Kitepower El Gouna has been operating since 2004. That makes us the oldest kite school in El Gouna — and one of the oldest on the entire Red Sea coast. Over the years, we’ve taught thousands of people from more than 50 countries. But how did it all begin?
Why El Gouna
Anyone who’s been here knows. El Gouna isn’t your typical Egyptian resort — it’s a self-contained town on the Red Sea coast, about 30 minutes from Hurghada airport. Clean water, safety, hotels, restaurants, and most importantly — a huge shallow lagoon with flat water and a sandy bottom.
You won’t find better conditions for kitesurfing anywhere. The lagoon stretches 2–3 kilometres long and about one kilometre wide to the reef. The depth ranges from roughly 40 centimetres to chest height — depending on the tide. No waves, no dangerous coral near the shore, no current. When you fall, you simply stand up. And that goes for kids and adults alike.
The lagoon is divided into three zones — a teaching zone for beginners, a zone for independent riding, and a zone for wingfoil and hydrofoil. This way, nobody gets in anyone else’s way and beginners can learn in peace.
Reason number two is the wind. El Gouna gets over 300 windy days a year. Predominantly north and northeast wind with thermal influence — the desert air heats up during the day, cooler air from the sea flows in and creates stable, predictable wind. We can tell our customers: come, and the wind will blow. And in the vast majority of cases, it does.
From a Small Centre to What We Have Today
In 2004, it was a simple kite stand on Mangroovy Beach — at the time one of the few spots in El Gouna where you could kite. A few kites, a few boards, enthusiasm, and wind.
We grew gradually — adding equipment, hiring instructors, building facilities. In 2009, we established an exclusive partnership with German kite manufacturer Flysurfer — and that transformed our entire approach to equipment. Suddenly we had access to the most technologically advanced kites on the market. In 2015, we added a partnership with Levitaz — German hydrofoils that we now use for both wingfoil and kite foil courses.
In 2016, we moved from Mangroovy Beach to the very north of El Gouna. The reason? The town was expanding — new villas and large apartment complexes were being built, and there simply wasn’t enough space at the original location. But the move north turned out to be a massive advantage. We’re the last kite base in El Gouna — there’s nobody north of us. That means unlimited upwind space. No other school blocks us, and both students and advanced riders have open water stretching north as far as the eye can see.
Today we have over 250 Flysurfer kites in sizes from 2.5 to 21 m² — LEI kites Indie, Stoke and ERA, foil kites Soul, Sonic and Hybrid. Plus over 70 kiteboards. A fully equipped rental centre with gear for all levels and all wind conditions. A restaurant right on the beach. An air-conditioned coworking space with sea views. A kids’ corner for the little ones and a large wooden playground with climbing frames, bridges and trampolines for older children. Pool table, foosball, table tennis, darts. And a team of up to 25 instructors during peak season who speak Czech, English, German, Arabic, Italian, Russian and Polish.
Lukáš and Andrea
My name is Lukáš Vogeltanz. I started kitesurfing professionally in 2009 and today I’m an IKO Head Instructor. Together with my wife Andrea, we’ve been co-owners of Kitepower El Gouna since 2022.
Andrea manages customer service, lesson coordination and centre operations. If you’ve ever emailed us, you’ve communicated with her — and most likely got a reply within a few hours. I handle strategy, marketing, IT, and of course teaching on the water.
It’s not just a job. El Gouna is our home. We live here, we kite here, our friends are here. And that carries over into the atmosphere at the centre — people say they feel like part of the family. And that means more to us than anything else.
What Sets Us Apart
There are several kite schools in El Gouna. So why should you choose us?
Experience. 20 years in El Gouna. We started on Mangroovy Beach and in 2016 moved to the very north — where we remain today. We’re the last kite base, nobody blocks us, and we have unlimited upwind space.
Equipment. 250+ Flysurfer kites in sizes from 2.5 to 21 m². We find exactly the right kite for every customer — based on weight, wind and skill level. No compromises. And we rotate our equipment regularly — we track flight hours to make sure everything stays fresh.
Walkie-talkie instruction. The instructor communicates with the student directly on the water via radio. They can tell you instantly what to correct — kite position, board edge, body weight. This makes an enormous difference in how fast you progress.
Realistic progression. A beginner with us completes the 8-hour Basic I course over 3–5 days. Two water sessions per day, roughly 1.5 hours each. By day two you’re making your first metres, by day three you’re riding consistently, and by day four or five you can ride upwind. After 8–15 hours on the water, you’re independent and can rent equipment anywhere in the world.
Free IKO certification. After completing the course, you receive an internationally recognised IKO certification. With it, you can rent equipment at any IKO school worldwide.
Rescue boat. There’s a rescue boat on the water throughout operating hours — all day, not just during lessons. If anything happens, the boat is there within minutes.
Kids. We teach from age 5–6 and from 25 kg. Kids have a different programme — they skip bodydrag and go straight onto the board. They’re riding within a few hours. And while the kids are kiting, parents can grab a coffee at the restaurant, work in the coworking space, or take a lesson themselves.
What About Wingfoiling?
Kitesurfing is our DNA, but the world is evolving. That’s why we added wingfoil courses — and it turns out El Gouna is just as perfect for wingfoiling as it is for kitesurfing. Shallow lagoon, consistent wind, and in summer when the wind is lighter, wingfoiling works perfectly even at 10–12 knots.
We have a full wingfoil setup — Flysurfer wings and Levitaz hydrofoils — and our instructors are trained in both. The Wingfoil Basic I course is 5 hours and can accommodate up to 4 students at once, making it more affordable too.
When to Visit
We teach year-round. From sunrise to sunset — in winter from 8:00, in summer from 9:00.
The best time is from mid-March to mid-July and then from mid-August to the end of November — that’s the absolute peak. The wind blows almost constantly, the temperature is beautiful, and you’ll be out on the water in boardshorts and a rashguard.
But winter has its charm too. January and February are the coldest months — you’ll need a full wetsuit and the wind doesn’t blow every day (but around 5 out of 7 it does). On the other hand: the spot is quiet, the instructor gives you more attention, and accommodation is significantly cheaper. While it’s freezing back home in Europe, here you’ve got 20 °C and sunshine.
July is special — the wind blows but can switch off for a few days. When it blows, the temperature is pleasant. When it doesn’t, it can reach 40 °C in town — but by the sea it’s always fine. Few people around because Europeans are on holiday at home. Ideal for those who don’t like crowds.
October is our absolute peak — the most reliable wind, beautiful temperatures around 30 °C, water at 27 °C. It’s busy, but thanks to our position in the north, we have plenty of space.
80–90% of Our Guests Come Back
This number speaks louder than any advertisement. The majority of our guests are returning customers — people who came once and keep coming back year after year. Some store their equipment with us year-round. Some bring their families. Some come for a week and stay a month.
We’ve taught guests from more than 50 countries. The largest groups are Germans, then Czechs, Swiss, and Poles. But you’ll meet people from everywhere.
If this sounds interesting, check out our courses or go straight to online booking. And if you have questions, get in touch — contact.
We look forward to seeing you on the beach.
Lukáš & Andrea Vogeltanz Kitepower El Gouna