Kiting in Egypt

Hi all...

Anyone kited in Egypt?

If so, where, what time of year, and how was it etc?

Did you travel anywhere else in Egypt? Any advice or tips? Most things I read basically say don't go.... Hoping to hear some real world experiences.

Thanks

I was there in September, Kited in Soma bay and El gouna. I stayed longer in Soma bay which was fantastic, constant warm wind everyday and great lagoon spot at the 7bft kite house. A 12m and 9m would cover most days. The experience is similar to a kiting resort where there are facilities to store your gear, have it washed and packed for you if you wish and the staff are always there to help you launch and land. And being an offshore to side offshore spot there are numerous rescue boats available at a moments notice for all the beginners but the conditions aren't a problem if you're an experienced kiter. This specific kite house deals in Core kites and gear is readily available for hire. I found the staff and the vibe to be very friendly. Soma bay is a beautiful spot and has some incredible diving and snorkelling sites (look it up on youtube). We stayed at the Westin which was also a golf resort but accomodation options are numerous and if you can spare the extra coin I'd recommend the Robinson.

El gouna has a different vibe where you can stroll into the Marina at night and have dinner or a drink at one of the restaurants and bars. The kiting spot there is mostly side on shore but its a little reefy and gets affected by the tide a lot more than soma bay but prices at the kite houses are cheaper in comparison with soma bay. I've only ever kited at the Kite boarding club El Gouna and can recommend them. They are an F-One kites retailer but theres a Nobile and North retailers/kite houses along the same stretch of beach.

I think the kiting season is June to October and if you're there just for kiting and kicking back I'd just be flying into Hurgada and organising transport to your hotel. Cairo is busy and confusing but worth a visit if you're keen to do the touristy thing.

All in all I think Egypt's an ok holiday destination all things considered. It's just important to keep your wits about you and follow recommendations on lonely planet and similar guides, just like any other country you'd consider visiting really.

I live/work here currently, been here a little over a year. It's a great place to come kiting and an interesting place to travel but certainly not for everyone.

The best kiting places are south, way south, south of Marsa alam. Some fantastic flat water lagoons down that way but not a lot in the way of services, you go there to kite, fish, snorkel and dive...it's not a big tourist spot. I live in Marsa alam, we have a huge shallow lagoon that has cross shore winds most of the year. April to October is the best wind, September and October are the peak months. The rest of the year we get decent breezes a few times a week. The next couple of months are a bit iffy as we transition into the cooler months.

Hurghada is a great place to kite, Soma bay is ok...you go there if you want good flat water conditions but next to no social scene. It's expensive for Egypt, the hotels are pretty average, you have to pay for beach access but the water is pretty good. It's still pretty busy there even though tourism in Egypt is dead. I kited there once, i won't go back as it was just too dull and isolated.

El Gouna is great if you want good kiting conditions (not as flat as soma bay but the second lagoon is sweet), something to do at night, decent food (by Egyptian standards) and a reasonable cable park as backup for those non-windy days. I love El Gouna, it's my favorite place to go in Egypt. Safe, Easy to get around and has everything you need for a good time. Some great kiters here too.

Sharm and the northern areas are alright too but at the moment i'm staying away from the northern areas...little too much action up there for my liking.

Traveling here will keep you on your toes. You get harassed by touts, taxi drivers, shop keepers etc all the time, it gets old fast. They only started leaving me alone when i learned a bit of arabic. Everyone will try to rip you off, everyone will expect money from you...it sucks. That said there is some awesome stuff to see and most of the sights are quiet now cause people are staying away. I don't feel in danger at all when i'm traveling around the towns but you do have to keep your wits about you.

It's an interesting place, the kiting is great, the history is great, the sights are great and a lot of the people are great. The food is crap, the touts are annoying, constantly being ripped off gets old, it's not easy to get around and it's bloody hot during the summer....oh and they hate dogs here which really bugs me. I usually only spend 5 or so days in Egypt when I'm on break, that's enough for me (of course thats after being here for 40). Overall it's an alright place at the moment but it certainly feels like it could change at the drop of a hat.

I've spent 3 weeks in total during 2 trips to Egypt a few years ago. I've managed to kite about 2 hours altogether on my 12m at the time.

Been to El Tur for 1 week. Had 45 minutes of pumping the 12m in about 10-13kn winds. Luckily there was a rescue boat there too! The only time in my kiting endeavours that I needed a rescue boat! It was the first week of November 2008.
Been to Hurghada for 2 weeks and had about 1h 15min during that period after a 2 nights driving to/from Cairo. And about 40 degrees second half of September 2010.

Been to the pyramids and I'm happy to say I'm never going again anywhere near there.

A few of my friends go regularly and regularly have good kiting conditions.