El Gouna Excursions & Day Trips 2026‑2027: boat trips, dolphins, safaris & Luxor

On the water: island trips to Orange Bay, Paradise Island, Mahmya or Tawila, the dolphin trip to the Dolphin House reef, snorkeling, a private speedboat from Abu Tig Marina, the semi-submarine, an intro dive or a dive on the Abu Nuhas wrecks, and parasailing. On land: quad, buggy and jeep safaris into the Eastern Desert with a Bedouin dinner and stargazing, the Grand Aquarium and an evening in Hurghada. Further away: Luxor in one day, Cairo and the pyramids by road or by plane, Dendera and Abydos, and Aswan with Abu Simbel over two days. In town, take a lagoon boat ride, wakeboard at Sliders Cable Park, kitesurf off Mangroovy Beach, play golf and spend an evening at Abu Tig Marina or in Downtown. Hotel pickup in El Gouna is included on every excursion we run.

See island trips, dolphin trips, desert safaris and Luxor tours.

A morning quad ride starts from €35 per adult and the super safari with jeep, quad, camel and Bedouin dinner from €45. On the water: the semi-submarine from €25, Hula Hula island from €30, the dolphin trip from €35, Orange Bay from €40 and Paradise Island from €50. A private speedboat starts from €170. Luxor in one day by bus starts from €90, Cairo by bus from €85, Luxor over two days with a balloon flight from €250, and Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel over two days from €450. Hotel pickup is always included. Children up to 4 go free, ages 5 to 10 pay half, and from 11 the adult price applies. You pay on the day, in cash in euros, dollars or pounds sterling, with no deposit.

Our Luxor day trip by bus starts from €90 per adult, and children aged 5 to 10 pay from €45. That covers hotel pickup in El Gouna, an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance to Karnak, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs) and the Temple of Hatshepsut, a stop at the Colossi of Memnon, and lunch. Tutankhamun's tomb needs an extra ticket. The private trip to Dendera and Abydos starts from €140, and two days in Luxor with a balloon flight from €250.

See all Luxor tours from El Gouna.

Luxor is about 300 km from El Gouna, roughly 4 to 4.5 hours each way via Safaga and Qena, with a short break and the usual police checkpoints. Pickup is early, usually between 4:00 and 5:00, and you are back at your hotel in the evening, around 15 to 16 hours in all. It is a long day, but worth it if you will not otherwise reach the Nile Valley: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon in one go. Ask your hotel for a breakfast box the night before, bring your passport or a copy, and wear light clothes that cover shoulders and knees. If one day sounds too much, the two-day trip adds a night in Luxor and a sunrise balloon flight.

See all Luxor tours from El Gouna.

Yes. Every excursion from El Gouna runs with an English-speaking guide or crew, and on Luxor, Cairo, Aswan, Dendera and Abydos the guide is a licensed Egyptologist who explains the temples and tombs as you go. Our team also answers WhatsApp in English, so booking and every question before the trip is easy.

Yes, by road or by plane. The Pyramids of Giza are about 450 km from El Gouna, roughly 5.5 to 6 hours each way, so the bus trip is a very long day. Many guests fly instead: the flight from Hurghada to Cairo takes about an hour and you are back at your hotel the same night. Both versions include the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with an Egyptologist. If you want more time, take the two-day trip with a night in Cairo, or add Alexandria.

See all Cairo tours from El Gouna.

Several kinds. The lagoon boat trip is a short, slow ride through El Gouna's canals and lagoons, about an hour. On the open sea there are full-day trips to the islands (Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Mahmya on Giftun, Tawila to the north, Hula Hula and Magawish), the dolphin trip to the Dolphin House reef, snorkeling trips with two or three reef stops, the semi-submarine, diving trips and private speedboats or yachts. Many boats leave from Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna; some island boats leave from Hurghada, half an hour away, with the transfer included.

See island trips, speedboats and semi-submarine trips.

With us, the semi-submarine starts from €25, Hula Hula island from €30, the dolphin and snorkeling trip from €35, Orange Bay from €40 and Paradise Island from €50 per adult, with hotel pickup, mask, fins and lunch on full-day trips. A private speedboat starts from €170 for the boat. Island and national park fees and the boat can change the price a little by season, so ask us on WhatsApp for the exact price on your dates.

At Sha'ab El Erg, the horseshoe-shaped reef known as the Dolphin House, which lies just off the coast between El Gouna and Hurghada, so it is one of the shortest boat rides of any resort. A pod of spinner dolphins often rests there in the morning. The group trip includes two snorkel stops and lunch, and the private speedboat is faster and leaves when you want. Sightings are common but never guaranteed, and the crew keeps its distance so the dolphins come to you.

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Yes. Zeytuna Island and some hotel beaches have easy shore snorkeling, and the reefs off El Gouna and Giftun have clear water, coral gardens, reef fish, rays and sometimes turtles. Certified divers can join boat dives to the Abu Nuhas wrecks to the north, one of the best-known wreck sites in the Red Sea. Beginners can try an intro dive with an instructor without a licence, or do a PADI Open Water course over three to four days.

See snorkeling trips and scuba diving.

Orange Bay is the famous beach day with white sand and turquoise shallows. Paradise Island has a long beach and suits families. Mahmya is a quieter eco-beach with a daily guest limit and a good reef. Tawila, north of El Gouna, has mangroves, birdlife and shallow water, about 40 minutes by speedboat. Hula Hula is a shallow lagoon you can walk into, easy with small children. Tell us what matters most and we will match the trip.

See all island trips from El Gouna.

