El Gouna Egypt: El Gouna Travel Guide

The Red Sea town of El Gouna, Egypt lies some 25 km to the north of Hurghada, which is built from the 1990s onwards, as a planned resort area, rather than being grown as an organically developing coastal settlement as its more southerly counterpart. The town is dominated by water, with lagoons and canals running through it, and many of the hotels and villas are perched on their own private islands, linked by bridges. It is a more upmarket destination than many of the other coastal areas in the Red Sea, having a marina, a walkable downtown and several beach areas to choose from (across its several resort regions). If you’re looking to connect Hurghada with the rest of your tour and visit Egypt’s ancient sites, Egypt Travel Packages could be the perfect choice for you, providing you with insight into what a coastal resort area tour typically looks like.

This article is about making decisions for your stay, rather than what to see: an introduction into the layout of the town, what it has to offer, what to do from one hotel to another, and how long to spend there.

El Gouna is located on a chain of islands and peninsulas, connected by lagoons that separate different districts from one another. Downtown is the commercial and social hub of the city, housing some of the best restaurants, bars, and Abu Tig Marina, the town’s yacht harbor and busiest entertainment strip at night.

The resort area, located on the coast and separated by lagoons, stretches for many kilometers along the peninsula and is generally developed around a particular hotel or a group of them. However, due to the terrain features of El Gouna, tuk-tuks or golf carts are a preferred mode of transport, as there is quite a distance between places located on different islands.

A vacation in Egypt can also be put together as a multi-stop journey and is often planned as an Egypt vacation package 12 day Egypt tour that includes several days spent in the Red Sea resorts and a couple of days in Cairo and the Nile Valley.

El Gouna's beaches are generally less wild than the open coastline to the south, due in part to the lagoon system which creates a haven for waves in a few places. Mangroovy Beach on the northern boundary of the resort borders a sheltered mangrove lagoon, and is the main center of kitesurfing activity in the area, due to the reliable winds.

Elsewhere on the resort's beaches, house-reef snorkeling is available at several hotels, as well as boat tours to the drop-offs and smaller islands. The sheltered waters of the lagoon also form a good base for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, activities which can otherwise be challenging in the open coast. For an overview of diving and snorkeling opportunities around this coast, our guide to Diving in Hurghada covers the nearby marine sites, while Red Sea Beaches provides a more general summary of the coastline.

Abu Tig Marina is the social center of El Gouna, specially in the evenings, when the waterfront restaurants and bars are full and the yachts are lying at the docks. It has a less chaotic and more upscale feel than older town centers in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh, and has more of a Mediterranean marina town flair than a typical Red Sea resort.

Downtown El Gouna, a short walk from the marina, has a more everyday mix of shops, cafes and a golf course, and is where most of the towns non-hotel dining and nightlife is concentrated. The general pace is more relaxed than in the larger resort towns along the coast, reflecting El Gounas role as a smaller, tighter community.

Being located close to each other, Hurghada and El Gouna are both easily accessible and comparable with each other. They provide different values to the tourists, Hurghada is more developed and diverse, with a bigger variety of lodging options and a larger center, and El Gouna compensates with its peace and unique architecture. Our Ultimate Guide to Hurghada City can help you choose between them or tell you about the specifics of one of the cities.

Travelers going further up-country tend to connect through Hurghada, as El Gouna does not have its own airport. Flights on Egypt's main domestic carrier link Hurghada with Cairo and Luxor, or you can head up-country by road (see below.) Egypt Nile Cruises' itineraries usually take three or four days to float up the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, a popular combination for travelers wanting to see both the Valley of the Pharaohs and the White Desert. For more on how the different regions of Egypt relate to each other, we have an Egypt travel guide that can help you plan an Egypt tour of your own.

Hurghada International Airport, a mere 30 to 40 minutes' drive south on the road, is your nearest option and serves as the gateway for almost all visitors, with direct flights from many European and regional cities. Private car transfers and taxis are available to meet you at the airport and take you along the coastal road into town.

Tuk-tuks are the usual mode of transport within El Gouna, as the lagoons and canals divide the resort into distinct areas. Some hotels offer transfers to and from downtown or the marina for guests staying in more secluded parts of the resort.

Four- to five-day stays in El Gouna work best, allowing you to relax and unwind at the resort, take a couple of evenings at the marina, and perhaps enjoy a round of watersports (kitesurfing, paddleboarding) or a reef tour. If you're traveling elsewhere in Egypt, El Gouna makes a great shorter extension, either at the beginning or the end of a longer trip focused on Cairo and the Nile.

1- How many days do you spend in El Gouna?

It depends on what type of traveler you are, a 3-4 day package is perfect for those who want to experience both ancient Egypt and the Red Sea beaches, while those who prefer only luxury beach resorts, will enjoy El Gouna in 4-5 days.

2- How come El Gouna is different from Hurghada?

While Hurghada has a more extended choice of more prominent accommodations in a city style, El Gouna is a planned city built on lagoons and a marina, so it offers a more tranquil and upscale experience.

3- Does El Gouna have an airport?

Hurghada international airport (about 30 to 40 minutes drive) is the nearest airport to El Gouna.

4- Is El Gouna suitable for water sports?

Mangroovy beach is known as one of the best kite surfing spots in the Red Sea because of the regular winds, besides, the lagoon’s calm waters are perfect for paddling and kayaking.

5- Can I combine my visit to El Gouna with a Nile cruise and Luxor?

Yes, most tourists flying to Hurghada international airport then taking a domestic flight or a road trip to Luxor and Aswan combine their visit to El Gouna with a Nile cruise.