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Destination comparison

Egypt vs Saint Barthélemy

Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.

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Quick Comparison

Dimension Egypt Saint Barthélemy
Region Red Sea & Middle East Caribbean
Peak season Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Shoulder Feb, May, Dec Nov, May
Sailing difficulty easy to moderate moderate
Recommended level intermediate intermediate
Avg wind (winter / summer) 12 / 18 kn 18 / 13 kn
Hurricane risk None Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency EGP (Egyptian Pound) - marinas quote USD EUR
Mid-tier price (7 days) $10,500 $22,000
Luxury tier price $45,000 $90,000
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At a Glance

Red Sea & Middle East
Egypt

The Red Sea Riviera is a protected, reef-lined corridor with steady N winds and near-permanent sunshine. October-April is the sweet spot; summer is hot but the meltemi-style northerlies keep boats moving. Bareboat fleets are the largest in the region and checkout sails are routine.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 4 must-visit anchorages
  • • 10 boats in our fleet database for this region
Caribbean
Saint Barthélemy

Most expensive Caribbean charter destination. Suited to crewed charters; bareboat limited. New Year's / Christmas fully booked 6+ months in advance.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 4 must-visit anchorages
  • • 31 boats in our fleet database for this region

Sailing Conditions

Egypt averages 12 knots in winter and 18 knots in summer. There's no hurricane season, which makes year-round planning easier.

Saint Barthélemy averages 18 knots in winter and 13 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Egypt is generally rated easy to moderate and Saint Barthélemy is moderate. The difference matters: Saint Barthélemy asks more of the skipper — confidence at the helm and some experience with coastal navigation helps.

Cost Comparison

For a 7-day charter of a typical 45-ft catamaran (4 cabins, sleeps 8):

Egypt
  • Low season: $4,200
  • Mid season: $10,500
  • High season: $24,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $45,000+
Saint Barthélemy
  • Low season: $8,000
  • Mid season: $22,000
  • High season: $40,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $90,000+

Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.

Anchorages & Must-Do

Egypt
  • Giftun Islands National Park — Protected reefs and 20+ named snorkel sites off Hurghada
  • Abu Dabbab — Dugongs and turtles in shallow seagrass; a protected mooring field
  • Fury Shoals & Dolphin House — Signature Marsa Alam reef with schooling dolphins
  • Luxor day trip — Valley of the Kings is a 4h transfer from the coast - worth the detour
Saint Barthélemy
  • Gustavia — Red-tin-roof harbor town
  • St Jean beach — Iconic landing strip beach
  • Colombier Beach — Hike-in or anchor; pristine
  • Pointe à Lézard — Turtle and reef

Which Should You Choose?

If you've never chartered before

Both work for first-timers. The default choice for the industry is BVI; choose that unless you have specific reasons to prefer Egypt or Saint Barthélemy.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Both sit in warm waters — temperature is broadly similar. The differentiator is which coast or chain: Egypt vs Saint Barthélemy. Read the must-visit lists above.

If you want history / culture / food

Egypt has 0 cultural anchorages vs Saint Barthélemy's 1. Pick by what kind of stop you want between swims.

Captain's Take

"Red Sea seasons are counter-intuitive. Most first-timers assume summer; the real sweet spot is October-April when the air is 22-28°C and the N wind is a pleasant 12-18kt instead of a June hammer. El Gouna's Abu Tig marina is the easiest base for a first Red Sea bareboat - the lagoon exit is sheltered and the reef passages are well marked. Do the checkout sail seriously: the reefs demand attention even on a clear day."

— Captain E. (2Hulls editorial charter captain), local captain · year_round note · verified 2026-09-09

Timing and Budget: Egypt vs Saint Barthélemy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Egypt or Saint Barthélemy better for a first-time charter? ▾
Neither is a "first-charter" pick — both lean intermediate. Consider starting in BVI or Greece before tackling Egypt/Saint Barthélemy.
Which is cheaper to charter — Egypt or Saint Barthélemy? ▾
Egypt is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$10,500/week vs ~$22,000/week for Saint Barthélemy (mid-size catamaran, shoulder season). Bareboat low-season starts around $4,200 in Egypt vs $8,000 in Saint Barthélemy.
When is the best time to visit Egypt vs Saint Barthélemy? ▾
Egypt: peak Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr; shoulder Feb, May, Dec; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Saint Barthélemy: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder Nov, May; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. The seasons only partially overlap.
How do sailing conditions compare — Egypt vs Saint Barthélemy? ▾
Egypt: typical winter winds 12 knots, summer 18 knots. Sailing difficulty: easy to moderate. No hurricane season. Saint Barthélemy: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 13 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Which has better flight access — Egypt or Saint Barthélemy? ▾
Egypt: Hurghada International (HRG), also Marsa Alam (RMF) + 1h, Cairo (CAI) + 5h transfer. Saint Barthélemy: Gustaf III (SBH), also Connection through SXM.
Which is more beginner-friendly, Egypt or Saint Barthélemy? ▾
Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.
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