Full Description
A private El Gouna tour from Hurghada shows you a very different side of Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Instead of temples or desert landscapes, you will see lagoons, marinas, small squares, cafés and modern neighbourhoods built around the water.
You are collected from your hotel in Hurghada and travel to El Gouna in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. During the tour, you visit areas such as Abu Tig Marina, Downtown El Gouna and several parts of the town built around the lagoons. You also have free time to walk around, take photos or stop for a drink by the water.
The tour lasts around five hours and is organised only for your own group. A German- or English-speaking guide accompanies you. There are no planned shopping stops.
Participants | Vehicle | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
2 people | Private air-conditioned car | €35 |
3–5 people | Private air-conditioned minibus | €30 |
6–8 people | Private air-conditioned minibus | €20 |
Children aged 6 to 11 pay 50% of the relevant adult price. Children aged 0 to 5 join free of charge.
Private El Gouna Tour from Hurghada at a Glance
El Gouna is located north of Hurghada and was built around a network of lagoons, small islands and waterways. This design gives the town a noticeably different look from Hurghada.
During the tour, you see several parts of El Gouna instead of visiting only one location. You explore the marina, pass areas built around the lagoons and spend time in Downtown.
Because this is a private tour, you travel only with your partner, family or friends. There are no other guests in the vehicle and no long hotel collection route before the trip begins.
This makes the tour a useful option for travellers who want to see El Gouna in a few hours without arranging their own transport or working out where to go.
Itinerary for Your Private El Gouna Tour from Hurghada
The tour usually starts at around 09:00. The exact pickup time may vary slightly depending on your hotel location, traffic and the preferred schedule for the day.
The order of the stops can also change. Because the tour is private, the itinerary can be adjusted more easily around your interests than on a fixed group excursion.
1. Private Pickup from Your Hotel in Hurghada
Your driver collects you directly from your accommodation in Hurghada.
You travel towards El Gouna in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The journey usually takes around 30 to 40 minutes, depending on your starting point and traffic.
There is no need to drive around several hotels to collect other guests, so the journey to El Gouna begins directly after your pickup.
Along the way, you start to see the coastal landscape north of Hurghada.
2. First Views of El Gouna and Its Lagoons
After arriving in El Gouna, you begin exploring different parts of the town.
The lagoons are one of its most noticeable features. Hotels, residential areas and public spaces have been built around stretches of water and small islands.
There may be opportunities for short stops and photos during the drive. Your guide shows you different areas and gives you an overview of how El Gouna is laid out.
The town feels quite different from central Hurghada. Waterways, low-rise buildings, landscaped areas and quieter streets shape much of its appearance.
If you have only seen your resort and Hurghada so far, this part of the tour gives you a useful comparison.
3. Walk Around Abu Tig Marina
One of the main stops on the private El Gouna tour from Hurghada is Abu Tig Marina.
Yachts and boats are moored beside the promenade, with cafés, restaurants and small shops around the harbour.
You have time to walk beside the water and look around the marina at your own pace. It is also one of the best places during the tour for photos.
You do not have to stay beside your guide at every moment. Because the tour is private, part of the time can be used to explore the area independently.
If you wish, you can sit in a café during your free time. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.
4. Explore Downtown El Gouna
After the marina, the tour continues to Downtown El Gouna.
This part of the town feels different from the yacht harbour. Around the small squares, you will find cafés, restaurants, shops and pedestrian-friendly streets.
You have free time here and can decide how you want to use it.
You may simply walk around, take photos or stop for a drink. If you would like to look for a souvenir, you can also do that during your own free time.
There are no required shop visits or sales presentations included in the tour programme.
Why Is El Gouna Called the “Venice of Egypt”?
El Gouna is sometimes called the “Venice of Egypt” because of its many lagoons, islands, bridges and waterways.
The two places are, of course, very different. The nickname mainly describes El Gouna’s unusual layout and the important role water plays throughout the town.
Many hotels, residential areas and leisure facilities are located directly beside lagoons, while bridges connect different parts of the resort.
On a private El Gouna tour from Hurghada, you can see more of this layout than you would by travelling to just one restaurant, beach or marina.
By moving through several different areas, you get a broader impression of the town.
Optional Lagoon Boat Trip
If you would like to see El Gouna from the water, a boat trip through the lagoons may be arranged depending on availability.
The boat trip is not automatically included in the standard tour price.
Please let us know before booking or before the day of the tour if you are interested. We can then check what is available and whether an additional charge applies.
Seeing El Gouna from the water gives you another view of the buildings, islands and lagoon system.
If you would rather spend more time at the marina or in Downtown, you do not need to add an extra activity.
Free Time During the El Gouna Tour
Free time is an important part of this tour.
You are not only shown different areas of El Gouna. You also have time to enjoy part of the visit in your own way.
This works particularly well when people in the same group have different interests. Some may want to sit beside the water, while others prefer to walk around or browse a few shops.
