A serene five-star adults-only retreat (16 plus) set in Coraya Bay on Egypt’s Red Sea, just five kilometres from Marsa Alam airport. Expect elegant rooms and swim-up suites, a tranquil private beach, a full wellness spa and superb house-reef diving, all on a relaxed All Inclusive basis.
A relaxed five-star All Inclusive retreat set within Madinat Coraya on the shores of sheltered Coraya Bay, Marsa Alam. Expect bright, spacious rooms, several pools, a tranquil private beach and one of the Red Sea’s finest house reefs, with Coraya Divers and a serene spa on hand for a restorative escape.
A polished five-star all-inclusive on Marsa Mubarak Bay near Port Ghalib, JAZ Elite Amara pairs a private Red Sea beach and seven pools with a house reef famed for turtles and dugongs. Stylish swim-up rooms, a tranquil spa and easy diving make it a serene Marsa Alam base.
An adults-only five-star retreat set along an 800 metre private beach in tranquil Coraya Bay, Marsa Alam. Expect Nubian-style architecture, three pools, a serene spa and one of the Red Sea’s finest house reefs, all just four kilometres from the airport. Calm, couples-focused and made for unwinding.
A polished five-star All Inclusive beachfront resort in Port Ghalib, Marsa Alam, set around lagoon pools and a private Red Sea beach with its own house reef. Spacious rooms and suites, varied dining and a tranquil spa sit just a few minutes from the airport, ideal for relaxed Red Sea days.
An adults only 16+ five star retreat on a quiet Marsa Mares bay near Port Ghalib, JAZ Costa Mares pairs a soft sandy beach and superb house reef with All Inclusive dining, two pools and a serene spa. Snorkel with turtles and dugongs just minutes from Marsa Alam airport.
A five-star SUNRISE all-inclusive on the Red Sea at Ras Dory, Marsa Alam. Five heated pools, a private beach and an on-site dive centre sit beside three restaurants and a spa, with celebrated reefs and the desert close by. Pairs beautifully with a Nile cruise.
A five-star All Inclusive resort tucked into sheltered Coraya Bay near Marsa Alam, with Moorish-styled rooms, three pools, a private beach and a coral house reef offshore. Just a short drive from the airport, it makes a relaxed Red Sea base for swimming, snorkelling and diving.
A relaxed five-star all-inclusive set in Madinat Coraya overlooking the sheltered Coraya Bay, moments from Marsa Alam airport. Spacious rooms, three pools and a private beach sit beside a celebrated house reef, making it a serene base for diving and snorkelling on Egypt’s southern Red Sea.
A polished five-star All Inclusive beach resort on the Red Sea at Marsa Alam, set in landscaped gardens with a private beach and a lively house reef. Just minutes from the airport, with relaxed pools, a spa and wellness centre, and easy access to the region’s celebrated dive sites.
A relaxed four-star all-inclusive resort on the Red Sea at Port Ghalib, Marsa Alam. Enjoy an 800-metre private beach, an outstanding house reef reached by a long jetty, heated winter pools, a spa and a dive centre, with several restaurants and bars to choose from.
A five-star all-inclusive retreat on a quiet stretch of the Red Sea coast in the Abu Dabbab area of Marsa Alam. Expect a private beach, multiple pools, a spa and an on-site dive centre, with a coral house reef and Abu Dabbab Bay close at hand.
A five-star All Inclusive resort on the Red Sea at Port Ghalib, moments from Marsa Alam airport. Lush gardens, several pools, a long private beach with a snorkelling jetty and a relaxing spa, plus tranquil adults-only pool and bar zones for a calmer stay.
Marsa Alam sits on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, a string of quiet bays and gold-sand beaches that feels a world away from the busier resorts further north. Roughly 270 kilometres south of Hurghada, it remains one of the more natural and unhurried stretches of the Egyptian coastline, where desert mountains meet some of the clearest, warmest water in the Red Sea. Many visitors arrive through Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), which lies a short drive from the main resort areas and gives the region its own easy gateway rather than a long transfer from elsewhere.
What sets Marsa Alam apart is its pace. Where Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh built up around lively promenades and nightlife, Marsa Alam grew more slowly, and the result is a coastline of low-rise resorts spaced generously along the shore. The two main developed areas are Port Ghalib, a purpose-built marina town close to the airport with a waterfront of restaurants and shops, and Coraya Bay (Madinat Coraya), a sheltered horseshoe bay known for its easy swimming and snorkelling. Between them and beyond, the feel stays relaxed and scenic, with the Eastern Desert rolling down to the sea.
