Clear shallows at Al Ahyaa, kites beyond the pier. — Photo: edykbo

Clear shallow lagoon water and moored boats off a jetty. — Photo: Almondox

A jetty over the lagoon at Al Ahyaa. — Photo: Almondox

Sunset over the hotels along the Al Ahyaa shore. — Photo: Tehribo

Egypt

Sep · 88% rideable

Hurghada

What it's actually like

Kiters get warm, flat, knee to waist deep water over sand, with a reef outside and a beach crew to help you launch. The side-onshore wind sends you home, May to October, and September is the pick.

Marhaba, that is Egyptian Arabic for hello. Al Ahyaa is the lagoon on the north side of Hurghada, on the road to El Gouna. You get turquoise water you can stand in for hundreds of metres, a reef outside holding the open sea back, and a row of kite centres along the sand. Warm, flat and forgiving, it is a kind place to get up on a board for the first time.

The wind comes from the north to north-north-west, side-onshore from the left as you face the water, so it brings you home. The season runs May to October, most often 15 to 25 knots, with the odd day of 30 to 35 for the advanced crew. Mornings start lighter and it fills in towards midday. September is the pick, June and August sit close behind, and July dips. Winter is lighter and more changeable, with only about half the days in November and December reaching 12 knots for three hours.

A session starts on the sand in front of your centre. The beach crew helps you launch. You wade in knee to waist deep and you are away, on flat water or a small chop depending on the wind and the tide. When the tide drops, pools appear and the lagoon goes glassy, so watch for the really shallow patches. Shells, stones and a little coral lie in places, so wear neoprene shoes. Freestylers head for the deeper pool to throw tricks.

Wingers and foilers love it too. The shallow sand is forgiving for the first wobbles, and the deeper water at the edge of the lagoon is where foilers ride without worrying about touching down. Check the depth before you foil. Wing foil lessons run at Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea, and Kite Marine hires wings at the Bellagio Beach Resort.

Rules and safety. Almost every centre on the lagoon runs its own paid launch area. A flotation vest is mandatory, and you stay within the area designated for the activity and shown on the map. Decree No. 4419 of 2025 declares the Great Coral Reef in the Red Sea a marine protected area. This lagoon may lie inside it, and no local kite rule is written down, so treat all coral here as protected. Do not stand on or ride over coral, and ask before you ride anywhere else.

The vibe is sleepy, and that is the charm. The Seahorse Bay club takes about 25 kiters, the lagoon is wide, and it is less crowded than other Hurghada spots. When you want a party, El Gouna is about 10 km up the road. Otherwise most of the restaurants are in the hotels, and it is an early night before the next sesh.

Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea runs a rescue boat on standby, and Kite School Egypt hires kit to riders who can stay upwind and self-rescue. Pack a long 3 to 5 mm wetsuit from November to April, a shorty in late spring and autumn, and shorts and a lycra in July and August. The water runs from about 20°C in February and March to about 29°C in late summer. August on the beach is seriously hot, so bring a hat.

September is the pick: the sea is warm, the wind is back after July, and the lagoon is glassy at low tide, so it is the month to book. On a 15 to 25 knot day a 75 kg rider is on a 9 to 10 m kite, with 12 m on the lighter days. Wear your shoes and keep inside your zone.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelBody dragger
Knee to waist deep and flat, so you can stand up after a crash.
WaterMillpond to small chop
The reef holds the open sea out, so the lagoon stays flat to small chop.
LaunchMind your feet
Rig on the sand at your centre; the beach crew helps you launch.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 27 °C in September: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsLively
16 bars and 29 places to eat within 5 km: plenty for after the session.
Cost€80 a day, kite, board and harness, Kite School Egypt
€80 a day for kite, board and harness at Kite School Egypt.

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Hazard

Al Ahyaa lagoon, centre beaches

Sandy centre beaches along the lagoon near the AMC Royal hotel and Palma Resort.

For kite, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Seahorse Bay

The kite club's own beach, next to the Golden Beach hotel.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

Getting there

Nearest airportHurghada (HRG). Land at Hurghada and you are 20 to 30 minutes from the sand; the centres arrange transfers, so there is no lift to sort.
Getting aroundTransfer or taxi. The centres line the Hurghada to El Gouna road, and El Gouna is a short ride when you want an evening out.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Ibi and Friends Kiteclub Seahorse Bay

Rooms right at the kite club, a few steps from the lagoon, so you walk from bed to the water.

Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea

Studios to six-person apartments within walking distance of the lagoon, arranged by the school, so a group of mates can share one place.

AMC Royal Hotel & Spa

Big beachfront hotel on the Al Ahyaa lagoon, right by Kite School Egypt, with Paradise Kitesurf a short walk along the sand.

Book on Booking.com

Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pocket Guide

Hurghada, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Hurghada

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Al Ahyaa lagoon, centre beaches

Seahorse Bay

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Ibi and Friends Kiteclub Seahorse Bay

Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea

AMC Royal Hotel & Spa

Golden Beach Resort

Bellagio Beach Resort & Spa

Three Corners Sunny Beach Resort

Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea

Kite School Egypt

Ibi and Friends Kiteclub Seahorse Bay

Kite Marine

Kite Lagoon Hurghada

Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea

Kite School Egypt

Ibi and Friends Kiteclub Seahorse Bay

Kite Marine

Kite Lagoon Hurghada

Hurghada, in your pocket

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