Pitched along the stunning Egyptian Red Sea coastline, El Gouna has evolved from a small development project in the late 1980s into one of the world’s best kitesurfing and wingfoiling destinations. This purpose-built resort town, located just 30 minutes north of Hurghada, offers something truly precious to wind lovers – just the right blend of windy-as-heck, pee-warm ocean, large shallow lagoons, and a vibrant international community that makes everyone feel pretty special.
But what makes El Gouna such a popular choice for kitesurf and wingfoil? It’s not just the consistent ‘windy’, or the super-clear blue ocean where you can literally get creeped out by your own shadow – it’s this awesome infrastructure of the weist-deep lagoons, stretching over 10 kilometres of its coastline. Epic, huh?
For any beginner taking up kiteboarding lessons, this is a dream come true. But for us all, it creates multiple riding spots suitable for any skill and any level. Now it all starts making sense why El Gouna is slowly reaching into everyone’s bucket list of the best kiteboarding spots all year round.
Wind season and weather conditions
The Red Sea’s geographical position creates some of the most reliable wind sports conditions, and El Gouna comfortably sits just in the middle of it all. The thermal winds here are generated by the temperature difference between the boiling desert and the cooler sea. This creates quite a unique, yet predictable combo that wingfoilers and kitesurfers from all parts of the world flock here to froth over almost all year-round.
You probably already know that with any wind sport, you need to be ready for all sorts of conditions. Bring everything but the kitchen sink, meaning literally; bring as many kite sizes as you can pack as renting could get quite pricey. I have an arsenal of 8m, 10m and 12m and usually use them all throughout the week.
Peak kitesurfing season (March to November)
The prime wingfoil and kitesurf season in El Gouna runs typically from March through November, with wind typically ranging anywhere from 15 to 25 knots. You can expect steady side-shore to cross-onshore winds in this season. During the summer months of June through September, the winds can easily exceed whopping 20 knots, and wind probability reaches an impressive 80%.
The wind typically builds up throughout the morning, with optimal conditions starting to peak around 11 AM. This predictable routine allows you to plan your day perfectly. Enough time for a breakky, then hitting the water for an early afternoon, all the way till the wind stops howling at sunset, and back to the deck just in time for a sundowner. Happy days.
The thermal winds in El Gouna offer remarkable consistency in both strength and direction. Unlike gusty inland spots or variable coastal locations, the steady side-shore winds here create predictable conditions that instructors can rely on. This consistency means that lessons are rarely cancelled, and students can build on their skills day after day without dealing with radically different conditions.
Winter kitesurfing season (December to February)
While the winter wind season can have fewer windy days, the average wind probability still remains at about 70%, and it’s usually the strongest wind of the year. During the winter kitesurfing season, the wind packs a punch, often reaching 25+ knots. The trade-off is cooler air temperatures of about 16 to 20°C, and water temperatures dropping down to around 19-21°C. This calls for a wettie. Typically, a 4/3mm full wetsuit will keep you nice and comfy all day long.
Water and air temperatures
One of El Gouna’s biggest draws is its warm climate. During the summer months, from May to October, water temperatures hover between 25 °C and 30 °C. Air temperatures during these summer months will range from 25°C to about 35°C, though the constant breeze will keep you nice and cool. Even in the hottest peak of summer, when inland temperatures can soar above 40°C, the cool breeze still makes things a little more pleasant.
This chart below shows the average wind speeds in knots throughout the year.
Average Yearly Wind Speeds at El Gouna, Red Sea, Egypt in Knots
- January:
- 15 knots
- February:
- 16 knots
- March:
- 17 knots
- April:
- 18 knots
- May:
- 19 knots
- June:
- 21 knots
- July:
- 20 knots
- August:
- 20 knots
- September:
- 19 knots
- October:
- 18 knots
- November:
- 16 knots
- December:
- 15 knots
| Month | Average Wind Speed (knots) |
|---|---|
| January | 15 |
| February | 16 |
| March | 17 |
| April | 18 |
| May | 19 |
| June | 21 |
| July | 20 |
| August | 20 |
| September | 19 |
| October | 18 |
| November | 16 |
| December | 15 |
The local kitesurfing spots in El Gouna. The Stations.
