How much do hotels in Marsa Alam cost?

Budget dive camp accommodation starts at EGP 1,500-3,500 per night, usually with some diving included. Mid-range beach resorts run EGP 3,500-8,000. Luxury properties including Braika and Shams Alam cost EGP 6,000-14,000 per night. All-inclusive packages are common and often represent better value than room-only rates.

How do I get to Marsa Alam?

Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) receives direct charter flights from Germany, Austria, the UK, Poland, and other European countries. Check the airport rather than assuming you need to transit through Cairo. Most hotels offer airport transfers -- confirm distance from your hotel to the airport before assuming a 20-minute drive, as southern properties can be 100km from the airport.

Do I need a car in Marsa Alam?

For most resort stays, no -- the hotels are self-contained and activities are booked through the dive centre or hotel desk. If you want to explore multiple points along the coast (Port Ghalib, Abu Dabbab, Hamata), a hire car or quad bike gives significantly more flexibility. Taxis between properties are expensive.

Is Marsa Alam good for snorkellers as well as divers?

Yes. Several hotels have house reefs accessible directly from the beach for snorkelling. Abu Dabbab Bay is famous for resident dugongs and sea turtles and is snorkellable without diving. Marsa Mubarak and Marsa Abu Dabab are also accessible as day trips from most hotels.

Is there a town centre in Marsa Alam?

A small town centre exists with a handful of local restaurants and shops, but Marsa Alam is not structured around a town in the way Hurghada or Dahab are. Most visitors stay in beach hotels and eat within the property. Port Ghalib (20km north) has a genuine marina with restaurants and some retail.

Marsa Alam Hotels | The Egypt Guides

Marsa Alam is 200km of Red Sea coastline in Egypt’s Deep South, beginning around 220km south of Hurghada and extending toward the Sudanese border. There is no compact resort strip — hotels sit directly on the water, separated by stretches of desert. Choosing accommodation here means choosing a reef, a level of remoteness, and how much self-sufficiency you want.

The destination is strongest for serious divers (Elphinstone Reef and Daedalus Reef are among the best dive sites in the Red Sea), but the beaches and snorkelling are excellent for non-divers too. The trade-off is distance from everything else: Marsa Alam is Egypt’s most isolated beach destination.

This page covers named hotels with EGP pricing.

Getting to Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF): Receives direct charter flights from Germany, Austria, the UK, and several other European countries. Check direct routes before assuming you need Cairo. Most visitors fly directly.

From Cairo: Fly to RMF (1.5 hours) or drive (approximately 7-8 hours on Route 65 via the Sinai or via Hurghada).

Airport transfers: Most hotels offer transfers. The distance between the airport and southern properties can be significant — some hotels in the Hamata area are 100km south of RMF. Confirm travel time and transfer cost when booking. A hotel 15km from the airport and one 100km from it are very different propositions.

Budget Accommodation and Dive Camps (EGP 1,500-4,000 per night)

Dolphin Camp (central Marsa Alam area) — a long-established dive camp that has accommodated generations of Red Sea divers. Fan-cooled chalets rather than air-conditioned rooms. The diving operation is thorough, the house reef is accessible, and the atmosphere is social. EGP 2,000-3,500 per night, usually with breakfast and some dives included in a package.

Oasis Camp Marsa Alam — one of the original dive camps on this coast, with basic functional accommodation, a reliable dive centre, and direct beach access. EGP 1,500-3,000 per night. Better for guests prioritising underwater access over hotel facilities.

Guesthouses in Marsa Alam town — the town itself has a handful of local guesthouses aimed primarily at Egyptian visitors. EGP 800-2,000 per night. English is limited. Functional for budget travellers who plan to use day-trip dive operators rather than staying in a resort.

Coraya Bay area budget options — some Coraya Bay properties (15km north of Marsa Alam town) offer mid-budget rates with significantly less crowded beaches and reefs than Hurghada. EGP 2,500-5,000 per night for decent quality accommodation.

Mid-Range Hotels (EGP 4,000-9,000 per night)

Port Ghalib Resort properties (Port Ghalib, 20km north of Marsa Alam) — Port Ghalib is a purpose-built marina development with a different character from the dive camps further south. The Iberotel Coraya Beach and Coral Sea Holidays Resort operate here, offering more polished facilities with genuine marina access and some nearby restaurants. EGP 4,000-8,000 per night.

Berenice Beach Club — a smaller boutique property with a loyal repeat clientele among European divers. The house reef drops off steeply close to the beach, making it good for shore diving without boat transfer. Simple but reliable restaurant and bar. EGP 4,000-9,000 per night, often as part of a dive package.

