Best Red Sea Activities in Egypt: Top Experiences

Marsa Alam vs Hurghada compares activities, accessibility, marine life, accommodation, and overall experience. Plan your ideal Red Sea vacation today.

Is Giftun Island worth visiting? Yes, if you want clear water, reefs and a white-sand beach day from Hurghada. Orange Bay and Mahmya are both beach stops on Giftun Island; here is how they differ, what a boat trip includes, the best season and what to bring.

How many days to spend in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt? For most travellers 4 to 5 days: enough for the beach, a Ras Mohamed or Tiran boat trip, a desert evening and rest. Three days suits a short break; 6 to 7 days suits divers and day trips to Dahab, Saint Catherine or Cairo.

The best beaches in Hurghada for snorkeling are Mahmya and Orange Bay on Giftun Island, reached by boat, and the house reefs of Sharm El Naga, Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh on the mainland. Here is how they compare, which suits beginners and families, the best months and how to protect the reef.

The top Sinai Peninsula things to do are the sunrise climb of Mount Sinai, Saint Catherine's Monastery, snorkeling at Ras Mohamed and the Blue Hole in Dahab, the Colored Canyon and a night at a Bedouin camp. Where each one is, how long it takes, the best season and safety advice.

Wadi el Gemal National Park, "the valley of camels", protects 7,450 square kilometres of Red Sea coast, islands and desert south of Marsa Alam: coral reefs, seagrass with dugongs and turtles, mangroves, gazelles and Roman-era emerald mines. Here is what to see, how to get there and the best season.