Discovery Tours Egypt

Marsa Alam, southern Red Sea.

Marsa Alam is the southern Red Sea coast: resorts strung along the shore, many built around a house reef, and quieter than Hurghada. We run resort programmes, dive-centre partners, Dolphin House trips and RMF airport transfers here.

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Rocky wadi and desert valley with mountains near Marsa Alam

Red Sea · Nearest airport Marsa Alam International (RMF)

  • Yacht moored in the marina at Port GhalibRed Sea
  • Dugong resting on a sandy seabed with yellow fish swimming around itDugong, Marsa Alam coast
  • Split view of a snorkeller swimming over coral and yellow fish below a palm-lined beachMarsa Alam coast

At a glance.

Region
Southern Red Sea coast.
Nearest airport
Marsa Alam International (RMF), with direct international charters and domestic flights from Cairo.
Airport position
About 60 km from Marsa Alam city, beside Port Ghalib. Transfer times to hotels are confirmed per booking.
Via Hurghada
Some travellers fly into Hurghada and transfer south by road, roughly 270 to 280 km.
Dolphin House
A horseshoe reef about 30 minutes from the coast by boat. Swimmers keep to the permitted zone and wear life jackets.
Wadi El Gemal
A national park of mangroves, beaches and seagrass.
Season
March to May and September to November, with air temperatures of 26 to 33 °C. June to August is hot on land and fine in the water.
Stay length
3 nights as a taster, 4 to 5 nights as the usual stay, or a dive week. Liveaboards sail from Marsa Alam.

What we operate here.

  1. Resort programmes and hotels

    Marsa Alam is among our Red Sea resort programmes and contracted hotel destinations.

  2. Diving

    PADI and SSI dive-centre partners in Marsa Alam, Elphinstone day trips and liveaboard placements for the Brothers, Daedalus and St Johns.

  3. Airport transfers

    RMF transfers with 24/7 dispatch.

  4. Day trips

    Boat and 4x4 excursions with pickup. A car is not necessary.

Programme building blocks.

  1. Samadai Dolphin House

    Boat day to the horseshoe reef.

    About 8 hours

  2. Sataya Dolphin Reef

    A long boat day to the dolphin reef.

    About 13 hours

  3. Abu Dabbab Bay

    Turtle and dugong bay, by shared trip.

    About 5 hours

  4. Sharm El Luli and Wadi El Gemal

    Beach and national park day.

    About 9 hours

  5. Hamata and Qulaan Islands

    Island boat day.

    About 8 hours

  6. Introductory scuba

    A first dive with a partner centre.

    About 6 hours

  7. Quad, sunset and stargazing

    Morning quad (4 hours), sunset quad with a Bedouin dinner (5 hours) and desert stargazing (5 hours).

    4 to 5 hours

  8. El Quseir old town

    A day trip north to the old town.

    About 6 hours

Planning notes for trade.

  • Distances between resorts are long. Excursions are by boat or 4x4 with pickup.
  • Sightings of dolphins, dugongs and turtles are possible but cannot be promised.
  • Dolphin House is a protected site. Visitor numbers and park fees are confirmed per programme.
Red Sea coastHurghadaDahab

Related reading from our operations desk.

  1. Water Experiences in Egypt: Nile to Red Sea

    B2B briefing for agents on combining Nile cruises and Red Sea programmes: vessel choices, seasonality, logistics, supplier standards and practical steps to build sellable itineraries.

  2. Egypt's Natural Wonders — National Parks & Conservation Areas

    Red Sea reefs, Wadi El Rayan, Ras Mohammed — beyond the pharaonic itinerary.

  3. Egypt's Natural Wonders: B2B Briefing for Tour Operators

    Practical briefing for tour operators and MICE planners on integrating Egypt’s deserts, Siwa and the Red Sea into programmes—logistics, seasons, permits and sustainability.

  4. Seasonal Guide for Egypt Programmes

    Seasonal planning for Egypt programmes: practical, B2B guidance on weather, crowds, Ramadan and operational windows to optimise itineraries and rates.

Plan the southern coast with us.

Say how many dive or reef days you need and which resort area, and we will confirm the logistics.

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