DESTINATIONS
with ease w
Egypt
The Red Sea resort of El Gouna makes for a seamless sunny getaway, writes Sarah Gillespie
ith a stiff breeze blowing and shallow seas before me, I can see why El Gouna attracts kitesurfers of all
levels. I’m trying it for the first time at the Duotone watersports centre inside the Casa Cook hotel – though with the kite only, as it takes a few days to gain the skills needed to hit the water. Omar, my instructor, is a model of patience as he teaches me how to guide the kite from 12 o’clock to 10 o’clock and two o’clock, then back to 12. This beginner-friendliness is one of the defining
characteristics of El Gouna. I encounter it again as I whack the green during my golf lesson at the Steigenberger Golf Resort, sending sods of grass flying. Golf instructor Danny just laughs and squashes them back into the ground with his foot. “Good! That’s a good swing!” As an adventurous traveller, my holidays usually entail far less tuition, but El Gouna’s gentle approach is winning me over.
RED SEA REDEFINED Founded in 1989 and operated by Egyptian developer Orascom, El Gouna – set on Egypt’s Red Sea coast – is built on 36 interlocking islands. It has just over six miles of beaches adjoining a series of wiggly, man-made lagoons that look a little like the bright blue arms of an octopus from the air. As a planned city, it benefits from aesthetic harmony
since all architecture is in the same modern Nubian style; new building plans must be greenlit by Orascom to ensure they match the approved style and palette. For first-timers to Egypt, El Gouna makes for an
easy introduction. There are security gates at the city entrance, so only residents or hotel guests can enter. A Wi-Fi network covers the entire development and I see no graffiti anywhere. Plus, the moment I arrived, I received a text from a personal concierge who could attend my every whim, pick up laundry or arrange a transfer using the area’s ubiquitous tuk-tuks. But
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travelweekly.co.uk 12 JUNE 2025 43 EGYPT | MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
PICTURE: GhadaAmin
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