Beautiful El Gouna on the Red Sea in Egypt is a brilliant destination for those looking for a mix of relaxation and adventure. There are so many things to do in El Gouna, from taking advantage of the warm waters for kite surfing, diving and snorkelling, to sampling some of the amazing restaurants in El Gouna Downtown and around the harbour, to taking in the live music at many of the fun nights the hotels in El Gouna put out throughout the week. Here are some of the top things to do in El Gouna.
Things to do in El Gouna for the adventurous
El Gouna has so many activities for those who can’t sit still. Read on for the top things to do in El Gouna for adventurous people.
Try your hand at Kite Surfing in El Gouna
El Gouna kite surfing is famous on the world stage due to the warm waters, good winds and beautiful long coastline. The Duotone Pro Kite surfing centre is located within the Casa Cook hotel in El Gouna and is an ideal location with the shallow waters and spacious reef free area.
There is also the Kite Centre at Club Paradisio called Osmosis which offers private and group lessons, equipment hire and is the largest teaching area for kite lessons in EL Gouna with its magnificent shallow water lagoon.
Take a desert safari on a quad bike
I booked a quad bike safari with Alex Safari El Gouna. They have a number of options from half day tours to the 3 hour desert safari with BBQ dinner which was the option I went for. We had a group of 8 people with the trip leader at the front and you have the option of choosing 1 person per quad or sharing the driving with a friend.
Goggles and headscarf are 5 euros extra – you will need these to protect from the sand and dust – but you can bring your own if necessary. I loved seeing the surrounding mountains at sunset and enjoyed speeding through the desert. It’s definitely one of the top things to do in El Gouna for thrill seekers.
Go scuba diving in El Gouna
With the beautiful reefs, warm waters and year round sunshine, one of the best things to do in El Gouna is undoubtedly going scuba diving, it’s certainly one of the reasons I booked my trip there. I booked with Scuba World Divers which is based at the Sheraton Miramar. They are the only place in El Gouna that has a private jetty which means that you can go straight from the dive centre on a boat dive, without having to travel anywhere else.
They offer courses for people wanting to do their PADI open water or the higher levels, as well as running group dives for those already qualified. I’ve dived in a lot of places and the Red Sea always stands out as some of the best diving in the world – so make sure to include diving as a thing to do in El Gouna on your next trip.
Relaxing things to do in El Gouna
You’ve always got to leave some time for relaxing and El Gouna is certainly a great place to do it. Here are some suggestions as for things to do in El Gouna for people who want a bit of down time.
Get a spa treatment at one of the many spas in El Gouna
OK, OK, so I might have indulged a couple of times in spa treatments in El Gouna, but honestly they offer great value for money and some beautiful locations.
One of the most stylish spas is at Casa Cook hotel El Gouna. They have a gym, a yoga area that offers aerial yoga classes and then a beautiful pool with some really stylish architecture, as well as the treatment rooms themselves. I opted for the Swedish massage.
I also went to the Miramar Spa at the Sheraton Miramar as they offered an Egyptian hammam which was a very luxurious affair. They used a lot of natural products including grated coconut with coconut oil and goats milk, and I was scrubbed, steams, massaged, oiled and came out feeling like a new woman!
Take a boat ride around the lagoon
On my first day in El Gouna I decided to take a boat ride which was a great way to get to know the area a little better, see some of downtown El Gouna from the water, and also relax! It was such a peaceful activity. The price of the activity depends on how many people you go with or whether you want a private boat. You can book here.
I went fairly early in the morning so it wasn’t too hot, but the majority of the boats do have a shade covering, so even if you opt to go later in the afternoon when the sun is at it’s peak then you will be sheltered.
Watch a music performance at one of the speciality nights
Many of the hotels and bars have special nights throughout the week, either with a theme, such as the Bedouin night I attended – which had music and performances as well as some great food – or just live music that you can enjoy at your leisure.
Tandoor Restaurant has live music on certain nights and Casa Cook El Gouna has music on most nights at their trendy bar area overlooking the reception pool. The staff were very helpful suggesting places to go for live music as well as informing me of what was on at the hotel.
Things to do in El Gouna for foodies
If you’re someone who goes on holiday and is very food focused then El Gouna will certainly float your boat.
Try the sushi at the Chedi El Gouna
Nihon Restaurant at the Chedi El Gouna, is a smart, rooftop restaurant with romantic lighting and an open sushi kitchen. It’s well priced and they have options to order individual plates or you can go for the larger set menus if you’re hungry and can’t decide what you want.
Some of the restaurant is outside and they have heaters and blankets for Winter months as well as shady areas for the Summer.
Dine by the marina at the Marina Steakhouse
The new marina is a lovely place to dine – right by the water with the numerous boats bobbing next to you. At night time it really comes alive too with pedestrians walking along, live music in a number of the bars and seating areas out on the cobbles. The Marina Steakhouse at the Captain’s Inn was definitely on of the top places to eat at the marina. They have a big selection of steaks, unsurprisingly but also some vegetarian options and a good wine list.
Get an ice cream at Il Gelato El Gouna
There are some great ice cream places around El Gouna, serving up delicious gelato. Il Gelato El Gouna is right by the marina and has some tasty options served in cones or cups at decent prices. It’s a popular spot for young people to hang out and a good place to head to after a meal for a sweet treat.
Join the Bedouin Night at Casa Cook Hotel.
Held in the restaurant area during winter months and then on the beach during the summer, Casa Cook hosts a great evening known as ‘Bedouin Night.’ Starting around 6:30pm it us 1200 EGP for 1 person or 2000 EGP for 2 people and includes a huge, varied buffet of traditional flavours as well as music and performances. It’s a social and fun event and certainly one of the best things to do in El Gouna if you’re someone that likes trying traditional food when travelling.
I hope this article helps you plan lots of things to do in El Gouna for your next trip!
A Life Well Travelled 
Sounds perfect, must add it to the list.
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