Surfing in Egypt: Beginner Tips for an Unforgettable Adventure

Nov 06, 2025 0

Egypt, known for its millenia-old history and the phenomenal monuments sitting on the fertile Nile River Valley, including the colossal Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, also has some fun waves breaking on the north coast. The city of Alexandria, located just 5 hours north of the capital Cairo, has great conditions and is where surfing first got popular in the country. Whether you're planning to hit the waves of the Red Sea or explore the Mediterranean coast, this guide provides essential tips and insights for beginners looking to surf in Egypt.

Why Egypt for Surfing?

Egypt offers a unique blend of cultural exploration and thrilling watersports. While it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of surfing, Egypt has several advantages:

Beginner-Friendly Waves: The waves are friendly and good for beginners and intermediates, but on epic days can be perfect for advanced surfers.
Low Crowds: The best part of surfing in Egypt is the low crowds and the extremely friendly community that loves to share waves with anyone that is keen for a paddle.
Consistent Wind: Egypt is one of few places that offers year-round wind.
Affordable Travel: Egypt is only a short 4-hour flight from Europe, making it a quick and easy getaway destination for European travelers.
Rich Culture: Other than kiteboarding Egypt offers so much more. Take a tour into the interior to explore the ancient pharaoh tombs and magnificent monuments.

Best Time to Surf in Egypt

The peak surfing season is during summer when all the beaches get busy with people coming from the big cities, but the best and most consistent time of the year is definitely in winter, from December to March. Regarding the surf, winter is always the most consistent time of the year.

The climate in Egypt can vary depending on the region. Along the north coast the climate is Mediterranean with a very mild winter (December to March) and hot and dry summer (June to September). Winter is the only time of the year when moderate to weak rainfall can happen. In inland areas the climate is desertic.

Top Surf Spots in Egypt

Here are some of the best places to catch waves in Egypt:

Alexandria: The city of Alexandria located just 5 hours up north from the capital Cairo has great conditions and is where surfing first got popular in the country. Alexandria is famous for housing the world's first library, which just happens to have one of Egypt's best rock-anchored beachbreaks directly in front of it.
Agami: The coastal city of Agami, near Alexandria, was the epicenter of the surf community but now the attention shifted to the coastline around Sahel.
Sahel: Apparently there are good spots all over Sahel and Hacienda is probably the best.
Marsa Matrouh: Surprisingly, plenty of Cairo and Alexandria surfers make the 300km trek out to Marsah Matruh for the extra size and power of the waves on the western extremity of our Egypt region. West of Marsah Matruh the barren, rocky coastline faces north and picks up swell onto scrappy reefs and a few potential lefts but nothing as protected as Agiba.
Agiba Cove: Past Marsa Matruh is Agiba Cove, a perfect left that breaks over shallow and sharp reef.

Essential Tips for Beginner Surfers

If surfing is something you’ve always been interested in but didn’t know where to start or who to surf with, Surf Camp Egypt is the perfect opportunity for you. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Take a Surf Course: Now with the course that we’re offering, we give people an advantage because they get to learn what we learned over years in just a small course, and then they can take off on their own.
Safety First: Prior to embarking on your surfing expedition in the Red Sea, ensure that you have the appropriate surfing equipment and attire.
Respect the Sea: Respecting the power of the sea and staying attuned to weather conditions is paramount for surfing safety in the Red Sea. Pay attention to local weather forecasts, wind patterns, and wave behavior to anticipate any potential changes in surf conditions.
Stay Informed: Prior to heading out to the waves, it’s essential to stay informed about the local surfing conditions in the Red Sea. Keep abreast of real-time wave forecasts, tide information, and potential hazards such as coral reefs or rock formations that may affect your surfing experience.
Get the Right Gear: The water temperatures in the Mediterranea Sea can be low during this time of the year, around 18°C (64°F) so make sure to pack a 3/2 wetsuit.

Surf Camp Egypt: A Beginner's Paradise

If you haven’t heard about it already, it’s a friendly, passionate community in which you learn how to get started on a surfboard and savor the waves of Sahel’s Hacienda.

The course entails four sessions:

Safety
Pop Up
Exercises on surfboard (how to sit on the board, how to swerve, how to paddle, and how to stand on flat water)
Instructor pushing student on a wave to make lessons more practical
How to catch a wave on your own
Surfing with supervision of instructor

You can buy one online and it’s not that expensive compared to kite surfing equipment.

Kite and Wind Surfing in Egypt

Both kitesurfing and windsurfing are quite new to Egypt, but they fit naturally with the long, windy coastlines of both the Red Sea and Sinai Peninsula. For now, the three main centers of the sport are Safaga, Gouna, and Dahab.

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GounaMangroovy Beach, a little to the north of town, offers first-class facilities on a beach that combines a long, shallow walkout for beginners and some big waves farther out for experts, all within a 5-minute tok-tok ride of Gouna's great hotels, bars, and restaurants. Egypt is an amazing kiteboarding destination which is just a short 4 hour flight from Europe. You will find amazing flat water lagoons and wave spots as well as breathtaking nature on land and underwater. Egypt is known for its steady windy through the whole year and is one of the most well known destinations for beginners in the world!

The wind blows through the whole year though the most consistent months are April through October. The summer months are warm and a wetsuit is not needed, a shorty is recommended in the in the spring and fall and a long 3/2mm in the winter. Egypt offers kite camps for all levels from beginner to advanced.

Joining a kite cruise is an amazing way to experience all the amazing spots throughout the Red Sea. Charter a private sailing yacht or book out a room on a motor cruise exploring deserted islands, kiting amazing flat water lagoons, glassy waves and amazing downwinders. A kite cruise in Egypt is affordable and easy accessible.

Travel Information

Here’s some essential travel information to help you plan your surfing trip to Egypt:

Category	Information
Tourists	11,196,000
Population	102,334,404
Currency	Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Exchange Rate	$1 USD = 5.7 EGP (as of the provided data)
Cost of Living	A falafel sandwich costs around $2.50 USD. Midrange meals in restaurants start at $5 USD.
Language	Arabic (official), English and French widely understood, Masri.
Visas	Currently most nationalities can get a visa on arrival but It's advisable to check the latest visa policy before arriving.
Getting There	Although there are flights to Alexandria (ALY), most flights will go to Cairo (CAI). It’s a 3h drive from Cairo to Alex.
Communication	Vodafone is probably the best choice. Sim cards can be purchased at official shops, airports and malls.

Remember to check the forecast about a week before your trip to understand the wave conditions and pack accordingly. World Nomads offers great travel insurance packages that cover surfing. It’s also recommended to have vaccinations for hepatitis A & B, yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, meningitis, polio, Tdap, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, influenza, measles, mumps, and rubella.

Read also: Surfing in Casablanca

Emergency Number: 122

With its unique blend of culture, history, and emerging surf scene, Egypt offers an unforgettable adventure for beginner surfers. Prepare for an experience that combines the thrill of riding waves with the wonders of ancient civilization.