Come enjoy the Sunny Side of Life. El Gouna (Arabic: ??????, the lagoon) is a tourist resort, developed and owned by Orascom Hotels and Development, dating from about 1990
It is located on the Red Sea in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt, 22 km north of Hurghada International Airport.
El Gouna Marina
A self-contained town on the beautiful Red Sea coast, El Gouna’s sandy beaches and ideal temperatures welcome visitors all year round. Internationally recognized as Egypt’s most environmentally friendly destination, El Gouna takes its name from the crystalline lagoons that wrap around a cluster of islands and seashore on which the town is built.
Spreading across islands and lagoons, the town is built on a 10 km stretch of Red Sea coastline and boasts superb infrastructure and award-winning architecture. What makes the town especially unique is its international flavour. With over 15,000 permanent residents from all over the world, El Gouna is home to a multi-cultural international community.
El Gouna is a fully developed town, offering all the services required for a hassle-free vacation or permanent living. In addition to 16 hotels, the various activities and entertainment options, world-class cuisines, and exciting nightlife make El Gouna the Red Sea’s most sought after destination.
Facts about El Gouna!
Did you know that El Gouna . . .
… is as big as central London
… has year-round sunshine
… offers the widest range of leisure possibilities in the entire Red Sea area
… lies against the dramatic backdrop of Egypt’s Eastern Desert Mountains
… is a favourite training spot for world kite surfing champion Kristin Boese
… is frequently chosen by international and national film corporations as a commercial and film-shoot location because of its unique beauty
… is a regular host to beauty pageant hopefuls and title winners, including Miss Germany, Miss Belgium, Mr. Switzerland, and Miss Egypt
El Gouna at a Glance!
Overview of El Gouna
The Town
-Award-winning architecture
-Conference and meeting facilities
-Innovative Dine Around Program
-100 restaurants, bars, and eateries
-2,500 real estate units sold
-Private airport
-European-standard hospital
-Transportation includes bus, boat, and tok tok
-Wireless, high-speed internet
-Shopping, souvenirs and exclusive boutiques
-Abu Tig cruising marina
-Abydos service marina
Development
-36.8 million sq. meters total land area
-11 million sq. meters total area developed
-14 hotels with 2,707 guest rooms
-10 km of beachfront
-20 islands surrounded by lagoons
-15,000 residents from all over the world
-Environmental awards
-Villas and apartments for sale and rent
Leisure/Sport
-18-hole Championship Golf Course
-2 Angsana Spa outlets
-4 public-access beaches
-9 certified diving centers
-5 kite surfing centers
-Horse stables, go-karts, paintball
-Tennis academy and football team
Community
-International curriculum K-12 school
-Public Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina)
-University center (AUC branch)
-Hotel training school
-Church and Mosque for religious services
-Nurseries and childcare
-Children’s playground
-Supermarkets and fresh produce
Access
-Four hour flight from Europe
-22 km from Hurghada International Airport
-450 km from Cairo
Located in close proximity to Hurghada International Airport, El Gouna is easily accessible from Europe’s major cities.
Hospitality: So Many Choices
El Gouna is home to 16 hotels ranging from intimate inns to lavish 5-star beachfront resorts, each uniquely designed to offer exceptional service. Also equipped with excellent conference facilities that meet the highest standards. If you prefer a more permanent stay, villas and apartments are readily available for purchase or rental. El Gouna is the perfect choice for business and pleasure.
Dining and Nightlife: Feel the Vibe!
El Gouna provides a medley of exotic cuisine and entertainment options in and around the town and marina. Choose from superb a la carte restaurants and stylish cafes in the marina or beach BBQ’s and seaside bars.
Take advantage of the Dine Around Program which allows guests on half board, full board, and all-inclusive basis to substitute meals at their own hotel for one at any of the participating restaurants. After sunset, life in El Gouna continues to pulse and thrive.
El Gouna has dozens of nightspots and a variety of settings to enjoy your nights out powered by international musicians, DJs and local artists.