Because the tour is private, it is easier to discuss where you would like to spend a little more time.
The whole excursion lasts around five hours, so it is also suitable for travellers who want to explore El Gouna without giving up an entire day of their Hurghada holiday.
What Makes This Private El Gouna Tour Different?
The main difference is the group size.
You travel only with the people included in your booking, so the day does not have to follow the pace of a full coach.
Photo stops and walking periods are also easier to manage.
If you particularly enjoy one area, the time there can often be adjusted within the overall schedule. If another stop interests you less, you do not have to wait for a fixed group departure time.
There are also no planned papyrus, perfume or souvenir shop visits.
Your booked time is for El Gouna itself.
Private El Gouna Tour Without a Shopping Programme
For many travellers, free time is more valuable than an extra shopping programme.
That is why no sales stops are included in the planned itinerary.
You can, of course, visit shops during your own free time in Downtown or at the marina if you want to. The difference is that you make that choice yourself.
Nobody in your group has to wait because a certain shop is part of the tour programme.
This is especially useful on a tour of around five hours, as it leaves more time for the lagoons, marina, Downtown and your own plans.
Who Is This El Gouna Tour Suitable For?
A private El Gouna tour from Hurghada suits different types of travellers.
Couples can use the trip as a relaxed half-day away from their hotel.
Families may find the private vehicle useful because breaks and walking time can be adjusted more easily.
It also works well for small groups of friends because you can decide together how to use your free time.
The excursion is also a simple way to see another Red Sea resort during a beach holiday without committing to a long journey to Luxor or Cairo.
Visiting El Gouna with Children
El Gouna can also be a good option for families because this tour is much shorter than many cultural day trips.
The journey from Hurghada is relatively short and the itinerary includes free time.
There may still be some walking and standing, depending on how you choose to spend the visit. Comfortable shoes, a sun hat and sun protection are useful for children.
It is also a good idea to keep some water with you.
If your children need a break, this is easier to arrange on a private tour.
Children aged 6 to 11 pay half of the relevant adult price. Children aged 0 to 5 join free of charge.
Private El Gouna Tour with Limited Mobility
Because much of the excursion is completed by private vehicle, the tour may suit some travellers with limited mobility better than excursions that involve long walking routes.
How suitable it is depends on how far you can walk and which stops you want to visit.
At the marina and in Downtown, some walking is normally involved. On a private tour, these periods can be shortened or partly skipped if needed.
If you use a wheelchair or need help getting in and out of the vehicle, please tell us before booking. This allows us to check which vehicle and itinerary may suit you better.
You can also read our guide to Hurghada excursions for travellers with limited mobility:
Included in the Price
Private pickup from your hotel in Hurghada
Private return transfer to your hotel
Air-conditioned vehicle
German- or English-speaking guide
Drive through different areas of El Gouna
Visit to Abu Tig Marina
Visit to Downtown El Gouna
Photo stops depending on the day’s itinerary
Free time
Not Included in the Price
Meals
Drinks
Optional lagoon boat trip
Other optional activities
Personal expenses
Your own shopping
Tips
What to Bring on Your El Gouna Tour
You do not need any special equipment for the private El Gouna tour from Hurghada.
A few simple items can make the day more comfortable:
Comfortable shoes
Lightweight clothing
Sunglasses
A sun hat
Sun cream
Water
Personal medication
Some cash or a payment card for personal expenses
During winter, a light jacket can be useful in the morning or later in the day.
In warmer weather, good sun protection is particularly important if you spend more time walking outdoors.
How Much Time Should You Allow for the Tour?
The full tour lasts around five hours.
This includes the drive from Hurghada to El Gouna, sightseeing within the town, free time and the return journey to your hotel.
The actual duration can vary slightly because of traffic, your hotel location and the amount of time spent at each stop.
As El Gouna is only a relatively short drive from Hurghada, a large part of the booked time can be spent at the destination itself.
This is very different from day trips to Luxor or Cairo, where a significant part of the day is taken up by the outward and return journeys.
El Gouna as Part of Your Hurghada Holiday
Not every excursion has to take a full day.
If you are planning several activities during your holiday, the El Gouna tour can fit easily alongside beach days, boat trips and other excursions.
If you are still deciding which activities suit your holiday best, you can compare different options in our Hurghada excursions booking guide.
The time of year can also affect how you plan your days in Hurghada. Temperatures, daylight hours and wind conditions vary throughout the year.
Book Your Private El Gouna Tour from Hurghada
If you would like to see El Gouna, Abu Tig Marina, the lagoons and Downtown, you can book the private El Gouna tour from Hurghada for your preferred group size.
Choose your travel date and number of participants.
After booking, we will confirm the exact pickup time for your hotel. If you have particular requests for the itinerary or are interested in an optional lagoon boat trip, you can also let us know.
