Going solo kitesurfing: joining a safari without a travel buddy

Going solo kitesurfing on a safari means travelling without a buddy and joining an organised trip with other riders and a crew. Meals and beach facilities are shared. Before booking, confirm your cabin arrangements and price; travelling solo doesn't mean heading out on the water alone.

I've been on Mohamed's safari several times. If you're going solo, I think 4 practical things decide how your week goes: where you'll sleep, who catches your kite when you have no buddy, how you look after yourself on the water, and whether your riding is at a level where you'll actually enjoy the week.

For the day-by-day programme, see Kite safari Egypt: what to expect.

Where you'll meet the other riders

You spend the week with the same people. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are a buffet on deck, and there's a shared beach camp with a tent on the island. Meals and breaks between sessions give you time to talk to the other riders. You meet the crew on evening 1, before the safety briefing and dinner.

The crew chooses spots based on the wind, handles boat transfers and helps with launching. Arrange your cabin, rental gear and any lessons before the trip so you know what to expect for the week.

If you're wondering whether a boat suits a solo traveller better than a hotel by the spot, where everyone goes their own way after the session, I compare the two in Kite safari vs kite camp vs beach hotel.

Your cabin: share it or have it to yourself

The 2026 price is €1,250 per person in a twin cabin with 2 beds. The website doesn't explain how beds are allocated to solo guests or what you pay if the other bed remains empty. Confirm the price and cabin-sharing arrangements in your enquiry.

Watch out for one thing in the price list. The "single room - double bed" column is actually a cabin with a double bed for 2 people, at €100 extra per person. A cabin for just 1 person is priced on request.

Every cabin has air conditioning, a fridge, a toilet and a shower. What the price covers and what you pay on top once you're there is broken down in How much a kite safari costs and what's included.

Who catches your kite when you have no buddy

When you're travelling without a buddy, arrange help on the beach in advance too: someone to hold your kite for launching and catch it when you land after the session.

On the safari that's what the beach boys do. They're the guys from the crew who stay with you on the beach. They carry your gear, pump up your kite and help you launch and land. The compressor and pumps are on the boat, and so is storage for your kite and wing gear.

Safety on the water: wind and the rescue boat

If the wind at a particular spot is offshore, meaning it blows from the land out to sea, a crash and failed relaunch can leave you drifting away from the beach. Don't count on getting back to shore by using your kite in that wind. Confirm the rescue arrangements for the spot with the crew before entering the water.

There's a rescue boat on the water, and the safety briefing on evening 1 covers boat rules, kite zones and the wind. Before riding, agree with the crew on a signal for help and the pickup procedure.

I'd practise self rescue, meaning how to deal with an emergency on the water, with an instructor before the trip, using the type of kite you'll ride. With an inflatable kite, self rescue uses its buoyancy; packing it down for a boat pickup is a different situation. While waiting for rescue, keep it inflated for flotation. Pack down only when the boat is approaching, pickup is assured and you've coordinated with the crew.

To me, being safe means you're not a danger to yourself or anyone else on the spot, and that applies on a safari just as much as at home.

A day on the boat: 2 sessions and video review in the evening

According to the programme, a typical day from day 3 to day 6 looks like this:

1. morning yoga, breakfast and a briefing on the wind and the plan for the day
2. the boat moves to an island depending on conditions, for example Geisum or Ashrafi
3. morning session, downwinders between islands, lessons
4. lunch on board and a break
5. afternoon session
6. evening activities after you're off the water

The crew picks the island every day based on the wind and the forecast, so chasing the wind isn't your job. According to the NASA POWER model, the area around Hurghada is windiest from June to September and calmest from November to February. The model calculates wind 10 m above the ground over a grid square of roughly 50 km, though, so it shows the pattern across the year, not the wind on a particular beach.

A downwinder is a ride from one place to another with the wind. Agree on the route, safety support and return transport beforehand. On the safari, the crew organises it; discuss whether the route suits your riding level before joining.

You can check the islands' locations on the kite spot map centred on Gubal.

Evening video review and time together

The evening programme includes video review and a BBQ on the boat or the beach. A recording gives you an outside view of your stance and bar position. I'd choose a specific attempt to review, such as an upwind run, and work with the instructor on what to change next session. There's also a sun deck, a jacuzzi and a bar on the boat; after 2 sessions, leave yourself time to rest if you need it.

What level you need to go solo

You'll get the most out of a safari if you can ride independently after your course. You should be able to waterstart, getting out of the water onto the board, ride both ways and upwind, control your speed and stop. That also means relaunching from the water, using the safety systems including the quick release, and having practised self rescue. When describing my level to an instructor, I'd say which of these I can do and which I need to practise.

You can also join with less experience and lessons arranged. In April 2024 we took 8 beginners along and spent days 1 and 2 on Geisum. Day 1 was tough, and by the middle of day 2 everyone was riding. Your progress will depend on the wind, the instructor and your previous experience.

If any of these skills are missing, arrange lessons before the trip. You can book a refresher on board (3 h for €180, 6 h for €330) or private lessons at €65 an hour. Complete beginners can take the 6-day course for €600, gear included. There's more on that in Kite safari for beginners: can you learn to kite there?

What to check before you book solo

1. Cabin. Do you want it to yourself (price on request) or are you fine sharing? Say so in your very first enquiry.
2. Gear. Your own or rented: a complete kite set costs €300 for 6 days, a twin tip on its own €60 for 6 days.
3. Insurance. The organiser recommends travel insurance that explicitly covers kiting. A standard travel policy without sports cover may not be enough.
4. Cash for the trip. The marine park and marina fees plus crew tips come to €100 to €150, and Mohamed confirms the exact amount with the dates. Flights and the visa aren't included.
5. Dates. The 2027 dates haven't been published yet. You can get notified through the form on the kite safari in Egypt page.

What to bring is in my kite safari packing list.