Sports and Soul: The Sunny Side of Life
The town offers some of the world’s best marine-based activities including snorkeling, deep sea fishing, paragliding, kite surfing, as well as nine certified diving centres. Land sports include an 18-hole professional golf course, tennis, beach volleyball, horse-back riding, and desert safaris. For those looking to harmonise body and mind, the world-renowned Banyan Tree Group offers two Angsana Spa outlets in El Gouna for unforgettable pampering.
Travel Experience El Gouna – Red Sea – Egypt
Abu Tig Marina
El Gouna – a desert town on the Red Sea, which is built entirely focused on western tourism. This was the second time I visited, and I was as fascinated as the first. The whole city is made up of lagoons and islands. El Gouna is focused on tourism but you can also find big, expensive boats in the marina.
There are three areas with shops, restaurants and nightclubs. The most frequented is the Abu Tig Marina, southern and northern basin. It is in the south basin of the marina – the oldest – where most night life, so far, and even shops are. Here you can basically find most things that are interesting to buy – jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, etc. But there is also a nice mix of restaurants, both larger fish restaurants and international cuisine but also the intimate little Italian pizzeria with one table inside the store and the rest on the patio (they also have takeout).
Besides the marina there is also a small city part – Tamr Henna – which is around 30 minutes’ walk (15 km) or 10 minutes away with a TucTuc. At the Tamr Henna Square is the most commerce – shops, restaurants, post office and tourist information. In Tamr Henna is also the Swedish-run restaurant Upstairs. A restaurant with quality when it comes to food (ingredients, etc.) but also on the service side it is superb. This restaurant is worth at least one visit and then you gladly will be back again. Not only the owners are Swedes, but the head waiter is also Swedish and the waiters speak tolerable Swedish and Norwegian.
Within walking distance of Tamr Henna, Downtown there is a small marina with a “pedestrian zone” between two commercial buildings where there are restaurants and shops. The marina has shuttle boats that go to different hotels around El Gouna. At the Downtown is the city’s casino, the cinema and an aquarium, a showcase for colourful fish at the coral reefs around the Red Sea.
Something that you should not miss when you are here on the Red Sea is to take a look below the surface. There is a colourful inferno with all the fish we only find in our various aquariums and then only in small sizes. It can be done mainly in two ways: diving with equipment or staying on the surface and snorkel, which can be recommended – it looks an awful lot even then. As I wrote earlier, the city is made up of lagoons and islands.
What you might benefit from is a lagoon trip which will take you around El Gouna and passing various attractions and you also get a little history lesson about what you see and how it is structured and viewed from the sea side.
This was the second time I visited the town but it won´t be the last – I have fallen in love with the city by the sea!
Hotel Fanadir
Situated in the heart of El Gouna’s Abu Tig Marina North Basin on the Red Sea, the four-star Fanadir Hotel welcomes guests all year around. An Arabic inspired architecture and décor with warm and comforting tones invite visitors to enjoy all that El Gouna has to offer. The Fanadir Hotel will make for a memorable stay that will keep you returning year after year.
Fanadir Hotel Lobby
The hotel is committed to the green concept of El Gouna town: all rooms are equipped with power saving cards that activate the electricity, as well as magnetic switches that turn off the air conditioning when windows are opened. Room water heaters are solar powered, water saving devices reduce consumption, power saving light bulbs are used throughout the hotel, and pool water is heated by fuel instead of electric boiler. The Fanadir hotel expects to receive Green Star Hotel certification very soon to certify its environmental commitment.
Escape the crowd and get pampered in an intimate four-star “hotel de charme” aimed at couples searching for a quiet, relaxed and romantic atmosphere directly on the luxurious marina with all the activities and enjoyment of the Red Sea beach resort of El Gouna.
Fanadir Hotel Standard Room
Fanadir Hotel offers a total of 54 Guest Rooms with 40 Rooms (with either pool view for standard rooms or Marina view for deluxe rooms), 2 rooms specially designed for physically challenged guests and 12 suites. Choose between the Junior Suite, the Executive Suite with large terrace overlooking the desert, and the Marina or the Ambassador Suite which offers a separate living room.
