Kitesurfing in Hurghada and El Gouna: a practical guide
Where to kite on the coast between Hurghada and El Gouna, how to get there from the airport, when the wind is strongest and how to combine a beach stay with a week on a kite safari.
Level: Beginner - improver
Hurghada or El Gouna? For kitesurfing in Hurghada and El Gouna you ride mainly from kite stations on shallow lagoons along the same stretch of coast, so the choice is more about where you want to stay. Pick El Gouna if you want restaurants, a marina and evening walks near the beach. Pick a station between Hurghada and El Gouna, such as Paradise in El Khayam, if you want your accommodation within walking distance of the lagoon and about 30 minutes from the airport.
The airport is in Hurghada, 5 km from the centre and about 25 km from El Gouna, so you can be on the water on the day you land. I kited in Hurghada in April 2023.
How kitesurfing in Hurghada and El Gouna works
Most kiting here is done from kite stations that sit on a lagoon (shallow water sheltered from the open sea) or a sheltered stretch of beach. You arrive, rent or store your gear at the station, set up your kite on the sand and ride in shallow water with the open sea further out.
Hurghada and El Gouna are separate places. Hurghada is the big resort city with the airport. El Gouna is a separate resort town about 20-25 km to the north, built on 20 islands surrounded by lagoons. Its name means "the Lagoon" in Egyptian Arabic.
The prevailing wind around Hurghada blows from the northwest, according to NASA POWER climate data. On a shallow lagoon you can usually stand up for a long way out, which makes self-rescue (getting yourself and your kite back to shore without help) and water starts (getting up on the board from the water) much easier.
Where to kite: lagoons and the coast between Hurghada and El Gouna
El Gouna
El Gouna specialises in watersports. It has around 10 km of coastline, several beaches including Mangroovy Beach, and the town's own website lists hotels with kitesurfing among their amenities. For kiteboarding in El Gouna, ask each station whether you ride on a lagoon or on the open sea, because conditions differ from beach to beach.
El Khayam: the Paradise station
Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea, run by Mohamed, whom I have known for years, has its kite station in El Khayam, a private residential complex between Hurghada and El Gouna. The station's website lists:
- about 30 minutes' drive from Hurghada airport
- a wide, shallow, warm lagoon with a sandy bottom
- stable wind blowing towards the shore at a slight angle
- deep water at the edge of the lagoon for hydrofoil riders (a hydrofoil is a board with a wing on a mast under it that lifts it above the water)
- the station is 50 m from the water
- a team of IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) instructors, with courses in English, German, Czech and Arabic
Onshore wind blows from the sea towards the beach; offshore wind blows from the beach out to sea. For learning, wind at a slight onshore angle is the comfortable option: if something goes wrong, you drift back towards the beach.
Hurghada town
Hurghada itself has a long coastline full of hotels and beaches. Before you kite from a hotel beach, check where the reef and the swimming zones are, and ask whether kiting is allowed there at all. For regular sessions, a dedicated kite station with a lagoon and a rescue boat is the safer option.
Getting there from Hurghada airport (HRG)
Hurghada International Airport (HRG) is the airport for both Hurghada and El Gouna. It lies inland, about 5 km southwest of the Hurghada city centre.
| From HRG to | Distance or time |
|---|---|
| Hurghada city centre | about 5 km |
| Paradise kite station, El Khayam | about 30 minutes by car |
| El Gouna | about 25 km |
Kite bags are bulky, so arrange your transfer before you land: through your hotel, your kite centre or a taxi with enough space for the board bag. If you book the kite safari, the airport-yacht-airport transfers are included.
You will also need a tourist visa. Czech and UK citizens, for example, can buy one on arrival at Hurghada airport or apply in advance through the official e-visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg. The safari organiser's 2026 price list gives 25 USD; according to UK government travel advice (gov.uk), the visa on arrival costs 30 USD, cash only, and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs dates the increase to 1 March 2026. Check the current conditions for your nationality before you fly.
When to go: wind through the year
Average wind around Hurghada follows a clear yearly pattern. The figures come from NASA POWER, a climate model that averages 2001-2025 on a grid of roughly 55 × 60 km. The numbers are relative: 100 is the windiest month, everything else is compared to it. They describe the overall pattern, not the wind you will measure on the beach, where local thermal wind is often stronger.
| Month | Relative wind (100 = windiest) |
|---|---|
| January | 75 |
| February | 76 |
| March | 81 |
| April | 80 |
| May | 82 |
| June | 94 |
| July | 92 |
| August | 100 |
| September | 100 |
| October | 84 |
| November | 72 |
| December | 74 |
June to September are the windiest months around Hurghada, November to February the calmest, and spring and October sit in between. If you are heavier or only bring smaller kites, the summer months give you the best odds. In winter, pack a bigger kite. For a month-by-month comparison with Dahab, Safaga and Marsa Alam, see when to kitesurf in Egypt, and if you are not sure which size to bring, try the kite size calculator.
What to expect from a kite centre
Before you book a kite centre in Hurghada or El Gouna, ask about:
- Instructors and certification. Are the instructors IKO-certified, and do you get an IKO certificate at the end of the course?
- Rescue. Is there a boat ready while people are on the water?
- Water and wind. Shallow, sandy water and wind at an onshore angle are what you want as a beginner. Freestylers and foil riders should ask where the deeper water starts.
- Language. Learning in your own language makes a real difference in the first hours.
- Storage and facilities. Gear storage, a compressor, showers and shade save a lot of energy over a week.
The Paradise station page lists a compressor, help with launching and landing, a rescue boat, gear storage, showers and toilets, shade, a bar and a restaurant. For more spots around the country, have a look at kite spots in Egypt.
