Marsa Alam holidays
A quieter stretch of Red Sea coast built around diving rather than resort nightlife, with some of the mildest winter sea temperatures on Egypt's Red Sea coast.
37°C AugustBest Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec5–9 nights
At a glance
- diving and snorkelling
- quiet, low-key beach time
- wildlife-focused trips
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€631
- Stay
- ≈€220
- Food & local
- ≈€40
Includes the return fare from London Stansted. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Marsa Alam
From €15/night · Typical €30 · 38 stays · 4-night stay assumed
Booking.com (opens in a new tab)- Best 3-star
Light House651 m from the centre€45 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 3-star options
- Best 4-star
Guest house science W 1Building 10 Apartment No. 1 · 1.2 km from the centre€28 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 4-star options
- Best 5-star
Iberotel Costa Mares2.1 km from the centre€412 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 5-star options
- Cheapest
Guest room science1.0 km from the centre€15 a night (opens in a new tab)See more options, cheapest first
Map
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Getting to Marsa Alam
- AirportMarsa Alam International Airport (RMF)
- Transfer optionsTaxi
Marsa Alam International Airport sits well north of the town, closer to Port Ghalib and the northern resorts; taxis and hotel transfers cover the distance for stays anywhere along the coast.
We haven’t found enough fresh fares for these dates yet.
Check flights on Aviasales (opens in a new tab)Areas of Marsa Alam
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- Port GhalibA marina-based resort development close to the airport, with more restaurants and evening life than the rest of the coast.
- Marsa Alam townThe original settlement and service centre for the area, a practical, low-key base rather than a resort enclave.
- Abu DabbabA dugong- and turtle-watching bay north of town, near the airport and Port Ghalib, with a handful of eco-lodges built around the beach rather than a resort strip.
- Marsa Shagra and other camps south of townA string of eco-diving camps along the coast south of town, suited to divers and snorkellers prioritising direct house-reef access over resort facilities.
When to go
Monthly climate normals (ERA5 reanalysis, 2022–2024). Gold months are the best weather fit.
- Best overall
- March · April · November · December
- Hottest
- August · 37°C
- Wettest
- December · 4mm
- Jan23°2mm
- Feb23°0mm
- Mar25°2mm (good month)
- Apr30°0mm (good month)
- May32°0mm
- Jun35°0mm
- Jul36°0mm
- Aug37°0mm
- Sep35°0mm
- Oct31°0mm
- Nov28°0mm (good month)
- Dec25°4mm (good month)
What each season is like
- Spring
- March to May offers warm, settled conditions and some of the most reliable underwater visibility of the year.
- Summer
- June to August is very hot on land, but with most time spent in and on the water, the heat matters less here than at sightseeing-heavy inland destinations.
- Autumn
- September to November cools gradually while the sea stays warm, a quiet stretch with few crowds.
- Winter
- December to February is noticeably milder here than further north on the Red Sea coast, keeping diving comfortable through the year's coolest months.
Compare Egypt destinations
Still deciding? Other Egypt destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 39°C | 3–5 nights |
| Hurghada | 36°C | 5–10 nights |
| Luxor | 43°C | 2–4 nights |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 41°C | 5–10 nights |
Good to know about Marsa Alam
Worth it for
Elphinstone Reef and Dolphin House are internationally known dive sites, both reachable on day trips from the coast.
Keep in mind
The town and resorts are spread thinly along a long stretch of coast, so a car or arranged transfer matters more here than at a compact resort strip.
Why go
- Elphinstone Reef and Dolphin House are internationally known dive sites, both reachable on day trips from the coast.
- Wadi El Gemal National Park, a scenic drive south of town, adds desert and coastal wildlife to a trip otherwise spent underwater.
- The coast stays warmer through winter than the resorts further north, extending the diving season at both ends of the year.
Worth knowing
- The town and resorts are spread thinly along a long stretch of coast, so a car or arranged transfer matters more here than at a compact resort strip.
- Dining and nightlife outside the hotels and dive camps are minimal, and non-resort infrastructure is limited.
- Some of the best-known dive sites are reached only by boat, adding cost and a fixed schedule to an independent trip.