01Giftun Island & Orange Bay
A protected island off Hurghada ringed by white sandbars and shallow reef — the postcard Red Sea. A day-boat gets you there in under an hour for snorkelling straight off the back and lunch on the sand.
Full day by boat
Red Sea Coast · Destination guide
Red Sea
Egypt's reef coast — warm, clear water over some of the best coral on earth, and an easy beach finish after the temples and the Nile.
- Region
- Red Sea coast
- Best for
- Reefs · beach · diving
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- When to go
- Year-round
- Airports
- Hurghada (HRG) · Marsa Alam (RMF)
- Pairs with
- Luxor · a Nile cruise · Cairo
Get your bearings
What the Red Sea actually is
Egypt's Red Sea runs more than a thousand kilometres down the east coast, with some of the clearest, warmest, most coral-rich water in the region. It's the beach-and-reef counterweight to the Nile — an hour's flight from Luxor, and direct charters from the UK make it one of the easiest winter-sun coasts to reach.
The coast splits into characters. Hurghada is the established hub, close to Luxor and full of family resorts and day-boat reefs. Marsa Alam, further south, trades nightlife for pristine house reefs, dugongs and dolphins. And across the water in Sinai, Sharm El Sheikh sits beside Ras Mohammed, the marine national park that put Egyptian diving on the map.
Three or four nights is the usual stay — long enough to dive or snorkel properly, do a desert excursion, and still spend a day flat on a lounger. The water is swimmable all year, which makes the Red Sea the one part of Egypt with no real off-season.
What you're really here to see
The landmarks that make the Red Sea
01
02Dolphin House (Sha'ab Samadai)
A horseshoe reef off Marsa Alam where a resident pod of spinner dolphins rests by day. Numbers are capped to protect them, so you swim quietly on the reef's edge and let the dolphins come to you — no chasing.
Full day · Marsa Alam
03Ras Mohammed National Park
At the southern tip of Sinai, Egypt's first marine park drops away in sheer coral walls thick with fish — the dive site that made the Red Sea famous. Reached by boat from Sharm El Sheikh.
Full day · Sinai
04Wadi El Gemal
South of Marsa Alam, a land-and-sea national park of mangroves, dugong-grazing seagrass and empty beaches — the wild, quiet end of the Egyptian coast for travellers who want reef without resorts.
Full day · Marsa Alam
Time to allow
How many days in the Red Sea?
How long depends on whether you're here to dive or just to switch off.
2 nightsThe add-on
A quick coastal breather after the Nile — one reef day, one beach day, then home or onward.
3–4 nightsThe right amount
Time to dive or snorkel a couple of sites, fit a desert excursion, and still have a full day doing nothing. The usual Red Sea stay.
5–7 nightsA proper beach week
For divers chasing wrecks and walls, or families settling into a resort — long enough to slow right down.
LiveaboardOn the water
A dive boat out to the offshore reefs and the SS Thistlegorm wreck, for divers who want the best sites back to back.
Where it fits
the Red Sea in your itinerary
The Red Sea is the finale — the part of the holiday you tack on after the history.
From Luxor
Hurghada is a 4-hour drive or short flight — the natural beach finish after the temples.
From Cairo
A 50-minute flight to Hurghada or Marsa Alam, or a longer drive to the closer Sinai and Ain Sokhna coast.
Reef days
Day-boats reach Giftun, Dolphin House and the offshore reefs; dive centres handle all levels, from first-timer to technical.
Desert on the side
Quad bikes, Bedouin dinners and stargazing fill the non-water days without leaving the coast.
From the catalogue
Tours that start in the Red Sea
Private Boat Hire from Hurghada: Giftun Reefs and Lunch
Hire a boat and crew for your own party and set the pace of the day. The skipper takes you to two or three reefs off Hurghada for snorkelling, with a swim off an island beach if the sea allows, and lunch is cooked on board. Up to 15 people can come, nobody else is on the boat, and a snorkelling guide looks after the water time. Transfers and marine park fees are included.
From £83
Paradise Island Boat Day from Hurghada with Snorkelling
A boat day to Paradise Island on the Giftun reserve: a snorkelling stop on the way, about three hours on a white-sand beach with sunbeds and shallow water, and lunch on board. Entrance to the island, a sunbed and a parasol are included. It is an easy day for families and anyone who prefers the beach to the reef. The boat is shared with no more than 40 guests.
From £80
Sharm El Sheikh City Tour: Old Market, Mosque & SOHO Square
A four-hour tour of Sharm El Sheikh in the late afternoon and evening, in a minibus shared with up to 16 guests. You visit Al Mustafa Mosque, the Heavenly Cathedral, Al Sahaba Mosque and the Old Market at dusk. The tour ends at SOHO Square after dark, in time for the fountain show. A local English-speaking guide goes with you throughout.
From £39
Sharm El Luli Beach and Wadi El Gemal National Park Day Trip
A day in Wadi El Gemal National Park, south of Marsa Alam. You drive through the dry riverbed and along the mangrove coast, then spend the afternoon on the white sand of Sharm El Luli, swimming and snorkelling. Gazelles or turtles may appear, but wildlife is wild and nothing is guaranteed. Park entry and lunch are included, and the group is small.
From £88
Quad Biking and Bedouin Dinner Evening from Hurghada
An afternoon and evening in the desert behind Hurghada: a guided quad-bike ride in convoy, a stop at a Bedouin camp for tea and a short camel ride, then a barbecue dinner and folklore show after sunset. You ride one quad each, or share one on request, and a helmet is provided. The group is shared with no more than 30 guests, and riders must be 6 or over.
