Kite Surfing & Wind Surfing

Situated on the extensive lagoon of Wadi Lahami, 400km south of Hurghada and just above Ras Banas, this unique ‘deep south’ camp is owned by the most professional and experienced pioneers along this coastline - Red Sea Diving Safari.

The lagoon and thermal winds at Wadi Lahami are ideal all year round for the fastest growing of water sports, kite and wind surfing. This uncovered secret paradise is the perfect training ground for beginners and experts alike.

Accommodation Choices

Tents – no single supplement

Spacious twin bedded tents with electricity and locally made furniture completes the Egyptian style. A 20-litre supply of water and wash bowl is left outside daily. Toilets and showers are a short walk way.

Madyafa Guest Houses

Traditional domed, vaulted desert architecture and thick stone walls keep the Madyafas cool. Enter by the hallway to the large and airy bedroom with en-suite facilities and enjoy the sea and desert mountain views from your own sun terrace.

This safari is for adventurous divers, wind & kite surfers seeking the opportunity to discover pristine reefs, idealic surfing conditions and living in a ‘close to nature’ expedition environment.

Tour Prices

Due to the volatility in both the exchange rate and the costs of flights the prices below should be taken as a guide - please call for the current price. Prices often rise and occasionally fall. Oonasdivers charge a simple handling fee for arranging flights and pass on the cost to the traveller, including, when it happens, any reductions.

Price includes

• Meet and assistance at Marsa Alam or Hurghada airport, plus transfers (3 hours or 6 hours respectively).

• 7 night accommodation on full board, 3 meals a day, soft drinks, mineral water, tea & coffee.

Flights

Flights can be arranged from the UK direct to either Marsa Alam Airport or Hurghada. Please call us for a price plan.

Diary

Kitesurfing in Wadi Lahami, Red Sea

Words and Pics by Ben Dawson (IKO Instructor)

Kitesurfing holidays in the Red Sea area of Egypt conjure up images of turquoise blue flat water riding, with reliable warm cross shore winds and the chance of sharing your session with dolphins, sea eagles or turtles.

Sadly the trade off of a cheap all-inclusive week in mother Egypt can be the sprawling noisy resorts with poor accommodation not to mention the sometimes debilitating after affects of less than authentic North African buffet food.

When I was approached by tour operator friends of mine to review a little known kitesurfing location on the Red Sea I was made up, but kind of knew what to expect as I have been seven or eight times before. All the info I was armed with, was that it was an Eco Village, take loads of books and they think it could be a superb kitesurfing spot.

I enjoyed the 2 ½ hour transfer south from Marsa Alam airport with twin sisters I met on the plane. We snaked our way along the shores of the Red Sea and watched as the sun set over the western mountains. The massive resorts and vast building sites were gradually replaced with bedhouin camps and camels. This is the Egypt I had always imagined!

We arrived at 9.30pm, greeted by an ice cap melting smile that belonged to Virginie, who is a kitesurf instructor, and with Ross manages the resort. After a couple of beers and a delicious dinner I was ready to turn in to make the most of my first day.

I woke at 6am to the sound of 10 meter weather, made my way to breakfast and saw the resort in daylight for the first time, this place is stunning. Wadi Lahami consists of a small shaded terrace and restaurant, 16 or so eco tents, 10 or so chalets, a dive centre and a kitesurf hut. All of this nestled between mangrove swamps, a huge bay and white sandy beaches, but for a hotel a mile away there is nothing there, pure white capping heaven. I wolfed down my breakfast and hurried off to fin and pad up my board and grab my kites. Virginie leant me a pump and 10 minutes later I was ripping across the flattest turquoise reef protected two-foot deep bay, grinning like an idiot.

I didn’t want any first day injuries so I said to my self only 99% safe moves and nice old school airs, but this place is such a utopic training ground. I started going for tricks I had never tried before, landing most of them. After a few hours the wind built and I should have sized down but decided to explore the upwind wave spot where I found sweet 4-5 foot waves breaking on the outer reef. After the best four hour session I can remember I went in for some lunch and met some of the other guests. Most people are here for the diving and the unspoilt reefs are some of the best you will find. Speaking to some of the people over various meals I realised what a hidden treasure this place is and the eclectic mix of fascinating and talented people that return time and time again, loved the beautiful simplicity of this quiet idyl. Quite a few of the divers were signed up for kitesurf lessons during the week and I was lucky enough to enjoy one of the best dives of my life.

Wadi Lahami is not for everyone, If you want night life or something other than kiting, sleeping or eating, then this place will drive you mad. But if like me, you like nothing more than all day kiting, relaxing in hammocks and chatting to great people, then this place will suck you in and become part of you.

Many thanks to www.oonasdivers.com who can be contacted on 01323 648924 for holiday information.

Weather

Wind mostly North or North West. Check out Wind conditions with Windfinder
September 11 -15 Knots
December to March up to 30 Knots
April and May wind speeds reducing and may have up to 3 day period when little or no wind.
June, July and August - most likely time to have weeks without wind and would be advisable that visitors
were also interested in learning to dive or qualified divers or happy to just chill out and enjoy some
desert excursions.
In the winter period maximum no of days without wind would be 2 day period in about 3 - 4 weeks.

Water

Lagoon is 250 meters wide
Water depth Winter and Summer approx 50 -70 cm very little change in depth between Summer and
Winter but can drop a little in Summer.
Outside lagoon up to 2 meter waves in 30 knot winds 3 -4 days a week.

Kit

Very good condition
Nash windsurf boards 80 litre wave boards, 160 through to 250 litre beginners boards
3.7 - 8.3 meter - Gaastra Sails
3 - 20 meter square Kites

Why You Should be there!

Lagoon has sandy bottom and no hidden obstacles perfect for beginners.
Perfect wind situation for experienced Kite & Windsurfers and great most of the year for novices too.
For advanced kite & windsurfing very easy access to open water and waves.
Short distances from accommodation to kit store & shade & from kit store to waters edge about 80
meters & 80 meters.
German instructor running the Kite & Windsurfing centre he is very efficient and very hands on.
Good equipment available for hire. Easy observation of all in the water. Rescue RIBS directly available.
Wadi Lahami One of only 3 lagoons of this size along the whole of the Egyptian Red Sea coast!

Marsa Alam (MARSAALM)  7 day forecast | Map Time: UTC +3 Sun: 05:50 - 19:32

Local date Tuesday, Jun 10 Wednesday, Jun 11 Local time 00h 03h 06h 09h 12h 15h 18h 21h 00h 03h 06h 09h 12h 15h 18h 21h Wind direction Wind speed (Knots) 12 15 16 18 15 14 14 12 15 12 9 8 9 10 8 2 Cloud cover Precipitation (mm/3h) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pressure sealevel (hPa) 981 981 982 983 984 982 981 981 982 982 982 983 982 980 978 980 Air temperature (°C) 32 31 28 31 35 37 36 30 29 28 25 31 35 36 33 24

Kite World Magazine write up on this tour