Kite safari FAQ: 25 questions before you book

A kite safari is a week on a yacht in the Red Sea: 8 days, 7 nights from Hurghada, with the boat heading each day to whichever island has the wind. I've been on the safari Mohamed runs with Paradise Kitesurf several times and have known him for years. In the Paradise Kitesurf WhatsApp group and in guest reviews, people ask the same things before booking.

Prices and terms are from the Paradise Kitesurf 2026 price list. For a typical day on board, see kite safari Egypt: what to expect.

Who it's for

Is a kite safari only for experienced kiters?

No. Paradise takes beginners, intermediates and experienced riders, for freeride, freestyle or waves. Guest Jan Procházka wrote that he'd always thought kite safaris were for pros, but with shallows on the spots, everyone finds their level.

I think you get the most out of it once you ride on your own and want a week of morning and afternoon sessions without chasing the wind.

Can I learn to kitesurf from zero on a safari?

You can. There's a 6-day intensive beginner course on board for €600 including gear, taught in shallow lagoons with a sandy bottom, such as Abu Mungar. If you can, though, I'd suggest starting with a course on the coast and joining a safari once you ride on your own: you'll get far more out of the week.

In April 2024 we spent the first 2 days at Geisum with 8 beginners, and by the middle of day 2 they were all riding. The wind and the hours of lessons you already have make a big difference, though. More on those 2 days in kite safari for beginners.

How many beginners per instructor?

The Paradise website doesn't say, and for a beginner I think it's the most important question. Ask in your enquiry how many beginners are booked on your dates and how many instructors they'll have. A good course teaches safety, reading the wind and what to do when things go wrong, and that takes time with each person.

If your few hours of lessons are spread over several years, a refresher on board may be enough.

I'm travelling solo. Will I feel left out?

Meals are a shared buffet, and on day 1 you meet the crew and the other kiters. The €1,250 price is per person in a twin cabin; a cabin to yourself is on request, with no published price.

What will my non-kiting partner do all day?

Snorkelling, fishing and wakeboarding behind the boat are included, plus morning yoga. Diving (€50 for a 45-minute dive) and massage (€35 for 45 minutes) cost extra. You may see dolphins between islands. The beach camp has a tent, water, cold drinks and fruit, so a non-kiter isn't stuck on the boat.

If they get the bug, they can add a course on board. Paradise doesn't publish a non-kiter price, so ask in your enquiry. There's more in the guide to a kite safari for couples where only one kites.

Price and payment

How much does a kite safari cost in 2026?

€1,250 per person in a twin cabin for 8 days and 7 nights, all-inclusive. The price is the same for all 4 departures in 2026. The full breakdown is in how much a kite safari costs and what's included.

What's included in the price?

• air-conditioned cabin with fridge, toilet and shower
• 3 buffet meals a day, snacks, soft drinks and alcohol, Wi-Fi
• beach camp with a tent, water, cold drinks and fruit
• gear storage, compressor and pumps
• beach boys who pump up your gear and help you launch and land
• rescue boat, wakeboarding, fishing and snorkelling gear
• airport - yacht - airport transfers

How much extra should I budget?

• return flights to Hurghada
• tourist visa: $30 on arrival according to the UK government
• marine park and marina fees plus crew tips: €100-150, Mohamed confirms the exact amount with your dates
• travel insurance that covers kiting, which I wouldn't skip
• personal spending

Tawila is visited only by prior arrangement because landing costs a fee, and the amount isn't published, so ask in advance.

How much is a double-bed cabin or a suite?

A double-bed cabin is €100 per person extra and the TOP SEA VIEW suite with a double bed €200 per person, both for 2 people. On M/Y Hermes, the boat used on the latest departures, only 2 of the 12 cabins are suites, so ask about them early.

How do I pay, and what if I have to cancel?

A binding booking needs a 50% deposit, with the balance due 75 days before departure. Cancellation terms for 2026:

If your dates aren't certain, consider cancellation cover too.

How much are gear rental and lessons?

Wind, water and kiting

When is it windiest around Hurghada?

According to the NASA POWER model, Hurghada is windiest from June to September and calmest from November to February. The model calculates wind 10 m up for a grid square about 50 km wide, so it shows the yearly pattern, not your beach. Local thermal wind is often stronger.

For Tawila, Paradise quotes a steady 15-25 knots. Knots are the unit most kite forecasts use.

What if there's no wind?

Nobody can guarantee wind. The upside of a safari is that the boat picks the island by the forecast and moves to find wind. With no wind, snorkelling and wakeboarding are included and diving and massage cost extra.

How much kiting will I actually get?

Days 2 to 6 have a morning and an afternoon session, and day 7 a last session before heading back to port. The hours depend on the wind and your fitness. There are also downwinders between the islands, riding with the wind from one spot to the next, and evening video coaching on your riding.

Is it offshore wind? Is that safe?

Offshore means the wind blows from the shore out to sea, so if you crash and can't get back, it carries you away from land. Guest Jan Procházka noted that the spots are mostly offshore, which gives completely flat water and strong wind with few gusts.

That's why a rescue boat is included, the crew handles safety on the water and day 1 has a safety briefing on boat rules, kite zones and wind. Even so, I'd want everyone to know their quick release, which fully depowers the kite in an emergency and leaves you attached only by the leash. Self-rescue, packing the kite down in the water, is worth learning too, but in offshore wind it won't bring you back to shore: IKO says to stay with your inflated kite and wait for the rescue boat.

What's the seabed like, and do I need water shoes?

Tawila and Abu Mungar have shallow water with a sandy bottom, while Geisum mixes shallow and deeper water. Gubal has deeper water and coral reefs, and the boat goes there only when the group wants to dive. I'd pack water shoes: a sharp shell or a bit of coral can turn up even off a sandy beach. The rest is in what to pack for a kite safari.

Will the spots be crowded?

Usually not. Paradise lists Geisum among the least crowded spots, and Ashrafi is the most remote island. Radek Klement wrote of plenty of room to ride and no crowds. All the islands are on the kite spot map too.

Which kites should I bring?

If you ride your own gear, bring the smaller and bigger kite you use most at home, and check 15 and 25 knots, the range Paradise gives for Tawila, in the kite size calculator. Around Hurghada in April 2023 I rode an Ozone Catalyst 16 m² and a Kitech FreeRS 12 m².

Life on board

What are the cabins like?

Every cabin has air conditioning, a fridge, its own toilet and shower. The latest departures ran on M/Y Hermes, 36 m long with 3 decks and 12 cabins. The boat is chartered and confirmed with the dates, so ask which one you'll be on. On deck there's a sun terrace, a jacuzzi and a bar.

What's the food like, and is it OK for vegetarians?

Meals are 3 buffets a day with snacks in between, plus evening BBQs on the boat or the beach. Daniela Kohnová wrote in her review that the cooking was excellent and that vegetarians would be well looked after too. Put any other diet or allergy straight into your enquiry.

Will I get seasick?

The boat mostly moves in the morning to an island picked by the wind and then anchors, so you spend most of the day on the water or the beach. If ferries get to you, bring tablets you know work and sit out on deck during the crossing.

Is there Wi-Fi? Can I work from the boat?

Wi-Fi is included. I can't promise its speed off a remote island, so if you need to work online, ask before you book.

Are the evenings lively or quiet?

Both. The programme has room for a party on deck or a quiet evening, with BBQ and music, and Radek Klement wrote that they often ended up under the stars. If you go to bed early, pack earplugs.

Getting there and dates

How do I get to the boat?

You book your own flights to Hurghada; airport-yacht transfers both ways are included. Day 1 is arrival in the afternoon or evening, the last night (day 7) is on the boat or in a Hurghada hotel, and day 8 is breakfast and the airport transfer. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival. The visa is sold at a kiosk before passport control, cash only, or you can get an e-visa online in advance.

When will the 2027 dates be out?

They haven't been published yet. In 2026 the trips ran 11-18 April, 22-29 May, 10-17 October, and the last one is 7-14 November 2026. On the kite safari page you can sign up to hear when Mohamed releases the 2027 dates and ask about free spots in November. Once they're out, they'll also be in kite safari dates 2027.