Today's independent travellers are often looking for an activity holiday rather than simply a week of relaxing by the pool. El Gouna, commonly referred to as the Red Sea's Premier Leisure Destination, offers a plethora of choice ranging from sailing excursions, diving, kite surfing and water skiing to quad biking into the desert.
Spread across a myriad of islands interlinked by beautiful lagoons, El Gouna has an abundance of water sports and activities to enjoy. Such pursuits include kite-surfing instruction with Gabriele Steindl, the world’s number seven kite-surfer and owner-manager of the El Gouna Kite Centre, as well as water-skiing at Egypt’s only professional centre, also located in El Gouna.
Famous for its unforgettable diving offerings, the Red Sea’s many reefs and wrecks are what contribute to the area’s world-class reputation. Similarly, its status as a protected area means dive sites offer frequent interaction with marine life; in particular, wild dolphins. El Gouna’s nine diving centres offer specially tailored diving programs and courses at all levels, with those such as the PADI Bubble Maker, Junior Scuba Diving and Junior Open Water Courses even specifically designed just for kids.
Visitors can also enjoy wakeboarding, windsurfing and fishing, as well as outings on El Gouna’s yachts or glass bottomed boats. There are day trips to the deserted Giftun Island aboard the Galatea, a luxurious sailing boat where guests can enjoy the stunning lagoon views from the comfort of its spacious deck and sun beds.
Back on dry land, El Gouna’s desert backdrop location reveals further opportunities, including quad bike excursions and 4×4 races over the vastness of the desert plains. For something more sedate, there are also camel rides and sunset dining experiences of tea and local delicacies with the Bedouins.
El Gouna is also home to a Fred Couples and Gene Bates designed par 72, 18-hole USPGA golf course. Complete with a driving range, guests can practice their shots by hitting golf balls into the lagoon using specially designed floating golf balls.
In contrast to the action-packed pastimes on offer, most of El Gouna’s 14 hotels also have health clubs offering several types of treatments and massage. The recently introduced ***** Angsana Spa at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna, the first of its kind on the Red Sea, offers a range of contemporary, holistic and non-clinical spa treatments. Managed by the award-winning Banyan Tree group, Angsana Spa uses a fusion of techniques from the East to the West to refresh and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.
Other spa facilities can be found at the golf clubhouse, which houses a stylish spa offering Thai, Swedish and Shiatsu massages, as well as aromatherapy treatments and a traditional Egyptian body scrub. Also provided are a gym, sauna, steam and Turkish baths.
For El Gouna’s after sunset entertainment, head downtown to Kafr El Gouna which hosts a variety of different nightspots and atmospheres including restaurants, bars, discothèques and pavement cafés. Day or night, Kafr El Gouna also offers its bustling international crowds an art village, casino and a mix of shopping arcades and bazaars. Additionally, the Abu Tig Marina offers birthing facilities for 126 boats from all over the world, along with a further variety of cafés, shops, bars and events, such as the Friday Night Street Festival.
For cultural excursions, there are many organised tours to the famed Egyptian monuments of nearby Luxor. It is accessible either by three-hour drive or as a day trip following a short trip on board one of Orascom Aviation’s planes.
For further information on El Gouna, please visit www.elgouna.com
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