Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Flat, Chop, Small wave
Water hazards: Rocks
Infos: Generally flat and choppy in summer. Some breaking waves if there is swell and/or strong winds, but then you will find a messy sea. Generally during winter the sea will be more messy and choppy. Tide effects are small or not noticeable. When entering the water you may find some small rocks hidden under water. Wearing booties is really advisable.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: The beach faces north-northeast. It is kind of big, but it's not sand everywhere, there are some spots with rock formations on shore. The problem during summer for kitesurfers is that you'll find everywhere huts, placed quite close to shore. You have to find a spot free of huts, and then you can drive close to the shore. Still, the space to set-up kites, launch and land will be small. A better spot for kitesurfers is about 500 meters west of the entrance to the "Beach Holiday Village", which has an observation tower, easy to spot. Being a beach close to a city it's quite dirty with all kind of garbage in the sand. There is some kind of algae that on some places seem to build a kind of "carpet" from up to 1 meter in height. This "algae carpets" can be found at many places in the Libyan coast, but it seems to be seasonal regarding amount and size, being bigger during winter.
Identified hazards: Rocks, Other
Beachgoer: July, August
Weather specificities: Air temperature is around 25-30C in summer. In winter as low as 10C and if you catch a sunny day as high as the 20'sC. Water warm enough to wear shorts in summer (use sun protection). Wetsuit (2/3mm) for the winter. Most probably you can kite all year round.
Wind type: Thermal, Frontal
Wind specificities: In summer there seems to be good thermal winds coming from the e East, means side-sideonshore from the right, having a peak of approximate 15-18 knots at around 5 to 7pm, but staying good until the sun goes down. That makes it perfect if you work in Tripoli during the summer, with daylight until around 8pm. In winter you'll have to rely on frontals, which can come from all directions from the sea, being as strong as 25 knots or more. The so-called "Ghibli" (hot South wind, carrying desert sand) may blow a few times in spring and fall.
Access description: by Car - From Tripoli drive east direction Khoms or Leptis Magna, using the "highway". Depending where you are, it's some 20km from Tripoli.
Specific rules: None
Extra: The "Rules and Restrictions" at Libyan beaches would be that you have to use a lot of common sense and be patient when there are people at the beach. Locals are friendly and curious, but somehow they won't think about the dangers. You are the only one that knows the dangers, they don't. Be very careful when you are landing/launching your kite and people approach you at the same time.
Accommodations: Rooms, Food
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Flat, Chop, Small wave, Medium wave
Water hazards: Reefs
Infos: The water is generally flat with small swell in the summer months (April to October) and slightly choppy to big swell in the winter months (November to March). There is a reef approx. 150m offshore. Waves can be 2-3m high during storm conditions, but break fast. They are not the best to ride, but good for jumping.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: White sand beach with no rocks. The beach is good for self launching and self landing your kites. Unfortunately the beach is located in private oil company compound. That means there is some small oil spillage by the oil tankers offshore, which makes it's way to shore. However, it's usually not a real big problem if you are careful, only a nuisance since you have to clean your kites.
Identified hazards: Other
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Air temperature usually is in the 30's and 40'sC in summer and high 10's to low 20'sC in winter. Water temperature is 25-30C in summer and 16-20C in winter. Wetsuit (2-3mm) is recommended from early December to early May. You can surf all year round.
Wind type: Thermal, Frontal
Wind specificities: In January to March, the wind usually is 10-15 knots about 10-12 days per month. However, winter storms come every other week, the wind can approach 25-30 knots. In April, May and June the number of ridable days increases to about 15-20 days per month with winds typically around 11-14 knots. In July and August, the wind is practically every day (i.e., thermal winds) typically 12-16 knots. In September and October there are usually very few wind days. In late November the winter storms start with winds typically ranging 13-19 knots, but with cooler air and more powerful than in summer. Wind sideonshore from the right (i.e., North) in summer and either directly onshore or sideonshore from the left (i.e., West) in the winter.
Best months: April, May, June, July
Access description: by Car - Fly to Tripoli from Europe. Drive 8 hours east toward Banghazi by taxi or hire car. No real places to stay outside of the company compound.
Specific rules: Zones
Extra: No rules....but again it is a private beach in a company compound guarded by military police.
Accommodations: Toilet, Food
View spot