Marsa Alam has been appealing to divers of all nationalities for decades now.
This town is located in south-eastern Egypt on the Red Sea coast. It is now among the most popular destinations for locals, Arabs and foreigners alike.
Marsa Alam’s development as a tourist destination accelerated in a noticeable manner after the opening of its international airport in 2003.
The town boasts some of the nation’s and the region’s most beautiful beaches, with their crystal clear waters and white sands.
These waters and these sands are one reason why Marsa Alam is known by some people as the ‘Egyptian Maldives’.
The beaches of the town have their own exquisite nature, including Abu Dabab beach where turtles are a common sight.
The same beaches boast the most atypical marine wildlife where crocodilefish and octopuses are common sights too.
The town succeeded in building a reputation for itself as a world-class kite-surfing destination. It is also a wonderful starting point to safaris into the beautiful Egyptian desert.
Apart from the beaches of the town, Marsa Alam also has a series of wonderful inland attractions, including the emerald mines which have been at the centre of explorers’ attention since the days of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.
Marsa Alam’s inland attractions also include the Temple of Seti I, one of the most important archaeological sites of ancient Egypt.
The temple is located around 10 kilometres from the Nile River, in an area that used to be known as Abydos. The area used to be a necropolis for Egypt’s earliest kings and later became a pilgrimage centre for the worship of the god Osiris.
A hot desert climate usually prevails over Mara Alam, even as the town is located over 217 kilometres north of the tropical zone.
Nonetheless, its temperature is marked by steadiness and its summers are usually cooler, compared to other Red Sea resorts, including Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.
The town is a divers’ haven, with divers heading to it from all parts of the world for a long time now. It is credited for offering some of Egypt’s best diving experiences.
Marsa Alam is quiet. However, its northern and southern coasts have been exploited by eager developers, filling it with resorts and wonderful hotels.
It also has some long-standing beach camps for those who want to spend most of their time underwater.
Marsa Alam is located around 300 kilometres south of Hurghada. It is a great choice for those who enjoy beachfront hotels with all services included.
It is the best choice also for those who want to relax. Activities in the town can include snorkelling and scuba diving. Those who want to venture into seeing sharks swimming, can have their dream fulfilled in Marsa Alam.
Porto Ghalib is also one of the most interesting places in Marsa Alam. It is the town’s marina, where most boat trips and water excursions depart from.
Wadi el-Gemal or Camels’ Valley National Park is also a wonderful site, a few kilometres away from the town.
It is one of the largest parks in Egypt, about 7,000 square kilometres. The park is the most preferred and visited regions in Egypt.
Hamata Mountain is one of the most fascinating natural landscapes in the park. It is also one of the largest mountains in Egypt’s Eastern Desert where visitors can enjoy hiking.
There are multiple land transport options to Marsa Alam from Cairo. Nevertheless, air transport is the best of these options, given the long distance between the Egyptian capital and the south-eastern town, around 750 kilometres.
