Dig in deep in Marsa Alam activities

Marsa Alam is located on the Red Sea in the southeast of Egypt. This marvelous coastal city offers you the chance to discover the best snorkeling and diving spots out there. Dolphin house in Sataya Reef or dolphin house Samadai Reef, Abu Dabbab or Abu Dabbab beach, Marsa Mubarak and Marsa Shouni and Sharm El Luli are among the best snorkeling spots in the Red Sea. 

In addition, the city has some of the best diving sites in the world, which you can enjoy almost all year round. Visit Elphinstone Reef, Abu Dabbab, Marsa Moreen, Marsa Shagara and Marsa Mubarak and Marsa Shouni for a one of a kind diving trip.

Red Sea desert adventure safari to the Southeastern desert of Egypt is a must for all who visit Marsa Alam. You can enjoy many Marsa Alam desert tours like Marsa Alam desert safari by 4*4 Jeep, Red Sea desert adventure by ATV Quad and Wadi El Gemal super safari. In almost all trips, you can enjoy camel riding, driving quad by desert or you can taste the Bedouin tea and aromatic shisha.

Marsa Alam activities and top attractions

As we already mentioned, Marsa Alam offers nature preserves and marine wonders along with various activities and adventures to explore the treasures of the city. 

We can group Marsa Alam marvels to:

Diving Sites

Dive in to the coral world to discover marine wonders and wreck sites that will show the enigmatic history of shipping disaster, Such as:

• Elphinstone reef 

• Dolphin house reef

• Sataya reef

• Marsa Mubarak

• The Brothers Island

• Daedalus reef

• Hamada wreck

Beaches

Enjoy a relaxing day on the beach, tanning and enjoying the warm sun in: 

• Sharm el luli 

• Marsa shoona

• Abu Dabbab

• Gebel el Rosas

• Qulan Island

Parks

You can find many nature preserves, water parks and the many tourist favourite in Marsa Alam, such as:

• Wadi el gemal national park

• Gebel elba national park 

• Sammadai national park

• Dolphin house

• Aqua coraya 

Cultural Attractions

The city also has many Ancient sightseeing sites with many enchanting tales to follow. Such as:

• Mons smaragdus or Emerald Mountain 

• Mons Claudianus

• Temple of Seti I

• Myos Hormos

• Wadi Hammamat

• Bir Hammamat

• Bir Umm Fawakir

• Shalateen camel market

Port Ghalib Marina

This international port has many significant attractions that makes it a perfect overseas hub, Such as:

• Resort community

• Marine and sports facilities

• Marine parks

El Quesir

The historical town is the center of all cultural treasures spread across Marsa Alam. It has its own treasures to show. Such as:

• Ancient El Quesir

• The castle

• Markets and bazaar

• Religious attractions

• Beaches

Astronomy Centre

This center has its own allure and enchantment that draws tourist like fire to moth. Explore Desert sky and immerse yourself in its tales.

What to do in Marsa Alam

We listed most of the top attractions in Marsa Alam, now it’s time to take a closer look and dig deeper.

Swimming with Dolphins

Get close to one of the worlds most intelligent and playful creatures, it’s best to book a day trip to Sataya Reef. Not only does this rival Dolphin House as one of the great wonders of the natural world as a habitat for the famously playful spinner dolphins, but you are a lot less likely to find the area overcrowded.  

This in turn also means you are more likely to encounter dolphins. Contrary to what you might believe, these friendly but easily stressed animals often avoid areas where there are too many people and boats.  

This is such a fun activity, so life affirming and so interesting, that some have argued that swimming with wild dolphins could help cure depression. 

The reef, with its’ beautifully intact coral and crystal clear waters is also one of the most beautiful underwater places in the world.  It’s only a short boat ride from Hamata and a large family of Spinner dolphins have made it their permanent home. 

It’s a lot less well known than “Dolphin House” so visitor numbers are restricted so you won’t have to compete with too many tourists. Divers and snorkelers can also explore the coral reef. 

