Dahab City: Dahab Travel Guide

Dahab City is located on the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, an hour and a half to the north of Sharm El Sheikh. It is famous for being the complete opposite of a resort town, as it had retained its character as a Bedouin fishing village, offering more in terms of low-rise development along a walkable seafront promenade, cushioned cafes spilling out onto the sand and dive centers, as opposed to the organized luxury and packaged excursions of its neighbor to the south. It attracts divers, freedivers, windsurfers, and those seeking a more low-key alternative to the big-name Egyptian coastal destinations. For those looking to combine it with other stops on a larger tour, Egypt Travel Packages give an idea of how coastal touring often dovetails with the country's historical axis.

This article will instead focus on the practicalities: how to get to Dahab, what it has to offer, how long to stay, and an overview of the town's layout.

Dahab is divided into a few distinct areas. The central strip of Masbat is where the majority of dining options, dive shops, and budget to mid-range accommodations are located – and where most visitors choose to base themselves. The area known as the Lighthouse lies at the northern end of Masbat (and is located right above one of the busiest shore diving entry points).

Assalah, just inland and to the north, retains the feel of a Bedouin village, while further south, the smaller resort of Mashraba offers a more tranquil stay (with a stretch of guesthouses and small hotels) with waters facing a shallow lagoon that acts as a focal point for wind- and kite-surfing activities.

Those looking to combine a visit to Dahab with an extended stay seeing the sights of Egypt's interior could use something like the Egypt Vacation Package – 12 Day Egypt Tour, which features several days exploring the Red Sea, alongside a trip to Cairo and the Nile Valley.

Dahab's diving tends to be accessed from the shore, which is unusual for the Red Sea and a big part of the town's charm. The Blue Hole, a few kilometers north of town, is the most famous site: a deep submarine sinkhole ringed by reef which sees lots of recreational snorkelers on the shallow fringes, and technical and freedivers exploring the holes at deeper levels.

The Canyon, also north of town, is a narrow reef fissure that more experienced divers descend into, while closer in you can find the Lighthouse, Eel Garden, and Islands sites, all entered from the shore, and suitable for divers of all levels. Dahab has also become a major freediving destination, with several schools running courses year round.

If you're looking to compare dive conditions elsewhere along the coast, our guides on Red Sea Beaches and Sharm City cover the wider Egyptian Red Sea.

The Sinai mountains rise immediately behind Dahab and desert excursions are a standard counterpoint to time in the water. Jeep and camel trips into the surrounding wadis typically run half a day, often including a stop at a Bedouin camp.

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery lie roughly two to three hours inland, usually visited as an overnight or very early morning excursion to reach the summit for sunrise. Ras Abu Galum, a protected coastal area north of the Blue Hole reachable by camel or boat, offers snorkeling with almost no development around it.

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is the entry point to Dahab, which means most people arrive via the larger town anyway. Some people do an itinerary that includes both resorts, using Sharm for the facilities and dive boats and Dahab for the atmosphere and the shore diving, so our guide to Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh covers that portion of an extended stay.

To go further inland, it's a domestic flight from Sharm to Cairo, beyond which Egypt Nile Cruises cover the stretch of the river from Luxor to Aswan, which can be combined with a leg in Sinai at either end of a longer trip. To see how the different areas of Egypt relate to each other, our Egypt Travel Guide covers it all.

Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (about 1.5 hours away) is the closest airport, with private transfers and buses readily available. Taba, just north of the Israeli border, is also an option for those willing to make the trip.

Dahab is a walkable town, with the seafront promenade stretching the length of the main street, and most restaurants, dive centers, and hotels located within easy walking distance. Taxis and pickup trucks can take you to the Blue Hole, the Laguna, or the airport.

Four to five days suits most visits, allowing time to dive or snorkel several shore sites, take a desert excursion, and settle into the town's pace. Divers doing certification courses or freediving training often stay longer, a week or more, while travelers treating Dahab as one leg of a wider Egypt trip typically allocate three days.

1- How many days does one need to spend in Dahab?

It is recommended to spend from 4 to 5 days there, but if you are a diver who wants to complete courses, then a week or more will be necessary. Besides, people who want to include Dahab in their Egypt tour usually reserve 3 days for it.

2- How does Dahab differ from Sharm El Sheikh?

While Dahab is a small beach resort center, Sharm El Sheikh is more about the large-scale luxury hotels, water sport activities, diving, and sightseeing excursions.

3- Is it possible to snorkeling at the Blue Hole?

It is worth noting that snorkeling is very popular among tourists in Dahab, so they head to the edge of the Blue Hole to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. However, the Blue Hole is deeper and is suitable for technical snorkelers and freedivers.

4- How can I get to Dahab?

The simplest and fastest way is to fly to Sharm El Sheikh (about 1.5 hours from Dahab). There are plenty of minibus and private taxi services; the bus ride takes around 3 hours.

5- Is Dahab an option for combined tours with Cairo and Luxor?

Yes, as Dahab is located near the Red Sea, it is possible to explore ancient Egypt and visit the cities of Luxor and Aswan. The traffic route from Dahab goes through Cairo to Luxor along the Nile. It is also worth paying attention to excursions by boat in Luxor, which are a great way to explore ancient temples and tombs.