Combining Hurghada with a week on a kite safari
Mohamed's kite safari departs from Hurghada, so you fly into the same airport for both. It is a week on a yacht in the Red Sea, 8 days and 7 nights, with airport-yacht-airport transfers included. The crew picks the spot by the wind, typically Geisum, Abu Minqar or Ashrafi.
How to combine it:
- Beach days first, then the safari. A few days at a lagoon station help you get back into rhythm, test your kite sizes and, if you are a beginner, get the first hours with an instructor done on flat water.
- Safari first, then beach days. After a week on the boat, a few slow days in El Gouna or Hurghada are a good buffer before the flight home.
What makes the safari a week of progress is the daily rhythm. According to the organiser's programme, days 2 to 6 have 2 sessions, morning and afternoon, on spots chosen by the wind forecast, with lunch on board in between, and day 7 has the last one. From day 3 to day 6 there is video coaching in the evening, a review of your riding on video.
If you can't ride on your own yet, start with a course on the coast. The safari gives the most to riders who already ride on their own after a course. There is also a 6-day beginner course on board (€600 with gear); Mohamed confirms how many instructors come along with your dates.
The flight to Hurghada is not included, so you book it yourself and can add beach days before or after. Marine park and marina fees and crew tips are paid on site; I confirm the current amount with your dates.
2026 departures: 11-18 April, 22-29 May, 10-17 October and 7-14 November. The 2027 dates have not been published yet. If you are already kiting in Hurghada or El Gouna and a departure is coming up, the enquiry goes through the same form. All details, including the cabin options and the enquiry form, are on the kite safari Egypt page, and what to expect on a kite safari walks you through a typical day on board.
Questions
Is Hurghada good for beginner kitesurfers?
Yes, if you pick a station with a shallow lagoon. The Paradise station in El Khayam, between Hurghada and El Gouna, has a wide, shallow, warm lagoon with a sandy bottom and wind blowing onshore at a slight angle.
How far is El Gouna from Hurghada airport?
El Gouna is about 25 km from Hurghada International Airport (HRG). The Paradise kite station in El Khayam is about a 30-minute drive from the airport.
What is the windiest time of year for kitesurfing in Hurghada?
According to NASA POWER climate data (2001-2025), June to September are the windiest months around Hurghada and November to February the calmest. The prevailing direction is northwest.
Do I need a visa for Egypt if I fly to Hurghada?
Czech and UK citizens, among others, need a tourist visa. You can buy it on arrival at Hurghada airport or apply in advance through the official e-visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg. UK government travel advice lists 30 USD in cash for the visa on arrival; the safari organiser's 2026 price list gives 25 USD.
Can I combine a holiday in Hurghada with a kite safari?
Yes. The Paradise Kitesurf safari runs 8 days and 7 nights and departs from Hurghada, with airport-yacht-airport transfers included, so a few extra days at a beach station before or after fit easily.
Sources
- El Gouna means 'the Lagoon', lies 20 km north of Hurghada, has 10 km of coastline, 20 islands surrounded by lagoons, is 25 km from Hurghada International Airport and specialises in watersports; beaches include Mangroovy Beach en.wikipedia.org (checked 16 October 2026)
- El Gouna is 25 km from Hurghada, has winding lagoons and lists hotels popular with kitesurfers www.elgouna.com (checked 16 October 2026)
- Hurghada International Airport (IATA HRG) lies inland, 5 km southwest of the Hurghada city centre en.wikipedia.org (checked 16 October 2026)
- Paradise kite station: El Khayam residential complex between Hurghada and El Gouna, half an hour's drive from Hurghada airport, wide shallow warm lagoon with sandy bottom, stable wind onshore at a slight angle, deep water at the lagoon edge for hydrofoil, station 50 m from the lagoon (Czech version of the site: 50 m from the sea); facilities include equipment storage, compressor, beach assistance with launching and landing, rescue boat, shower, toilets, shade, bar and restaurant paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- All accommodation offered by Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea is within walking distance of the lagoon paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- Paradise has a team of professional IKO instructors; owner Mohamed Mobarak Abas has been teaching kitesurfing since 2007 paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- Paradise kite courses are taught in English, German, Czech and Arabic; students receive an IKO certificate paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- Kite safari: 8 days / 7 nights from Hurghada, airport-yacht-airport transfers included; 2026 dates 11-18 April, 22-29 May, 10-17 October, 7-14 November; programme: morning and afternoon sessions on days 2-6, final session on day 7, video coaching in the evening on days 3-6; 6-day beginner course €600 including equipment; flights, tourist visa (25 USD in the price list), marine park fees and crew tips not included paradisekitesurf.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- MERRA-2 values are on a 1/2 x 5/8 degree global grid (roughly 55 x 60 km at the latitude of Hurghada) power.larc.nasa.gov (checked 16 October 2026)
- Monthly wind climatology at 10 m for Hurghada (MERRA-2, 2001-2025): windiest June-September, calmest November-February, prevailing direction 316-323 degrees power.larc.nasa.gov (checked 16 October 2026)
- Czech citizens need a visa for Egypt; tourist visa on arrival at Cairo, Hurghada and Marsa Alam airports costs 30 USD from 1 March 2026 (previously 25 USD); e-visa available online mzv.gov.cz (checked 16 October 2026)
- Visa on arrival at approved Egyptian airports costs 30 USD, cash only, valid up to 30 days; e-visa available in advance www.gov.uk (checked 16 October 2026)
- Official Egyptian e-visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg (checked 16 October 2026)
- Jana Hrabalová kited in Hurghada in April 2023 (video published 24 April 2023) youtu.be (checked 16 October 2026)