From £37
Samadai Dolphin House Boat Trip from Marsa Alam
A day on a shared boat to Samadai, known as Dolphin House. It is a horseshoe-shaped reef about 30 minutes off the coast, where spinner dolphins often rest. Sightings are likely, though the dolphins are wild and cannot be guaranteed. Swimming is allowed only in the marked zone, and everyone wears a life jacket there. The marine reserve charge and lunch are included.
From £91
Try Scuba Diving in Sharm El Sheikh – Two Guided Dives
A first scuba day with no licence needed. A dive boat takes a group of up to 20 guests from Sharm El Sheikh to sheltered reefs, where you get a full briefing and make two shallow dives with an instructor at your side. Lunch is served on board, and you can snorkel between dives. Divers must be at least 10 years old, and equipment is included.
From £92
Beginner Discovery Scuba Dive from Marsa Alam
A first taste of scuba diving for people who have never tried it. You start with a briefing and practice in shallow water, then make one or two guided dives on a calm reef with an instructor beside you. No certificate is needed, but you must complete a short health form. This trip is by request, and we confirm it with the dive centre.
From £126
El Quseir Old Town Tour from Marsa Alam
A half-day trip to El Quseir, an old Red Sea port about an hour and a half north of Marsa Alam. You walk through the old port quarter, visit the Ottoman fort and its visitor centre and spend time in the local market, with a guide. The vehicle is shared with other guests. This is a request-only trip, which our team confirms.
From £70
Every way in
Ways to travel from the Red Sea
Day trips, classic multi-day tours, Nile cruises, hotels and private transfers – every part of an Egypt trip can be arranged from the Red Sea. Start wherever makes sense.
Day tours in Red Sea
Hotel pickup, a private Egyptologist, half or full day.
Classic Egypt tours
2–15 day private itineraries, hotels and guides included.
Tours with a Nile cruise
Pair the Red Sea with a 3–4 night river cruise in one trip.
Nile cruises
Aswan ↔ Luxor sailings, dahabiyas and classic cruisers.
Hotels in Egypt
5★ and boutique stays, hand-picked by our team.
Airport transfers
Private meet-and-greet from the airport to your hotel.
Best time to visit
When to go to the Red Sea
The one part of Egypt with no real off-season — the water stays swimmable year-round.
March–May & Sep–Nov · best
Warm air, warm water and calm seas (25–32°C). The sweet spot for diving and beach days alike, without the peak of summer heat.
June–August · hot but fine
35–40°C on land, but the sea breeze and the water make it bearable, and the diving is superb. Busy with the European summer holidays.
December–February · mild winter sun
Air cools to the low 20s and a wetsuit helps in the water, but it's sunny, quiet and a warm escape from a British winter — a few hours direct from the UK.
Water temperature
Ranges from about 22°C in winter to 28°C in late summer — comfortable year-round, with a 3mm wetsuit nice in the cooler months.
The practical part
Getting there & around
Two main gateways, an easy hop from the Nile — the practical part.
01
From the UK
Hurghada (HRG) and Marsa Alam (RMF) both take direct charter and scheduled flights from UK airports, around five to six hours. Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) serves Sinai.
02
Which town
Hurghada for convenience and proximity to Luxor; Marsa Alam for quieter, better house reefs; Sharm for Ras Mohammed and Sinai. We match the resort to your trip.
03
Getting around
Resorts are self-contained; reef and desert trips are organised excursions with hotel pickup. A car is rarely needed unless you're exploring the coast.
04
Diving & snorkelling
Every level is catered for, with multilingual instructors and well-run centres. We line up the dive school or snorkel boat before you arrive.
Common questions
Red Sea, answered
01Which Red Sea resort should I choose — Hurghada or Marsa Alam?+
Hurghada is closer to Luxor, livelier and full of family resorts and day-boat reefs. Marsa Alam, further south, is quieter with better house reefs and dolphins. Sharm El Sheikh, across in Sinai, is the base for Ras Mohammed. We match the town to your priorities.
02How many days do I need on the Red Sea?+
Three or four nights is the usual stay — enough to dive or snorkel a couple of sites, do a desert excursion, and still have a lazy beach day. Divers chasing wrecks and walls often stay a week or take a liveaboard.
03Can I combine the Red Sea with a Nile cruise?+
Easily — it's the classic pairing. Most people do Cairo and a Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise first, then fly or drive to Hurghada or Marsa Alam for a beach finish.
04Is the Red Sea good for non-divers?+
Yes. The snorkelling is strong straight off the boats and house reefs, the beaches are excellent, and there's desert adventure, dolphin swims and glass-bottom boats for anyone who'd rather stay dry.
05When is the best time to visit the Red Sea?+
Spring and autumn (March–May, September–November) are ideal — warm water and calm seas without peak summer heat. But the water is swimmable year-round, so there's no truly bad time, and winter is a reliable warm escape from the UK.
06Is the Red Sea safe for families?+
Yes — the resort coast is geared for families, with shallow protected bays, kids' clubs and easy snorkelling. The reefs are stunning and accessible, and the all-inclusive resorts make it low-effort with children.
Plan your trip
Build your Red Sea trip with our Egyptologists
Tell us your dates and what you want out of the Red Sea – we'll send a private, tailored itinerary within 24 hours. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.