The Red Sea and Egypt are a holiday paradise. The wealth of attractions makes it challenging to choose a resort. The truth is that each of the following places has so much to offer that it’s impossible to be on the same vacation twice.
You can find most attractions in the three popular tourist resorts: Hurghada, Marsa Alam, or Sharm el Sheikh.
Before you decide where to go, it is worth considering what is important to you during your trip to Egypt and what adventures you are looking for.
Find our short guide about most popular resorts below:
Hurghada
Water attractions
Even though Hurghada is not famous for such rich and colourful coral reefs as other regions, it still has many offers. Both beginners and intermediate divers will find something for themselves. The underwater areas around Giftun Island are especially recommended. You can also go to the island itself on a day trip to take a break from the tourist hustle and bustle. In the Hurghada area, you can participate in diving and snorkelling on an organized trip. You can also take licensed diving courses. There are over 200 coral reefs and diving sites here. Depending on the sea conditions, the instructors direct you to different regions. Those for whom water is an element can also go in search of dolphins. At the moment, I have some doubts about whether it’s ethical, but we also had the opportunity, and Paweł took advantage of it.
Here you can find video from our snorkelling in Hurghada:
Kitesurfing and windsurfing enthusiasts can come to Hurghada in the dark. Wide, sandy beaches, very good hotel base, on-site rentals. The best months for practicing these sports in Hurghada are December, January, February – these months have the best wind statistics. It blows mainly from the east (as I found out for myself, without a windbreak on the beach, it was not possible). About 2 hours from Hurghada to the south is Soma Bay – one of the most attractive places for windsurfing, and a bit further Safaga – a small tourist destination.
Sightseeing
The undoubted advantage of Hurghada is its location – located 300 km from Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, 450 km from Cairo and the pyramids. You can find offers including one- and two-day group and individual tours. There are also flights to Cairo from Hurghada. If you stay in Hurghada- Luxor is a must-see. You can read about our trip to Luxor here. For those who don’t like or cannot snorkel – there is an Aquarium near Hurghada, where you can see crocodiles, pelicans, and exotic fish. We have been there. I don’t recommend it. But that’s a topic for a different story. For families with children, this may be a good but costly option.
Accommodation base
Most hotels have an all-inclusive offer, several or a dozen swimming pools, play areas for children, and animators’ care. Apart from the city center, the hotels are scattered along one main street on both sides. It means that some of them don’t have direct access to the sea. Take this into account when planning your trip. We literally checked google.maps before choosing a hotel, but we wanted direct access to the beach and coral reef. The beaches are wide and sandy with a gentle entry into the water. Some hotels also offer snorkelling spots, although the coral reef is already partially dead.
From the airport, access to the Hurghada resort takes about 20 minutes. At the airport, there are guardians of organized trips, but also many drivers. We weren’t even looking. The taxi driver approached us himself.
Marsa Alam
Water attractions
Marsa Alam is a diving paradise. You can dive and snorkel here both from the shore (Marsa Mobarak, Abu Sail, Marsa Shoona, Shaab Shuna, Marsa Murena, Abu Dabor, Abu Dabbab, Marsa Sabadai) and from a boat. The most popular and one of the most challenging areas is Elphinstone and Dolphin House when it comes to boat diving. The underwater world delights with its biodiversity and colors, and the virgin lands attract divers from all over the world. Here you can meet rays, sharks, dolphins, turtles, barracudas, and a whole lot of coral creatures!
The places to explore are varied in depth, technical difficulties, visibility, and, above all, local fauna. Worldwide, the coral reef is still one of the best-preserved here.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing are becoming more and more popular, but they are not dominating. Water sports enthusiasts can also be found in winter. The equipment base is located mainly in two places: Aurora Oriental Bay and Sentido Oriental Dream Resort.
Sightseeing
From Marsa Alam, it’s a bit further to Luxor (about 340 km), you can also go on a trip to the Nile Valley and Aswan (about 370 km). Aswan is not the most popular sightseeing destination, but still worth a visit due to the Temple of Philae, the Nubia Museum, and Elephantine Island.
The Marsa Alam area is more famous for its biodiversity. About 20 km from here is the Wadi Gemal National Park in the Eastern Desert, with palm groves, wild beaches, and interesting geological formations. However, at a distance of 150 km – there is the island of Hamata with a mangrove reserve (a type of tree with a unique root system adapted to both fresh and saltwater), exotic birds, and coral reefs. The island is part of the Wadi El-Hamata National Park.
Accommodation base
Nature lovers often choose Marsa Alam for its rich fauna and flora, and families with children for its beaches. The local beaches are considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Egypt. It is worth checking which of the following suits you best: Sharm El Luli, Coraya Beach, Marsa Mubarak, Marsa Shoona Bay, and beaches in resorts: Concorde Moreen Beach Resort and Gorgonia Beach Resort. The airport is located about 60 km from Marsa Alam. Travel is included in the all-inclusive offer when purchased by a travel agency. Otherwise, you can find a bus driver or taxi driver at the airport.
The hotel offer is not as rich as in Hurghada, but all-inclusive hotels are available for those who value maximum comfort. Some hotels in smaller bays have access to a coral reef off the shore. If someone is looking for accommodation in a slightly quieter corner and an alternative to hotels, you can sleep in a tent on the beach, cottage, or lodging. The company promotes nature conservation and sustainable tourism.
Sharm el Sheikh
Water attractions
Sharm el Sheikh is the perfect place for fans of the underwater world! The local coral reef is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The Ras Mohammed National Park and the island of Tiran are highly recommended. There are about 150 species of coral and over 1000 species of fish in this area! There are about 100 species of sea urchins alone in this area! Diving and snorkelling take place from the boat. The park is under strict protection, so it’s still one of the best-preserved coral reefs, thanks to this. Adventurous and experienced divers may be tempted to explore the Thistlegorm wreck underwater. The British cargo ship, bombed in World War II, has many openings to it.
The Sinai Peninsula is probably the most attractive region of Egypt in terms of windsurfing and kitesurfing. About 100 km north of Sharm el Sheikh is the small town of Dahab. The town is located on the Gulf of Aqaba, and the bay itself stretches for 180 km! Over 300 days of the year are blowing in this area, and the long beaches, shallow and deeper waters make it the perfect place to start your adventure with windsurfing. To the west, on the Gulf of Suez, lies the village of El Tur. This is a place for those who are looking for water attractions away from tourists. There is no hotel base here.
Sightseeing
Due to its location on the Sinai Peninsula, the main attractions to visit are the Mount of Moses and the Monastery of St. Catherine. There are also night ascents to welcome the day at sunrise. Sharm el Sheikh is closer to neighboring countries than to the Egyptian capital. You can take advantage of one of the many offers of optional trips to Israel (Bethlehem and Jerusalem) and Jordan (Petra). You do not need special visas then. You get the “Sinai Only” stamp. However, in the case of a trip to Cairo, you must additionally buy a visa to Egypt at the airport. The cost is about $ 25.
Accommodation base
The airport is only 10 km north of Sharm el Sheikh. There are quite a lot of hotels in the area, several large ones belonging to international chains. Most places have an all-inclusive offer, but you can also go out and enjoy local delicacies at restaurants scattered throughout the town. The Old Market with a local market and cafes is the oldest part of the city. Some resorts offer a complex of swimming pools and water parks. You can also use the golf course.
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