Ok, I'm headed to Gokovo with the GF in a few weeks. Here's the plan so far, please let me know if it makes sense.

1. Renting a car. I'm planning on renting a car. I know there are shuttles and what not but it looks like I can rent a cheapie for 30 US a day. Big advantage of a car is that I can stick smelling wet kite stuff in it. Not sure about on beach storage?

2. Staying in Marmaris and NOT Akyaka. It seems like there are more hotels and more reasonably priced hotels in Maramaris than in Akyaka. This means a 30 minute drive there and back each day. Since I have a car this should be all right. Marmaris seems to have more nightlife and touristy stuff for when we are not kiting. Please disagree with me if you think I should be staying closer to the spot or in Akyaka.

3. Bringing my full range of kites 12, 8, 7, 5.5. I'm 80 kg and the gilfriend is 45 kg.

I'd appreciate any tips and recommendations.

Hello mate, was there last year August. You're in for a grand time. I'll do my best to answer your questions -

1) Yes, there's beach storage with the schools there. You can hit up alwayswindy.com for pretty cheap. The bay has a carpark right next to the beach so yes you can bring your gear back and forth no problems. Be aware - there's a beach charge everytime you use it. Well, it was there last year, they might have successfully fought against it.

To have a car or not? Well, personally in the meltemi full-on summer months the wind is like clockwork. Everyday 12-4pm. It might be a little more inconsistent at the mo, but since I was kiting everyday and staying near the spot, I didn't need a car. But yes, if you wanted to go further afield def get a car, cause apart from the village and kiting there's not a lot more to do.

2) I'd enquire with alwayswindy first before settling in Marmaris. They have some pretty cheap accommodation going, and I'd rather be closer to the kite spot if that's the main reason you're there, but personal choice. From my experience, when you're further away from the spot its a hassle not knowing if the wind has picked up or not, and then you drive there and it might have dropped. Complete hassle. At least if you're near the spot and its not kicking up, you can make the choice then and there to do something different.

3) Wind in the meltemi summer months was 13-20 knots tops. Being 80kgs, was 95% on my 12m. My bigger mate, who has a set of kites that have a bit better low end, went out on his 9.5 Bests only a handful of times. the 5.5m might be a touch ambitious but bring it along.

If you want a fuller lowdown check out my review http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfin ... 19&t=48076

Thanks for the intel. I hate my 12 meter kite. Hmm. This is no good. Maybe I should buy a 10 meter Vegas?

Haha, I'm def not the person you should be asking!

However, my friend was on his 11m Bandit and was out every time. If you don't mind swinging the kite go the 10m.

I was there the week before last.

Seraphial is right, don't bring your two small kites. Admittedly the wind might pick up a bit more in the next month or so, but probably not by much. You will definitely use your 12m a lot - I remember the kite sizes you used when I met you last year, and for Gokova your 12m will be your most used kite. Bring your 8m as well but don't count on actually using it more than for perhaps an hour or two now and then.

I wouldn't buy a 10m kite for just one stay. It might be a good kite size for you at times in Gokova, but I would rent one if it's just for a few days.

Kite storage is easy to arrange on the beach like Seraphial said, any of the kiteschools will be happy to help you out. Ask around about the price.

Accommodation in Akyaka started around 30 Turkish Lira per night the week I was there, but that was for tiny and not very clean rooms away from the center of the town, and it was still very early in the season. I chose to pay 50 Lira to be in a decent room right in the center of the little village or little town or whatever you may call it, but again, it was still really early in the season and there were a lot of empty rooms. Expect to pay more than that.

You get slammed with that 10 Lira daily beach charge whether you arrive by car or on foot, so a car won't make a difference for that. That is for the main beach though - with a car you would have the option to instead drive to the southern beach, where some locals launch. Then you would be away from the company & rest rooms & showers & café on the main beach, though.

Thanks Saami, good to hear from you again.

Did you check out marmaris? You reckon I should stay near the beach? Did you book in advance?

So is the wind only ho hum? Be honest. The last thing I want is to go on vacation for two weeks and spend the entire time just trying to stay upwind with no power to do tricks. We talking 13-15 knots most days?

Marmaris is OK, but if I go on a kite holiday, I prefer to stay as close to the kitespot as possible. But sure, there is definitely more going on in Marmaris than in Akyaka.

If you stay in Akyaka, you're still looking at a 20 minute walk down the beach to there you can launch (including a bit of wading up to your thighs past a little creek entering the bay). It's a pleasant walk though and the water is clean, as is the beach. Alternatively, there is at least one kiteschool (Kiteboarding Turkey) which does daily boat transfers (in a big inflatable) from the beach in Akyaka down to the kite beach.

I didn't book the room in advance, I just showed up, looked around a bit, and haggled over the room rate.


The wind strength was ho hum, but the wind quality was great. Just like you, I don't like big kites. Give me a 7m or smaller any day. In Gokova I was on 10m and 12m sizes every day though, and I don't weigh that much.

Yet as I said, the quality of the wind is excellent - really stable and laminar. You can be out all afternoon and barely feel any gust at all. Very clean wind - but as I said, not that strong. According to the locals it isn't supposed to get much stronger than when I was there, even in the peak season.

So, if you want to feel some really smooth wind, check it out. If you want strong wind, there are better places.

I'll 2nd that - real smooth wind in Gokova. You're not going to get caught out in big gusts etc.

I also did the walk to the beach everyday, and it was fine. I'll grab a balim emlek (fish sandwich) from the boat in the dock, eat it on the way, finish it by the time you get to the spot, and 15mins later after setting and suiting up, you're away laughing.

Hi, I am going to gokova end of June, what is the water temp like then? Do I need a wetsuit or will board shorts be sufficient? I hope the wind is closer to 20kts, otherwise it's boring riding underpowered on big kites. Really looking forward to it though, meant to be a awesome spot. Cheers

as being a local rider of gokova bay, just check out windguru forecast and multiply the wind forecast by 2 and add 3-5 knots, addition depending on the degree of westness of the wind, unless otherwise there are no clouds and rain...The wind is thermal convection coupled by the natural venturi by the hills aside the bay...Starts around 8 in the morning from 0 knots, to 10 knots at 10, 14 knots at 12 and peaks up to 20 knots (occasionally) between 12-17 in the afternoon, and degrades to 0 knots at around 21 o'clock...season is from mid april-mid october....best is june-end of september...shorty is ok these days but board short will be ok in a week i guess, as it was too hot today...
nice place to progress here, if you'd like to try new tricks, with the first trials underpowered or just powered in the morning and the real ones in the afternoon in flat water...
as for the place to stay, i can't do any discrimination between marmaris or akyaka..it's totally up to you, but partying like rockstar and kitesurfing need loooaaads of energy..one of them fails if you try both...i recommend you to stay in akyaka to feel the mood of kite oriented pubs, bars and restaurants, and all the friends you were riding in day time, and go to marmaris for partying if you really have the energy to go....don't drink and drive to marmaris (even 2 beers) , you'll DEFINETYLY (100 %) be checked, whatever the time is, on the way back.