Guide to Marsa Alam

"An unshowy resort offering some of the Red Sea's finest diving – Marsa Alam is a perfect haven for serious scuba and sun seekers."

Sugary white sands pierced with straw sunshades. Sapphire seas enveloping spectacular coral reefs. An ambience as unhurried as the soft pulse of the waves on the beach. Marsa Alam does everything right if you love the idea of a quintessential Red Sea holiday. Growing fast as a major resort, Marsa Alam is a long section of virtually unspoilt coast that stretches from the town of El Quseir in the north to the small fishing village of Marsa Alam in the south, with the new airport about halfway in between. Up and down the coastline, with its mangroves and bountiful reefs, luxury hotels shimmer like jewels, many of them clustered around stunning swathes of beach like that at Coraya Bay. And speaking of shores, no trip here would be complete without donning a snorkel or wetsuit. Living coral reefs bask in the shallows, welcoming snorkellers with a visual feast of fish and marine life. And if you're into scuba, the deeper waters spell seventh heaven. Join a boat trip or plunge off a long jetty and you'll be greeted by some of the most spectacular underwater sights the Red Sea has to offer. Stare wide-eyed at Elphinstone Reef, with its sheer 70-metre high walls covered with multi-coloured sponges and corals. When dry land beckons, take a trip to El Quseir, with its small harbour, medieval fort and a history stretching back at least to Roman times. Or join a jeep safari into the rugged wilderness to experience the all-encompassing emptiness of the vast desertscape.

Find the cheapest late deals to Marsa Alam leaving in the next six weeks.

Recommended Marsa Alam hotels and apartments

Brayka Bay Hotel

Iberotel Lamaya Resort

Dreams Beach

Marsa Alam hotels and apartments

Our hotels and apartments in Marsa Alam include Brayka Bay Hotel, Dreams Beach, Iberotel Coraya Beach Resort, Iberotel Lamaya Resort, Jaz Solaya, Sol Y Mar Solitaire and Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort.

More Egypt Red Sea holiday destinations

Looking for holidays in Egypt Red Sea? Our Egypt Red Sea holiday destinations include Dahab, El Gouna, Hurghada, Makadi Bay, Marsa Alam, Nuweiba, Sharm El Sheikh, Soma Bay, Taba and Taba Heights.

Beaches

The stretch of coast between Marsa Alam and El Quesir is becoming increasingly popular with divers. On dry land, the beaches are breathtakingly beautiful with the sand stretching for miles from the distant Red Sea Mountains into the sea. Desert antelope occasionally make their way to the shore in the early morning. Local tradition claims that if they drink seawater, it will turn into fresh water at that spot.

Eating out

Indulge in some traditional Egyptian cuisine during your stay. Try one of the favourite specialities, 'koshari' - pasta, rice and chickpeas in a chunky tomato stew. Just be careful with the accompanying chili sauce - it's wicked!

Nightlife

Nightlife is exclusively hotel-based. Take part in a traditional Egyptian evening, where you'll enjoy delicious food, sip sweet honeyed tea, puff a shisha and watch whirling dervishes perform their incredible dance. Dating from the 13th-century, the spinning dancers represent the planets circling the sun and believe they stand between the material and cosmic worlds. They whirl for hours on end, often entering a trance-like state which is truly a sight to behold.

Shopping

Shopping is limited to hotel mini-markets and boutiques but there is an almost daily trip from most hotels to El Quesir for the shops (travellers cheques are not accepted). Please note, there are a limited number of ATM machines in the resort of Marsa Alam.

Local information

Take a safari into the surrounding mountains by camel, jeep, horseback or quad bike. It is likely you will see "wild" camels meandering in the desert. These actually belong to local Bedouin tribes and are left to roam at will.