Marsa Alam is the quiet southern Red Sea base, and its excursions feel less hurried than further north. Sataya Reef is a dependable dolphin-spotting site reached by traditional dive boat. Wadi El Gemal national park combines coral lagoons with the desert hinterland the Romans mined for emeralds. For a longer day, Luxor's Karnak and Valley of the Kings are within reach by minibus.
Excursions departing from Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam Excursions
Dolphins at Samadai, turtles at Abu Dabbab, or a long drive to the temples of Luxor
LengthFull & half day
From£47 / person
PickupHotel included
GuideEgyptologist
Out on the far southern Red Sea coast there are 14 excursions from Marsa Alam, taking in dolphin reefs, turtle coves, evenings in the desert and chauffeured days to the temples on the Nile. Fares begin at £47 per person, and the table below gives the length and fare of every outing.
The best excursion in Marsa Alam is the one somebody else has organised for you. Our people on the ground here have done exactly that since 1988.Egypt Discovery · in Egypt from 1988
What you'll see
Marsa Alam, stop by stop
Two or three of these stops fit into one unhurried day. Your guide chooses the combination to suit your energy, what you most want to see and the time of year.
01
Sataya Dolphin Reef
Far down the coast, a horseshoe-shaped reef is where spinner dolphins gather to rest, sometimes in large numbers. You snorkel quietly nearby in warm, clear water and let them set the distance. Sightings are likely but never certain, and this is the day Marsa Alam is best known for.
02
Wadi El Gemal and its coast
The name means 'Valley of the Camels'. This large protected area runs from desert hills down to mangroves and a wild shoreline, with gazelles, migrating birds and Ababda Bedouin families living on the land. You see dry country and open sea on a single trip.
03
The Hamata Islands
Reached by boat, these islands have pale sandbars, seagrass beds where turtles feed, and reefs that see few visitors because they lie so far south. The Red Sea looks the way it did decades ago here, and the snorkelling is some of the best of the trip.
04
Luxor by road
Swap the reef for temples with a drive of around four and a half hours each way to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Hatshepsut's temple. It makes a very long day, yet few places pack in so many ancient monuments.
05
Desert and stargazing
A 4x4 takes you into the Eastern Desert for mint tea with Bedouin hosts, dunes at dusk, then a sky with no street lights to spoil it. After a day at sea it is a favourite way to slow down.
Every Marsa Alam excursions
How you could fill the day
Fares are per person and are read from our live booking system, so each figure is current.
Every Marsa Alam excursion at a glance
On the water
Wildlife is what draws people to this coast. Boats run out to the dolphin reefs at Samadai and Sataya, while calm coves such as Abu Dabbab suit turtle watching. Encounters are likely rather than certain, because the animals keep their own timetable. Nearly all of these are shared, and beginners can try a first dive as well.
Sataya Dolphin Reef Boat Trip from Marsa Alam
A long day out to Sataya, also called Dolphin Reef, in the far south of the coast. You drive to Hamata harbour, then take a boat to the reef where spinner dolphins often rest. The boat is shared with other guests. Sightings are likely, but the dolphins are wild, so nobody can promise them. There are snorkelling stops and a hot lunch on board.
From £9513 Hours
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 £918 Hours
Abu Dabbab Bay Turtles and Dugong Snorkelling Trip
A relaxed morning at Abu Dabbab Bay, a sheltered beach north of Marsa Alam. Green turtles feed over the seagrass here, and with luck a dugong appears too. You snorkel straight from the sand. The animals are wild, so sightings are possible but never guaranteed. Transfers, beach entry, snorkelling kit and a light snack are included.
From £675 Hours
Marsa Mubarak Boat Trip with Turtle Snorkelling
A short boat trip from the bay at Marsa Mubarak to reefs where green turtles feed. You snorkel with a guide at two stops, one over the turtle grazing area and one on a coral reef. Turtle sightings are likely, though the animals are wild and cannot be guaranteed. The trip is shared with other guests and ends in time for lunch.
From £475 Hours
Hamata and Qulaan Islands Full-Day Boat Trip
A day on the water around the Hamata and Qulaan islands, with three reef stops for snorkelling and lunch on board. The boat is shared with other guests. Turtles are seen from time to time, but they are wild and nothing is guaranteed. It suits people who would like a full day of swimming rather than one short stop.
From £918 Hours
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 £889 Hours
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 £1266 Hours
In the desert
Just inland from the hotels lies open desert. You can tackle it on a quad bike in the cool of the morning, or at sunset followed by supper in a Bedouin camp. Another evening trades the bike for a camel and a guide who names the constellations.
Morning Quad Bike Desert Safari from Marsa Alam
A guided morning quad ride through the desert behind Marsa Alam. You get a safety briefing and a practice ride first, then follow your guide over sand, dunes and wadi tracks for about an hour and a half. The ride ends with tea at a Bedouin family's home. No experience is needed, and the group is shared with other guests.
From £734 Hours
Sunset Quad Safari with Bedouin Dinner from Marsa Alam
A quad bike ride into the desert timed to reach a viewpoint at sunset. After a briefing and practice ride, you follow your guide for about an hour and a half, stop to watch the light change, then eat dinner at a Bedouin camp. You can ride your own quad or share one, and the group is shared with other guests.
