Most publications, travel guides and Tripadvisor posts will be promoting all of El Gouna’s most favoured attractions. But El Gouna is not just a resort. It’s a resort town. And as a town, it provides many more services including a hospital, international school, grocery stores and more. Now, there is a transition zone between resort and town where one can find some places of interest that do not involve kiteboarding or diving. We encourage holidaymakers to consider the attractions below. They might be a welcome break from the hotels, snorkelling and sunbathing. As for locals, it’s always important, when you live somewhere, never to say, “I’ll do it one day.” and never end up doing it. Rather, take a few hours and go visit some of these spots.
The Tower
The tower is a true El Gouna’s gem. El Gouna offers so much: amazing villas, turquoise waters, beautiful golf courses, lagoons and much more. You can see all of these from the tower. The view is simply breathtaking and it covers all 360º. Although you cannot see everything at once, the viewing balcony surrounds the top of the tower, meaning that as you walk around, you see the whole of El Gouna. T
These views are brilliant at all times of the day. In the morning, the sunrise over the sea. Midday is for clarity and you can see miles of coastline in both directions. The reefs are clear as well with the shallow waters drawing their lines against the deeper waters. But evening has to be a firm favourite. As the sun goes down behind the mountains, it bathes you and all you can see, in soft, warm light creating a sense of calm and peace.
How to get there: The tower is part of the Steigenberger golf resort, but your best chance is heading towards Club Paradiso. You will see the tower. Follow the road to the parking.
Cost: Free
The Pier
The pier offers the best in easy-access snorkelling and lagoon viewing. The coastal lagoon differs from El Gouna’s inland lagoon in that it is natural. Stretching some 400 meters from beach to reef, the pier crosses this wide lagoon and ends in a wide platform on the reef edge. The walk along the pier always offers viewings of sea life including boxfish, sea cucumbers and even small eels. Once you get to the platform at the end, you can enjoy the clam of the Red Sea or snorkel the reef which is thankfully still rich in coral and sea life.
How to get there: The best option is to get a tuk tuk and ask for Zeytouna beach. The driver will drive through a residential area and drop you off next to a bridge. Cross the bridge, follow the path and you’ll see the pier.
Cost: Free
The Mountains
Technically speaking, the mountains to the west of El Gouna are not in El Gouna, but there is still easy access and they form part of the EL Gouna experience. Most people hardly notice the hills as they arrive in El Gouna, but if you’re the adventurous type, hiking in these hills can give you a sense of isolation, silence, beauty and exhilaration. Winter is often the preferred season as the desert cools down, but afternoons in the summer are more than comfortable.
How to get there: Don’t go alone. Contact Sytze Boomsma on facebook’s Gouna Mountain Goats.
Cost: Available on request
The Museum
The Museum is located in the El Gouna Library. It is small and only houses a few replicas of sculptures from the Pharaonic period. But don’t let the word replica discourage you. The art is still beautiful and the sculptures still create that fascination of an ancient and mysterious civilization. Also a part of the library is the Culturama room which screens a historical documentary on Egypt from its birth, through the religious periods and all the way to the modern period. This viewing goes hand in hand with the museum and gives you insights into Egypt that you might have previously missed.
How to get there: Located on the main road between the Abu Tig Marina and Downtown, it’s next to the TUB campus.
Cost: Entire Library (including the museum) – 20 LE. Culturama Show – 130LE (pre-booking required)
The Roman ruins
Also just outside El Gouna’s borders, there is an ancient Roman ruin. For those who are not fascinated by historical artefacts, it might just be a pile of stones covered in sand. But for history lovers, it puts you within arms reach of 2 ancient civilizations where the world was completely different to what it is today. Interestingly enough, the ancient Egyptians were more ancient to the Romans than the ancient Romans are to us. And these two civilizations met. While the sun rose on the Roman civilization, it was setting on the Egyptian civilization. We’re talking thousands of years ago. And the appeal of these ruins is that you can see remanants of all this hisrtory and global power shifting right in front of you.
The Cinema
The aptly named Sea Cinema is a very recent addition to El Gouna. The inception was a part of the El Gouna film festival which had its debut in 2017. The Sea Cinema was built to add extra viewings of film submissions. Between film festivals, it acts as a regular cinema very similar to those you find in malls. Modern, intimate and with the faint smell of popcorn, you can pass an afternoon if the weather is not up to its normal standard.
Films are updated weekly, usually on a Wednesday, and they offer a mix of current worldwide releases as well as some local films.
Where is it? Just to the side of The Three Corners Rihana Resort. Not being easy to find, you’re best bet is to hop on a tuk tuk.
Cost: varies
