The wind sports community is dedicated to a life of travel and adventure. It’s a collection of people who base their free time on the conditions of the sun, wind, and water—those who have become master chameleons, always knowing how to adapt. These are the types of individuals, full of passion and enthusiasm for life, that resonate with us at Habitas. 

Located in Dakhla, Morocco, at the gateway to the Sahara, our newest home Caravan Dakhla sits on the shores of Dakhla Lagoon, a world-class kitesurfing spot known for its consistent winds and crystal blue waters. In 2022, Habitas was drawn in by the natural landscapes and inspired to stay by the passionate wind sports athletes that are making an ever-changing impact on Dakhla as a global destination.

From its inception, the stand-out mission of our home in Dakhla was to expand on the existing kitesurfing scene, offering a new type of hotel to the region and bringing the Habitas sense of place to locals and visitors alike. After connecting with Naish team rider and ambassador Paula Rosales and, subsequently, Naish, our dream of opening a kitesurfing school became possible, with the result culminating in Naish Kite House at Caravan Dakhla. 

To dive deeper into the world of wind sports and our new kite school, we sat down with 24-time Windsurfing World Champion and Naish brand owner Robby Naish to talk more about the story of Naish, the values reflected in the wind sports community and the endless possibilities of Naish Kite House.

Born in California and raised in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, Robby Naish grew up with a deep love for the ocean. After taking up windsurfing in the 70s, his father started building custom boards in their garage to feed his passion. Robby tells us, “The ethos of Naish has always been about riding. The fun. Making the gear—and if someone wanted to buy it, great. The business side was secondary. We made things because we wanted to go play in the wind and waves.”

Eventually, the home shop would move to a warehouse, and from a warehouse, it would transform into a proper custom board business and retail store for windsurfers: Naish Sails Hawaii. By 1999, the family business was an established company expanding into the new world of kitesurfing, becoming the first brand to make inflatable kites.

Today, Naish is an innovative leader in the production and sales of sailboards, sails, kitesurfing equipment, stand-up paddle boards, hydrofoils, foilboards, and wing-surfers. But after decades of professional success, Robby sold the Naish operating company to Dutch-based Kubus Sports in 2023, staying on as the brand owner and ambassador. 

Part of Robby’s shift of focus centers on his ability to invest more time and energy in the fun of marketing, as well as “bringing together like-minded people in a new destination through sport,” with the perfect example being Naish’s collaboration with Caravan Dakhla. 

When passion and shared values spearhead initiatives, a special kind of magic occurs, creating unlimited opportunities for connection and growth. As far as Habitas and Naish go, Robby tells us that the two brands share immensely similar visions, “We both believe in taking advantage of our free time in the best way possible, going on [vacations centered around] sport, having a healthy lifestyle, [cultivating] a mind-body-spirit connection, going on adventures, and surrounding yourself with like-minded people.” 

Since its opening in December 2022, Naish Kite House has been fully operated by Caravan Dakhla, with all kitesurfing equipment provided by Naish. The school has built a team of experienced coaches enthusiastic about the sport and destination, offering a variety of classes and experiences for all levels of riders.  

However, Naish Kite House truly stands apart because of its exceptional year-round programming, including instructional clinics and camps led by visiting Naish pro-riders and opinion leaders. This means that our Habitas guests from around the world have the opportunity to learn from their wealth of knowledge while further nurturing a lifestyle that speaks to the people they are and want to be. 

In the not-too-distant future, Robby believes the school and its program will play an essential role in Dakhla’s continued transformation as a unique destination, one that is “exclusive and uncrowded” but with “the potential to draw people in,”—a balance that often walks a fine line in the development of tourism. 

With both brands invested in sustainable growth and improving lives through the power of nature, Robby hopes to see Naish and Habitas grow alongside each other, embarking on new projects that contribute to an evolved tourism.  He tells us, “Travelers want more than just the bricks and mortar hotel, [which means that] adventure and sports tourism is more important than ever. People are going to be making their travel plans based on many different things they used to do a generation ago.”  

Together, Naish and Habitas will plant seeds and watch how they grow.

Discover Caravan Dakhla