Where the russet Eastern Desert meets the glassy-blue Red Sea, Marsa Alam promises a week of contrast and color. By morning, you’re gliding over coral gardens; by afternoon, you’re tracing camel tracks through golden wadis. At night, the sky spills stars bright enough to read by. This is a quietly spectacular corner of Egypt—less crowded than Hurghada and Sharm, rich in reefs, mangroves, and Bedouin culture.

Once a small fishing village, Marsa Alam bloomed after its airport opened in 2001, making Port Ghalib Marina and Coraya Bay convenient hubs for snorkelers, divers, and desert lovers. Offshore, places like Sataya Dolphin House and Marsa Mubarak shelter spinner dolphins, green turtles, and dugongs. Inland, Wadi El Gemal National Park (Valley of the Camels) hides Pharaonic and Roman mining sites and semi-nomadic Ababda communities.

Expect warm hospitality, generous mezze, and grilled seafood at marina eateries. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard or shorty wetsuit (December–April can feel brisk at sea), and water shoes. ATMs are available at the marina and major resorts; carry small cash for park fees. For flights into Marsa Alam (RMF) or Hurghada (HRG), compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; RMF sits 10–15 minutes from Port Ghalib.

Marsa Alam

Base yourself between Coraya Bay’s sandy coves and the lively Port Ghalib Marina. The house reefs here are renowned for easy snorkeling, while boat trips reach marquee sites like Sataya (wild dolphins), Marsa Mubarak (turtles and dugongs), Elphinstone (oceanic whitetips for advanced divers), and Abu Dabbab (seagrass meadows and steady turtle sightings).

• Top sights and activities: Sataya Dolphin House, Marsa Mubarak, Abu Dabbab Beach, Elphinstone Reef, Wadi El Gemal National Park, Qulaan Mangroves, Hamata Islands, sunset quad biking, desert stargazing.
• Good to know: Most full-day sea trips include hotel transfers, snorkel gear, and lunch; bring cash for marine park fees. Desert safaris often bundle Bedouin tea, camel rides, and telescope stargazing.
• Where to eat and drink: At Port Ghalib, Wunder-Bar is a long-running favorite for hearty breakfasts, mezze, and grills; Al Sultan serves Red Sea catch—think grilled sea bream, calamari, and tahini—plus Egyptian classics. For coffee and sweets, marina cafés dish up strong espresso, fresh juices, and nightly gelato strolls.

Where to stay (search and compare): Browse beach resorts, apartments, and villas in Marsa Alam on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. For those tempted by an optional Luxor overnight, see VRBO Luxor or Hotels.com Luxor.

Getting in: Fly into Marsa Alam (RMF) or Hurghada (HRG). Cairo–RMF flights are about 1.5 hours; many seasonal charters connect Europe directly to RMF. Search fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. HRG to Marsa Alam is a 3–4 hour coastal drive.

Day 1: Arrival, Coral-Bay Walks, and Marina Eats

Afternoon: Land at RMF and transfer 10–20 minutes to your resort in Coraya Bay or Port Ghalib. Shake off the flight with a gentle snorkel on the house reef—expect parrotfish, anthias, and maybe a hawksbill turtle cruising the drop-off.

Evening: Stroll Port Ghalib’s promenade as dhows bob in their berths. For dinner, order mixed seafood grill or sayadiyah (spiced rice with fish) at Al Sultan, then grab a mango juice or mint lemonade from a marina café. Turn in early—tomorrow starts bright.

Day 2: Swim with Wild Dolphins at Sataya Dolphin House

Morning: Early pickup south to Hamata harbor (about 2 hours), then board your boat to Sataya Reef. After a briefing on respectful wildlife interaction, slip into turquoise water where spinner dolphins often rest and play. Snorkel among soft corals and enormous schools of fusiliers between dolphin encounters.

Afternoon: Freshly cooked lunch on board, followed by a second reef stop for relaxed coral-garden snorkeling. Expect to be back at your hotel by early evening.

Evening: Try Wunder-Bar for Egyptian mezze, grilled kofta, and cold hibiscus tea. Nightcap on the marina with a shisha and Red Sea breeze.

Book this experience: Sataya Dolphin House Snorkel Trip - Marsa Alam

Day 3: Wadi El Gemal National Park—Desert, Mangroves, and Secret Beaches

Morning: Head south into Wadi El Gemal (about 60–90 minutes, depending on stops). Visit a Bedouin hamlet for tea, learn about ancient emerald mines, and ride a short camel loop to a lookout studded with acacia.

