A lesser-known winter sun hotspot with 32C heat, cheap 5* hotels and fewer crowds

THERE are few thrills quite like sitting on the roof of a jeep as it hurtles over desert dunes.

It’s hard to believe just hours earlier I was relaxing by a lagoon in the tiny resort of El Gouna, Egypt, cocktail in hand.

ShutterstockEgypt is the ideal spot for culture vultures and sun seekers[/caption]

SuppliedThere are more than 100 resorts to choose from in El Gouna[/caption]

The island city is the cooler sister of nearby Hurghada, where Brits often flock for winter sun.

Built in the 1980s, El Gouna is where the fun crowd are going — but without the actual crowds.

Even in the busy season the island keeps its laid-back vibe, with everything you need in walking distance, although you can also get around by boat, car or tuk-tuk.

Don’t expect to see many Brits as it is mainly popular with Egyptians and Germans.

There are more than 100 resorts to choose from in El Gouna, ranging from 3H to 5H and including the former Thomas Cook-owned Cook’s Club Hotel where you can enjoy a room from £50 a night.

Straw beach umbrellas and a private pool greet you just outside reception, alongside a DJ playing house tunes throughout the day.

The rooms are minimalistic but functional — think grey stone walls, Aztec-printed cushions and linen bathrobes.

Before I knew it, I’d wasted away my days relaxing by the water and swimming to the nearby pontoon to catch some sun.

I never had to worry about snacks either as the restaurant served some of the tastiest falafels I’ve ever had.

On the ever-changing dinner menu, I was very impressed by the piping hot moussaka, even if I was tempted by the more Western burgers and pasta.

But if you want some added luxury during your holiday then head to the 5H The Chedi just a few minutes away for its spa and restaurant.

My masseuse certainly took my request for a deep tissue session seriously, leaving me looser than I’d been in weeks before I collapsed at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant Nihon.

It serves a feast of fresh sushi and sashimi — and a strangely delicious curry cocktail that tastes just like chip shop curry in liquid form.

While El Gouna does everything it can to keep you occupied, you would be foolish not to drag yourself away from the lagoon and head off on a day trip.

As if I didn’t have enough sand in my shoes already, I found myself whizzing through the desert on a jeep safari tour.

And I don’t mean inside the car.

They encourage you to sit on top of the vehicle, with just some thin ropes to hold on to for dear life, while being thrown about over the dirt track.

Pharaoh forced to pretend to be male

It was then that I learned how the Egyptians drive.

Fast.

But it’s hard not to grin like a maniac when you are speeding through an expanse so deserted it feels like you are on Mars.

When the vehicles can go no further, hiking through the rocks and the steep slopes presents you with impressive views over the Wadi Bileh Valley.

Inspired by our leader Steze, we all slipped off our shoes and walked silently, taking in the serenity of the rolling landscape while crunching the sand beneath our toes.

And as the sun set, we joined locals for a Bedouin BBQ feast, before burning some frankincense for luck and zooming back to the camp.

SuppliedStroll around El Gouna’s glittering marina[/caption]

GettyExplore the dunes on a Sahara desert jeep safari[/caption]

Don’t worry if you want something less adventurous, as there are also day trips to Luxor, once the capital of Egypt, which you can book at the hotel.

The main attraction is the Valley of the Kings, home to 62 tombs including that of Tutankhamun, although you’ll be hard-pressed to visit more than a few in one day.

Even non-history buffs will be impressed by the sheer scale of the structures and how well-preserved many of the colourful drawings and hieroglyphs are some 3,500 years later.

I fell in love with the Pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the only female leaders, who was forced to pretend to be male for people to accept her as their ruler.

It worked and she had a short but peaceful ten years before being laid to rest in her tomb.

Egypt certainly has one of the most impressive histories in the world, and it was a highlight of the trip by far.

But after a long day, I gravitated back to the beach to enjoy the 32C heat.

This time with a book on Egyptian history to keep me company.

SuppliedSunset tours with El Gouna Mountain Goats are just £40pp[/caption]

GettyGaze in wonder at the Statue of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor[/caption]