The Red Sea coast

01

About the region

Egypt’s mainland Red Sea coast runs for more than 1,000 km from Ain Sokhna, near Suez, to the Sudanese border. The sea here has some of the world’s most accessible coral reefs, and diving and snorkelling are the main reasons to come, along with winter sun and kitesurfing.

Hurghada is the largest resort, with a long strip of hotels and boat trips to the Giftun Islands. El Gouna, just to the north, is a self-contained lagoon town popular for kitesurfing and its marina. South of Safaga, Marsa Alam is less developed: turtles and, occasionally, dugongs feed in Abu Dabbab bay, and liveaboard boats head to the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone reefs, known for sharks. Wadi El Gemal National Park protects mangroves, desert valleys and coast further south.

Ain Sokhna, under two hours from Cairo, is a weekend escape for Cairenes, with resorts beneath the Galala mountains. Luxor is about four hours by road from Hurghada, so many visitors combine a beach stay with a day or two among the temples.

02

Highlights

• Snorkelling or diving at the Giftun Islands
• Swimming with turtles at Abu Dabbab, Marsa Alam
• Liveaboard diving to the Brothers and Elphinstone reefs
• Kitesurfing in El Gouna
• Wadi El Gemal National Park
• A day trip to Luxor from Hurghada

03

Plan your visit

Best time: March to May and October to November are ideal, with sea temperatures around 24–28°C; winter is sunny but breezy, and July and August are very hot.

Getting there: Hurghada and Marsa Alam international airports have many direct flights from Europe, and Hurghada is about an hour from Cairo by air or 5–6 hours by road. Ain Sokhna is 1.5–2 hours from Cairo by road; a high-speed rail line linking it with Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh is in trial running, provisionally targeted to open to passengers in July 2027.

Trip ideas:

• 7 days: Hurghada beaches and reefs with a Luxor day trip
• 5 days: Marsa Alam snorkelling and Wadi El Gemal
• 2 days: Ain Sokhna weekend from Cairo