Thanks to its position on the western coast of the Red Sea, Marsa Alam offers a dream vacation without giving up a landscape not yet overwhelmed by tourism. The Egyptian city is precisely located where the Sahara Desert ends its long journey meeting the shores of the Red Sea, in an environment rich in palm groves and mangroves.
Those seeking an intimate and deep contact with unspoiled nature by arriving at Marsa Alam will be able to experience fantastic sensations. One can relax on the warm, soft, and white sand and then dive into the beautiful blue waters and admire the all-natural marine scenery.
Thanks to the fabulous coral reef of the Red Sea one can explore seabeds rich in fish varieties and numerous types of coral.
The strength of Marsa Alam is its diving sites that are not yet overcrowded, where you can also admire the feared hammerhead sharks, the friendly dolphins, and the rare dugongs. The most recommended destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling are the deep Elphinstone Reef, the shallower Marsa Abu Dabab (known for the presence of the dugong), and the Samadai Reef (also known as ‘Dolphin House’), home to a large group of dolphins. The best period for underwater activities is the summer with water temperatures above 30° C, but wearing a thicker wetsuit, even the winter 24° C temperatures are acceptable.
Those who are not very experienced in diving can opt for an adventurous desert safari on a quad or jeep or on the back of a camel or horse. Immersed in the harsh hinterland, you can taste the famous ‘tea in the desert’ at a typical Bedouin tent, admiring a fantastic sunset that gives new shades to the surrounding landscape.
After visiting the peaceful Marsa Alam and getting to know its inhabitants with their suave optimism, one can leave the city limits towards the nearby more ‘touristic’ places. Those fascinated by historical heritage can reach El Quseir and admire the Ottoman fortress with its protruding cannons, almost protecting the people in the underlying bazaars. If there is the possibility, you can reach Wadi Hammamat to admire the hundreds of rock inscriptions (some dating back to 4000 BC) decorating the dry valley’s walls or even reach the city of Luxor, known for its Egyptian temple and for the Great Temple of Amon, in the village of Karnak. Those who want to continue immersing in nature can head towards the Gebel Elba National Park, which preserves a great variety of ecosystems.
After wandering discovering natural beauties, it’s time to relax over a good meal based on vegetables and greens (such as baba ghanouj, mashed roasted eggplant and tahini), fish (grilled or fried), and the sweet baklava, made with filo pastry, dried fruit, and honey.
