If you browse our website and delve into the Destinations section, you’ll find that we highlight five must-visit places on the Red Sea: Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, the two major attractions, as well as Marsa Alam, Dahab, and Taba, each intriguing for different reasons. However, there are lesser-known destinations on Egypt’s Red Sea that also deserve to be explored. We list them in this post, so jot them down and plan a dream holiday on this paradisiacal coastline between Africa and Asia.
Soma Bay
Located about 60 km south of Hurghada and roughly 50 km from the airport serving that city, Soma Bay is also near Safaga, which is road-linked to Upper Egypt and is just 230 km from Luxor. Therefore, reaching here is relatively easy by plane or private vehicle. As its name suggests, it’s situated in a natural bay on the Red Sea. Over recent years, it has seen a significant surge in tourism, featuring a variety of resorts and even golf courses. Naturally, its main draw is diving and snorkeling for enthusiasts of all levels.
El Gouna
Previously mentioned in our post about the best beaches in Egypt, El Gouna stands out for its meticulously crafted man-made landscape, complete with artificial channels, walkways, and small docks, along with prime bathing beaches. Situated about 30 km north of Hurghada, its nearest airport is the most convenient way to reach here. Its hotels and resorts are well-equipped in terms of facilities, making it a potential choice for MICE tourism, coupled with the allure of the sea.
Port Galib
If you’re looking for an ambiance similar to Marsa Alam, meaning away from the main tourist hubs and with untouched bathing areas, an alternative to the aforementioned destination is Port Galib. It’s about 3 hours from Hurghada and an hour and a half from the Wadi el Gemal Natural Reserve. One of its advantages is its proximity to Marsa Alam Airport (about 8 km), making it a perfect blend of accessibility and the ideal atmosphere for sun, beach, and dreamy dives.
Safaga
Safaga is traditionally associated with the industrial and commercial uses of its port, one of Egypt’s primary ports on the mainland coast of the Red Sea. It’s also frequently used by Egyptian citizens to set sail to Duba and continue their pilgrimage to Mecca. Nonetheless, it has gradually been integrated into tourist circuits, largely due to its prime location relative to the Nile Valley: merely 190 km from Qena and 230 km from Luxor. As a result, some of its visitors are Upper Egypt tourists who opt for a quick detour before or after their cruise.
Nuweiba
We conclude this list of lesser-known Red Sea destinations in Egypt with a proposal located in the Gulf of Aqaba: Nuweiba. Its beaches may not always boast fine sand, and its accommodations might not have as many stars as neighboring Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, yet it offers affordable hotels and resorts. Furthermore, Nuweiba has a passenger port from which ferries depart to Taba and, notably, to Aqaba in Jordan. This makes it a compelling option for those looking to take a brief combined trip to another country, offering equally enticing tourist destinations like Petra or Wadi Rum.
