El Qusier. Ottoman Citadel

Your Egypt holidays aren’t complete without a visit to El Qusier. El Quseir is a small coastal town that has managed to maintain its specific characteristics of a fisherman’s village. It’s set directly on the attractive coastline of the Red Sea, between Safaga and Marsa Alam. El Quseir is a quiet resort with sandy beaches, clear waters and beautiful coral reefs, emerging as a first rate tourist destination.

The town's narrow streets are lined with colourful bazaars which have a distinctive Bedouin accent. El Quseir is a popular destination for a half or full day excursion. Its main attraction is the impressive Ottoman Citadel. The castle was originally built in 1517 to protect what was Egypt's most important port on the Red Sea at the time. 

Below the castle lies the Sharia Al Gomhuriya, the spiritual town centre with a labyrinth of bazaars . Local vendors flirt with tourists to buy goods, such as alabaster statues, leather articles and papyrus. On Fridays, by tradition, Ababda bedouin and farmers come to town with their products, making for a colourful and fascinating trade. This is one of the highlights during your Red Sea holidays.

Port Ghalib. The Wonderful Marina

Port Ghalib markets itself as ‘the new comfort zone’; and rightfully so. The place boasts hotels the size and grandeur of hotels, as well as splendid five-star resorts. This is a fine destination during your Marsa Alam holidays and red Sea holidays.

Port Ghalib’s showpiece is its immaculate upmarket Marina Residence. The Tower Village attracts luxury seekers, favourizing its architectural theme, inspired by the nearby Arabian desert. 

Wadi Ghalib is in the close vicinity of Port Ghalib, built on the spiritual legacy of local history and culture. Port Ghalib serves as the departure point for many boats for daily snorkelling and diving trips and diving safaris. Port Ghalib is very easy accessible by nearby Marsa Alam International Airport to start your Egypt holidays. 

Marsa Alam. Gateway To Diving

The port of Marsa Alam on the Red Sea is a healthy 700 kilometers away from Cairo and 300 kilometers  from Hurghada. It used to be a humble and small fisherman’s village. A spectacular transformation resulted in a famous sea side resort and a hotspot for diving and sea trips. A wonderful way to kick off your Red Sea holidays and Egypt holidays.

The most common activity in Marsa Alam is diving. This is because the Red Sea is in its finest coral shapes and coloured fish.  

Allegedly, the Dolphin House at Sha’ab Samadai is the most interesting diving spot in Marsa Alam with some of the oldest Red Sea coral formations. Another remarkable diving spot, but this one is exclusively for advanced divers, is the Elphinstone Reef, which is considered one of the best diving locations in the world to view sharks. 

The most important product that can be bought from Marsa Alam is herbs. There are some types of herbs which are only cultivated in Marsa Alam and the area around it and you cannot find it anywhere else in Egypt. These herbs are beneficial for the health and help in curing many chorionic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Discover this yourself during your Marsa Alam holidays!

Shalateen. The Camel Market

Shalateen is a unique stop to complete your Marsa Alam holidays. Some 250 kilometers south of Marsa Alam we find the village of Shalateen. Shalateen is where Sudanes herders go with their camels to meet Egyptian traders. Cames are bought by traders for meat consumption and tourism trade. 

The Shalateen camel market is open daily. It buzzes with activity on Thursdays and business is considerably slower on Fridays.

Shalateen has a fascinating sartorial decor, with Rashaida tribesmen wearing lavender ghalibiyas and their women clad in scarlet red dresses. Your Egypt holidays aren’t the same without a visit to Shalateen.

The Emerald Mines. Mons Smaragdus

The Marsa Alam area once was a thriving mining complex. In ancient history, green was associated with power and eternity. It gave rise to the popularity of emeralds with their distinctive green colour. So when emerald was discovered here the ancient Egyptians mined the area extensively

The ruins of these ancient mines can still be explored on foot. The Emerald Mines from Marsa Alam are an important archaeological site in Egypt and are located in the desert between Marsa Alam and the Nile Valley. In retrospect, they have been named the Cleopatra Mines or Mons Smaragdus, meaning Emerald Mountains. For the convenience of the tourists, guided tours are being organized by operators during your Marsa Alam holidays and Red Sea holidays

Hamata.  Small Is Beautiful

Opposite the legendary Fury Shoal and St John Reef systems in the Red Sea with its 35 dive sites, we find the small town of Hamata. 

Hamata is best described as an unspoiled, uncrowded and unspoiled region, situated some 200km south of Marsa Alam. Together with its unexplored feel it is in fact the most southerly diving hub in Egypt’s Red Sea. 

Hamata is also a big kitesurf hotspot in the nearby desert with the highest wind chance in Egypt. Up in the air kiters are eye in eye with crystal clear waters and fascinating mangrove trees arrangements. Hamata is an absolute must for enthusiastic divers and kiters during their Marsa Alam holidays and Red Sea holidays..

The Hamata region also encompasses the protected area of Wadi El Gemal,  boasting a rich biological diversity. The protected area includes the islands of Hamata and Wadi El Gemal, marine habitats, rich mangroves and the Gabal Hamata mountain, towering almost 2000 above sea level.