Is El Gouna a good choice for a beach holiday and sea swimming in Egypt?
Based on 2 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 13 days ago
TL;DR
If your main goal is swimming in the sea, El Gouna may disappoint: many hotels are set on lagoons and canals rather than open sea. The outer coastline is often very windy, with many kitesurfing stations and only a limited number of sheltered beaches.
What the community said
Families sometimes consider El Gouna as one of the calmer resort options in Egypt, but it is not usually the top pick for classic sea swimming. If the sea is your priority, check whether your hotel has a real beach and not just access to a lagoon or canal.
13 days ago El Gouna canal-side hotels
The main drawback of El Gouna for a beach holiday is that many hotels are built on canals rather than directly on the open Red Sea. The water there is often nearly stagnant, so it is not ideal for daily swimming or snorkeling.
13 days ago El Gouna canals
On hot, windless days, some canal areas can develop an unpleasant smell from the water. That matters if you want a resort where you can swim right by the hotel without compromises.
13 days ago stagnant canal water
The exposed seafront side of El Gouna is noticeably windy, which is why there are many kitesurfing stations there. That is great for kiters, but for travelers looking for calm swimming beaches, it is a sign that conditions are less sheltered.
13 days ago El Gouna kitesurfing stations