Get up to €50 off your staySubscribe and get up to €50 off your next stay
Browse and explore the best travel guides in Marsa Alam.
Marsa Alam sits on Egypt's Red Sea coast, roughly 270 km south of Hurghada and 220 km east of Luxor. Once a remote fishing village, it has grown into a diving and beach holiday destination known for untouched coral reefs, regular dolphin and dugong sightings, and a fraction of the development found further north.
Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) opened in 2003 specifically to serve the resort hotels stretching along this coast. The town itself is small, with most accommodation spread out in resort enclaves between Port Ghalib (40 km north) and Hamata (130 km south). Wadi El Gemal National Park covers a large portion of the inland desert and coastline south of town.
Country
Egypt
Region
Red Sea Governorate, southern Red Sea coast
Population
~10,000 (town), spread along ~150 km coast
Elevation
Sea level
Time Zone
EET (UTC+2)
Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Language
Arabic (English at hotels)
Nearest Airport
Marsa Alam International (RMF)
Airport to City Centre
60 km to town, most resorts within 30 km
Typical Cost Level
Mid-range
Transport Pass
Not applicable - hotel transfers and taxis
Spring (Mar-May)
22-32°C, water 23-26°C
Summer (Jun-Aug)
30-40°C, water 27-29°C
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
24-35°C, water 26-28°C
Winter (Dec-Feb)
16-26°C, water 22-24°C
Get the latest deals, new destinations, and travel tips delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Entry rules, stay length and passport validity by nationality.
March to May and September to November are the prime months for diving. The Red Sea sits at 24-28°C and visibility at offshore reefs like Elphinstone reaches 30 metres. Summer is hot but quieter on land, and winter still allows snorkelling with a 3mm wetsuit.
Almost everyone uses a hotel transfer. Marsa Alam International (RMF) is 60 km north of the town itself, but most resorts sit between the airport and Port Ghalib, so transfers run 15-45 minutes. Package holidays include them; independent travellers can book a private car for EGP 600-1,200.
Plan 7 days for a proper diving or snorkelling trip. That covers a full-day Sataya Dolphin Reef boat, a Wadi El Gemal day, an Elphinstone dive, beach time at Sharm El Luli or Abu Dabbab, and rest days for sun and food. Divers on liveaboards typically stay 8-10 nights.
Marsa Alam wins on diving and quiet beaches. Reefs are healthier, dolphins and dugongs more common, and the resort sprawl is far smaller. Hurghada has more nightlife and a wider range of hotels, while Sharm El Sheikh balances the two with the bonus of Ras Mohammed and Tiran nearby.
Yes, on trip1 you can book hotels across Marsa Alam and pay with over 120 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC. trip1 covers 3 million+ hotels in 190+ countries, making it easy to find and book accommodation with crypto.
