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Red Sea

Crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and beach resorts — Egypt's tropical paradise.

Best For:Diving, snorkeling & beach relaxation
Suggested Duration:3–7 days
Water Temperature:22–28°C year-round
Getting There:Hurghada Airport (HRG) or Marsa Alam (RMF)
Best Season:Year-round (best diving: March – May & Sept – Nov)
Visibility:Up to 30 m underwater

Overview

The Red Sea coast offers some of the world's best diving and snorkeling. From Hurghada to Marsa Alam, the coast is lined with resorts and pristine beaches. Explore vibrant coral reefs, swim with dolphins, or simply relax on the white sand beaches.

Gallery

Silhouettes of hikers standing on a rocky ridge above the Red Sea mountains at sunset
Panoramic Milky Way arc over Red Sea mountain ridges with a vivid red horizon glow
A scuba diver comes face to face with striped sergeant major fish in clear blue water
Palm trees silhouetted against a vivid Milky Way galaxy over desert sands at night
Fire performer spinning flames on a circular stage at a Red Sea desert camp at night
A lone camper sits by a glowing fire beside a 4x4 under a brilliant Milky Way sky in the desert
A scuba diver hovers above a vibrant coral reef with tropical fish in blue water
Belly dancers in colorful costumes perform at night outside an ornate domed resort building.
Illuminated Pharaonic Show venue entrance with ornate domes and palm trees at night
A fire dancer performs spinning flames for seated guests under a starry desert night sky
A performer in vibrant pink costume spins a colorful patterned skirt during a whirling dervish show
A low table set for four with Moroccan lanterns and floor cushions under string lights in the desert at night
Guests gather around an open beach bonfire as chefs grill meat at a Bedouin-style dinner by the Red Sea
Group of tourists relaxing around a campfire beside Bedouin tents in the desert at sunset
A glowing luxury Bedouin-style tent adorned with lanterns and red carpets at night
A Bedouin man in traditional keffiyeh baking flatbread over hot coals in the desert
Layered rocky mountain ridges fading into blue haze above the Red Sea coast
Tourists and a local host sharing tea inside a traditional decorated Bedouin tent
A convoy of quad bikes crossing a vast desert plain with mountains in the background
A decorated Bedouin tent glowing with lanterns beside a campfire on desert sand dunes at dusk
Two red quad bikes parked on sandy desert with rocky mountains at sunset
Silhouetted thatched beach umbrellas and sun loungers at sunset on the Red Sea shore
Illuminated Red Sea resort buildings reflecting golden light on a calm lagoon at dusk
Illuminated beach resort at night with straw umbrellas, blue loungers, and palm-lined bay.
Illuminated thatched cabanas line a glowing Red Sea beach at night with crowds strolling
Calm turquoise Red Sea lagoon framed by a thatched shade and palm-lined beach resort
Luxury yachts moored along a brick promenade at a Red Sea marina under a blue sky
A tall sailboat outlined in blue neon lights moored at a Red Sea marina at night
Tourists strolling along a lit waterfront promenade at night with palm trees and warm string lights
Luxury yachts moored at a glowing marina at night with people strolling the waterfront promenade
Luxury yachts moored at a Red Sea marina bathed in warm golden evening light
Hurghada marina promenade lit up at night with mosque minarets glowing green in the background
Vibrant Red Sea fish including turquoise parrotfish and red grouper at a fish market
Wooden crates filled with various fresh Red Sea fish sorted by species at a market.
A group of friends celebrating with drinks on a boat on the Red Sea
Piles of fresh shrimp, mussels, and fish displayed on crushed ice at a Red Sea market
A large open-mouthed grouper head surrounded by colorful tropical fish on ice at a market
Fresh red snapper fish displayed on ice at a Red Sea seafood market stall
Group of snorkelers in life jackets swimming beside a large wooden gulet in the Red Sea
Group of friends dancing and celebrating on a boat deck at Red Sea sunset
Tourists snorkeling in clear blue Red Sea waters beside a white double-deck excursion boat
A vibrant orange clownfish with white stripes hovers above a sea anemone on a coral reef
Two wooden sailing boats anchored on the Red Sea with desert mountains glowing at sunset
Tourists snorkeling around coral reefs beside white tour boats on vivid blue Red Sea water
Two snorkelers underwater feeding colorful tropical fish in the clear Red Sea
A rope hammock swing on a wooden frame standing in shallow turquoise Red Sea water
A man pushes a woman on a wooden swing set in shallow crystal-clear Red Sea waters
Two women sitting on a wooden swing set in the shallow turquoise waters of the Red Sea
Wooden beach umbrellas and bean bags on a sandy Red Sea shore at sunset
Thatched beach huts on golden sand overlooking vivid turquoise Red Sea waters with a boat anchored offshore
A wooden boardwalk pier leads to a rustic beach resort with turquoise Red Sea waters.
A weathered white and blue fishing boat anchored on calm turquoise Red Sea waters
Sunbathers on sandy Red Sea island beach with turquoise water near Hurghada, Egypt
Two snorkelers swimming underwater alongside colorful tropical fish in clear blue water
Row of thatched palm umbrellas lining a white sandy Red Sea beach under clear blue sky
Wooden rope swings standing in clear turquoise Red Sea water with a sandy island behind
Aerial view of Hurghada coastline with turquoise coral reefs and sandy islands in the Red Sea
White dive boats moored beside a shallow coral reef in vivid blue Red Sea waters
Vibrant coral reef wall teeming with orange anthias fish in crystal-clear Red Sea waters
A dark surgeonfish glides over a rocky coral reef in clear turquoise Red Sea water
A school of striped sergeant major fish swimming around a large coral formation underwater.
Hurghada beach resort with straw parasols, palm trees and turquoise Red Sea lagoon
Aerial view of a kitesurfer on vivid turquoise Red Sea waters beside a desert resort beach.
A green beach safety flag flies above a lifeguard tower beside thatched umbrellas on the Red Sea shore.
A white yacht anchored over a vivid turquoise coral reef with arid hills beyond
Colorful tropical fish swimming among vibrant coral formations in the Red Sea
Submerged chairs dot a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon beside a thatched beach resort.