Sightseeing and retail therapy in El Quseir

El Quseir Ottoman fort

Spend a day shopping in the historic city of El Quseir with its’ Ottoman fort and many small shops and bazaars. It’s just a short drive away (20 minutes to an hour and a half depending on where in the Marsa Alam area your hotel is).

Once you’ve got there we recommend that you explore the sixteenth century Ottoman fort which was occupied by the French in 1799, under Napoleon, who fortified it with the cannons which you see on the ramparts. Despite these, the British seized it a few years later.  

If you still have time, wander down to the small port, bordered by shuttered and balconied houses.  It may look modest but it has a long history. Queen Hatshepsut launched her campaign against the legendary “Land of Punt” (possibly Yemen) from here. Centuries later, after the Arab conquest, it remained the largest port on the Red Sea and until the 1840s, it was the port of choice for pilgrims travelling from North Africa to Mecca. 

Then head for El Quseir’s main attraction is shopping in the souk. Here, you can often find cheaper prices for papyrus, alabaster, perfumes, shishas, silver and other goods than you can in the hotel shops. The bazaars here pay a lower rent, unlike in your hotel. However, you can’t subsequently make a complaint to the GM, if the goods are of questionable quality. So think carefully and choose wisely.   

If you are looking for perfumes, you can’t do better than visit the Perfume shop at Dreams Beach Hotel (26km south of El Quseir) where the seller has a reputation Egypt wide as probably the most knowledgeable in the business.  Unlike many other shops, the perfumes we sampled here were pure and not mixed with paraffin.  Just tell security at the gate you wish to visit the perfume shop.  It’s normally open from 1pm to around 11pm. 

Desert Safari

Ever fancied a desert safari on a quad bike?  It looks fun when you watch a group race off across the desert, leaving a trail of dust behind them and believe me it’s much better to be part of it. Nevertheless, before you go, shed all your best clothes and anything that might be endangered on a bumpy and very dusty ride.  Consider using sunglasses and a headscarf, which helps to protect your face from the sun and dust.

Alternatively, if you fancy a slower but quieter pace go for a horse or camel safari.  Don’t forget to have your camera ready for the dramatic sunsets dropping down below the rugged mountain horizon.  Then, on the way back you can enjoy the truly magnificent night skies. 

Day Trip to Luxor from Marsa Alam

Drive to Luxor to see the highlights of Egypt’s ‘open-air museum’ in one day. Visit Luxor Temple and Karnak, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. Return toMarsa Alam in the evening.

Usually your tourism company representative will pick you up from your hotel in Marsa Alam by air-conditioned modern vehicle to Luxor to visit the famous Karnak temple the largest place of worship ever built. Its ancient name Ipet-isut means “the most sacred of places.” The temple, or, more correctly, the complex of temples, was built over more than two thousand years by generation after generation of pharaohs. Within the complex, the great “Hypostyle Hall” is an incredible forest of giant pillars. On the way you will enjoy lunch at quality restaurant and then heading to the West Bank of The Nile River, starting with the colossal statues of Amenhotep III (Colossi of Memnon), and then visit the Valley of the Kings, where the magnificent tombs discovered, those tombs were carved deep into the desert rock, richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife of the pharaohs. You will visit 3 tombs, then continue the tour to visit theHatshepsut temple at El Deir El Bahary, this impressive temple dedicated to the Queen Hatshepsut the only female pharaoh rises out of the desert plain in a series of terraces and merges with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it. Then you will be transferred back to your hotel in Marsa Alam.

Useful tips to when you travel to Marsa Alam

  • Best time to visit Marsa Alam

The Weather is sunny and dry all year round. There is a lot of wind especially from November to February. Air temperature varies depending on the season.

Best time to visit would be from March to May and in October/November time for warm and sunny weather.

  • Health and Safety

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Marsa Alam, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

  • Visa for Marsa Alam?

You need an Entry Visa to enter Egypt. You can purchase it at the Airport for $25USD.

  • Getting Around

You can get around either by taxi or minibus. Be sure to negotiate the price of the taxi before the ride.

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