If you love life in and around the water, Marsa Alam is the holiday destination for you.
Pristine beaches and enchanting coral reefs make this Egyptian retreat an absolute heaven for sun-seekers and scuba diving enthusiasts.
Less well known than resorts like Hurghada, Marsa Alam provides a peaceful setting for anyone craving relaxation and rejuvenation.
Alternatively, those looking to explore the waters of the Red Sea may get to spot turtles, octopi, dugongs and dolphins living in the thriving aquatic ecosystem offshore.
There are also a range of historical attractions to see on Marsa Alam holidays. In Wadi El Gamal National Park, just south of the resort, are the Cleopatra Emerald Mines. Thought to date back to 330BC, these mines played a huge part in the Ancient Egyptian and later Roman Empire’s economies.
Holiday Gems has a host of accommodation options in Marsa Alam. Browse our hotels and resorts and book your escape today.
Thanks to the amazing Egyptian weather, you can typically enjoy the sun here all year round. Here’s what the weather’s like in Marsa Alam:
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As one of the best kept diving secrets in the world, it goes without saying that diving and snorkelling are incredibly popular on Marsa Alam holidays. There are a handful of reefs to explore, such as Dolphin House and the lesser known Sataya Reef.
Both offer you the opportunity to swim with dolphins in their natural habitat as well as a chance to see other sea life, such as dugongs and tropical fish. Even if you do not take a trip to the famous reefs there is a high chance that you will run into turtles wherever you dive on your holiday to Marsa Alam.
There are other water-based activities to enjoy on Marsa Alam holidays. Surfing, both regular and kite surfing, and very popular on the coast, as the area boasts the perfect weather combination of wind and waves to compliment both.
Sea fishing is very popular in Marsa Alam. There are more than 1,000 species of fish living in the Red Sea, with some of them illegal to fish for. The crystal clear waters make for a unique experience as you can actually see them. Always make sure you book your fishing trip through a reputable source as there are a lot of complicated regulations in place regarding fishing in Egypt.
The Cleopatra Emerald Mines are a very unique sight that people still speak about for years after their holiday has ended.
The name is rather misleading as it was not only emeralds that were mined here. Copper, lead, gold and other semi precious stones were mined here too. To make it even more confusing there is no actual evidence that the mine had anything to do with Cleopatra.
Tours of the mines are available that require you to travel from Marsa Alam through the Eastern Egyptian Desert, giving you two experiences in one trip. To top off the extra value of the trip, there have been artefacts from the Holy Roman Empire found within the mine, meaning that you get to learn about two ancient cultures instead of just one.