People have asked us about a cheap, easily reachable kitetravel destination for beginners. El Gouna, Hurghada and other typical Egyptian spots have not been interesting for us because we do not want to offer any crowded destinations with overfilled kitespots. We were as well looking for a “bed to board” spot with accommodations close to the beach, without an annoying Tuk-Tuk drive.

Philipp, our kiteinstructor in Kenia, worked in Zaafarana at the Ibi & Friends station and recommended his former activity area. We have been excited and convinced when we visited the site and want to offer you a great kite spot with perfect conditions for beginners and advanced kitesurfers.

Zaafarana is located at the Gulf of Suez, 240 km northeast of Hurghada and 210 km south of Kairo. A magnificent, endless, pure sandy beach and shallow water offer perfect conditions for kitesurfers in every level of experience. The shallow water at high or low tide is always in a depth to kite and even to start directly at the beach.

It is topped with the professional kitestation of Ibi & Friends, pioneers of kitesurfing in Egypt and operator of 5 stations at the Red Sea.

In 2009 the station was in the media through the trade meeting of F-One, and the following video clip has been produced:

More wind, stronger Wind, more space, more relaxation and more fun at this new topspot. Many surfcenters  claim to be at the best „wind place” of Egypt. We actually wanted to be definetly there, so we asked the professionals about it. The „Windatlas of Egypt“ which is done by international energy supply companies which are responsible for wind installations publishes scientific measurements. We had a look around and discovered where the wind is blowing very strongly and most of all.

ZAAFARANA is the magic word! Dream-like, never-ending fine sandbeach and shallow water offers the perfect conditions for everyone. The shallow water is always deep enough to start with Kitesurfing and Windsurfing directly from the beach.

We never have less than around 50 cm water inside the lagoon, most of the time even more. The shallow water and empty beach offers a large variety on nearly 2 km length. Deep water, shallow water, small lagoons, long speedtrips and others, each Surfer can have fun on the water and has enough space for his jumps and manoeuvres. After 400 m shallow water you enter the open see and you will find choppy waves. No coral reef, no stones, no dangers in the water and just shallow, light green water with 100% sandy ground gives you a very protected feeling.

The constant wind coming left sideshore from North is blowing with an average of 10,2 m/s (5-6 Bft.) in the year.

The Ibi & friends  Windsurf & Kite surf Center is located inside Royal Zaafarana Hotel directly at the left side of the beach only a few meters away from the water and only a few steps away from the hotel rooms. After the breakfast you are in 3 minutes at the beach between all windsurfers and kiters. Even for the lunch break you don't have to use a shuttle - in Zaafaranayou are directly at the beach.

Our center at this new top spot offers everything you need to enjoy your surfing holidays:

Windsurf & Kite surf rental, lessons and storage, professional and experienced team and an international atmosphere.

A special store room offers all possibilities to store your private windsurf or kite surf equipment safely. As storage of your kite equipment is not allowed inside the whole hotel area and out of security reasons all Wind & Kite surfers are obliged to register at our Center, use our Service package and will get storage, spot information, all service the center is providing, launch and relaunch and security with this package.

In front of our center you will find a big area with enough space to prepare your equipment and directly start your day on the water. For the kiters there the compressor is waiting to work. And than just 10 meters to he water and the ride can start!

Safety is guaranteed through our safety boat. The Centre provides as well a hot-water-shower and toilets directly beside the office. At the beach you find a sweet water shower.

In our big office our team is doing Check-In and Check-out for you and as well you will find a surf shop with the latest Surf fashion like bikinis, shorts, T-shirts & lycras for men & women and surf accessories like shoes, harnesses, gloves and many more from famous companies.

For relaxation in the surf-free times you can spend your time in our big Chill-out, use our satellite internet connection (EURO 25,- per week, EURO 3,- per day) by WLAN, take a look at our library with magazines and books, play card games, Volleyball, Backgammon, Chess and others.

