Red Sea Beaches: A Complete Red Sea Egypt Travel Guide

Egypt’s Red Sea coast offers plenty of different excursions to suit various preferences. However, instead of trying to find the best beach in Egypt, it is better to pick an area that suits your tastes and is convenient for exploring.

Hurgada is the most developed resort in the Red Sea region that offers a great variety of ways to spend time both at the water’s edge and beyond it. It has all the infrastructure for beach activities, water apnea diving, visiting local taverns, diving centers, marinas, and many others. Travelers who want to experience the coast alongside Egypt's historical highlights can explore Trans Travel's Egypt Travel Packages to compare wider itineraries through the country.

Farther south, Marsa Alam offers a more nature-oriented experience, with its dive- and snorkeling-friendly reefs and an opportunity to see the desert that surrounds the coastal strip in a fundamentally different light than in the grander resorts.

El Gouna, located to the north of Hurghada, is a planned resort complex featuring lagoons, marinas, and a wide range of hotels, restaurants, and water sports. Travelers who want to combine several Egyptian experiences can also browse Trans Travel's Egypt Tours when planning the coastal part of a longer journey.

Across the Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh is located on the Sinai Peninsula’s southernmost tip and is another popular destination for beach resorts, snorkeling, diving, and boating.

The main appeal of a Red Sea Egypt tour is that it juxtaposes two incredibly contrasting regions – the blue waters and the white sand of the sea coast, which is an unusual sight in Egypt, with its desert landscape.

Beneath the gently rolling waves are coral reefs and an underwater world that can keep a diver or a snorkeler busy for days – and this is only the submerged part! At the surface, you can lounge at the beach or go on a tour through the desert or the coastal area on a boat.

This is a great place to see something different if you have already toured around Egypt, visiting Luxor and Aswan and marveled at the Pharaohs’ legacy of tombs, statues, and Pyramids of Giza. While these cities will give you incredible insight into the ancient history and unique culture of the country, the coast offers an entirely different experience.

Hurghada

Hurghada is suitable for those who like to have choices, as a beach holiday can be combined with snorkeling, diving, boat trips, dining, marinas, and other resort amenities without the emphasis on underwater exploration.

Moreover, it is a good option to extend your journey from Upper Egypt as it provides an opportunity to change the scenery from excavated pharaohs and the Nile Valley to a few days of coastal resort leisure.

Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam should be considered as an option if you prioritize underwater exploration. The area is covered by desert vegetation, stretching to the reef, so the focus on the underwater world might be more pronounced than in other resorts.

For some travelers, Marsa Alam might be a better option than the Red Sea Beaches, as the scenery changes from desert to the sea with fewer urban developments facing the coast, ideal for those who want to prioritize snorkeling and diving.

El Gouna

El Gouna is a planned resort offering the ambiance of a lagoon with marinas, so it is more about leisurely vacation with a focus on Fira and Sayala beaches. Here, it is possible to find entertainment, dining, and other resort amenities, so it is a good destination for couples, families, and those who want to enjoy both beach activities and an urban-like atmosphere.

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh is Egypt’s most famous resort destination, located in the south of Sinai. The area combines beach activities with snorkeling, diving, and boat tours.

Different coastal areas offer a variety of experiences, so it might be worth prioritizing the closest reef and opportunities for swimming, as well as the overall atmosphere and available amenities.

Waking up beside the water is only one of the many ways to experience the Red Sea Beaches. The Red Sea also offers snorkeling, diving, boat tours, and desert activities.

Snorkeling is one of the easiest ways to experience the underwater world. Depending on your location you may be able to find a near-by snorkeling site or go on a boat tour to see the reef. The conditions can vary so it's best to check with locals.

Scuba diving is another activity to see the Red Sea from a different view. Depending on where you go you can have different scuba diving conditions. If you're traveling specifically for the diving, focus on what each place has to offer and choose the place and diving conditions that are right for you, rather than picking a hotel and then trying to find diving nearby.

If you take a boat ride you get to spend more time away from land. Depending on how far you go on the tour, you might get to spend time snorkeling, diving, visiting the reef, or exploring islands and coves.

The desert, while not near the water, offers another activity and another striking view. Contrasting the blue water and white sand meets the rocky desert sands. This difference in scenery is what makes the Red Sea in Egypt more unique than your average beach vacation.

The underwater world is among the most significant tourist attractions in Egypt's Red Sea coast. Lush coral reefs and diverse marine lifeforms are some of the main factors that make this area so special in the eyes of the tourists.

The sights and underwater experiences available will largely depend on the season, the state of the seas at any given time, and even the particular location you are at. Some more or less predictable things to see and do however can be listed. Thus, a careful observation may allow spotting a large variety of vibrant reef fish and interesting coral gardens. At the same time, seeing a bigger animal is not necessarily granted and should therefore not be taken for granted.

In particular, visiting coral reefs requires utmost care and respect for these precious ecosystems. As such, touching or standing on them and/or disturbing marine animals should be avoided. Furthermore, it is important to follow the instructions of professionals and trusted operators. After all, these fragile systems are one of the main things that differentiate the Red Sea Beaches from an average seaside holiday.

1- What Are the Most Popular Red Sea Beaches in Egypt?

Hurghada, Marsa Alam, El Gouna, Sharm El Sheikh are the top coastal destinations in Egypt. Each of these regions offers a great choice of beaches, accommodation, snorkeling opportunities, diving opportunities, and other forms of entertainment.

2- Are Red Sea Beaches Good for Snorkeling?

The snorkeling opportunities in Egypt’s Red Sea are great. At different beaches, the accessibility to the reef, as well as the quality of the swimming conditions, may vary, so it is important to research the specifics of the future visit.

3- Is Hurghada or Marsa Alam Better for a Beach Holiday?

While Marsa Alam is great for more laid-back beachgoers seeking adventure beyond the shore, Hurghada provides a more developed resort landscape focused on both active and calm vacationing.

4- Can You Combine the Red Sea with a Nile Cruise?

It is possible to combine a Nile cruise with the cultural centers of Lower and Upper Egypt, including, among others, Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, for a diverse and well-rounded vacation that includes beach, ancient ruins, and an extended cultural experience.

5- What Can You Do in Red Sea Egypt Besides Going to the Beach?

In addition to beach activities, there are opportunities for diving and snorkeling, as well as desert excursions, water exploration, and other adventures depending on the specific destination and its surrounding landscapes.