Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Sea Coast · Destination guide
A resort town built on lagoons and canals north of Hurghada – kitesurfing, diving, golf and a marina to walk to for dinner.
Get your bearings
El Gouna is a resort town developed privately about 25 kilometers north of Hurghada. It's built on lagoons and islands joined by bridges and canals, and hotels run from small marina places to 5-star resorts. Unlike most of the coast, there's an actual town here: Abu Tig Marina, the Downtown area (Kafr El Gouna) and Tamr Henna square, so you can walk to dinner instead of eating at the hotel every night.
Wind and water set the pace. Steady wind over shallow lagoons has made El Gouna known for kitesurfing, notably around Mangroovy Beach, and there's diving off the coast and two golf courses. Tuk-tuks, shuttle buses and boats move people around town.
What you're really here to see
Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons01Steady wind and shallow lagoons make El Gouna a kitesurfing base, and Mangroovy Beach is the name to know. Beginners learn in flat, shallow water; experienced riders come for the wind.
Half or full day
02Boats run out to the Red Sea reefs from the coast around El Gouna. We line up a dive center or a snorkel boat to suit your level before you arrive.
Half or full day
03The classic boat day from Hurghada marina, about 25 kilometers south: islands ringed with sandbars, swim stops over shallow reef and lunch on board. We arrange the transfer from El Gouna.
Full day
Time to allow
El Gouna works for a long weekend or a full week, depending on how much of it you use.
A kitesurf lesson or a lagoon day, dinner at the marina, and a rest after the Nile.
Time for a boat trip, a round of golf or a dive, and unhurried evenings in Downtown.
About 4.5 hours by road after the temples, with the airport 30–40 minutes from town.
A week of lessons and sessions at Mangroovy Beach, with the marina to come back to.
Where it fits
El Gouna is the Red Sea stop with a town attached.
About 4.5 hours by road. Most travelers do the temples first and finish by the lagoons.
Around 25 kilometers north of Hurghada, so the marina and the Giftun boats are an easy day trip south.
Kitesurfing in shallow lagoons, plus diving and snorkeling on the reefs offshore.
Two golf courses, Abu Tig Marina and the Downtown area for dining out without leaving town.
From the catalog
Three Corners Rihana Resort is a four-star hotel in El Gouna, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Its address is listed as El Gouna Resort, El Gouna. We arrange accommodation here through our work as a licensed Egyptian tour operator; the property is operated by its hotel provider. El Gouna is a planned resort town north of Hurghada, with a distinct setting from a stay in central Hurghada. Room category, meal plan, transfers, and available facilities depend on the options confirmed for your booking. Ask us to verify those details for your dates before you reserve.
Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna is a five-star hotel in El Gouna, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Its setting gives guests access to the town’s coastal environment and the surrounding Red Sea region. We arrange hotel bookings with third-party properties, so room type, meal plan, and available amenities depend on the selected booking. Unlike a standalone sightseeing tour, this product is a hotel stay; sightseeing and transportation are separate arrangements. Contact us to confirm the room and meal details for your dates before booking.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna is a five-star hotel in El Gouna, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. El Gouna is known for its network of lagoons and low-rise resort districts, offering a different setting from the larger city center of nearby Hurghada. The property provides a base for exploring El Gouna and the surrounding Red Sea region. Room categories, meal plans, amenities, and services can vary by booking; confirm the details for your selected dates before reserving. We arrange hotel bookings as a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with the property operated by its own hotel team.
La Maison Bleue El Gouna is a five-star hotel at Kite Center Road in El Gouna, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. El Gouna is a planned resort town north of Hurghada, known for its network of lagoons and coastal setting. The address places the property within El Gouna, rather than in central Hurghada. This product is a hotel stay, not a sightseeing tour or a bundled itinerary. Room category, meal plan, facilities, and transportation arrangements should be confirmed for your selected dates before booking. We can help clarify those details and coordinate other arrangements in Egypt separately.
Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna is a five-star hotel in the Golf Area of El Gouna, a planned resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. El Gouna lies north of Hurghada and is known for its lagoons and marinas. The hotel’s name reflects its golf-resort setting, but golf access and any related charges depend on the selected rate and arrangements. Unlike hotels in central Hurghada, this property is based in El Gouna, where the town’s lagoons and marina districts shape the setting. We arrange hotel bookings as a licensed Egyptian tour operator; confirm room, meal, and golf details for your dates before booking.
