Egypt is an ideal destination for kitesurfers, especially around the Red Sea, where there are plenty of spots accessible to all levels to start a session. From April to October, the sirocco is in full force, the water is flat, the sun is at its peak, everything is gathered to make a break for holidays and kitesurfing at 5 hours by plane from France. And hop! Here’s an overview of the best places for an exceptional moment of surfing.
El Gouna, a kitesurfer’s paradise
Seaside resort considered as the first ecological city of the country, El Gouna, built on the edge of the Gulf of Suez, extends along the Red Sea for more than 10 kilometres. Its name comes from the canals (gouna in Arabic) dug in the arid land to reach the islets. Designed on the model of the Palm Islands in Dubai, the divine blue lagoons snake between the buildings for which everything has been thought out with the idea of preserving the drinking water resource. This water is recycled to water the plants and the golf course, for example.
With a regular side-on wind, the safest wind direction for kitesurfing, as it automatically brings the kitesurfer back to the beach, shallow water over several hundred meters, the spot of El Gouna, the largest lagoon in the Red Sea, is the number one place for kitesurfing for amateurs as well as for those who want to improve their skills and learn new manoeuvres. Kitesurfers will particularly appreciate the top sailing conditions with a north-westerly wind turning slightly at noon and reinforced by a thermal effect from April to November. And to relax between two waterstarts, the temperatures reach 37 degrees in the middle of summer.
Safaga, skiing for all levels
Just 45 minutes from Hurghada airport, Safaga Bay offers optimal sailing conditions with a steady offshore wind from the land to the ocean in the morning and a side-shore wind parallel to the beach in the afternoon. From spring to late autumn, winds can reach 6/7 on the Beaufort scale. Thanks to its turquoise water, which is slightly choppy offshore and shallow on the shore, Safaga is easy to learn and offers unparalleled gliding sensations. However, beware of the presence of coral, and it is preferable to include slippers in your equipment. As for the stay, the town, spared from mass tourism, offers a peaceful setting for fans of water sports or those who want to venture into the nearby desert.
Soma Bay, the ideal spot
This is a private bay with a number of luxury hotels, two of which are specially dedicated to divers and kite surfers. On the programme, breathtaking views of the mountains, golf, thalassotherapy and kitesurfing galore on one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. Soma Bay is a windy spot with a rare consistency and is suitable for all levels of surfers. At high tide, the water is shallow for about 200 metres wide. At low tide, the water is deeper, but the plane remains flat.
Zaafarana, away from the tourist flow
An oasis lost in the desert, Zaafarana is located 2 hours from the capital Cairo. This large space where few people move around makes Zaafarana a quiet place to practice one’s passion: kitesurfing. All the conditions are there to improve one’s level: ultra flat and shallow lagoon, side-shore wind, i.e. parallel to the beach on one side or the other. On the other hand, there is not much to see or do (apart from kiting all day) and the town is not known for the quality of its hotels.
For advice and practical information, check the FFVL or Fédération Française de Vol Libre website regularly. It is constantly updated to provide relevant news to amateurs.
Before flying to Egypt, the KGG kitesurfing school in Hyères in the Var department founded by Greg and Colin offers beginner and advanced lessons for adults and children in groups or individually. Independent kiters can be dropped off at sea off the beach of Almanarre to kite thoroughly and safely under the supervision of an instructor.