| Sport | Certification | First step | Main course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitesurfing | IKO | Discovery — 5,000 THB (2 h private or 3 h group) | Full Beginner — 14,000 THB; Independent — 20,000 THB |
| Wing foil | IWO | Intro — 4,000 THB (2 h) | Beginner — 11,900 THB (6 h); Advanced — 18,000 THB (10 h) |
| Windsurfing | IKO | Discovery — 4,000 THB (2 h private) | Beginner — 11,000 THB (6 h); Independent — 14,000 THB |
| E-foil | — | Intro — 2,000 THB (30 min) | Lesson 3,500 THB (first) / 3,000 THB (repeat), 60 min |
Returning riders can book a Kitesurfing Refresh (3,500 THB) or a Windsurfing Refresh (3,000 THB), both 2 hours private. The IKO and IWO cards you earn are recognised internationally and are useful when you rent equipment at other kite and wing spots later.
How a Lesson Is Organised
Every lesson is either private (one student, one instructor) or group (two students, one instructor). Group lessons last longer so each person still gets enough time with the kite, which is why the Discovery is 2 hours private or 3 hours in a group.
Beginners wear a radio helmet, so the instructor can talk to you while you are in the water instead of shouting from the beach. That makes a big difference during body dragging and the first water starts, when timing matters most.
Safety comes from supervision and preparation: the instructor chooses the session area according to the day's wind direction, keeps it clear of swimmers, stays with the student throughout and has support from the beach. That is also why we are careful about the conditions we teach in — if the wind is too strong, too gusty or blowing the wrong way for a beginner, the lesson moves to another time.
Five Teaching Languages
Lessons are available in English, Russian, Arabic, German and Ukrainian. Being coached in your own language matters more than people expect: instructions arrive while you are balancing on a board with a kite pulling you, and there is no time to translate in your head. Tell us your preferred language when you book.
Language also affects the theory part of the course. Understanding why the kite pulls harder in some parts of the sky, or what right of way means when two riders meet, is much easier when it is explained in words you think in. Families and friends who speak different languages can still share a group lesson — just let us know in advance so we can plan who teaches whom.
Equipment Included in Lessons
- Kitesurfing: kite and bar sized for your weight and the wind, twin-tip board, harness and radio helmet.
- Wing foil: wing, board and foil chosen for your level, starting with larger, more stable gear.
- Windsurfing: board and rig suited to beginners.
- E-foil: board, remote, helmet and vest, run with our e-foil partner operator.
You only need swimwear, sunscreen and water. A rash guard or long-sleeve top is a good idea against the sun.
Rental, Storage and No-Wind Days
Riders who can already ride on their own can rent a full kite set — kite, bar, board and harness — for 2,000 THB (1 h), 3,500 THB (2 h), 4,500 THB (3 h) or 5,000 THB for a full day. If you travel with your own gear and come back to Samui regularly, ask about equipment storage between visits.
For calm days, SUP rental is 400 / 700 / 1,000 THB (1 h, 2 h, all day) and kayaks are 500 / 900 / 1,200 THB (1, 2 or 3 h). E-foil runs on an electric motor, so it is the one foiling experience you can have without any wind; drone video is available for 1,000 THB, or 2,000 THB with editing.
Kite Safari in the Red Sea
Once you ride independently, the school also organises a 7-day Kite Safari in Egypt's Red Sea. Our safari dates run in April–May and September–November.
| Package | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1,300 EUR | 7 days |
| Comfort | 1,400 EUR | 7 days |
| VIP | 1,500 EUR | 7 days |
Message us for the current itinerary and what each package includes.
Kids, Teens and Later Starters
There is no strict minimum age for kitesurfing. Children usually start from around eight, but what really matters is body weight: at least 30–35 kg, so that even a small kite does not overpower them. Parents can watch from the beach, and group lessons work well for siblings of similar size and confidence.
