Assistant Training Course (ATC)

IKO kiteboarding level 4 is required: jump with a grab, jump transition, jibe and ride toeside. The ATC starts with an online module on the IKO website (see how the two modules work), then five days at the school; the ITC is another five days at the school. You also need a First Aid / CPR certificate valid at the time of the course and obtained in person (not online) — send us yours and we check with IKO whether it is accepted, or book our one-day First Aid / CPR course between the ATC and the ITC (€80, charged in THB).

ATC ฿16,869 · ITC ฿28,017 · IRC ฿6,000 (US$180) · First Aid / CPR ฿3,100 (€80). Prices are in THB and may vary with exchange-rate fluctuations; they cover the training at the school only. IKO fees are not included: every candidate now registers directly with IKO, pays the IKO fee (USD 199 for the ATC, USD 329 for the ITC, USD 189 for the IRC) and books a seat on ikointl.com — ATC registration · ITC registration. The school can no longer register candidates or collect IKO fees on their behalf. School fees are paid here and are due one month before the course.

Accommodation for the ten days is included, in a 10-bed dorm with air conditioning and private bathroom at Slumber Party, right next to the school in Thong Sala. Prefer a private room? Slumber Party has private rooms and tents around ฿1,500 a night; V-View Resort (2-star) and Sabaii Bay Resort (3-star) offer bungalows from ฿1,500 to ฿2,500; Summer Luxury Beach Resort (4-star) has 64 m² suites from ฿3,000 to ฿5,000. Rates change with the season and around Full Moon Party dates. See our Kite & Stay page.

A flat lagoon of white sand protected by a coral reef, clear 30 °C water all year, 0.5 to 1.5 m deep depending on the tide — you can stand almost everywhere, which makes teaching easy, and we are the only school in the area, so there is plenty of free space. Wind 10–15 knots, sometimes 20–25 and more. We follow the seasons: north-east at Chaloklum (Wattana Resort) from mid-November, side-on thermal south-east on Thong Sala from mid-December/January to mid-April/May, then west at The Pier from May to October.

The easiest route is to fly to Koh Samui, the island just opposite, then a single 30-minute boat crossing. Cheaper: fly to Surat Thani with AirAsia or Nok Air, then bus or taxi to Donsak pier and a 2.5-hour ferry. From Bangkok, Lomprayah runs a bus + speedboat combination (about 12 hours: Bangkok–Chumphon by bus, then Chumphon–Koh Tao–Koh Phangan by speedboat), or take the night train to Surat Thani station, a taxi or minivan to Donsak pier and the ferry — also about 12 hours. Once on Koh Phangan, take a taxi to the school at Slumber Party Hostel in Thong Sala.

Bring your own gear if you can — 12 m and 16 m kites are recommended. Rental equipment is available for the ride test if needed.

Cancellation less than 30 days before the course: the booking is non-refundable if the course takes place. Cancellation 30 days or more before the course: 20% is kept for logistics and administrative expenses, the rest is refunded.