Kite school · Soma Bay, Egypt
ION CLUB Safaga: Kitesurf Centre on the Shams Beach in Abu Soma
A kite and wing foil centre on the Shams Prestige grounds since 2003: Duotone gear, a safety boat, calm morning lessons and stronger side-shore afternoons.
- IKO and VDWS instructors
- On the Shams Prestige grounds
- Open all year, 8:30 to 17:00
- Downwinders to Tobia Island
In short
ION CLUB Safaga, part of the international ION CLUB network (the former Club Mistral), has run water sports at the Shams hotels in Abu Soma since 1991 and its kite centre on the grounds of the Shams Prestige since 2003, at the north end of the Shams beach. Imperial Shams is next door, about 250 m away. Instructors are IKO or VDWS certified, the rental gear is Duotone, and the centre opens every day of the year, from 8:30 to 17:00.
The wind has a daily rhythm: side-offshore from the left in the morning, lighter and good for lessons in shallow water or a downwinder to Tobia Island, then side-shore from about noon, often 20 to 25 knots with light chop. ION says a complete beginner needs about 12 hours. It publishes no Safaga price list, so ask the centre for a quote; riders not staying at a Shams hotel pay a €7 daily beach entrance.
At a glance
School Fit
- Certifications
- IKO and VDWS instructors; listed by both associations
- Group size
- Private or two students (ION); the IKO listing adds groups of up to 4
- Rescue / Safety
- Safety boat; separate kite and windsurf zones; coral patches marked
- Season and hours
- All year, daily 8:30 to 17:00; best March to November
- Equipment
- Duotone kites and boards, kitefoil gear
- Kids
- Kite lessons from 12 years old
- Languages
- English, German, Russian and Arabic
- Guest rating
- 3.9/5 on Google (51 reviews)
Verified with ION CLUB's official website, the IKO and VDWS centre listings, Surf Magazin, Sportif and Google Maps listings · Updated October 2026
See the place
Video and Instagram
ION CLUB Safaga - Your Windsurf & Kitesurf Destination in Egypt
ION CLUB's own film of its Safaga centres, at the Shams hotels since 1991, with the kite centre on the Shams Prestige grounds since 2003.
Video: ION CLUB Surfing Elements GmbH on YouTube
Wind forecast
7-day wind forecast at Soma Bay
Updated 2 Nov, 13:47
GO16–24 ktsOK12–15 ktsSTRONG25 kts and moreLIGHTunder 12 kts
Strongest wind and gusts of the day, in knots. Kite sizes are a rough guide for a rider of about 75 kg. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Lessons
Courses and lessons
ION CLUB Safaga runs courses for all levels, in groups or private, mostly in a shallow area where the water start comes within reach quickly, plus kitefoil and strapless coaching for advanced riders. Across its kite centres ION CLUB keeps lesson groups to two students at most and uses a three-step level system, beginner, intermediate and advanced; the centre's IKO listing also mentions group lessons of up to four. ION says a complete beginner needs about 12 hours on average.
The centre does not publish its Safaga prices online, so ask for a quote by WhatsApp before you travel. Wetsuit, harness, leash, vest and helmet are included in lessons, and if there is no wind for lessons you have paid for, ION CLUB issues a credit note valid for 24 months at any of its centres.
Choose
Which course is right for you?
- Never kited: take your lessons in the morning, when the wind is lighter and the water flat, mostly in shallow water; count on about 12 hours to ride on your own (ION CLUB average).
- Riding but not yet upwind: keep training into the early afternoon, when the wind turns side-shore and steadier.
- Independent riders: rent Duotone gear or store your own, and join a downwinder to Tobia Island when the morning wind allows.
- Advanced riders: kitefoil or strapless coaching.
- Teenagers: kite lessons from 12 years old.
The spot
Wind and conditions at the station
The spot in front of the centre is very large, with an easy launch from the beach. In the morning the wind blows side-offshore, from the left as you face the sea, and can be gusty close to the beach; around noon it turns side-shore, steadies and often blows 20 to 25 knots, sometimes more, until the end of the day. The water is flat in the morning and slightly choppy in the afternoon, without waves. Kiters and windsurfers have separate zones, and the few coral areas are marked.
In Surf Magazin, the ION station manager puts the average wind at 22 to 27 knots in summer and 18 to 25 knots in winter, swinging from north-north-west in the morning to north-north-east by midday. ION lists March to June and September to November as its best periods and keeps the centre open all year. More about the season in our Soma Bay kitesurf guide.