Fanadir Hotel El Gouna is a four-star hotel at Abu Tig Marina North Basin in El Gouna, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Its address places the property in the Abu Tig Marina area, a named waterfront district within El Gouna. This listing is for the hotel stay; confirm the room category, meal arrangements, and any requested services before booking. We can help coordinate your stay in El Gouna as a licensed Egyptian tour operator. The property’s amenities and board basis are not described here, so contact us to confirm details for your dates.
Cook's Club El Gouna is an adults-only hotel in Downtown, El Gouna, on Egypt's Red Sea coast. The property is listed as a 3-star hotel. El Gouna is a planned resort town on the Red Sea, north of Hurghada, with a network of lagoons and marinas. Its Downtown location places the hotel within El Gouna's central area. Adults-only accommodation differs from family-oriented resort stays, so check the property's age policy before booking if traveling with younger guests. Meal plans, room features, and hotel amenities vary by booking; confirm the details for your dates before you reserve.
Casa Cook El Gouna is a 5-star adults-only hotel in El Gouna, a resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Its adults-only policy distinguishes it from family-oriented hotels in the area. The property address is El Gouna, 84513. El Gouna sits north of Hurghada and is known for its coastal setting and network of lagoons. Choose a room rate based on the board basis and services you need, and check the booking terms for what that rate covers. We can help confirm the details for your selected dates.
Ancient Sands Golf Resort is a five-star hotel in El Gouna, a planned resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, north of Hurghada. Its name places golf at the center of its identity, but course access and golf services should be confirmed for your dates before booking. El Gouna combines a Red Sea setting with a town layout of lagoons, marinas, and residential areas. We arrange hotel bookings as part of travel on the ground in Egypt. This listing is for the hotel stay, not a sightseeing tour or a bundled vacation package; confirm meal arrangements and any requested services before you finalize your plans.
Every way in
Day trips, classic multi-day tours, Nile cruises, hotels and private transfers – every part of an Egypt trip can be arranged from El Gouna. Start wherever makes sense.
Hotel pickup, a private Egyptologist, half or full day.
2–15 day private itineraries, hotels and guides included.
Pair El Gouna with a 3–4 night river cruise in one trip.
Aswan ↔ Luxor sailings, dahabiyas and classic cruisers.
5★ and boutique stays, hand-picked by our team.
Private meet-and-greet from the airport to your hotel.
Best time to visit
A year-round destination with something for most months.
The comfortable months for walking around town, golf and day trips, and the best window for pairing with Luxor.
Hot on land, with wind that suits the kitesurfers. Plan trips and golf for early morning or late afternoon.
The steady wind is what brings kitesurfers. If you're here for the lagoons, ask us about conditions for your dates.
Upper Egypt is hottest in summer too, so a temples-then-lagoons trip works best between October and April.
The practical part
Close to the airport, easy to get around – the practical part.
Fly into Hurghada (HRG). El Gouna is around 30–40 minutes by road, and we arrange a private transfer to your hotel.
Choose between small hotels around the marina and Downtown and larger resorts on the lagoons. We match the hotel to how you plan to spend your days.
Tuk-tuks and shuttle buses and boats link the hotels, the marina and Downtown. A taxi covers trips out of town.
Schools and centers cater to every level. We line up lessons or a dive boat before you arrive.
Common questions
El Gouna is a privately developed resort town on the Red Sea, about 25 kilometers north of Hurghada. It's around 30–40 minutes by road from Hurghada International Airport (HRG).
Kitesurfing in steady wind and shallow lagoons, notably around Mangroovy Beach, plus diving, two golf courses, and a town of marinas, canals and bridges you can explore by tuk-tuk, shuttle bus or boat.
Yes, if you want more than a hotel. Hotels range from small marina places to 5-star resorts, and Abu Tig Marina, the Downtown area and Tamr Henna square give you somewhere to go in the evening.
About 4.5 hours by road. Many travelers see the temples and the Nile first, then finish on the Red Sea.
El Gouna is a planned resort town with lagoons, canals and a walkable center. Hurghada is the larger, livelier resort strip to the south, with the marina and the Giftun boats. Many trips combine a day or two of each.
Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plan your trip
Tell us your dates and what you want out of El Gouna – we'll send a private, tailored itinerary within 24 hours. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.
