When I tell someone that El Gouna gets wind over 300 days a year, the usual follow-up is: “How is that even possible?” And the answer is two words: thermal wind. It’s the main reason El Gouna is so reliable for kitesurfing — and why people come back year after year knowing they’ll ride.
Let’s break it down so it makes sense even if you’ve never studied meteorology.
The Principle – Simplified
Imagine a vast desert. The Sahara. It lies to the west of El Gouna and heats up incredibly during the day. Sand, rocks — everything absorbs solar energy and heats the air above. Hot air is lighter than cold air, so it rises.
Now — what happens when the air above the desert rises? Replacement air has to come from somewhere. And it comes from the sea. Cooler, more humid air from the Red Sea flows inland to equalise the pressure difference. That flow of air is the thermal wind.
In El Gouna, this works beautifully because we have the sea to the east and desert to the west. When the desert heats up, the air from the sea kicks in — and we have wind.
How It Plays Out During the Day
Thermal wind has its own rhythm, and after a few days in El Gouna you’ll know it by heart:
Morning (7–10 am): Relatively calm. The desert is just starting to heat up, the pressure difference isn’t large enough yet. This is the time for breakfast, coffee, setting up equipment. Sometimes there’s a light breeze from the prevailing northerly wind, but usually not enough for kitesurfing.
Late morning (10 am–12 pm): The desert gets going. The thermal effect adds to the northerly wind and it starts to blow. Lightly at first, then stronger. Usually around 11 am–12 pm the wind is strong enough to ride.
Afternoon (1–5 pm): Full power. Desert temperature is at its peak, thermal wind is running at full throttle. This is prime kite time — stable, predictable wind, usually 15–25 knots. We schedule two daily sessions around this window.
Late afternoon (5–7 pm): The desert starts cooling, the thermal effect weakens. Wind gradually drops. Usually by sunset, it’s calm.
This cycle repeats day after day, especially from April to November. In winter months, the thermal effect is weaker (the desert doesn’t heat up as much), but the prevailing northerly wind usually compensates.
Why El Gouna Is So Reliable
Thermal wind alone wouldn’t be enough. El Gouna is so exceptional because two systems combine:
- Prevailing north/northeast wind — driven by large-scale pressure systems over the Mediterranean and Sahara. It’s almost always present, just varying in intensity.
- Thermal wind — added during the day, amplifying the overall effect.
When both systems meet — and this happens very frequently — the result is stable, strong wind that holds all afternoon. Windguru forecasts often show 12–14 knots, but in reality you’ll measure 18–22 on the water because the thermal effect is local and forecasts don’t fully capture it.
On our Spot page, we have a webcam and Windguru link so you can check for yourself.
Thermal Wind by Season
Not every month has the same thermal effect. It depends on how much the desert heats up:
Strongest thermal effect: April – October. In these months, the desert is heated to the max. Thermal wind is strong, reliable, and arrives nearly every day. The periods from April to June and September to October are the absolute best — wind blows practically daily.
Weaker thermal effect: November – March. The desert doesn’t heat up as much, so the thermal bonus is smaller. But the prevailing northerly wind largely makes up for it. In January and February, the wind blows roughly 5 out of 7 days — it’s just a bit less predictable.
July – special case. The desert is at its hottest, but occasionally air masses settle and the thermal wind “switches off” for a few days. When it’s 42 °C and there’s no wind, it’s a peculiar feeling. But even in July, the wind comes — just not with the regularity of October. The upside? The lagoon has plenty of room because almost nobody’s here.
What This Means for Instruction
For kitesurfing courses, thermal wind is fantastic. For one simple reason: it’s predictable.
When I know the wind will start blowing around 11 am and hold until 5 pm, I can plan lessons precisely. Two sessions per day, each roughly 1.5 hours. Students know when they’ll be on the water, and we know which kite to prepare.
On top of that, thermal wind builds gradually. Light in the morning, then strengthening. For beginners, this is ideal — you don’t start in full wind but have time to adjust. And in the afternoon, when you’ve got some practice under your belt, the real pressure arrives.
Compare this to Europe, where wind comes, goes, changes direction, ramps up to 30 knots and then drops to nothing an hour later. Here it’s a different world.
Thermal Wind and Wingfoiling
An interesting side effect: in months when the thermal wind is weaker, or in the mornings before it fully kicks in, conditions are ideal for wingfoiling. Wingfoil works from just 10–12 knots thanks to the hydrofoil lifting you above the surface.
So even the hours when the wind is “too light” for kite can be put to perfect use. That’s why we offer both — and many of our customers combine kitesurfing in the afternoon with wingfoiling in the morning.
Summary for the Impatient
- Thermal wind = the desert heats up, air from the sea flows inland
- Typically blows from 11 am to 5 pm, strongest in the afternoon
- Combined with prevailing northerly wind = extremely reliable spot
- Strongest: April–October. Works year-round though
- Forecasts (Windguru) underestimate it — it actually blows more
Want to experience it firsthand? Check out our booking or write to us via contact.
Lukáš Vogeltanz Kitepower El Gouna