Kite trip in Egypt – on the road with Anne

After taking a break from kitesurfing due to injury and her last pregnancy, Anne is finally back on the water! She’s fit again, turned her back on the Nordic winter/spring, and traveled for KiteWorldWide. Read how she enjoyed her days in Seahorse Bay on her kite trip to Egypt and everything she experienced there.

At last, it was back to a KiteWorldWide destination in Egypt. With the promise of warm sunshine and sand underfoot, Anne’s expectations were surpassed with plenty of wind. More on that later.

Anne knows the spot in Seahorse Bay from 2012. She had to laugh—so much has changed over the years. All for the better, of course.
If, like Anne, you plan your kite trip to Egypt in Seahorse Bay, you’ll now find more rooms than back then—there are 11 in total. There’s a pool to cool off in summer after or between kite sessions, and a sauna that relaxes your muscles after kiting in winter. Anne also loved the sun loungers on the terrace overlooking the sea. Seahorse Bay has become a green oasis, with blossoming trees and flowers—a great contrast at the edge of the desert.

What also stands out is the organization of the kite club—quite European, yet with Egyptian flair. For example, the kitchen runs efficiently, so you don’t have to wait long for your food. No need to worry about germs either: in Seahorse Bay, tap water is filtered. So ice and salads are fine. Eggs and meat are also safe to enjoy. The food and dishes in Seahorse Bay are incredibly tasty and super varied, Anne raves. You just end up eating too much. And if you can’t resist the Snickers in the fridge, they’re always restocked. The risk of flying home heavier, despite plenty of kiting, is pretty high.

Anne hit the right place at the right time. From day one the wind was so good she started out on a 10 m² kite. At times she used a 12, and after a few days the wind picked up so much that even a 6 was enough. In Seahorse Bay, the wind starts around 10 a.m., so you can plan to be on the water from after breakfast until sunset. During Anne’s stay, sunset and moonrise were even visible at the same time.

For beginners, the spot is just perfect. The lagoon is extensive and shallow, guaranteeing fast progress. There was a cool group there at the same time as Anne—everyone in great spirits. The kite beginners managed their first meters on the board by day two or three, which boosted the vibe even more.

In the morning, Anne checked the wind from the terrace at the all-round spot right out front, then grabbed her gear and walked just a few minutes to the beach to set up. The spot is tide-dependent, but even at low tide there’s enough water in the so-called pool. In the start/landing area, if you walk about 500 m out, there’s only sand underfoot. After that comes a strip with coral or stones, which you’ll already kite over as you tack out. If you kite all the way to the reef, you might even catch a roughly 1 m wave, Anne reveals. The blue lagoon in front of Seahorse Bay is vast and you can roam wherever you like. And here’s what’s really special: the number of kiters in Seahorse Bay is capped at just 25!

For those who need a break from kiting—or don’t kite at all—there are organized excursions. For example, a day trip to El Gouna: an artificial city, very clean and very touristy, with many restaurants and bars around the marina. El Gouna is almost entirely hotels, from large golf resorts to smaller boutique hotels. With various price ranges, everyone finds what they want. Anne says it’s nice to see El Gouna and this man-made world—but just as nice to return to Seahorse Bay, where you’ll find less hustle and a family-style kite life.

There’s also plenty beyond kiting to discover. You can take a day trip to Luxor. Go hiking in the mountains in the morning or ride in the desert in the afternoon—both are easy. If you love action, a quad tour through the desert is ideal. Or let a camel carry you through the area. If you don’t want to turn your back on boardsports, hit the wake park in El Gouna, or grab an SUP at Seahorse Bay and paddle out to the reef. Best to take snorkel gear to spot the many big and small fish underwater. Or join one of the boat-based snorkel trips. The choice is yours—what you do, and when.