Afternoon: Continue to the Qulaan Mangroves and Sharm El Luli, one of the coast’s whitest beaches. Wade over powdery sand to snorkel clear shallows teeming with butterflyfish and rays. Picnic-style lunch included on most tours.

Evening: Back in Port Ghalib, tuck into oven-baked sea bass or shrimp tagine. For dessert, pistachio basbousa and a double espresso at a marina café hit the spot.

Book a park day: Wady Elgemal National Park Marsa alam

Day 4: Marsa Mubarak—Turtles, Dugongs, and Coral Gardens

Morning: Board a boat from Port Ghalib to Marsa Mubarak (roughly 30–45 minutes). The first drop is usually over seagrass meadows where green turtles graze and, if luck smiles, a shy dugong drifts by. Respect distance; let wildlife approach you.

Afternoon: Second stop at a coral plateau with hard-coral bommies and clownfish colonies. Return by mid-afternoon for a spa session or hammam at your resort.

Evening: Casual dinner tonight—chicken shawarma or koshari from a local spot, then gelato while browsing souvenir stalls for handwoven Bedouin scarves.

Book this boat day: Marsa Mubarak Snorkeling with Dugongs & Turtles From Marsa Alam

Day 5: Private Day Trip to Luxor—Karnak, Valley of the Kings, and the Nile

This is a full day, but it’s worth every mile. Depart Marsa Alam around 4:00–5:00 a.m. for the 4.5–5 hour drive to Luxor. With a licensed Egyptologist, explore the hypostyle halls of Karnak, then cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings (choose three tombs; consider Ramesses IV for vivid blues), Queen Hatshepsut’s terraced temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch at a local restaurant on the Nile, with quick stops at an alabaster workshop or spice market if you wish. Return to Marsa Alam by 9:00–10:00 p.m.

Book your Luxor day: Full-Day Luxor Private Guided Tour From Marsa Alam

Optional overnight: If you’d rather not drive back the same day, overnight in Luxor; compare places on Hotels.com or VRBO, then return tomorrow.

Day 6: Quads, Bedouin Dinner, and Stargazing in the Eastern Desert

Morning: Leisurely start after yesterday’s epic. Laze by the pool or snorkel your house reef, scanning for octopus and eagle rays along the drop-off.

Afternoon: Join a desert safari: quad-bike training on the hard-packed sabkha, then throttle along trails to a Bedouin tent for cardamom coffee and sweet tea. Optional short camel ride and sand panoramas for photos.

Evening: As sunset cools the dunes, share a Bedouin-cooked dinner (think fire-baked flatbread, grilled chicken, tahini, and rice). Most tours finish with telescope stargazing and a guide to constellations. Back to the marina for mint tea and a slow walk.

Day 7: Final Dip—Elphinstone for Divers or Abu Dabbab for Everyone, Then Departure

Morning: Certified advanced divers can opt for a two-dive trip to Elphinstone, a steep-sided reef famed for soft corals and, in season, oceanic whitetips; currents can be strong. Snorkelers and families: head to Abu Dabbab Beach for easy shore entries over seagrass and a high chance of close turtle encounters.

Afternoon: Check out by noon, early lunch at the marina (grilled kofta, fattoush salad, or fresh seafood), then a short transfer to RMF for your flight. If flying from HRG, depart Marsa Alam at least 6–7 hours before takeoff.

Evening: Wheels up with salt in your hair and desert dust on your shoes—the hallmarks of a Marsa Alam week done right.

Bonus/Alternate Sea Day: Another Dolphin House Boat Option

If you prefer a slightly different boat setup, this Sataya day is a solid alternative with similar timing and inclusions.

Alternate pick: Sataya Dolphin House Boat Trip in Marsa Alam

Trip budgeting notes: Full-day snorkel boats typically run about $45–90 per person including lunch and gear, plus $5–10 in park fees. Desert quad-and-dinner safaris range $35–60. The private Luxor day from Marsa Alam is usually $120–180 per person depending on group size and inclusions. Always confirm hotel pickup, marine park fees, and what equipment is included.

Search and book logistics: For flights to/from Egypt or domestic hops, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. For stays near Port Ghalib or Coraya Bay, start with Hotels.com: Marsa Alam or browse apartments on VRBO: Marsa Alam.

More excellent optional tours if you extend: A 3–4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is a beautiful add-on after Marsa Alam. Consider these well-reviewed sailings:

• Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan for 3 nights includes tours

In one week you’ll have tasted Marsa Alam’s greatest hits: dolphins at Sataya, turtles at Marsa Mubarak, crimson wadis in Wadi El Gemal, and the awe of Luxor’s temples. It’s a rhythm of reef and desert, salt and sand—slow, generous, and unforgettable.