Historical Background

The Red Sea has been a vital trade route for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians launched expeditions to the land of Punt from these shores. Queen Hatshepsut's famous trading voyage departed from the Red Sea coast around 1470 BC. The sea was a crucial link in the spice trade between Asia, Africa, and Europe. In modern times, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 transformed the Red Sea into one of the world's most important shipping lanes. Tourism development began in the 1980s when Hurghada was a small fishing village — today the Red Sea Riviera is one of the world's top diving destinations.

What to See & Do

Diving & Snorkeling

The Red Sea is home to over 1,200 species of fish and 250 species of coral. Top dive sites include the SS Thistlegorm (a WWII shipwreck), Elphinstone Reef (famous for oceanic whitetip sharks), and the Brothers Islands. Snorkeling is excellent directly from many resort beaches, especially around Mahmya Island and Giftun Island.

Boat Trips & Island Hopping

Day trips to offshore islands and reefs are popular from Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Swim with wild dolphins at Dolphin House reef, visit the white-sand beaches of Giftun Island, or take a glass-bottom boat to see the coral without getting wet.

Desert Safaris

The Eastern Desert stretches inland from the coast. Quad biking through desert wadis, Bedouin camp dinners under the stars, and visits to ancient Roman quarries at Mons Porphyrites offer a contrast to the beach scene.

El Gouna & Luxury Resorts

El Gouna is an upscale lagoon town north of Hurghada with its own marina, golf course, and a distinctly Mediterranean feel. It's a quieter, more refined alternative to the main resort strips.

Food & Dining

Fresh Seafood

Freshly caught fish and seafood are the stars here — grilled sea bass, calamari, and Red Sea shrimp are staples. The marina areas in both Hurghada and El Gouna have excellent seafood restaurants. Many resorts offer beach barbecues with freshly caught fish.

International Dining

The resort towns cater to international tastes with Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean restaurants alongside Egyptian cuisine. El Gouna's restaurant scene is particularly diverse, with options from sushi to steak.

Best Time to Visit

The Red Sea coast is a year-round destination thanks to its dry, sunny climate. Water temperatures range from 22°C in winter to 28°C in summer. The best diving conditions are March–May and September–November when visibility is exceptional and currents are mild. Summer (June–August) brings the warmest water but can be very hot on land (40°C+). Winter (December–February) is pleasant for beach relaxation (25–28°C) though evenings can be cool.

Getting Around

Most visitors stay at all-inclusive resorts and use hotel transfers. Hurghada's main strip (Sigala and the New Marina) has taxis and microbuses. El Gouna has its own tuk-tuk system and marina-to-marina boats. For diving, most dive centers arrange pickup from hotels. Renting a car is possible but usually unnecessary for resort holidays.

Pro Tips

  • Book diving courses in advance during peak season (October–November) as popular operators fill up fast
  • Reef-safe sunscreen is important — the coral ecosystem is fragile and worth protecting
  • The SS Thistlegorm dive site requires an advanced certification — plan ahead if this is on your list
  • Marsa Alam is quieter and has better house reefs than Hurghada — ideal for serious divers
  • If you're not a diver, snorkeling from the beach at many resorts is still world-class
  • Combine a Red Sea beach extension with a Nile Valley tour for the complete Egypt experience

Key Locations

  • Hurghada27.2579, 33.8116
  • Marsa Alam25.0661, 34.9040

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