Wadi Lahami Village (far south, near Hamata) — at the southern end of the hotel stretch, close to Hamata’s protected mangroves. Excellent for experienced divers targeting the southern Red Sea sites. Very remote — best for guests whose entire trip is built around diving. EGP 3,500-8,000 per night.

Prodivers Resort Marsa Alam — a dive-specialist property with strong PADI infrastructure, multiple daily boat trips, and accommodation packages that combine room and diving. EGP 4,000-8,000 per person per week, all-inclusive with diving.

Luxury Resorts (EGP 7,000-15,000 per night)

Braika Beach Resort — one of the most consistently reviewed upscale properties on the Marsa Alam coast. Direct beach access, a house reef used by both divers and snorkellers, and a PADI dive centre on site. Rooms spread across low-rise bungalow-style buildings facing the sea or garden. EGP 7,000-14,000 per night.

Shams Alam Beach Resort (southern area, near Wadi El Gemal) — further south toward the protected Wadi El Gemal nature reserve. A well-regarded property with an on-site dive centre and one of the better-maintained house reefs on this stretch of coast. Beachfront bungalows. EGP 6,500-13,000 per night.

Marsa Alam Beach Resort by Jaz — a large-scale all-inclusive in the central area with the full facilities of an international chain property. EGP 6,000-12,000 per night all-inclusive.

Choosing Between Areas

North of town (Port Ghalib, Coraya Bay): More infrastructure, marina dining, better road access. Best for those who want variety outside the hotel walls.

Central Marsa Alam area: The original dive camp zone. Most accessible point on the coast for the main reef sites. A small amount of local town infrastructure nearby.

South of Marsa Alam (Hamata, Wadi El Gemal): Most remote. Closest to the protected southern reefs — Elphinstone (accessible by boat), Daedalus, and the southern liveaboard zones. Best for guests whose trip is diving-first.

Practical Notes on All-Inclusive

Most Marsa Alam hotels operate on a half-board or all-inclusive basis because restaurants outside the hotels are genuinely scarce in most parts of the coast. Confirm what is included before booking — meals, diving, and transfers are often bundled into packages, making room-rate comparisons misleading. A package that includes 10 dives and all meals may be substantially better value than a cheaper room-only rate that leaves you paying per dive.

Seasonal Pricing Notes

October to April: Best conditions for diving (22-24C water, excellent visibility) and comfortable temperatures. Peak pricing, particularly at Christmas and New Year. Book well in advance for the better dive resorts.

June to August: Extreme heat (regularly exceeding 40C air temperature). Sea remains warm (27-28C). European visitor numbers drop significantly. Prices reduce 30-50%. Diving conditions are still good.

Year-round diving: Marsa Alam is one of Egypt’s few year-round diving destinations where marine life is consistently excellent regardless of season. Whale sharks are occasionally seen off-season.

Neighbourhood Guide

Marsa Alam is a 200-kilometre stretch of Red Sea coastline rather than a compact resort town, and that spread shapes how you choose accommodation. Most hotels sit directly on the water, isolated from each other by stretches of desert. There is no traditional town centre to base yourself in - choosing where to stay means choosing which beach, which dive site proximity, and which level of self-sufficiency suits you.

The result is a destination that works differently from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. If you want to walk between restaurants and nightlife, Marsa Alam is the wrong choice. If you want a private reef directly off the beach, calm water, and one of Egypt’s least crowded Red Sea experiences, it rewards careful hotel selection.

North of Marsa Alam town (Port Ghalib, Coraya Bay): More infrastructure, marina facilities, slightly more options for eating out. Port Ghalib is a purpose-built marina development with a genuine marina and some nearby restaurants - a different character from the dive camps further south. Better for those who want some variety beyond the resort walls.

Marsa Alam Town Area: The most central location. Reasonable access north and south. Some local town facilities. Most of the original dive camps - Dolphin Camp, Oasis Camp - are concentrated here.

South of Marsa Alam (toward Hamata, Wadi El Gemal): Remotest but closest to the protected southern reefs and the mangrove systems at Hamata. The dive sites here - Elphinstone Reef, Daedalus Reef (accessible by boat from Hamata) - are among the best in Egypt. The trade-off is distance from everything else. Best for guests whose entire trip is built around diving.

Practical Notes: Most hotels in Marsa Alam operate on a half-board or all-inclusive basis because restaurants and shops outside the hotels are genuinely scarce. Confirm what is included before booking - meals, diving, and transfers are often bundled into packages in ways that make room-rate comparisons misleading. A hire car or quad bike is useful if you want to explore the coast independently.

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Hotels in Marsa Alam: Dive Resorts and Beach Hotels with EGP Prices