Creating a perfect town, filled with luxury hotels and residences, unique architecture and top of the range services and leisure facilities that are able to withstand the test of time and maintain perfect standards - this once sounded like a distant dream. However, Orascom Hotels and Development (OHD) has made this fantasy a reality, creating more and more remarkable towns across Egypt and now the world. Firmly committed to the sustainability of its towns, El Gouna, OHD's flagship project, is a benchmark of catering to every aspect of the community's needs, from the earliest planning stage through development and, finally, governance. El Gouna started out as one man's dream, when Samih Sawiris discovered the most secluded spot on the Red Sea to build a house and a small jetty for his boat. It was not long until his friends, struck by the splendor of the azure waters and dramatic mountain backdrop asked to join him. This way, El Gouna began to blossom into the rich, vibrant community it is today. El Gouna is only a four-hour drive from Cairo down the spectacular Red Sea coast, or a one-hour flight to Hurghada International Airport, which is just 22 km away from the town. Over two decades, what was once a desert is now a flourishing town. Its array of hotels, villas and apartments contribute their own flavors to the town while preserving its artistic continuity. The result is a fusion of landscape and architecture into a unified whole. With 14 hotels ranging from luxury beachfront resorts to intimate boutique hotels, and featuring two main hubs - one of which is the Downtown Kafr, especially popular among teens - El Gouna caters to every taste and age group. Other signature downtown venues include the Club House, which boasts a beach and a pool, and the well-known local chain Tabasco. Worth a mention is the Italian restaurant Kiki's, famous for its great gnocchi. When it comes to gourmet dining, Abu Tig Marina is the place to go. More beautiful than many international marinas, this focal point is tastefully landscaped and extremely romantic. Like everything else in El Gouna, the food is great wherever you go. La Scala, Seventh Star and Peer 88 (a floating restaurant/pub) are among the most popular venues. A few little bars are hidden around the marina, like Barten (yes, same as that small red bar in Cairo's La Bodega) and Peanuts. An authentic Irish pub called Smugglers also hides behind the Marina, which is great for watching games in the dead in-between hours. To many, El Gouna is a holiday destination, but to others it is home all year round. Today it's a self-sufficient municipality with a hospital, school and even a university field center of AUC. To name a few, the Mangroovy Beach, and Buzzha Beach and Bar are perfect for lazy afternoons where you can sunbathe or read a book. And if you're into golf, El Gouna's 18-hole USPGA golf course has a great range for serious players and amateurs who can hit the balls straight into the lagoon. For the more adventurous, El Gouna is also famous for kite-surfing, the fastest-growing extreme sport in the world today. Other activities include waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, sailing and deep sea fishing, banana boats, pedal boats, beach volleyball, tennis and squash, football, go-karting, paintball, quad runner, scuba diving, safaris and camel and horseback riding. And for those who simply want to be spoiled, the internationally renowned Angsana Spa, a subsidiary of the Banyan Tree Group, welcomes guests with contemporary, holistic and non-clinical tropical garden spa treatments that place special emphasis on the use of natural ingredients of flowers, fruits, herbs, spices and plants. Whether you are looking for an extraordinary, fun-filled holiday or a classy relaxation retreat, search no more: El Gouna, life as it should be . . .
