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
Deals for Port Ghalib:
What makes Port Ghalib special as a destination?
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.
What are the top highlights in Port Ghalib?
The top highlights in Port Ghalib include Marina Port Ghalib, Elphinstone Reef, Untouched Reefs of the South, Day Trip to Luxor.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Marina Port Ghalib
Elegant marina in Arab architecture with restaurants, promenade, and exclusive flair
Elphinstone Reef
World-famous dive spot with oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, and intact coral cathedrals
Untouched Reefs of the South
Pristine coral reefs with dolphins, turtles, and reef sharks, significantly less dived than Hurghada
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
When is the best time to visit Port Ghalib?
The best time to visit Port Ghalib is Year-round, most pleasant from October to May, hot in summer but ideal for diving. Hot, 35-40°C, dry, water temperature 27-29°C, ideal for diving In winter: Pleasantly warm, 22-26°C, sunny, water temperature 22-24°C, cool in the evenings
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?
Budget travellers: 40-65 € (all-inclusive basic resort)/day, mid-range: 70-130 € (good resort, dives)/day, luxury: 150-300 € (5-star resort, dive safari, spa)/day.
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
How do I get from Germany to Port Ghalib?
Flight to Marsa Alam about 5 hours, transfer to Port Ghalib about 15 minutes
Book a package holiday to Port Ghalib
Compare thousands of package holidays to Port Ghalib and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there 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
What should you eat in Port Ghalib?
Typical specialities in Port Ghalib: 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.
These specialties you must try!
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