Egypt offers numerous places for adventure and entertainment, whether they are archaeological or coastal sites, with many recreational activities. Seize the opportunity to try the original sport of the desert.
Sand-boarding is the sport also known as Sand-surfing or Dune-surfing because in contrast to its water or snow counterparts, you will be sliding down sand dunes that consist of soft sand. You can practice it in the Egyptian desert where sand dunes are abundant.
Sandboarding is a sport similar to snowboarding, which you can practice using sliding boards. The areas for sandboarding in Egypt are numerous and varied due to the vast expanses of sand dunes. This article's main goal is to provide every traveler with all the information and facts about the best places to go sandboarding in Egypt.
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The History of Sandboarding
The sport has its origin in ancient Egypt, where people used wood planks to slide down the dunes and transport heavy cargo. Nowadays, it is considered an extreme sport with many passionate followers and there are even competitions about it.
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This article was written by a group of the finest tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who know the ideal places to go sandboarding.
Best Times to Visit Egypt for Sandboarding
The winter season is one of the most famous seasons in which you can set off on a safari trip to the desert areas and enjoy many recreational activities such as the sport of sandboarding. The best times to practice sandboarding are from November to March or mid-April, as the temperature is suitable for the desert areas.
Egypt is also a country where rainfall is rare, so the temperature may change during the day, being moderate in the daytime and you feel a pleasant chill at night. There is no doubt about enjoying this trip.
Before you set off on a safari trip to practice sandboarding, you should take some important instructions and tips to ensure you enjoy the trip. Do you want to experience the sport of sandboarding on the sand dunes?
Egypt is the first and best destination for anyone who wants to go on a trip to the desert and practice sandboarding.
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Top Sandboarding Locations in Egypt
The best places to go Sand Boarding in Egypt are truly magical, offering every traveler the chance to explore some of the best sandboarding places in Egypt. The magical land of Egypt is full of gentle and hard sand dunes that allow adventurers of all ages to enjoy the best sandboarding excursions and raise their level of adrenaline. There are lots of magnificent activities to do in Egypt that can be enjoyed across the legendary sand dunes of Egypt while spending a cultural or recreational vacation.
Desert Adventures Egypt (Sand Boarding Event)
1. Great Sea of Sand in Siwa Oasis
In order to enjoy an ultimate sandboarding experience while being in Egypt, you should definitely head to the fascinating Great Sea of Sand near Siwa oasis in the Western Desert as the mystique of the Great Sand Sea is known to be a vast and captivating desert spanning approximately 650 km from north to south and 300 km from east to west.
The Great Sand Sea is a geographical marvel with a unique pattern of long sand ridges running in a north-south direction. Two large areas within this sea of sand exhibit different types of Megadunes, adding an element of intrigue to its seemingly uniform terrain. Stretching parallel to Libya's Calanshio Sand Sea, it encompasses 10% of the Egyptian Western Desert, thus creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
Siwa Oasis is an epic gem of enchantment found about 50 km east of the Libyan border located in the eastern part of the Great Sand Sea. This oasis is known to the Tuareg and Sahara-traversing traders and is a haven for explorers seeking the extraordinary, like thrilling sandboarding. It is considered the best dune surfing location all around the world because of its smooth & steep dunes.
Adventurous travelers flock to Siwa Oasis to immerse themselves in the grandeur of ancient sand dunes and explore historical treasures like the Temple of Alexander the Great, the Mountain of the Dead, Cleopatra's Bath, and more.
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2. Yellow Dunes Between Dahab and St. Catherine
This is with no doubt, St. Catherine Monastery is one of the most magnificent adventure tours in Egypt as you will be able to visit some of the most glorious sites and attractions in Egypt in addition to getting the best chance to enjoy a magical sandboarding tour on the yellow beautiful dunes that lie between the amazing city of Dahab and the outstanding Monastery of Saint Catherine.
The exhilarating journey from the vibrant city of Sharm El Sheikh to the iconic St. The golden sands of the sun-kissed desert will shed light on a panorama of mountains, oases, hills, and plains that provide a vivid picture of the peninsula's diverse beauty.
Everyone will get to explore the rich history of St. Catherine's Monastery, an incredible testament to the enduring spirit of Christianity constructed between 527 and 565 A.D. The legendary Burning Bush, where God is said to have spoken to Moses, is found in the monastery, the 6th-century Basilica of the Transfiguration, and the captivating Icon Gallery.