The southern Red Sea is the real draw, and Marsa Alam is widely regarded as one of Egypt’s finest places to get in the water. Many resorts have their own house reefs you can reach straight from the beach, while the offshore sites are the stuff of diving legend. Elphinstone Reef is a celebrated drift dive along steep coral walls, with the chance of sharks in season. Abu Dabbab is a shallow seagrass bay famous for resident green turtles and the rare, gentle dugong. At Samadai Reef, often called Dolphin House, a horseshoe-shaped reef shelters a pod of spinner dolphins, while Sataya, also known as Dolphin Reef, lies further south and tends to host larger, wilder gatherings. The reefs here are notably healthy, and the marine life feels close at hand.
Above the waterline, the appeal is simple: warm, dependable sunshine, soft sand and a sea that stays inviting all year, with water temperatures roughly between 22 and 29 degrees. Spring and autumn bring comfortable warmth that suits both lazy beach days and long stretches in the water, while the winter months stay mild and bright when much of Europe is grey. Summer is hotter and best for those who love real heat. For diving and snorkelling, the shoulder seasons are particularly rewarding, with excellent visibility and pleasant air temperatures.
A Marsa Alam beach stay pairs beautifully with a few unforgettable nights on the Nile aboard Classic Holidays’ own ships, the MS Royal Princess or Classic Blue Shadow IV, combining the temples of Upper Egypt with the calm of the southern Red Sea in one seamless holiday.
Marsa Alam lies on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, roughly 270 kilometres south of Hurghada. It is one of the quieter and more natural stretches of the Egyptian coastline, with desert mountains running down to clear, warm water.
Most visitors arrive through Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), which sits a short drive from the main resort areas such as Port Ghalib and Coraya Bay. This gives the region its own convenient gateway rather than a long transfer from another city.
Marsa Alam is generally calmer and more low-key. Where Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh grew up around lively promenades, Marsa Alam has a more spaced-out, natural feel, with resorts set along quiet bays and a strong focus on the sea and its reefs.
Yes. The southern Red Sea is considered some of Egypt’s finest underwater territory. Many resorts have house reefs reachable from the beach, and famous offshore sites include Elphinstone Reef, Abu Dabbab, Samadai (Dolphin House) and Sataya (Dolphin Reef). Reefs here are notably healthy and the marine life is abundant.
The area is well known for marine encounters. Abu Dabbab bay is famous for green turtles and the rare dugong that graze its seagrass, while Samadai and Sataya reefs shelter pods of spinner dolphins. Sightings are never guaranteed, as these are wild animals, but the chances here are among the best in the Red Sea.
Both are reefs associated with spinner dolphins and are sometimes called Dolphin House. Samadai is the closer of the two to Marsa Alam, while Sataya lies further south and usually involves a longer boat trip but can offer larger, wilder dolphin gatherings.
The two main developed areas are Port Ghalib, a purpose-built marina town near the airport with a waterfront of restaurants and shops, and Coraya Bay (Madinat Coraya), a sheltered horseshoe bay popular for easy swimming and snorkelling. Other resorts are spread along quiet bays nearby.
No. Sahl Hasheesh is a separate resort bay located near Hurghada, well to the north. Marsa Alam is much further south along the coast, so the two are quite distinct destinations.
Marsa Alam enjoys warm, sunny weather for much of the year. Spring and autumn bring comfortable warmth ideal for both the beach and the water, while winter stays mild and bright. Summer is hotter and suits those who love real heat. For diving and snorkelling, the shoulder seasons offer excellent conditions.
The Red Sea here stays inviting throughout the year, with water temperatures roughly between 22 and 29 degrees depending on the season. It is one of the reasons the region is such a dependable choice for sun and sea.
Yes, and it is a wonderful pairing. A relaxing Marsa Alam beach stay works beautifully alongside a Nile cruise aboard Classic Holidays’ own ships, the MS Royal Princess or Classic Blue Shadow IV, letting you enjoy the temples of Upper Egypt and the calm of the southern Red Sea in one holiday.
Very much so. While the diving draws many visitors, the long sandy beaches, calm bays and unhurried pace make it an excellent choice for a simple, restful beach holiday in the sun.
Classic Holidays when selling travel arrangements is a trading name of Co-op Travel Services Ltd. Classic Holidays is an Accredited Body Member of Co-operative Travel Consortium. (ABTA P7508, ATOL 12904).
Your Financial Protection: Book with Confidence. Classic Holidays is a Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist when things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.
All of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme but ATOL protection does not apply to non-flight holiday and travel services offered on this website. Classic Holidays will provide you with information on the protection that applies in the case of each holiday and travel service offered before you make your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk