Kitesurfing in Egypt: El Gouna, Soma Bay, Dahab and Ras Sudr Compared

Is Egypt good for kitesurfing?

Yes: a thermal-boosted northerly wind funnels down the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea for much of the year, and shallow, flat lagoons inside the reef make it an excellent place to learn. The wind is driven by the pressure difference between the Mediterranean and the hot interior, and it is reinforced by daytime heating over the desert, so it tends to build through the morning and is usually strongest in the afternoon.

For Australian and New Zealand kiters used to the Perth sea breeze or the chop of Port Phillip, the attraction is consistency and warm, flat water. Most kite centres are run to European standards with certified instructors, rescue boats and radio helmets, and you can combine a week on the water with the pyramids and a Nile cruise, which is more than most kite destinations can offer.

There are two coasts to choose from. The mainland Red Sea coast, from El Gouna down to Safaga and beyond, has the most centres and resorts. Sinai offers Dahab's lagoon on the Gulf of Aqaba, and Ras Sudr on the Gulf of Suez, the closest kite spot to Cairo.

When is the wind best?

The most reliable season is roughly April to October, when the wind blows most days, often 15–25 knots; winter has fewer windy days but some strong, gusty fronts.

• March to May: wind becoming more consistent, warm air and water warming to about 24°C. A good all-round time to learn.
• June to September: the windiest and hottest period on most of the coast, with water at 27–29°C. Experienced riders love it; beginners may find some afternoons too strong.
• October and November: still good wind on many days, pleasant air temperatures and fewer crowds than the European summer.
• December to February: more variable, with calm spells broken by strong northerly blows. Water drops to about 21–23°C, so bring a 4/3 mm wetsuit.

The seasons are the reverse of home, so a kite trip in the Australian winter catches Egypt's strongest wind. Statistics vary between spots and years, so build in a few spare days if wind is the point of the trip.

El Gouna and Hurghada

El Gouna is the best all-round kite base in Egypt, with several centres, flat water inside the reef and a real town for evenings off the water. Kite centres sit on the beaches on El Gouna's northern edge, around Mangroovy Beach, where a wide, shallow area of standing-depth water makes the first days of a course far less stressful. The wind is typically side-onshore, and most centres use a rescue boat and radio helmets.

Non-kiting partners have plenty to do: lagoon-side restaurants, Abu Tig Marina, boat trips to the reefs and golf. Our El Gouna guide covers the town, and our El Gouna vs Hurghada comparison helps if you are torn. Hurghada itself has kite centres along its resort strip, but the beaches are busier and the water around some hotels is deeper, so it is better for riders who already have independent skills.

Soma Bay, Safaga and the deep south

Soma Bay and Safaga, about 45–60 km south of Hurghada, are quieter and often windier than El Gouna, with long flat-water sessions for intermediate and advanced riders. Soma Bay is a peninsula of a few large resorts, and its kite centres work the wide flats on the bay's sheltered side; see our Soma Bay guide. It suits riders who want to stay put in a resort and kite every day. Safaga, just south, is a working port with a few resorts and a long tradition of windsurfing.

Far to the south, near Hamata and the Wadi el-Gemal protected area, the Wadi Lahami lagoon has small kite camps in a remote setting of mangroves and desert. It is for riders who want wind and solitude and don't mind long transfers: it is roughly 1.5–2 hours south of Marsa Alam town.

Dahab and Ras Sudr

Dahab's Laguna is a relaxed, sociable kite spot with flat water in a sandy bay, while Ras Sudr is the windiest spot in Egypt and the closest to Cairo. In Dahab, the Laguna at the southern end of town is shallow and sheltered, with kite and windsurf centres along its beach; outside the lagoon, the wind and waves on the open Gulf of Aqaba suit advanced riders. Dahab's mix of cheap guesthouses, cafes and diving makes it ideal for a longer, independent stay.

Ras Sudr sits on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Suez, roughly 200 km and two and a half hours by road from Cairo via the Suez Canal tunnel. The wind is famously strong and frequent, the water is shallow and flat for hundreds of metres, and the coast is lined with a handful of kite resorts rather than a town. Cairo residents use it for weekend sessions. It is in Sinai, and travel advice differs for different parts of the peninsula, so check the current Smartraveller advice for the specific area before booking.

Learning to kitesurf in Egypt

A beginner course of about 9–12 hours, spread over three to five days, gets most fit adults riding short distances; El Gouna, Soma Bay and Dahab's Laguna are the easiest places to start. Courses follow international systems such as IKO or VDWS, and on completion you receive a card that lets you rent equipment elsewhere.

• Day 1: wind theory, safety systems, flying a trainer kite and then a full kite on the beach.
• Days 2–3: body-dragging in the water, self-rescue and board recovery.
• Days 3–5: water starts and first rides, usually with a radio helmet so the instructor can coach you.

Ask whether the centre teaches in standing-depth water, how many students share an instructor (one or two is ideal), whether a rescue boat is on the water, and whether a course hour means hours with a kite in your hands. Wear booties if there is any reef or shells. Check that your travel insurance covers kitesurfing, which many policies treat as an adventure activity.

Indicatively, at the time of writing a beginner course costs roughly AUD 450–800 and equipment rental for experienced riders roughly AUD 400–700 a week. These are typical market ranges, not quotes.

Which kite spot should you choose?

Learners and couples should choose El Gouna; resort-lovers who already ride, Soma Bay; independent travellers who also want to dive, Dahab; and wind-hungry experts with a car from Cairo, Ras Sudr. If you are combining kiting with sightseeing, the mainland coast is easier: El Gouna and Soma Bay are about four hours by road from Luxor, so a Nile cruise can flow straight into a week on the water. Dahab is a flight from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh and a drive of about an hour and a half.

Bring your own harness, wetsuit and booties if you have them; boards and kites are easy to rent, and airline fees for kite bags add up on the long haul via the Gulf. We can book the course, the hotel next to the kite centre and the transfers, then add the sights on either side.