KITESURFING HOLIDAYS - SHARM EL SHEIKH

THE LURE
Sharm El Sheikh is the cosmopolitan capital of the Sinai Peninsula. Famed for some of the best diving in the Red Sea, this area of the Sinai peninsula also offers more watersports activities than you can shake a stick at, including wakeboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, snorkelling and even has its own aqua park.

THE SET UP:
The water in Sharm is kept flat by a reef that wraps around the fringe of the bay, protecting the beach and making for a great learning area. The beach drops gently from the water's edge, and at high tide you'll still find that you're only chest deep 400 metres out! Outside the reef at one end in the cove you'll find waves - definitely a rarity in Egypt. And while they're not epic, they offer good conditions for riders looking to improve their skills in the waves, or to simply use them as ramps for boosting. There are assistants on hand to help you launch and land your kite.

WIND & WEATHER:
In terms of reliability, Egypt really is up there for wind, and Sharm doesn't let the side down, with force four to six most of the year, with the most consistent months being March to October. Air temperatures can get up to 40°C in the summer and 23°C in winter.

WATER:
Like the rest of Egypt, the water temperature remains very warm all year.

OFF THE WATER:
The resort area of Sharm El Sheikh stretches along the coast and features health spas, tennis courts, championship golf courses, indoor shopping malls and children's clubs. There are three areas in Sharm to find accommodation. Old Sharm/Hadaba is where most of the ex-pat community resides. Expect to find the cheaper accommodation here. Nabq is a newly developed area and is where the Colona watersports centre is located; this is flanked by good hotels. Naama Bay is one of Sharm's most visited places in terms of dining out and nightlife and also has some of the best hotels in the area. Sharm is the most westernised of the kite spots in Egypt, so expect fast food chains, restaurants, clubs, bars and 'sheesha cafes'. There's even a British pub if that's what you're after...

DON'T MISS:
• Superb Diving
• Motor Cross Biking
• Rock Climbing and Canyoning

AIRPORTS:
Sharm El Sheikh (SSH): just a ten minute taxi ride into Sharm.
Hurghada (HRG): 90 minute ferry ride across the Red Sea from Hurghada to Sharm. Then it's just 30 minutes from the ferry port to Sharm itself.

GETTING ABOUT:
Most people opt for the traditional blue and white taxis when they come out of the airport, or if there's a group of you, then you can hop on a minibus. You can also hire cars or scooters, but 5LE will get you anywhere in Sharm in a microbus, so there's no real need for a car.

USEFUL LINKS:

Sharm El Sheikh:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharm_el-Sheikh

Riders who have included Sharm El Sheikh as one of their Top Places to Ride are: Angela Peral, Jo Wilson, Sky Solbach