Speeding under yet another cobbled bridge, the water glistens under the sun as I weave through winding lagoons and out to the depths of the Red Sea. Just months ago, I was left a tad sceptical when I spotted online reviews dubbing this place the 'Venice of Egypt.' Now, drifting through it, I finally understand the comparison.
Tucked deep within Hurghada's vast desert landscape lies El Gouna - a private resort town spread across more than 30 islands separated by a network of man-made lagoons. It's a setting that feels both surreal and carefully designed, where deep Upper Nubian tones meet turquoise water at every turn.
Lucky for me, I'm here to experience the absolute best this destination has to offer, from catamaran cruises and dolphin watching to desert quad-biking, lively Teppanyaki shows, and everything delicious in between. It's also a relief that, despite the recent Middle East tensions putting a halt on trips to Dubai and the Maldives, travel to Egyptian resorts is still perfectly fine, according to the UK Foreign Office.
El Gouna is a private resort town in the heart of the Hurghada desert, dubbed the 'Venice of Egypt' due to its extensive lagoon system. Entertainment abounds in this Red Sea retreat, which has more than 100 restaurants and cafés, a marina, and private beaches. Spread six miles across El Gouna's interconnected islands, you'll find more than 800 residential homes and 18 hotels, ranging from family-friendly resorts to adults-only retreats. Each building is strictly painted in fresh, warm hues that blend seamlessly into the surrounding desert: burnt orange, chalky beige, salmon pink, army green, and sand yellow.
Passing through secure gates just forty minutes after leaving Hurghada Airport, my driver navigates the palm-shaded roads to the hotel while I gawp out the window, completely spellbound. Since its establishment in 1990, El Gouna has evolved into a beast of a Red Sea getaway, offering a marina, private beaches, over 100 shops and bakeries, and 100 restaurants and cafés. Yet, cruising the brightly lit nighttime roads, I keep catching glimpses of things I never expected to find here; like a go-kart centre, a kitesurfing and squash complex, a nightclub, and even a fully equipped hospital. It soon dawns on me this is more than your average resort; this meticulously designed all-inclusive town offers a world of its own where you could easily spend your entire holiday without ever needing to leave.
It's easy to see why this fantasy getaway is also dubbed the 'Disneyland of Egypt'. Much of El Gouna's striking architecture and famous hotels were designed by acclaimed American architect Michael Graves, the mastermind behind several beloved Disney resorts.
After a remarkably lengthy seven-minute drive through the gated town, I arrive at the recently renovated Sheraton Miramar Resort, the first of two distinct five-star hotels on my week-long stay. I'm quickly ushered into the lobby to check-in, where staff warmly hand me a refreshing cold-pressed apple juice before escorting me to my beautiful room. Long before stepping inside my Premium Guest room, the resort captivates me. We weave past a vibrant outdoor lounge filled with tables and chairs, cross fairytale-like bridges over shimmering lagoons, then follow a winding pathway through greenery so lush it feels like a genuine rainforest.
My generously sized room is a breath of fresh air, styled in earthy beige and white tones with stone floors and surfaces, beechwood furniture, and rattan accents. The spacious bathroom is stocked with dental and vanity kits, a fresh loofah, oak-scented handwash, fresh robes, and bottled water by the sink. I spend the hour before dinner on my private balcony, watching the sun set over the Red Sea - with the private beach just metres away, the view feels like it's straight out of a postcard.
Dining options in El Gouna are endless, but the Sheraton offers some of the town's best food and drink on-site. Alongside beach bars, indoor shisha lounges, and a life-sized boat bar floating in the lagoon, the hotel is home to three signature restaurants: La Piscina, Miramar, and Orient 1001. I head to Orient 1001 for authentic Egyptian cuisine. After falling in love with shorbet ads - traditional lentil soup - during a previous trip to Sharm El Sheikh, I eagerly order a bowl before tucking into chef Mohamed's slow-braised lamb shank with rice, paired with Egyptian white wine. Around me, sunset-toned cushions, rattan chairs, and low modern lighting create a rustic yet contemporary atmosphere.
