Red Sea
Coral reefs, clear water and resort towns from El Gouna to Marsa Alam — the easy way to end an Egypt trip by the sea.
Egypt’s Red Sea coast is one of the world’s best-known snorkelling and diving regions. Hurghada and El Gouna have the most hotels and boat trips, including day trips to the Giftun Islands national park; Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay are quieter resort bays; Marsa Alam, further south, is known for reefs, sea turtles and dolphins.
The Red Sea combines well with Luxor, about four hours by road, or with a Nile cruise. Ain Sokhna, about two hours from Cairo, is the nearest beach for a weekend from the capital. Sea conditions vary; boat and diving trips run with licensed operators and local safety rules.
- Best time
- All year; March–May and September–November are the most pleasant, winter is mild, summer is hot but breezy.
- Getting there
- Direct flights to Hurghada (HRG) and Marsa Alam (RMF); about one hour by air from Cairo, or about four hours by road from Luxor.
- Where to stay
- Resorts in Hurghada, El Gouna, Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay or Marsa Alam.
Top sights
- 1
Giftun Islands
A protected island park off Hurghada with white beaches and snorkelling spots.
- 2
El Gouna
A lagoon town with a marina, cafés and calm water for families.
- 3
Marsa Alam
Southern reefs and bays, with marine life such as turtles and dolphins.
- 4
Diving and snorkelling
Courses and boat dives through licensed dive centres, for beginners and certified divers.
Places in this region
Hurghada · El Gouna · Makadi Bay · Sahl Hasheesh · Soma Bay · Giftun Islands · Marsa Alam · Ain Sokhna
Programs that visit Red Sea
11 daysEgypt in 11 days: private Nile cruise & Red Sea
The length travellers choose most: Cairo, four nights on the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel, then three days by the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Red Sea
14 daysGrand Egypt in 14 days
Everything in one journey: Cairo, Saqqara, Alexandria, Aswan and Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise, a Luxor balloon at sunrise and the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Luxor · Red Sea
4 daysRed Sea break: Hurghada, Giftun Islands & El Gouna — 4 days
Fly from Cairo to the Red Sea for clear water and coral: a boat day to the Giftun Islands with a licensed operator, the lagoons of El Gouna and time to rest.
Red Sea
1 dayAin Sokhna day trip — the closest Red Sea beach to Cairo
A relaxed day on the Gulf of Suez, about two hours from Cairo: a resort beach day with sea views and a calm swim.
Red Sea
21 daysEgypt in 21 days — Nile, desert and Red Sea
Three weeks across Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria, Fayoum and the White Desert, Aswan and Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise, Luxor, Dendera and Abydos, and the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Desert & oases · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Luxor · Red Sea
30 daysThe grand journey: Egypt in 30 days
A month across Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria and El Alamein, Siwa, Fayoum, the White Desert, Middle Egypt, Abydos and Dendera, Luxor, a Nile cruise, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Desert & oases · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Red Sea
Other destinations
Useful for this trip
Questions travellers ask
Hurghada or Marsa Alam?
Hurghada and El Gouna have more choice and shorter transfers; Marsa Alam is quieter and closer to the southern reefs.
Can I combine the Red Sea with Luxor?
Yes. The road from Hurghada to Luxor takes about four hours, so a day trip or a few nights in Luxor works well.
Do I need a diving licence to snorkel?
No. Snorkelling needs no licence; for scuba diving a licensed centre can run an introductory dive or a course.
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