All rooms have a balcony or terrace with view over the Red Sea and the beautiful new Marina or in the inside courtyard and the hotel’s 243 square-meter swimming pool. Most rooms are non-smoking.
21 Standard Rooms:
Spacious 35 m². room with pool view, some with direct pool access from the terrace.
19 Deluxe rooms:
Spacious 35 m² room with marina view and a terrace or balcony.
2 Disabled rooms:
Same size as the standard room but specially equipped for physically challenged guests. Hanging rails in the cupboard are at a reduced height. Room and terrace doors are adapted for wheelchair users. The bathrooms have open showers and handles for the shower and toilet. The two disabled rooms are located next to the restaurant and reception. Restaurant and bar are both easily accessible for physically challenged people.
9 Junior Suites:
The Junior Suite (40 m²) consists of one large room with a king size bed and a sitting area with a sofa and TV. It has a large bathroom with shower and a private balcony with a fantastic view of the Super Yacht Marina or the Pool.
Ambassador Suite:
The Ambassador Suite (66 m²) consists of one large room with a king size bed and a separate living room with a sofa and TV. The bathroom has a shower and toilets. It has a large private balcony with a fantastic view of the Super Yacht Marina or the Pool.
1 Executive Suite:
The Executive Suite consists of one large room with a king size bed and a seating area with a sofa and TV, as well as a dining table, total 134m². The bathroom has a shower, a separate bath tub, a dressing room (8 m²) and a kitchenette. There are two private balconies, each one of 42m² with a fantastic view on the Super Yacht Marina, the Pool and the desert mountains; it is equipped with long chairs and a coffee table. A coffee and tea facility is available.
Room amenities
* Satellite flat screen TV
* Telephone
* Wi-Fi Internet (charged)
* Individually controlled air conditioning
* Digital safe
* Minibar
* Wall mounted hairdryer
* Shaving/make-up mirror
* Large Italian style shower
* Pillow menu
* Room service from 7am till 11pm
* Connected rooms available
* Coffee and tea facility available in all suites
Hotel Review
Fanadir Hotel (Pool)
Fanadir Hotel, Abu Tig Marina, North Basin, El Gouna, Egypt
Fanadir is a newly built (opened November 1, 2010) small hotel that really focuses on making guests feel at home. The hotel has only 54 rooms in various sizes including a couple of suites and is situated in the north basin of the Abu Tig Marina.
The staff is very helpful and will do anything to satisfy you as a guest in the best way. On arrival you are met at the bus by someone who takes your luggage, and once inside the hotel lobby you are greeted by friendly staff who presented a welcome drink. Rooms at the hotel are generous, whether they are the usual standard room overlooking the courtyard and pool or the marina room (extra charge). Rooms are available with different modes either standard with balcony and pool view – some of them also have direct access to the pool – or a second room with balcony overlooking the marina. All rooms have balconies.
The hotel is built in a circle. The pool (both children’s pool and regular pool) is located in the centre of the buildings. There is also a pool bar where you can sit in the pool at the bar and if you choose to lie on sun loungers around the pool you will be served continuously with drinks, soft drinks and / or coffee and snacks – you do not have to get it by yourself. All the time you get served – even the pool towel and the sun bed will be placed in the desired location by staff.
Breakfast can be eaten on the patio which is located directly adjacent to the restaurant under a sail roof. Lunch and dinner are served buffet style and there are different foods to choose from every day – fish, meat and poultry, and various tasty soups, but above all we must not forget the dessert table.
Fanadir is a hotel with a comfort level above middleclass and is suitable for individuals and families wanting a relaxing time without a lot of distractions like games and morning exercises in the pool. None of this is here, which then fits those who want to leave such at home and instead want to experience something different on their holiday. It is a place for rest and recreation with peace and quiet – a place to gather force and get new energy. If you are looking for some more life and motion, you will find that just around the corner, 10 minutes away in the south basin of the marina.
Ratings
Cleanliness 5 stars
Location 4 stars
Facilities 4 stars
Restaurant 5 stars
Service 5 stars
Fanadir Hotel Contact Information
T (+2 0) 65-3580076
F (+20) 65-3545060
