Holiday in Marsa Alam
Beach in Egypt — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇪🇬
Country
Egypt
Type
Beach
Best time to travel
Year-round! October to April (25-30 °C, perfect). Summer is hot (35-40 °C) but the water is pleasant. Rain is virtually non-existent.
Budget/day
60-120 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Marsa Alam (RMF, about 5 hours direct). Visa on arrival (25 $) or e-visa.
About Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam is Egypt's rising star for diving and snorkeling — a coastal stretch along the Red Sea that offers what Hurghada was 20 years ago: untouched coral reefs, deserted bays, and an underwater world that is among the most spectacular in the world. Here, the desert meets the tropical sea. The house reefs of the hotels in Marsa Alam are among the best in Egypt: directly from the beach into the water and within meters, you can swim among colorful corals, turtles, dolphins, and hundreds of fish species. Abu Dabbab Bay is famous for its resident dugong population — one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Elphinstone Reef — a steep drop-off reef in the open sea — is considered one of the top 10 dive sites worldwide by divers, with regular sightings of hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, and mantas. For non-divers, snorkeling from the beach offers a breathtaking experience. Wadi el-Gemal National Park, south of Marsa Alam, combines desert and sea: mangrove forests, ancient emerald mines, Bedouin culture, and pristine bays where sea turtles nest.
Top 6 highlights in Marsa Alam
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Snorkeling from the Beach
World-class house reefs right at the hotel: turtles, corals, and hundreds of fish species just meters away.
Abu Dabbab (Dugong)
Bay with resident dugongs: observe one of the rarest marine mammals in the world while snorkeling.
Elphinstone Reef
Top 10 dive site worldwide: hammerhead sharks, mantas, and oceanic whitetip sharks at a steep wall.
Dolphin Swimming
Trips to dolphin schools: experience spinner dolphins in their natural habitat up close.
Wadi el-Gemal National Park
Desert meets sea: mangrove forests, ancient emerald mines, and untouched turtle bays.
Sataya Reef (Dolphin House)
Huge lagoon with a resident dolphin population: snorkel with dozens of dolphins at the same time.
Hotels in Marsa Alam
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Marsa Alam
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Marsa Alam
Recommended travel time
Year-round! October to April (25-30 °C, perfect). Summer is hot (35-40 °C) but the water is pleasant. Rain is virtually non-existent.
Summer
30-40 °C, very hot on land, water a pleasant 28 °C
Winter
20-28 °C, warm and sunny, perfect travel weather, water 22-24 °C
How much does a holiday in Marsa Alam cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
35-55 € (All-Incl.)
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
60-120 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
130-350 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Marsa Alam
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Marsa Alam
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visa — on arrival at Marsa Alam airport (25 $) or e-visa online in advance. Very straightforward.
All-Inclusive — almost all hotels are AI. Quality varies greatly: pay attention to Tripadvisor reviews of the house reefs!
Dugong — Abu Dabbab Bay (entrance about 5 €). Early morning offers the best chance. Please DO NOT touch or chase the dugong!
Diving — PADI Open Water Course about 300-400 €. Also for beginners: Discover Scuba diving from 50 €.
Elphinstone — only for experienced divers (current!). Day trip by boat about 60-80 €. Best season: October-May.
Food & drink in Marsa Alam
These specialties you must try!
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