E-foil is open from age 12, with parental consent for anyone under 18. At the other end of the scale, starting in your forties or later is absolutely fine. Fitness helps, but patience and a willingness to listen help more.
Your First Day, Step by Step
1. A short chat. Your instructor asks about your experience, swimming ability and goals, and explains the plan for the lesson.
2. Wind and safety on the sand. Where the wind comes from, the wind window and how the safety release works — practised with your hands, not just explained.
3. Flying the kite. You steer it, park it overhead and learn to reduce its power. This is where the feel for the bar starts.
4. Into the water. With the radio helmet on, you body-drag behind the kite while the instructor coaches you step by step.
5. Debrief. What went well, what to focus on next time, and whether a group or private format suits you for the rest of the course.
Booking tip
If your stay is short, book the first lessons for the first days of your trip. That leaves spare days at the end if a lesson has to move because of the wind.
How the Kitesurfing Courses Build on Each Other
| Course | Private | Group (2:1) | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 2 h | 3 h | Safety systems, flying the kite, first body drag |
| Full Beginner | 6 h (3 × 2 h) | 9 h (3 × 3 h) | Water starts and first rides on the board |
| Independent | 10 h (5 × 2 h) | 15 h (5 × 3 h) | Riding in both directions, staying upwind, self-rescue — ready to ride unsupervised |
Most people book the Discovery first and decide after that. If you already know you want to learn properly, starting directly with the Full Beginner or Independent course saves repeating the basics. Wing foil follows a similar path: Intro (2 h), Beginner (6 h in three sessions) and Advanced (10 h in five sessions).
What We Will Not Promise
We cannot promise wind on a particular day. The seasons on Samui are reliable enough to plan a trip around, but any single day can be too light or too gusty, and then we reschedule rather than send a beginner out in poor conditions.
We also do not promise that you will be riding after a set number of hours. Some students stand up in their second session; others need longer, and both are completely normal. What we do promise is honest feedback about where you are, and a clear plan for the next step.
Finally, we will not squeeze extra students into a lesson to fill a busy day. One instructor teaches one or two people at a time, and if the schedule is full we would rather suggest another day than lower the quality of the session.
Where to Stay Near the School
In the Lamai season, staying in Lamai itself is the most convenient choice — many guests walk to the beach. Chaweng, the next bay north, has the biggest range of hotels and nightlife. Bophut, Fisherman's Village and Maenam on the north coast are quieter; from there, plan a taxi or scooter ride to lessons.
From May to October the lessons are in Nathon. The west coast is calmer and more local, with the town's markets and seafood restaurants close to the beach. If you prefer to stay on the east or north coast during those months, allow for a drive across the island.
Questions Worth Asking Any Kite School
Whether you book with us or somewhere else, a few questions quickly show how a school works:
- How many students does one instructor teach at a time? (Ours: one or two.)
- Will I have a radio helmet in the water?
- Is the instructor certified, and at what level?
- What happens if the wind is not suitable on my lesson day?
- Which language will the lesson be in?
- Is the equipment sized for my weight, and is everything included in the price?
Clear, specific answers are a good sign. Vague promises about how fast you will learn are not — progress always depends on the wind and on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a lesson?
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, the sport you want to try, your experience level and the number of people. We confirm the beach and plan the first session around the wind forecast.
Where will my lesson take place?
From December to April at Lamai Beach on the east coast, and from May to October at Nathon Beach on the west coast, next to Nathon town and the ferry pier.
What is the difference between private and group lessons?
A private lesson is one student with one instructor. A group lesson is two students with one instructor and lasts longer — for example, the Kitesurfing Discovery is 2 hours private or 3 hours in a group.
Who are the instructors?
The school was founded by head instructor Sergei, who teaches together with Abdulla. Both are IKO Level 3 instructors. Lessons are available in English, Russian, Arabic, German and Ukrainian.
Can a beginner and an experienced rider come together?
Yes. The beginner takes lessons while the experienced rider can rent a full kite set or book a refresher lesson. Tell us both levels when you book.