From £855 Hours
Desert Stargazing, Camel Ride and Bedouin Dinner from Marsa Alam
A gentle evening in the desert behind Marsa Alam. You ride a camel at sunset for about 45 minutes, eat dinner at a Bedouin camp, then look up at the stars with a guide who points out the constellations. You need a clear night sky, and that depends on the weather. The group is shared with other guests.
From £805 Hours
Long day trips
Reaching the Nile valley means a lengthy drive, so these excursions are private and set off at first light. Choose Luxor, Aswan, or the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and plan on getting back to your hotel late at night.
Private Luxor Excursion from Marsa Alam by Road
A private journey by road from the coast to Luxor and home again, all in one long day. You see the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple with your own Egyptologist guide. Your party has its own vehicle and driver, and lunch is included. It is about 16 hours door to door, with several hours of driving each way.
From £10316 Hours
Private Aswan Excursion from Marsa Alam by Road
A long private day by road from Marsa Alam across the Eastern Desert to Aswan and back. You see the High Dam, take a boat to Philae Temple and visit the Unfinished Obelisk, with a private Egyptologist guide and lunch. You travel in your own vehicle with a driver, and the whole day takes about 16 hours including the drive.
From £21016 Hours
Private Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Excursion from Marsa Alam
A private day by road from Marsa Alam to two temples beside the Nile. You visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo, with a private Egyptologist guide and lunch. Your party has its own vehicle and driver. It is a shorter day than Luxor or Aswan, at about 14 hours.
From £20514 Hours
In town
If you would rather spend a few unhurried hours ashore, El Quseir is the old Red Sea port up the coast, with an Ottoman fort, a harbour district and a working market.
Who these excursions suit
- Animal loversGuided snorkelling at spots where dolphins and turtles turn up regularly.
- Families with childrenShort outings to sheltered bays and beaches, with lower fares for young passengers on shared trips.
- First-timers in the waterAn introductory dive led by an instructor, plus relaxed snorkelling stops, with nothing to learn beforehand.
- Anyone after ancient templesPrivate days out to Luxor, Aswan, Edfu and Kom Ombo, with the driving done for you.
Egypt Discovery is a home-grown Egyptian tour operator, in business since 1988. We trade under ETAA Licence No. 718 (Category A), hold IATA accreditation, and have six offices around the country: Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh.
Sort the rest of your holidayWhere to stay in Marsa AlamTransfers from Marsa Alam airport
Worth knowing beforehand
The practical bits
What to wear
Mosques and churches ask for shoulders and knees to be covered. Wear sturdy closed shoes, as the ground is rough stone in places and soft sand in others.
Tipping
Most guests give their guide about £2–4 for the day, with something smaller for the driver. It is your choice entirely, since the excursion fare already covers everything.
Heat & water
Bring at least a litre and a half of water each. By ten in the morning there is little shade at the sites, which is why we set off early: it is cooler as well as quieter.
Cameras & fees
Some sites ask for a camera ticket at the entrance, and a handful of tombs and inner rooms carry their own charge. Ordinary admission to each site is part of your fare.
What guests ask us
Marsa Alam excursions, answered
- Do you collect us from our hotel?
- We do, and it costs nothing extra. A driver collects you from your Marsa Alam hotel, or from the Nile cruise dock where that applies, and brings you back afterwards. You will find your guide waiting in the lobby, and should your plans shift, the local office behind the excursion can rearrange things that same day.
- Which months suit Marsa Alam best?
- The kindest weather falls between October and April, when days are warm, evenings are cool and walking round the sites is a pleasure. From May to September the heat builds, so excursions set off early and are done before midday, often with quieter sites and gentler prices as a reward. Marsa Alam excursions run in every month of the year.
- Is it safe, and can we bring the children?
- It is safe, and children are welcome. Our team has worked in Egypt since 1988, with offices across the country and someone on call day and night, and every one of our excursions uses guides and drivers we have checked ourselves. With youngsters along, the guide slows the pace and tells the stories at their level, and child seats or a shorter day can be arranged on request.
- How much do children pay for Marsa Alam excursions?
- Shared excursions are free for under-twos, half fare for ages 2 to 11, and full fare from 12. Private excursions are charged per head, and the figure comes down as your party gets bigger.
- Is it too late to reserve a Marsa Alam excursion tomorrow?
- Online reservations stop 48 hours before the start time. Beyond that point, write to us and the local team will tell you whether a place can be found.
- What happens to my money if I have to cancel?
- Give three days' notice or more and you are repaid in full. Between three days and 24 hours before, half is repaid. In the final 24 hours nothing is returned.
- Does a day in Luxor or Aswan work from Marsa Alam?
- It does, as a private excursion by road. Luxor takes around four and a half hours each way, which makes for a very full day, and Aswan is further again. An early start is essential.
Arrange your Marsa Alam day outSend us your dates.
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Private Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup, clear pricing in GBP. We've arranged Egypt excursions for British travellers since 1988, with 24/7 in-country support from offices.
Full credit or a refund if you let us know more than 72 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Refunds are less bank charges. Pre-issued flight or train tickets can't be refunded. Full policy