Holiday in Port Ghalib

City in Egypt — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇪🇬

Country

Egypt

Type

City

Best time to travel

Year-round, most pleasant from October to May, hot in summer but ideal for diving

Budget/day

70-130 € (good resort, dives)

Getting there from Germany

Flight to Marsa Alam about 5 hours, transfer to Port Ghalib about 15 minutes

About Port Ghalib

Port Ghalib is the new luxury gem on the Red Sea - a modern marina town that has only emerged along the Egyptian coast between Hurghada and Marsa Alam since the 2000s. The ambitious project was designed as an upscale alternative to the established tourist destinations and combines an elegant marina, top-notch diving spots, extensive resorts, and proximity to the untouched south of the Red Sea. For travelers seeking Egyptian sea without the mass tourism of Hurghada, Port Ghalib is a discovery. The marina of Port Ghalib is the architectural centerpiece - inspired by traditional Arab architecture with arcades, wind towers, and sandstone colors, it houses restaurants, boutiques, and cafés around the turquoise harbor basin. Yachts and dive boats anchor in front of the promenade, and in the evening, the marina transforms into a charming promenade with an oriental flair. The atmosphere is noticeably quieter and more exclusive than in the older tourist centers further north. Diving and snorkeling off Port Ghalib is among the best that the Red Sea has to offer. The offshore reefs are still largely untouched and host a breathtaking diversity of species. Dolphins, sea turtles, reef sharks, giant morays, and colorful coral growth make every dive an experience. The famous Elphinstone Reef, one of the top 10 dive spots in the world with regular encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks and occasionally even hammerhead sharks, is just a short boat ride away. The beaches around Port Ghalib are extensive and tranquil. Most resorts have their own beach sections with house reefs that can be snorkeled directly from the shore. The water is warm and crystal clear year-round, with visibility while diving often reaching 30 meters or more. Excursions into the hinterland lead to the temples of Edfu and Luxor, which can be reached as a day trip, or to desert safaris with Bedouins. From Germany, flights to Marsa Alam take about five hours, and the transfer to Port Ghalib takes only 15 minutes. The region is a year-round destination - hot in summer, but perfect with the sea as a cooling option, and pleasantly warm in winter at 22-26 degrees. The water temperature rarely drops below 22 degrees even in winter. Port Ghalib offers excellent value for money, especially for all-inclusive resorts with top-notch diving.

Relaxation
85
Beach
80
Winter
80
Adventure
75
Romance
75

Top 4 highlights in Port Ghalib

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Marina Port Ghalib

Elegant marina in Arab architecture with restaurants, promenade, and exclusive flair

2

Elphinstone Reef

World-famous dive spot with oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, and intact coral cathedrals

3

Untouched Reefs of the South

Pristine coral reefs with dolphins, turtles, and reef sharks, significantly less dived than Hurghada

4

Day Trip to Luxor

Temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings accessible by bus or domestic flight as a day trip

Hotels in Port Ghalib

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Reise-SIM für Port Ghalib

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Port Ghalib

Recommended travel time

Year-round, most pleasant from October to May, hot in summer but ideal for diving

Summer

Hot, 35-40°C, dry, water temperature 27-29°C, ideal for diving

Winter

Pleasantly warm, 22-26°C, sunny, water temperature 22-24°C, cool in the evenings

How much does a holiday in Port Ghalib cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

40-65 € (all-inclusive basic resort)

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

70-130 € (good resort, dives)

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

150-300 € (5-star resort, dive safari, spa)

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

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5 travel tips for Port Ghalib

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Book Elphinstone Reef as a diving adventure - shark encounters are almost guaranteed and breathtaking

Snorkel directly at the house reef of the resorts - often just a few meters into the water are colorful corals and fish

Visit the marina promenade in the evening - the atmosphere with illuminated boats and Arab architecture is charming

Plan Luxor as a day trip - the combination of sea and pharaonic culture is unique to Egypt

Book a dolphin tour in the bay of Samadai - a protected bay where dolphins swim in their natural environment

Food & drink in Port Ghalib

These specialties you must try!

Fish Tagine - slowly braised fish with tomatoes, bell peppers, and cumin in a clay pot
Koshary - Egypt's national dish made of rice, lentils, pasta, and tomato sauce with crispy onions
Falafel (Ta'ameya) - Egyptian variant made from fava beans instead of chickpeas, crispy and spicy
Feteer meshaltet - Egyptian puff pastry, sweet with honey or savory filled with cheese
Sahlab - warm milk drink with orchid root, cinnamon, and nuts, perfect for cool evenings
Suitable for:Red SeaDivingMarinaLuxuryEgyptSnorkelingCoral ReefResort

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