Safety
Safety and equipment
A safety boat from the ION CLUB covers the spot; Surf Magazin's riders found that help usually took no more than five minutes to arrive. Rental is the current Duotone range, and a rental includes the complete set plus wetsuit, harness, leash, helmet and vest. ION recommends booking rental gear in advance, taking out insurance for it, and bringing your own wetsuit and harness if you rent. On no-wind days, rental customers can use the centre's SUP boards at no extra charge.
On site
Facilities and atmosphere
- Storage boxes for your own gear, with pump and rinse facilities
- A wide beach in front of the centre that is rarely crowded
- Live wind readings from the centre's weather station on Windy and Tempest
- No Wi-Fi at the centre: ION suggests a local SIM card from Hurghada airport
- Card payment through an online link, so keep your phone handy
- Windsurf base about 500 m south, in front of the Shams Lodge
Stay
Where to stay
Shams Prestige Abu Soma, adults only, has the centre on its grounds, 50 to 100 m from the bungalows, and ION calls it the closest hotel to the spot. Imperial Shams Abu Soma, the all-inclusive family resort next door, is about 250 m away. The other two Shams hotels on the beach, Shams Safaga and Shams Lodge, are further south, near ION's windsurf base. Guests of all four skip the €7 daily beach entrance.
Shams Prestige Abu Soma (Adults Only)
About 100 m, 2 min on foot to the kite station
Adults-only 5-star bungalow resort in Abu Soma with ION CLUB's kite centre on its grounds, 50 to 100 m away. Heated pool, spa, private beach.
Imperial Shams Abu Soma Resort
About 250 m, 4 min on foot to the kite station
4-star all-inclusive family resort on Abu Soma Bay, about 250 m from ION CLUB's kite centre: family rooms, kids' club, animation, swim zone.
Book
Contact and booking
Contact the centre by phone or WhatsApp on +20 109 096 3662, every day from 8:30 to 17:00, and book rental gear in advance. Riders staying outside the Shams hotels pay the €7 daily (€35 weekly) beach entrance in cash to the hotel. More information on ION CLUB's Safaga page.
Our take
Our verdict
Great for
- Guests of the Shams hotels, with the centre on their beach
- Learners who like calm morning lessons in shallow water
- Independent riders who want downwinders to Tobia Island
Think twice if you are
- Children under 12
- Anyone who wants published prices and online booking before they travel
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about ION CLUB Safaga
Where is ION CLUB Safaga?
At Abu Soma, 7 to 8 km north of Safaga, on the grounds of the Shams Prestige hotel at the north end of the Shams beach. From Hurghada airport it is about 45 minutes by road: leave the highway at the first exit before Safaga, turn left in front of the Amarina hotel and drive to the end of the road.
Is ION CLUB Safaga IKO certified?
ION CLUB Safaga appears in both the IKO and the VDWS centre listings, and ION CLUB says all its kite lessons are taught by IKO or VDWS certified instructors.
How much do kite lessons cost at ION CLUB Safaga?
ION CLUB does not publish a Safaga price list on its website, so ask the centre for a quote by WhatsApp on +20 109 096 3662. Riders not staying at a Shams hotel also pay a beach entrance of €7 a day or €35 a week.
Can children learn to kitesurf at ION CLUB Safaga?
From 12 years old: ION CLUB says children must be at least 12 to take part. Wetsuit, harness, leash, vest and helmet are included in the lessons.
When is the best time to kitesurf at ION CLUB Safaga?
The centre is open all year and lists March to June and September to November as its best periods; its FAQ gives March to November. ION recommends a shorty or 3/2 mm wetsuit from November to April and lycra from May to October.
Can I store my own kite gear at ION CLUB Safaga?
Yes. The centre has storage boxes for riders who bring their own equipment, with pump and rinse facilities on site.
Does ION CLUB Safaga teach wing foiling?
Yes. The centre teaches kitesurfing, wing foiling and windsurfing; the northern centre is used mainly by kiters and wing foilers, and the windsurf base is about 500 m south.
What languages do the instructors speak?
English, Russian, German and Arabic, according to ION CLUB's Safaga page.
Sources
Last checked October 2026
- ION CLUB Safaga (official site)
- ION CLUB: kitesurfing in Safaga (official)
- ION CLUB: kitesurf lessons (official)
- ION CLUB: Shams Prestige (official)
- VDWS: ION CLUB Safaga centre listing
- IKO: ION CLUB Safaga centre listing
- Surf Magazin: Safaga spot check, 2024
- Sportif: Shams Prestige Hotel (beach layout)
- Google Maps: ION CLUB Kite-Center Safaga
We only publish facts we could confirm with the official website or two independent sources. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@kitesurf.holiday.