Kite Stations Overview: Let’s find you the perfect launch spot.
When it comes to the individual kitesurfing spots in El Gouna, you’ll get to experience quite a different setup from what you’re normally used to. All kitesurfers, wingfoilers or windsurfers basically stick to a designated area called the Kite Station, which usually comes with an entry fee or storage fee. Unless you’re taking kitesurfing lessons or renting equipment, you have to pay to use the beach.
Now, before you say it, yes, this may sound annoying at first, and you may ask, Who the hell owns the beach to then charge you a fee to access it. But actually, if you bite the bullet and pay the €13 – €20 per day, depending on which Station you’re at, I can guarantee that the next day, you’ll happily come and pay again.
The fee covers all the services each station offers, launching, landing, use of compressors and storage, so you don’t have to carry your precious gear around El Gouna. Some kite stations even provide rescue. It makes the whole riding experience much better. The beach can get pretty busy, and especially for the beginners still feeling a little shaky on the board, this is priceless, just for peace of mind that the big brother is always watching.
So, let’s dive in and check out each area and its Kite Stations in detail.
North Mangroovy Beach Stations
Element Beach
Great kite spot that benefits from its strategic position. The wind here often records speeds 2 knots stronger than stations further south. Perfect kite spot on marginal wind days when other locations might struggle. The lagoon has minimal underwater hazards. Almost zero rock in the riding area, and it maintains good water depth even at low tide.
The Element Watersports kitesurfing centre, which initially sat just next to Riah Kite Academy has now moved to Somabay.
Riah Kite Academy
Right on the Element beach is El Gouna’s largest kite station, Riah Kite Academy. This kitesurfing centre has established itself as a comprehensive water sports hub. The station offers an impressive 1,500 metres stretch of shallow water with no reef hazards, making it the dream spot for any beginner. But what’s really cool about Riah is the water depth consistency. The lagoon maintains sufficient water depth during both high and low tides, which is of course a significant advantage over some other kite spots.
This wingfoil & kite centre has invested heavily in creating a complete lifestyle experience. Beyond the water sports facilities, you’ll find a well-equipped hands-on-deck digital nomad workspace, beach volleyball courts and chill zones you can easily spend a whole day in. And there’s, of course, the regular sunset BBQ to bring the community together and share the space in peace and harmony.
Makani Beach Club
Open 365 days a year, Makani Beach Club has positioned itself as the top-notch location for riders seeking a more exclusive experience. As a VDWS-approved kite centre, the centre maintains high teaching standards while offering the latest Duotone equipment for both rental, wing and kitesurfing lessons. The lagoon at this kite spot has waist-deep water that extends quite far from the shore, making it a perfect beginner-friendly spot.
Makani means ‘my place’ in Arabic and ‘wind’ in Hawaiian. Not sure how the name came about, but the centre is all about the “Healthy Lifestyle” philosophy. Kitesurfing together with wellness activities, yoga sessions, spinning classes, Hot Iron workouts on the beach, and whatnot. The restaurant focuses on healthy, energising meals with extensive vegan options, and the massage pavilion provides the perfect way to recover after an intense session on the water. This wasn’t an ad, by the way.
KitePower El Gouna
Pitched at the northernmost point of the Mangroovy area, KitePower offers a little different experience. Due to the position and exposed location, KitePower really stands for its name with much more powerful winds. The station has built a reputation for spacious riding areas and less crowded conditions, which makes this spot popular with intermediate and advanced riders who value space for uninterrupted runs.
Mangroovy Beach Stations
KBC Kiteboarding Club
KBC has earned multiple TripAdvisor awards for a good reason. This F-One-equipped centre creates a genuine community vibe. The station has a whole arsenal of facilities, including gear washing stations, 24/7 early bird storage for dawn sessions, and multiple chill-out areas.
A minor drawback could just be that the KBC spot gets a little too shallow during low tides. While perfectly manageable, of course, the lagoon area remains rideable, but the overall riding area obviously shrinks compared to high tide conditions. Just don’t crash into the reef at low tide, as you will plough through hundreds of sea urchins.