The next morning, refreshed, I meet my guide, Alex, for a tour of El Gouna, beginning with a leisurely lagoon boat ride. He explains that every lagoon was carved from the desert where the sea once met the shore, bringing the coastline inland. However, sustainability is very much central here: water is recycled at an on-site centre, while solar energy and generators help power the town. As we cruise across the bright cyan water, we pass the many features that keep El Gouna self-sufficient - a winery producing XO Wine, a mosque, church, art district, turtle and horse farm, and a motor club where visitors can rent dirt bikes and quads.
Later, we stop at Yamas, a Mediterranean restaurant resembling a Greek village, where we feast on French onion soup and the largest chicken gyros I've ever seen - with leftovers shamelessly packed to tuck into at the hotel for later. It's here Alex mentions El Gouna recently appeared on The Apprentice. 'Really?!' I exclaim, before double-checking on my phone. Sure enough, the town featured as the destination for a corporate away-day challenge in the sixth episode of Series 20, which saw one competing team manage desert adventures and the other host lagoon tours.
Over the following days, I throw myself into everything El Gouna offers: tuk-tuk rides along cobbled streets, beach volleyball and Mai Tais, yacht-watching at the all-new Fanadir Marina, and panoramic views from the Golf Tower. One highlight is a five-hour catamaran trip across the Red Sea, where dolphins leap beside the boat and I snorkel for the first time among vibrant coral reefs.
The food scene proves equally memorable: seasoned ostrich at the Sheraton buffet, Achari chicken tikka at Tandoor - ranked in TripAdvisor's top 1 per cent of restaurants in the 2025 Travellers' Choice Awards - and Thai noodle salad at Nihon, the rooftop Pan-Asian restaurant at The Chedi El Gouna. My favourite meal, however, comes at Steigenberger Golf Resort, where Harumaki hosts El Gouna's only teppanyaki show. Between flying knives, fiery grills, and bowls of noodles, fried rice, and miso soup, dinner becomes a performance in itself.
On my final morning at the Sheraton, I reluctantly say goodbye to the staff before checking into Casa Cook El Gouna - an adults-only retreat focused on wellness and understated luxury. Part of the Casa Collective portfolio, the five-star resort features more than 100 rooms, suites, and villas, plus restaurants, a spa, gym, kitesurfing centre, pools, and miles of private shoreline. Arriving at the northern edge of El Gouna, where desert dunes meet the sea, I immediately notice the contrast with the lively Sheraton. At my previous accommodation, there were sights and sounds and visuals to take in wherever you looked; here, there is a comforting stillness.
After a long walk to my Junior Suite, which overlooks the endless desert, the interiors make the journey worthwhile: dark chalky walls, warm wooden furniture, crisp white bedding, a stone bathroom, linen robes, a Marshall speaker, and a luxury outdoor pool shared with neighbouring suites. The hotel has also recently introduced 29 new swim-up suites with semi-private pools and lounge areas for groups seeking complete privacy. Unlike my activity-packed stay at the Sheraton, my final two days here are wonderfully slow-paced - cocktails, tacos, books and board games by the lounge, afternoons in a hammock, and beachside tanning sessions. Breakfasts of crispy beef bacon and cooked-to-order omelettes are followed by spa visits featuring plunge pools, saunas, and a hammam.
For my final evening, I head into the surrounding desert for a safari adventure. Riding a quad bike for the first time, our group speeds deep into the dunes, leaving civilisation behind. After exploring the world's third-largest dry canyon, meeting a regal Bedouin cat named Sultan, and climbing a small mountain for sweeping desert views, the experience ends beneath a spectacular, deep-red sunset.
You may not be able to drift through Venice's canals or lounge on beaches beside centuries-old landmarks, but that's exactly El Gouna's charm. Here, travellers trade gloomy waterways for crystal lagoons and crowded piazzas for peaceful marinas - and all at a surprisingly reasonable cost.
Travel Facts
Jowena was hosted by Orescom, which manages both Casa Cook and Sheraton Miramar Resort, for her trip. Premium Guest Rooms at the Sheraton start at £208. Junior Suites with Pool View at Casa Cook start at £548. easyJet return flights from London Gatwick to Hurghada start at £134 in November 2026. Visit easyjet.com.
