Red Sea Coast
Most visitors to Egypt choose to spend their time on the bustling streets of Cairo and discovering ancient treasures of Giza and the Nile Valley. However, for those with a little more time seeking relaxation or world-class diving, head to Egypt’s Red Sea.
The Red Sea is an extension of the Indian Ocean, and stretches from Africa to the Middle East. In the south, it touches Djibouti and Eritrea while the northern tip touches Egypt. At this northern tip, the Red Sea channels into the man-made Suez Canal, which provides a connecting waterway out to the Mediterranean Sea. This entire route, from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean, has acted as a very important trade and cargo route for over 150 years. It also channels into the Gulf of Aqaba, touching Israel and Jordan.
The Red Sea coast is long, and provides a multitude of locations for visitors to explore. The waters are warm and clear, the beaches are sandy, and there are many resorts to choose from. Travelers flock to these beaches to enjoy world class scuba diving (wreck diving in particular) and excellent snorkeling, as well as an array of other activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, kite surfing, and more.
Our favorite Red Sea towns
- Hurghada is the largest and most developed of the beach resort towns. Although we tend to prefer smaller, more off the beaten path locations, Harghada is popular for a reason. There are alot of family friendly resorts to choose from, and the scuba diving around these waters is excellent. We think the reefs have been negatively affected by the high number of visitors, so for better diving, look south or north.
- Further south, find Marsa Alam, best known for its excellent diving, offering crystal-clear waters, idyllic white-sand beaches and spectacular coral reefs. And what makes it extra special is its’ proximity from which to access the southern reaches of Egypt’s expansive Eastern Desert. For the more adventurous traveler, consider pairing your beach side relaxation with an excursion by quad bike or camel to the desert or Wadi el Gemal National Park.
- Sharm el Sheikh is where the northern Red Sea meets the Sinai Peninsula. In addition to being a fun beach town, we like ‘Sharm’ for it’s proximity to Ras Mohammed National Park, as well as many famous dive sites including some notoriously difficult ones like the Blue Hole.
Our favorite accommodation
Other areas to explore
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