Red Sea Zone
While in El Gouna, you will probably hear a mention of a ‘Polish Station’. Red Sea Zone has carved out its niche as one of the very first and only Polish-owned and operated kiteboarding schools in El Gouna. Well, while this is most likely no longer the case, the instructors here bring a different teaching methodology, often appealing to Eastern European kitesurfers who appreciate lessons in their native languages.
Zeytouna Beach Stations
Kite Family
Kite Family takes a sweet spot in the middle of El Gouna’s kite beaches, balancing the busier northern stations and the quieter southern kiteboarding spots. The riding area here provides excellent flat water conditions with just enough space to avoid the crowds that can accumulate at more popular stations.
Southern Stations
KitePeople at Mövenpick Resort & Spa
Operating from the Mövenpick Resort beach, Kite People offers the ultimate convenience for guests staying at the hotel, just 200 metres from the room to the water. But even the walk-ins and outsiders appreciate this station for its versatility. This kite spot provides easy access to shallow lagoons for beginners, and deeper water for those a bit more confident.
The station organises regular boat trips for downwinders and excursions to remote spots, adding variety to the typical lagoon riding. Kite People’s position also offers slightly different wind angles compared to northern stations. And that could be a game-changer in certain wind directions.
Osmosis Kiteboarding at Club Paradisio
The southernmost major station, Osmosis, offers something unique among all the kiteboarding spots in El Gouna – occasional waves. When conditions align (strong wind and high tide), small surfable waves start forming here, making it the only “wave spot” in El Gouna.
Osmosis spot offers not just one, but two spots. Just outside the station, you get to ride the deep water bit. Then pass the deep end, riding further down, you reach the peaceful shallow lagoon. No poking coral, no rock hazards – just safe riding, even during low tide.
The deeper end is popular amongst foilers and wingfoilers. Quite often, turtles and dolphins take a surf between the beach and the offshore sandbar. If you ever get bored with the flat water that dominates all other kiteboarding spots in El Gouna, then this may just be an awesome, action-packed arvo idea.
Other Red Sea Kitesurfing spots beyond El Gouna
While El Gouna offers an incredible variety, the Red Sea region provides several other world-class kitesurfing destinations worth considering for extended trips or return visits:
Soma Bay
Located 45 minutes south of El Gouna, Soma Bay offers stronger, more consistent winds and completely flat water in its famous speed strip. The spot attracts serious riders and hosts international competitions.
Safaga
This kite spot provides powerful winds and more challenging conditions. The combination of stronger winds and some shore break makes it better suited to intermediate and advanced riders.
Hamata
Far south near the Sudanese border, Hamata offers pristine, uncrowded conditions with excellent wind statistics. The remote location means fewer amenities, but provides a more adventurous experience. Checkout this other guide for kitesurfing in Hamata.
Ras Sudr
On the Sinai Peninsula’s western coast, Ras Sudr delivers different conditions with side-offshore winds and vast sandy beaches. The spot particularly suits independent riders comfortable with stronger winds.
Other questions you may have
Do I need insurance to kitesurf in El Gouna?
Yes, if you’re renting your kitesurfing gear, you’ll need liability insurance. To rent your equipment, you’ll need to show proof of your ability with a certificate and liability insurance. If you are an IKO or VDWS member, this shouldn’t be an issue since your membership should provide your liability insurance, but otherwise, make sure you have the right insurance that fully covers you for kitesurfing. All kite stations require liability insurance, with most accepting standard travel insurance that covers kitesurfing. Some stations sell day passes for those without coverage, but this could get quite pricey.
There is a choice of insurance providers these days, but do yourself a favour and read the small print, as some providers may mention water sports, but this doesn’t necessarily mean kitesurfing.
I have used World Nomads on several occasions and luckily never had an issue, but those who had and had to make a claim only confirmed it was smooth sailing
What are the most beginner-friendly kiteboarding spots in El Gouna?
In fact, most kiteboarding spots in El Gouna are beginner-friendly, and it would be quite a challenge to find another location that matches them, but there are a few that hold the top podium positions.
Makani Beach Club and Riah Kite Academy in the North Mangroovy area are the most popular amongst beginners for the space and consistent water depths. This area stretches for an impressive 1500 meters, so it always feels less busy than other spots. Water is standing at a depth, which is a huge plus. We all know how frustrating and exhausting it is to swim back or body drag yourself back to your lost board. And how many tries did it take you to finally keep the board on?
El Gouna’s reputation as one of the world’s best locations to learn to kitesurf and wingfoil is just hard to beat. It’s the combination of physical conditions and the infrastructure that makes your dream kite holiday.
The weist-deep lagoons are a huge advantage. Standing depth extends hundreds of metres from shore in many areas. The sandy bottom throughout most riding areas means falls are relatively soft, and the absence of sharp coral or rocks in beginner zones removes another common concern. The water clarity also helps – being able to see the bottom provides psychological comfort and helps students judge their speed and distance from obstacles.
Does El Gouna provide good riding conditions for advanced kitesurfers & wingfoilers?
Yes, absolutely. While El Gouna’s reputation mainly centres around the beginner-friendly conditions, those with more experience under their belts will also find plenty to keep them on their toes.
Few stations have installed obstacles, sliders and kickers in their lagoons. KBC and Element Watersports are particularly well-equipped for wakestyle riding.
For those seeking more challenging conditions, several stations organise boat trips to offshore sandbanks and islands. These trips, particularly popular from Osmosis and Kite People, access spots with different characteristics – deeper water, occasional swell, and pristine, uncrowded conditions. The famous “Tawila Island” trip offers a full day of kiting, combining multiple spots with various riding conditions.
How to get to El Gouna?
Getting to El Gouna is quite easy from anywhere in the world you may be. Many flight operators offer relatively cheap flights to Hurgharda International Airport. I won’t go into too much detail about getting to El Gouna; you can figure that out on your own, but to get the best price on your flights, I recommend checking out Skyscanner.
Why Skyscanner? Because it compares hundreds of flight operators to give you the lowest price. And the best part? You don’t pay any extra commission. The price you see is the price you get when booking directly with the flight operator. There’s even a filter, so you can remove Ryanair from your search 🙂 Anyway, check it out here.
How to get around El Gouna?
Honestly, El Gouna doesn’t really feel like you’re in the real Egypt since everything here is just too different to any other place you’d usually visit in Egypt. This place is made to cater for tourists mainly. But the unique layout, as a purpose-built resort town, makes the transportation around town pretty straightforward. The ubiquitous tuk-tuks provide cheap and convenient transport between accommodations and kite stations.
Many people rent bicycles for the duration of their stay, as the flat terrain and dedicated paths make cycling pleasant even in the heat. Some kite stations even offer shuttle services from major hotels, although these may often require advance booking.
While El Gouna is generally very safe, watch out for the odd scammer and pick-pocket, and keep in mind the notorious “El Gouna belly”. And I’m not referring to the belly dancing right now 🙂
No-Wind Activities
While wind consistency is excellent here, every kitesurfer knows the importance of having a plan B.
Let’s check it out. Here are some things to do in El Gouna when the wind drops:
Wakeboarding
The cable park at Sliders Cable Park offers an excellent board alternative when the wind doesn’t blow. The facility has many obstacles for advanced riders as well as a separate area for beginners.
Diving & Snorkelling
The Red Sea’s world-class diving is easily accessible from El Gouna, and the reefs are pretty spectacular if you ask me. Daily boats depart to sites like Abu Nuhas (the “ship graveyard”) and the pristine reefs of the Giftun Islands. The clear waters and abundant marine life make even snorkelling from the beach rewarding. Regardless of the wind, Snorkelling or diving should be on your things to do in El Gouna list anyway.
Stand-Up Paddle
Most kite stations rent SUP boards. The calm morning conditions before the wind builds are just perfect for exploring these lagoons. The mangrove areas north of town offer particularly interesting SUP tours, with opportunities to spot various bird species and marine life.
Checkout the desert
When you need a complete change of scenery, the Eastern Desert offers quad biking, dune buggy tours, and traditional Bedouin dinner experiences.
Cultural Excursions: If you are looking for a cultural trip, then unfortunately, you won’t find it in El Gouna. You’ll have to venture a bit further and go on a day trip, but hey, that could be fun too. Day trips to Luxor’s ancient temples and tombs are a great day trip option for those non-windy days. Do it, you’re in Egypt.
