El Gouna

25 kilometres from Hurghada International Airport and a four-hour flight from Germany, El Gouna is nestled on a 36 million square metre stretch of land between the Red Sea coast and Egypt's Eastern Desert Mountains. The resort, founded some 25 years ago by Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris, extends over ten kilometres of beachfront with many quaint lagoons and acclaimed architecture featuring modern Arabic design. There are two main hubs of activity: Kafr El Gouna (downtown) and the Abu Tig Marina, both offering a wide choice of restaurants, bars, shisha cafés, shopping arcades and service facilities. El Gouna is also known as Egypt's most environmentally friendly holiday destination - another reason for many Germans to settle here. The resort's approximately 20,000 residents and their families benefit from facilities like playschools, day care centres as well as international and national schools. People looking to buy a home in El Gouna may choose from a wide range of options, for any budget and taste, from stylish apartments in the marina to luxury villas with private jetty. The resort not only boasts 2,700 private villas and apartments, it also has its own waste recycling plant and water management system, a farm, a brewery and a winery. Excellent medical care is provided through a fully equipped hospital with international standards, including a decompression chamber and a dialysis unit. 365 days of sunshine per year make activities like kiteboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, parasailing, horseback riding, golfing, diving, sailing or quad tours great fun. And with a total of 17 hotels, guests are sure to find accommodation options to suit any budget, from basic family hotels to five-star luxury resorts. Construction of El Gouna's second 18-hole championship golf course is underway.