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TURKEY 5/5
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KITE OPTIONS? Take a 9 and a 13 to cover all bases. WHICH WETSUIT? During the main season, just bring some lycra and flip flops! But if you’re heading here early or late in the season, bring a short wetty. BEER €3 a pint. TYPICAL DINNER A typical dinner can range from 3 to 5 Euros, to 15 Euros in the nice restaurants in the Urla Marina. LATE NIGHT… The spot bar is open every night until midnight, and once or twice a week Urla Surf House make a real evening of it, with a range of live music, BBQs and events. For the party animals, Alacati and its famous night life is just a 35 minute taxi drive away!
THE LOWDOWN
WHEN IS BEST TO GO?
The charming Turkish coastal town of Urla is not only amazing for kiting – it’s in the middle of one of the most beautiful areas of Turkey, and is also very easy to reach. This is a magic place – combining a world class spot, a huge, shallow lagoon, lots of flatwater options, a kitesurf wakepark and lots to do in the surrounding area too.
June, July and August are the best months to hit Urla. Every morning throughout this time there is a thermal effect that brings the winds, and then in the afternoon the ‘Meltemi’ wind takes over. There is also wind in April, May and September, it’s just not quite as reliable.
KITING SET UP
Plenty of activities other than kiting are possible either directly on the spot or close by. Located overlooking the kitesurf spot, there’s lots going on at Urla Surf House - everything you need to make your stay fun and easy… chill in the garden next to the pool, play pingpong, skate, SUP, slackline, hit up the hot springs, or just enjoy some food and prop up the bar. Nearby, you can visit vineyards, play some golf, ride horses, dive, visit the Izmir bazaar or the Ephesus ruins, cruise the Urla fishing marina (with its amazing restaurants), as well as take your pick from plenty of beautiful Aegean beaches within easy reach…
NO WIND?
The wind at Urla is quite steady, between 15 and 25 knots, and there’s a big, safe beginner’s area, separate from the freeride area. The spot is big, at about two kilometers long, with flat waters the whole length, side-shore winds, and shallow waters. It’s super safe, with no underwater obstacles. Right on the spot is the Urla Surf House, which is your complete kite center, rental and storage provider, hotel, restaurant and bar, all in one. A little upwind is the ‘slider park’ a kiteboarding specific wake park for some extra fun! Upwind, there’s the only free kite park in Europe!