The significance of Mt. Sinai is high due to the rise of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
3. Bahariya Oasis
The beautiful dunes in Bahariya Oasis are the right place if you intend to enjoy sandboarding at that destination; you need to start saving your money now. Your starting points will be the beautiful White Desert and Black Desert, then head to Bahariya Oasis, and there, you will find yourself surrounded by the charming golden sand that offers the ultimate chance for an excellent sandboarding excursion.
You will be surrounded by captivating hills like Maghrafa, Dist Mountain, and the beautiful Ghurabi. Once a Pharaonic agricultural hub strategically positioned on the Libya-Nile Valley caravan routes, Bahariya has risen to prominence on the tourist map for all travelers who wish to sandboard across epic wonders like the Ghurd al-Ghurabi which is home to one of the world's longest wandering dunes.
All will head south to the mysterious Black Desert, where small volcanic hills paint the landscape in dark hues, creating a surreal and captivating scene. Everyone will get to discover Crystal Mountain, which is an enormous mass glistening with sparkling quartz crystals, and the grand English Mountain. Everyone will enjoy the sight of marvelous panoramic views of the oasis and beyond.
The magnificent Gebel al-Dist is a great pyramid-shaped form milestone, and there is also the Greco-Roman wonder of the Valley of Golden Mummies. Everyone will experience the serene beauty of a salt lake called Marun, renowned for stunning sunsets and as a vital stopover for migratory birds.
Bahariya Oasis unveils a set of wonders made of archaeological marvels, surreal landscapes, and cultural treasures, thus inviting everyone to explore the secrets of Egypt's Western Desert in a thrilling and unforgettable odyssey.
4. Wadi El Rayan in Fayoum
Wadi El Rayan is one of the most famous places located in the Fayoum Oasis. The Fayoum Oasis includes several tourist attractions, among them the Wadi El Rayan area, which is a nature reserve located there, bordered on the sides by two lakes and waterfalls.
Wadi El Rayan is not merely a destination; it's a living mixture of history, geography, and biodiversity, thus inviting sandboards and intrepid souls to uncover the secrets of its ancient past and flourishing present. Everyone can spend a day out of the ordinary with their family and friends in Egypt by heading to the Egyptian desert and rolling on the beautiful dunes. You can enjoy sandboarding all year in Egypt since sand doesn’t melt like snow.
This oasis of awe encompasses 113 km2 of serene lakes, and everyone will get to behold the majesty of waterfalls cascading between these lakes, creating a symphony of nature's grandeur with the colossal sand dunes of Egypt.
Wadi El Rayan in Fayoum
5. Qattaniya Sand Dunes
Qattaniya sand dunes are found in the eastern desert of Egypt, just near Qattaniya town, 80 kilometers (km) outside of Cairo. This magnificent place will offer the most thrilling adrenaline rush in the form of an epic Sandboarding adventure across all the beautiful marvels located in the heart of the Sahara. The area is filled with a number of mesmerizing landscapes of infinite sandy expanses.
The Qattaniya area is loaded with highly unique formations and impressive heights, which makes it the perfect playground for sandboarding.
Sandboarding in Wadi Rum
What makes Wadi Rum one of the best locations to sand surf is the fact that it is filled with a number of both large sand dunes that allow the more adventurous to achieve greater speed and smaller ones that are more beginner friendly. Nevertheless, the most important factor that makes Sand-boarding in Wadi Rum unique and very safe is the soft, grainy sand that fills its dunes.
Tips and Instructions
Before you set off on a safari trip to practice sandboarding, you should take some important instructions and tips to ensure you enjoy the trip. First-time visitors are initially trained on how to stand on the “board” and not to be afraid to fall, especially since the softness of the sand does not cause any effects in the event of a fall.
Additional Activities
The activities are not limited to just sandboarding, but you can also practice water skiing. You can also practice mountain climbing, especially in the city of Saint Catherine, which is famous for its mountain ranges. You can also camp if you are a camping enthusiast, and ride a felucca in the upper and lower saltwater lakes. You can also climb the Mudawara mountains there and watch the natural scenery from them.
If you are looking for a different adventure far from the noise of the cities, you should go to Siwa Oasis to enjoy the natural landscapes, sand dunes, and the salt pools found there. You can also practice sandboarding on its sands, as it has been ranked among the top 9 most isolated and remote areas in the world. Siwa Oasis is the number one tourist destination due to its many tourist attractions such as the Shali Fortress, Cleopatra’s Spring, and Fatnas Island. It is also one of the most famous places or oases where the sport of sandboarding is practiced, as vast areas of sand extend in Siwa Oasis, such as the Great Sand Sea.