The desert starts right behind El Gouna. Quads are the most physical and direct, buggies are two-seaters you drive together, and jeeps are the comfortable option for families. Most trips run in the afternoon and include a camel ride, a Bedouin village, tea, a barbecue dinner and stargazing, and you are back at your hotel in the evening. Bring closed shoes, sunglasses and a scarf for the dust. Helmets and goggles are provided on our trips.

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El Gouna is about 25 km north of Hurghada airport, around 25 to 30 minutes by car, and about 30 minutes from the Marina and old town of Hurghada. We run private transfers between the airport, your hotel in El Gouna and Hurghada at a fixed price per car, agreed in advance.

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El Gouna is a resort town on Egypt's Red Sea coast, about 25 km north of Hurghada in the Red Sea Governorate. It belongs to the Hurghada area but is a separate, planned town, started in 1989, built around lagoons, canals and small islands, which is why it is called the 'Venice of the Red Sea'. It has its own marinas (Abu Tig and Fanadir), a Downtown, beaches, golf courses and kite spots.

El Gouna is one of the calmest places on the Red Sea coast. It is a gated town with security at the entrances, many families and long-stay visitors, and you can walk or take a tuk-tuk around it easily, also in the evening. Our excursions run with licensed drivers and guides, and long road trips to Luxor and Cairo follow the official routes and checkpoints. It is worth visiting if you want a relaxed base with good water sports, restaurants and easy day trips. Check your government's travel advice before you go, as advice can change.

El Gouna is a little pricier than central Hurghada for restaurants and bars, but excursions cost about the same, since the trips and boats are shared along the coast. Booking direct with a local operator is usually cheaper than through a tour operator rep. With us there is no deposit, hotel pickup is included, and children up to 4 go free.

Evenings centre on Abu Tig Marina, with restaurants and bars by the boats, and Downtown, with cafés, shops and live music. Hotels run themed nights such as Bedouin dinners, barbecues and oriental shows, and Sea Cinema shows recent films. For something different, a desert safari ends with a Bedouin dinner under the stars, or join our evening in Hurghada for the Marina and the old market.

See the safari with Bedouin dinner.

El Gouna has sun almost all year. March to May and October to November are the best all-round months, with warm days and a warm sea. June to September is hot, around 35 °C, so boat trips are best in the morning and safaris at sunset. December to February is mild, around 22 to 24 °C by day, ideal for Luxor and Cairo, with cool evenings. The wind is steady most of the year, which is why El Gouna is a kitesurfing spot; on very windy days some boat trips can change route.

Yes. Mangroovy Beach and the lagoons have kite schools for beginners and experienced riders, Sliders Cable Park is one of the largest cable parks for wakeboarding, and El Gouna has two 18-hole golf courses. These are usually booked directly with the centre or club; we are happy to arrange your transport.

Yes. Abu Tig Marina has boutiques and lifestyle shops, Downtown (Tamr Henna) has souvenirs, cafés and daily essentials, and Fanadir Marina has a few small shops by the water. For spices, cotton and souvenirs at local prices, go to Hurghada: the old Dahar market, the Marina and the malls. Our city and shopping tour picks you up in El Gouna and brings you back, with no forced stops at commission shops.

See the Hurghada city and shopping tour.

For small children: the semi-submarine, Hula Hula island with its shallow lagoon, the Grand Aquarium in Hurghada, the dolphin show and the aqua parks. Older children usually love the dolphin trip, a jeep safari and snorkeling at Orange Bay. Children up to 4 travel free and ages 5 to 10 pay half on most trips.

See family-friendly tours and the Grand Aquarium.

Yes. Dendera and Abydos are among the best-preserved temples in Egypt and much quieter than Luxor. From El Gouna it is a long private day of about 12 to 13 hours, usually Abydos first and Dendera on the way back. Aswan is too far for a comfortable day trip, so we run it over two days, with Philae Temple, the High Dam, a felucca and Abu Simbel.

See Dendera and Abydos and Aswan tours.

Yes. We drive you from El Gouna to Luxor or Aswan, where you board a cruise ship for three to five days with Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and an Egyptologist, and then we bring you back to your hotel. Send us your dates and we will send the available ships and the price.

See El Gouna tour packages.

Compare first. Booking direct with a local operator is usually cheaper than through your tour operator's rep, and you can adjust the plan and the times. With us there is no deposit: you pay on the day of the trip and can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before. Hotel pickup is always included.

Yes, take your passport or a clear copy on boat trips and on trips to Luxor and Cairo, as the coast guard and police checkpoints check names. To stay in El Gouna you need an Egyptian tourist visa, bought on arrival at Hurghada airport or online in advance, and your passport should be valid for at least six months. Rules can change, so check before you travel.

For a boat trip: swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sun cream, a hat and some cash for drinks and photos. For the desert: closed shoes, long trousers if you drive a quad, sunglasses and a scarf. For Luxor and Cairo: good shoes, light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, a thin jacket for the early start and your passport or a copy.

Yes. The same trips leave from Hurghada, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay and Safaga with hotel pickup. Only the pickup time changes with the distance. Send us your hotel name and we will tell you the time.

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from every hotel and residence in El Gouna, including Steigenberger Golf Resort, Sheraton Miramar, Mövenpick, Casa Cook and Cook's Club, The Chedi, Three Corners Ocean View and Rihana, Club Paradisio, Panorama Bungalows, Ancient Sands, DoubleTree by Hilton Mangroovy, Sultan Bey, Fanadir, Mosaique, Ali Pasha and the apartments in Downtown. The pickup time depends on where you are staying.

To book, send us your hotel name, date and the number of adults and children on WhatsApp: +20 120 290 5255. We reply in English, confirm your place and pickup time, and you pay on the day in cash in euros, dollars or pounds sterling. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.