Guide to Marsa Alam

“The latest hotspot on the Red Sea Riviera is rapidly gaining a reputation as THE place to go for great beaches, scuba diving and watersports.”

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.

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