Kitesurfing needs three things: flat water to launch and land in, steady wind, and enough open space that you are not dodging swimmers. Sharm El Sheikh has all three, which is why it has become one of the more reliable places in the region to learn.

Where people kitesurf

Nabq Bay, at the northern end of the resort, is the main spot. The bay has a long shallow shelf, so the water stays waist-deep a long way out, and that is exactly what a beginner needs. The wind comes across the water rather than off the land, which keeps it steady. South of Nabq, the coastline around Naama Bay and Sharks Bay is busier with hotels and swimmers, and kitesurfing there is confined to specific areas during set hours.

When to go

The wind season runs from around March to November. Spring and autumn are the most consistent, with the strongest and steadiest wind typically in the spring. Summer afternoons can be very hot on the water, so many schools run sessions early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Winter is quieter and cooler, with lighter and less predictable wind.

Learning

Several schools operate in Nabq, offering courses from a first two-hour taster session up to a multi-day course. A beginner course normally covers kite handling on the beach, body dragging in the water, and the first attempts at getting up on the board. Most people need three to five days of lessons before they can stay up and ride, though it varies a lot. Schools rent out equipment once you are at a level where that is sensible, and most sell or rent wetsuits, harnesses and helmets.

Safety, honestly

Kitesurfing is a sport where the first day is the most dangerous, because the kite has real power and a beginner has not yet learned to release it. Lessons exist mainly to teach you how to handle that. If you are learning, do it with an instructor; if you are renting, be honest with the school about your level. Check the lines and the release system before you launch, wear a helmet and a buoyancy aid in the early stages, and stay clear of the swimming areas and the reef.

What else is here

Sharm is not only a kitesurfing destination, and most people who come for the wind spend some of the week on the water and some of it elsewhere. The reefs at Ras Mohamed and Tiran are worth a day each, and the desert trips inland are a change of pace when the wind drops.

Practical notes

  • Nabq is about twenty minutes north of Naama Bay, and most schools will arrange transfers.
  • Bring or buy a rash vest and board shorts; the water is warm but you will be in it for hours.
  • Reef shoes are useful for the shore entries where there is coral rubble.
  • Book lessons before you arrive in the high season, when the good schools fill up.

Read more about the area in our guide to Sharm El Sheikh.