If you want to take a break from windsurfing or kitesurfing you can go on a trip to Hurghada or Cairo or visit St.Pauls and St.Anthonys monasteries. Whatever you would like to do we can organize it for you – directly at our centre.

The accomodation possibilities or rather the 3* Royal Zaafarana Hotel

The Royal Zaafarana offers rooms with aircondition, terrace/ balcony, sat-TV. Besides that a small fitness room, Pool, Billiard, Beach Bar and much more.

Built 10 years ago it was closed a few time and just opened again around 2 years ago. Since this it is getting renovated part by part. Coming here the first time you might get confused as it was build as a 5* luxury hotel for over 700 guests. Now, only one part of the complex is open to a maximum of 80 people, mostly kitesurfers. 

Most of the guests in the hotel are windsurfer and kiters from Ibi&Friends, but also some pilgrims from Cairo and all over the world staying sometimes in the hotel to visit the nearby monasteries St. Pauls and St Antony. So we have a multi-cultural public in the hotel.

The hotel is situated 210 km South of Cairo and 240 km North of Hurghada in the middle of the desert. Who expects a big city or infrastructure, will get disappointed. Here you are far away from mass tourism, noise and consumption, but in the middle of a beautiful pure nature, peace without end, and no crowds. Therefore we need to abstain shopping trips, discos and bars, but the spot itself and the nice social athmosphere between the kiters and windsurfers at the centre is compensating all this!

In the hotel you find a small shop for cigarettes, chocolate and candy bars and some small souvenirs. Also there is an animation team, shisha corner, fitness room and sauna.

Please note that all extra payments in the hotel and at the center have to be paid in cash; there is no possibility of credit card payment. The next cash machine is in Ain Sokhna (45km far from Zaafarana).

You can come either from Hurghada or Cairo. We recommend a flight to Cairo as the transfer from there is more interesting.

The transfer time for the roughly 200 km (no matter from which airport) is about 2,5 hours. 

The transfer is organized by the kite center. According to the number of people on the bus / car rates are as follows:

1 Person: 50 €, 2 P. 35 €, 3 P. 25 €, 4-7 P. 20 €, 8-16 P. 18 €, 17-40 P. 15 €

You will be picked up at the airport and the Ibi & Friends driver will welcome you and assist you with your visa. Including the visa, for this service will be a 20 € fee p.P. .

In case you take your own equipment with you, please let us know early in advance as space on the bus is limited. There will be a surcharge of 10 € p.P.p.way.

Ibi & Friends - safe 10 % with KiteWorldWide on all Ibi & Friends Rates and also get a KiteWorldWide exclusive beginners package!

Learn kitesurfing in Zaafarana

Learn to ride and jump with our licensed and international team of instructors. The VDWS beginners courses include kite equipment, wetsuit, harness, vest, helmet. 

KiteWorldWide Special: 10 h VDWS Kite course (3-4 days) AND kite equipment for the rest of the week (incl. harness, helmet, wetsuit, vest) - 330 €

Every extra day of full kite equipment: only 25 €

4 hrs. VDWS follow up course incl. 1 week "Kite All" (incl. board, kite and bar, not incl. harness, helmet, vest, wetsuit, "Take Care")

Full VDWS Kite beginner course (10 h) - 266 €

VDWS International Kitelicense - 30 € (payable in Zaafarana)

KITE “Kite All”: Means that you can switch board and kites during your stay. This way you will always have the right choice of equipment depending on the current conditions.(Excl. harness, helmet, vest, wetsuit - surcharges apply in Zaafarana)

1 week full kite gear - 198 € 

2 weeks full kite gear - 356 €

Kite service

For sure you can take your own equipment with you and store it at our station. The "store all" includes the storage (for windsurfers 2 sails and 1 board, for kitesurfers the kite equipment), spot informations, all services at the station and the rescue package with our own rescue boat.

Per week - 36 €

Per day - 8 €

Please note that there will be no refund for unused kiteequipment in case of calm winds.