Just as winter was setting in, nine Hays Travel employees jetted off to the turquoise waters of the Red Sea Riviera. Off the back of a successful inaugural campaign between Hays and the destination, they were bound for El Gouna, a coastal resort town built on a series of islands connected by canals and lagoons.

The group comprised seven top-selling sales agents for the destination, one member of Hays social team and one member of the product team plus El Gouna’s UK representative, Ben Williams.

The group arrived in Hurghada after a five-hour flight from Gatwick, and moved swiftly through immigration, paying for an Egyptian visa on arrival (preferred payment option is US$25 in cash).

El Gouna is roughly a 30-minute transfer from Hurghada, and the resort town made a good first impression on Hannah Line, account manager at Hays Travel Bishops Waltham. “El Gouna is gated and has a high level of security when entering any of the hotels which made us feel very safe. The community has a great vibe and the people are lovely! The main mode of transport around El Gouna is Tuk Tuks.”

For the first two nights, the agents were hosted by the five-star Steigenberger Golf Resort.

“The resort was absolutely beautiful. The rooms were really spacious and had a lovely balcony area overlooking the water, which made the morning coffee extra special,” says Hannah.

Polly Bendall, travel consultant for Hays Travel Weymouth, echoes this: “I was blown away. I stayed in a deluxe room on the ground floor, which had direct access from my private terrace to a pool with a swim-up bar.”

After settling in, the group headed out for their first Bedouin dinner, which was accompanied by traditional Tanoura folk and belly dancing. 

Treasure hunt

The next morning began with breakfast at the Fairways restaurant before the group went on a treasure hunt, accessed via the hotel’s app, around the resort to familiarise themselves with everything on offer. This included a boat trip across the lagoon to the golf course and a climb to the top of the golf tower, which has stunning panoramic views.

“The boat trip is a great way of seeing the town from the water and how it is all connected by the lagoons…Some call it the Venice of Egypt,” says Polly. The lagoons of El Gouna are purpose built, but unlike those found in Dubai, they are designed with natural beauty in mind. Here, guests can swim directly from the hotel into the pristine water.

For the rest of the day, the group was treated to a tour of the local winery, where they sampled surprisingly delicious Egyptian wine. “The wine is only sold in Egypt and it’s very good,” says Hannah. Dinner was a live cooking show at the only Teppanyaki restaurant in El Gouna, back at the Steigenberger hotel.

The following day, before checking out, the group was able to visit neighbouring three-star Captains Inn Hotel, and the four-star Ali Pasha Hotel. These small, boutique hotels overlook the marina and are just steps away from the resort’s best restaurants, lively nightlife and relaxing beaches.

Solely for adults

They then were transferred with the help of a local guide to the second hotel – the four-star Cooks Club (adults-only, 16+). Polly says: “I’d recommend this hotel to couples and groups of friends who are wanting something a little bit more lively, because it’s only a couple of minutes’ walk to downtown with its shops, bars and restaurants.”

Cooks Club invited the agents to take part in a private cooking class, where they were taught to make local Hawawshi – a delicious traditional crispy pita pocket, stuffed with mincemeat. The next stop on the food tour was dinner at Tandoor in the marina, an Indian restaurant widely regarded as one of the best in the area and host to a live singer.

Wanting to continue the night, the agents returned to the hotel: “We stayed up and joined the hotel’s famed party which ran from 22:00 - 00:30, with a live DJ and lots of dancing,” says Natalie Smethurst, travel consultant, Hays Travel Warrington Birchwood.

Recovering from the night before, the group had breakfast in their own time, before beginning their fourth day with a private tour of the five-star ultra-luxury adults-only Casa Cook hotel. “This was my favourite hotel out of all the hotels we visited during our time in El Gouna and I would definitely stay here myself,” says Natalie. 

They then headed out for a trip in the Egyptian desert on quad bikes. Natalie was equally impressed by this excursion: “This was my favourite part of the whole holiday...even though I only lasted 10 minutes on my own quad bike. It was stunning.” The group were able to stay until the sun had gone down and enjoyed dinner under the stars.

For the final day, they were transferred by the local guide to the Egyptian House, a charity that helps underprivileged women and girls by teaching them to make arts and crafts and then selling their products. Polly explains: “The items on offer were beautifully made and all had a story behind them. From cashmere and Egyptian cotton scarves to ornaments made from alabaster straight from the mountains.”

Overall, the agents loved their stay. Natalie says El Gouna has a wide appeal: “There are hotels to suit families and adults only, luxury and boutique hotels, and hotels for young adults who enjoy partying and nightlife!”
Polly thinks it’s a great winter sun alternative to the Canaries and Hannah is also a fan: “I would absolutely return to El Gouna. I’d recommend it to anyone. What a beautiful place.”