Egypt

Where to surf in Egypt

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great gave his name to what would become a prominent cultural, intellectual and political metropolis referred to as 'the shining pearl of the Mediterranean'. Alexandria is famous for housing the world's first library, which just happens to have one of Egypt's best rock-anchored beachbreaks directly in front of it. Heading west through the Matruh region to Marsah Matruh, there are a number of beachbreaks and lefthand points that can provide a little protection from the incessant W-N winds that bring the swells, mainly in the winter months. Surfing is booming in Alexandria and along the beachfront hotels to the west where surf schools operate all year-round, catering to locals and tourists who want to learn in small, friendly conditions.

West of Marsah Matruh the barren, rocky coastline faces north and picks up swell onto scrappy reefs and a few potential lefts but nothing as protected as Agiba. Military bases and a huge new port create some potential access issues but there is potential up to Sidi Barani. From there to the Libyan border is likely to be small as W swells are blocked and it is not the safest area to be cruising looking for waves.

Surprisingly, plenty of Cairo and Alexandria surfers make the 300km trek out to Marsah Matruh for the extra size and power of the waves on the western extremity of our Egypt region. Softer, smaller beachbreaks cling to the hotel sands leading into Alexandria, where the reefs hold some punchier rides.

East of Alexandria from the mouth of the Nile to the exit from the Suez Canal is not too appealing for any kind of shapely wave as sediment and all sort of coastal armouring kill off the surf. The ribbon of sand protecting Bardawil Lake is close-out shorepound and the Sinai stretch is either jetties or open beachbreak that gets bigger the closer you get to Gaza.