Situated on the western shore of the RED SEA with a dramatic mountain backdrop, the resort of EL GOUNA is built around a series of lagoons, beaches and marinas so that you are never far from the water. Our overwhelming impression was of brightness and light giving a wonderful feeling of warmth and well-being.
El Gouna is owned by one man who set out to build himself a house with boat jetty. From there he has developed his dream of creating a beautiful resort, ensuring the buildings are low-rise, well spaced out and blend sympathetically with the landscape in both design and colour. There are hotels, villas, an excellent selection of restaurants, shops, banks, church, mosque, hospital, an 18-hole USPGA golf course and a separate area of housing for the Egyptians who work here. All of this makes El Gouna a thriving, friendly little community whilst retaining the peace and quiet so important to those on holiday.
Transport around El Gouna is by bus, taxi, toktok or boat and is very inexpensive. You can buy a book of vouchers for the buses and taxis from the information booth in the centre of the village, known as ‘downtown’. Downtown is also where you will find the toktok’s, which are motorised 3-wheel taxis and great fun. Lagoon boats depart from a jetty near to your hotel, and the boats for trips out to sea and to uninhabited islands depart from El Gouna’s own Abu Tig Marina.
There is much to do in and around El Gouna including boat trips, walks around the lagoons, many sporting activities, visits to Bedouin villages and star gazing in the Arabian Desert. The ancient sites of this endlessly fascinating country must be seen and you can take day trips by plane to CAIRO for the PYRAMIDS, SPHINX and the superb CAIRO MUSEUM. Also to LUXOR for the TEMPLES of LUXOR and KARNAK, as well as the VALLEY OF THE KINGS.
