El Gouna holidays

Travelling with the kids? El Gouna holidays offer plenty in the way of family-friendly activities. Take your pick from an abundance of watersports, or keep dry on land, with horseback riding, a turn around the go-karting track or with classic court sports such as tennis and volleyball.

El Gouna’s islands make it an ideal destination for anyone who gets itchy feet staying in one place too long. Switch up your sunbathing setting on a new beach each day, meet new people with a penchant for partying on a boat trip, or travel into the desert where you can see traditional Bedouin villages by day and stargaze come night.

From May until September, the temperatures really heat up, hitting between 35C and 38C. During this time, lows rarely slip below 26C, so drink plenty of water, stay in the shade in the middle of the day and wear a high SPF sunscreen whenever you’re outside.

You can dive all year in and around El Gouna thanks to the calm, warm waters. If you’re just learning or the kids are tagging along, Sha'ab El Erg is a great place to build up confidence as it’s easy to access and full of fascinating fan-shaped rock formations.

Prefer wrecks overs reefs? Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, a dive site that has claimed seven ships, is also only an hour away. Book a boat tour for expert guidance during your adventure.

Drink Egyptian wine

With an unforgiving climate, it can be tough to make wine in Egypt, but Kouroum of the Nile is a winery on a mission. It’s taken inspiration from ancient Egypt – tomb inscriptions suggest the civilisation was fond of a glass or two – and the climate and agriculture Egypt of today to put local wine on the map.

Try its full-bodied reds, whites and rosés, all made from home-grown organic grapes, at restaurants and bars across the resort.

Kitesurfing and wakeboarding

If watersports are your thing, check out Mangroovy Beach – it’s the best place in El Gouna for kitesurfing. Buzzha Beach comes in a close second, and has something for every member of your group, from football and billiards to a playground for the little ones.

Or, perfect your wakeboarding and water-skiing at Sliders Cable Park, one of the largest cable parks in the world and a resort in its own right – think DJs, bars and restaurants and pools with cabanas.

The Smokery

A swanky yacht club complete with a heated pool and its own beach, The Smokery is the destination of the rich and famous. Laze by the sea on a cushioned sofa bed with fresh fruit and pastries brought to you or book a table for the evening and indulge in lavish dinners with a view.

If you’re in town for Christmas or New Year’s Eve, this glamorous venue really knows how to celebrate. Buy tickets well in advance to lock in your spot.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Embassy of Knowledge)

You can learn all about Egypt’s long history at El Gouna’s Embassy of Knowledge. Check out the ‘Culturama’ multimedia show on the history of Egypt, and the online library of rare books. You can borrow recent bestsellers, too – perfect if you forget to pack reading material for the beach.

If reading doesn’t take your fancy, the building itself – bright yellow, beautifully shaped and invitingly cool – is well worth a visit, and has open-air seating with a fountain.