Cheap holiday Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam is sun, coral and calm on the Red Sea: direct flights from Amsterdam, a house reef off the beach and dolphins at Abu Dabbab. A week from €550 per person.
✈️ Plan your trip to Marsa Alam →When is the best time to go?
Marsa Alam is a year-round sun destination on the Red Sea. March to May and September to November offer the best balance: water around 26 degrees, mild wind and pleasant temperatures on land. Summer is hot (38 to 40 degrees) but the resorts sit by the sea and the water stays warm. Winter is mild at 22 to 25 degrees and is peak season for divers, with the best chance of oceanic whitetip sharks at Elphinstone.
The best areas to stay
- Port Ghalib Purpose-built marina town 5 km from the airport, with restaurants, a souk and excursion desks.
- Coraya Bay Quieter, with a house reef rated among the best in the region, ideal for snorkelling from the beach.
- Abu Dabbab Bay with sea turtles and the rare dugong in shallow, clear water.
- Marsa Mubarak Protected bay with dolphins, seagrass and sea turtles.
- El Quseir Authentic old port town with an Ottoman fort, a calm alternative to the big resorts.
Top 5 things to do in Marsa Alam
- Elphinstone Reef Legendary dive site 12 km offshore with sheer walls, soft corals and sharks.
- Abu Dabbab Bay Snorkel with wild dolphins, sea turtles and dugongs, a full day from the beach.
- Wadi El Gemal National Park Desert and sea with the Qulaan (Hamata) islands, mangroves and birds.
- Sataya Reef (Dolphin Reef) Snorkel trip to a horseshoe reef with schools of spinner dolphins.
- Desert safari + stargazing Jeep trip inland, with Bedouin tea and a phenomenal night sky.
Flights + transport from the Netherlands
From Amsterdam Schiphol you fly direct to Marsa Alam (RMF) in about 5 hours 30, with Transavia and TUI, a few times a week. The airport transfer to the resorts around Port Ghalib costs from 8 euros one way. To explore Wadi El Gemal, El Quseir and the quiet bays on your own, a rental car is most convenient, as buses do not reach everywhere. Compare rental cars in Egypt to drive the coast freely.
What does a trip to Marsa Alam cost?
Many resorts are all-inclusive: a room starts around 40 euros, all-in often 60 to 90 euros per person per night. Excursions are affordable: a half-day in El Quseir from 20 euros, a snorkel trip to Marsa Mubarak from 40 euros, a day at Abu Dabbab from 30 euros and a jeep safari to Wadi El Gemal 60 to 90 euros. For a week, budget from 550 euros per person including the direct flight. Insider tip: go to Abu Dabbab Bay early in the morning for the dugongs, before the day-trippers arrive, and choose Sataya over the busier dolphin trips from Hurghada.
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Frequently asked questions about Marsa Alam
When is the best time to visit Marsa Alam?
March to May and September to November: pleasantly warm water, little wind and top diving conditions. Summer hits around 38 degrees but the sea stays lovely, and winter is mild at 22 to 25 degrees.
Where is the best area to stay in Marsa Alam?
Port Ghalib for the marina with restaurants and excursions, Coraya Bay for a quiet house reef right off the beach, and Abu Dabbab for sea turtles and dugongs in the bay.
How do I get to Marsa Alam from the Netherlands?
Direct from Amsterdam Schiphol to Marsa Alam (RMF) in about 5 hours 30 with Transavia or TUI, a few times a week. The transfer to Port Ghalib costs from 8 euros one way.
What does a Marsa Alam holiday cost?
From 550 euros per person for a week including the direct flight. An all-inclusive resort room is often 60 to 90 euros per person per night and separate snorkel excursions start around 30 euros.
🗺️ Where to stay in Marsa Alam?
Hotels, holiday homes and hostels in Marsa Alam on the map. Click a pin for live prices and direct booking.
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