Things to do in El Gouna
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit El Gouna
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best balance of warm sea, reliable kite wind and comfortable land trips.
Sunny and mild, best for golf and Luxor, worst for wind disruption to boats, peak prices at holidays.
Hottest months, warmest sea, strong kite wind and lowest hotel prices. Land trips early morning only.
What's on
- El Gouna Film Festival Usually mid to late October
Public screenings and the CineGouna programme. Rooms go early and prices jump.
Best things to do in El Gouna
Abu Tig Marina
The town front room: yachts, cafes and a promenade made for a sunset walk on your first night.
Downtown El Gouna
The town centre for cafes, small shops and everyday services, a little cheaper than the marina.
Zeytouna Beach
Island beach with a long jetty and reef snorkelling straight off the end, no boat booking needed.
Mangroovy Beach
Wide shallow beach and the kite watching capital of town, with beach clubs for lunch and a lounger.
Cheeky Monkeys Playground and Amusement Center
Large play centre with trampolines and climbing that buys parents two happy hours out of the sun.
Where to stay in El Gouna
Abu Tig Marina
restaurants and evening life on foot
Marina promenade, dining and bars at the door, beaches by short shuttle.
Golf and lagoon area
quiet, space and golf
Spread out lagoon and course side stays, best with a shuttle and tuk tuk habit.
Northern beachfront
beach and kite stays
Open sea shore near Mangroovy, calmer and more resort contained than the marina.
Think twice about
- Al Ahyaa listings sold as El Gouna
The sprawl south of the gates is not El Gouna. Cheap rooms there cost back the saving in transfers, beach fees and gate hassle.
Best restaurants in El Gouna
The Smokery El Gouna Yacht Club
Seafood, sushi and steaks at the yacht club, the smartest special occasion setting in town.
Nihon Restaurant
Japanese fine dining at The Chedi, the one tasting menu style dinner in El Gouna.
Maritim Restaurant
Marina seafood institution: pick Red Sea fish, have it grilled, eat it looking at the boats.
moods Restaurant & Beach Club
Beach club by day and relaxed restaurant bar by night, an easy one stop evening on the water.
Jobo's Sports Bar & Restaurant
Downtown sports bar and grill with big screens, the default group dinner when nobody can agree.
The Snack Shack El Gouna
Downtown wraps, burgers and shakes at the lowest prices of any named pick.
Bongoyo Restobar El Gouna
Small Downtown restobar with African influenced plates at Downtown rather than marina prices.
Outdoor things to do in El Gouna
Kitepower El Gouna
Kite school on the shallow flat water lagoon that makes El Gouna the easiest place in Egypt to learn.
Element Watersports El Gouna
Windsurf, paddle and sailing rentals on the big lagoon, so mixed groups can all get on the water.
Orca Dive Club El Gouna
Established marina dive centre running boat days to northern reefs and the Abu Nuhas wrecks.
El Gouna Golf Club
Lagoon side 18 hole course by Bates and Couples, with an aqua range hitting out to island targets.
Sliders Cable Park El Gouna
Cable wakeboard circuit with aqua park and pool club, an easy first wakeboard session with no boat.
Wadi Belli
Dry canyon in the Red Sea foothills for the sunset quad and jeep safari with dinner and dark skies.
Best hotels in El Gouna
The Chedi El Gouna
Calm design led beachfront resort, the current top end address for quiet luxury in town.
La Maison Bleue El Gouna
Tiny adults only all suite boutique hotel by the lagoons, the anti resort luxury pick for couples.
Movenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna
Big dependable beachfront resort with large pools, the safe first trip choice for families.
Ancient Sands Golf Resort and Residences
Spacious apartment style suites by the golf course that suit longer stays, groups and golfers.
Captain's Inn
Small marina inn over the boats with marina restaurants at the door, the classic value base.
Turtle's Inn
Simple clean marina inn in the same small format as its neighbour, walk to everything on the quay.
Is El Gouna expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | EGP 3,500 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | EGP 7,500 a person |
| Splurge | EGP 16,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Kitepower El Gouna: weeks ahead
- Element Watersports El Gouna: a few days ahead
- Orca Dive Club El Gouna: a few days ahead
- El Gouna Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Wadi Belli: a few days ahead
- The Chedi El Gouna: weeks ahead
- La Maison Bleue El Gouna: weeks ahead
- Movenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna: weeks ahead
- Film festival week rooms and Chedi or La Maison Bleue in winter go weeks ahead.
- Kite courses in the March to October wind season book weeks ahead.
Is El Gouna safe?
- Managed enclave with controlled entrances. Carry photo ID and your booking confirmation for gate checks.
- Restricted zones elsewhere in Egypt are far from the Red Sea mainland coast and do not include El Gouna.
- Do not drink tap water. The kite wind hides sunburn, so cover up on the water.
El Gouna travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Properties in Al Ahyaa marketed with El Gouna in the name.
- Beach access runs on hotel and beach club day passes. Confirm price and inclusions first.
- Photo and DVD upsells on boats and safaris. Agree a price only after seeing the files.
Getting around El Gouna: public transport and more
- Tuk tuks for hops inside town, fare agreed before you ride, small EGP notes ready.
- Hurghada airport is about 30 to 40 minutes south by road. Pre book the transfer.
- Uber and Careem for Hurghada dinners, about 30 minutes gate to centre.
Who El Gouna suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make El Gouna your trip
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