Karpathos – Afiada

Afiada, South Aegean (Dodecanese), Greece

Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing, Parawing, SUP

Best time to go: July–September

Afiada is a group of bays on the south-east tip of Karpathos, between Rhodes and Crete, next to the island's airport. In summer the Meltemi blows from the north-west and is funnelled and accelerated by the mountains, so wind of 20 to 35 knots is common for weeks on end. Chicken Bay is the shallow, sheltered beginner and freestyle area, while Devil's Bay and Gun Bay further out are for experienced riders with stronger wind and bigger chop.

The wind is often very strong and gusty close to the land, so small kites, sails and boards are the norm. Several centres in Afiada offer rental, lessons and rescue boats. The bays are fairly remote, with few facilities outside the centres and hotels. The season runs from late spring to October, with July and August the windiest.

Month by month at Karpathos – Afiada

January: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 19°C, air 16°C (nights 12°C), 28 sunny days, 11 rainy days
February: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 15 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 18°C, air 15°C (nights 12°C), 26 sunny days, 8 rainy days
March: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 13°C), 30 sunny days, 6 rainy days
April: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 18°C, air 20°C (nights 15°C), 28 sunny days, 5 rainy days
May: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 30 sunny days, 5 rainy days
June: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 23°C, air 27°C (nights 22°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
July: 17 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 26°C, air 30°C (nights 24°C), 31 sunny days, 0 rainy days
August: 19 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 15 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 27°C, air 29°C (nights 24°C), 31 sunny days, 0 rainy days
September: 18 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 15 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 26°C, air 27°C (nights 23°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
October: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 24°C, air 24°C (nights 20°C), 31 sunny days, 1 rainy day
November: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 23°C, air 21°C (nights 17°C), 29 sunny days, 5 rainy days
December: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 20°C, air 18°C (nights 14°C), 29 sunny days, 9 rainy days

When is the best time to go kitesurfing, wingfoiling, windsurfing & parawing at Karpathos – Afiada?

July–September, when it is windy most often.

How warm is the water at Karpathos – Afiada?

17°C to 27°C over the year: boardshorts, no wetsuit needed in the warmest month, a 4/3 full suit in the coolest.

How windy is Karpathos – Afiada?

About 182 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in August.

Figures from 4 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

Spots near Karpathos – Afiada

More: All spots in Greece · Kitesurfing in Greece · Wingfoiling in Greece · Windsurfing in Greece · Parawing in Greece · SUP in Greece

Compare with: Karpathos – Afiada vs Prasonisi – Rhodes · Karpathos – Afiada vs Naxos – Mikri Vigla

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