Sandboarding Tour Example
Golden Luxor Tours offers a private half day tour of sand boarding in the Nubian desert, tranquil the river up to the first cataract, snap unbeatable photos at sunset, find your balance on sand boarding and make your way up the hill in magical spot where you enjoy your sand activity on that dazzling atmosphere. this sport has followers all over the world, especially in desert areas and coastal areas that contain coastal sand dunes. it is also practiced worldwide, with locations available on every continent except Antarctica.
Included
- Pick up and drop off service from your hotel/Nile cruise.
- Private English speaking Egyptologist tour guide
- Entrance Fees
- All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
- All service charges & taxes
Excluded
- Tipping
- Any extra expenses
Itinerary
Sandboarding in Egypt, AswanGolden Luxor Tours representative will company you to start your adventure on the Nubian desert seeking the dock where you take a motorboat for 20 -30 minutes sailing up the river through the beautiful islands and the protected areas to the Nubian desert where you start your sand boarding experience. Swap the snow for the sand, Our tour guide will stop you in a unique location where your foot will dip the softest sand ever!
Sand Skiing in Fayoum
Fayoum is one of the Egyptian provinces that combines Egypt’s natural characteristics, with a salt lake, Lake Qarun, fresh lakes in the Al Rayyan Valley, as well as agricultural and mountainous areas, which were called Micro Egypt.
In recent years, sand skiing has seen a high demand from sports fans both inside and outside the province and other countries, especially with factors that help camping, staying in the reserve or organizing one-day trips.
The area of the dunes of Wadi Al Rayyan has become one of the most famous areas where sand skiing is organized, including “Magic Lake” and “Palaces of the Arabs”, and the sand in the dunes is so soft that some roll from top to bottom without any tools after the smoothness of the sand.
The heights in wadi al-Rayyan’s dunes range from 8 to 50 meters, while skiing runs for tens of meters across longitudinal slopes. Choosing the place to sand ski depends on the heights on the sand dunes and the preference of the guests and if it includes children or is limited to adults.
Skiing in the enchanted lake is particularly special because it has sand skiing and swimming in its waters, and is the highest height for sand dunes, with some points about 40 meters.
The enchanted or magic lake is named after it because its waters change colors, according to sunlight. The longer areas of ski distances are the “Palaces of the Arabs and Samuel”, where some Bedouin dinners are organized at the regiment’s request.
The area is characterized by many attractions, including “Whale Valley, Round Mountain, Lakes, Mt.
Dahab Sandboarding Experience
Ever wanted to try Sandboarding? From Dahab, you’ll drive in the direction of St. Catherine for about 1.5 hours. Now, besides the fact that you’d probably not find your way in the desert, you also shouldn’t go by yourself because your car won’t make it out alive. The road is very shaky and rocky, so if you’ve had problems with sea sickness before, or driving in general, you might want to take a pill against motion sickness before you leave the main road.
Your driver might stop to collect some little wood branches to make a fire later. You can make a stop there and climb up the sandy rock that has a hole in it. When you finally arrive, soak in the beautiful view for a couple minutes and then YALLA - grab your boards and sliiiiide down!
The only thing that is really, really annoying is that once you’re down, you obviously have to walk back up again and that’s REAL work!!! In fact, it’s so hard (especially under Sinai’s hot sun), that I only did like 4 runs and that enough workout for me. You’ll have to leave at least 1.5 hours before sunset because you can’t drive through the desert in the dark, so try not to leave too late in the morning. The whole trip will cost about 25€, and I think you’ll have to be a group of four at least.
You see, doing any activities in Sinai is extremely cheap. I can really only recommend doing as much of these bucket list items as you can while you’re in Egypt because you won’t get it cheaper anywhere else in the world, and the Sinai Peninsula is unbelievably beautiful and has so many different activities to offer, in the desert as well as in the Red Sea.
Explore More of Egypt
If you’re traveling to Egypt, be sure you make the most of your trip by reading my other articles.
- Best Times To Visit Egypt
- Traditional Egyptian Food
- 10 Reasons Everyone Should Visit Egypt At Least Once
- Guide to Hot Air Ballooning In Luxor
- Pyramids of Giza, Egypt - Why You Need To Visit NOW
- 5 Must-See Places in Cairo, Egypt
- 5 Mind-Blowing Secret Beaches in Egypt
- Sharm El-Sheikh: Diving Guide For Scuba Lovers
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- 45+ Fun Things To Do In Hurghada, Egypt
- Hurghada Snorkeling Guide
- Scuba Diving Guide to El Gouna
- Ultimate Guide to St. Catherine, Sinai
- Climbing Mount Sinai - 8 Things You Need To Know Before
- 89 Things To Do in Dahab, Egypt
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