El Gouna

El Gouna sits about 25 km north of Hurghada and is unlike anywhere else on this coast. Built from 1989 across a network of islands and saltwater lagoons, it is a small town rather than a resort strip — with its own marina, hospital, schools and a permanent population that lives here year round.

The layout is the point. Water runs between the islands, buildings are low and washed in desert colours, and much of the town is navigated by boat taxi as easily as by road. Abu Tig Marina is the centre of the evening; the Downtown area has the everyday restaurants and shops; the outlying island resorts are quieter.

El Gouna is also one of the best kitesurfing destinations in the world. The wind is reliable, the lagoons are shallow and flat, and there are schools for people who have never held a bar.

What we run from El Gouna

Our full-day snorkeling trip departs from here with transfers included from El Gouna hotels, and the semi-submarine trip runs with free transfers within the town. We also cover the airport route, and the long-distance runs to Cairo and back.

Practical notes

• Give any driver your exact hotel — "El Gouna" spans several separate islands and marinas.
• The reef offshore is in noticeably good condition and sees fewer boats than the Hurghada sites.
• It is more expensive than Hurghada for food and drink, and quieter in character.