Marsa Alam Holidays

A rising star

The resort of Marsa Alam is set on the east coast of Egypt, right by the Red Sea. It’s a fast-growing place, but it’s still not quite up to speed with the likes of Hurghada, which is pretty good news, actually. Because what you get here is a bit of an out-of-the-way location with some first-rate hotels, top-notch weather and a bunch of spotless, camera-ready beaches.

Beach life

When it comes to the beach, most of the hotels here have bagged their own stretch. They usually come with beach bars, restaurants and sunloungers, and always powdery white sand. Some line up pools with stellar slides, too, like the ones at the Aqua Coraya waterpark. In the sea, scuba diving and snorkelling are major events – you're in real Finding Nemo territory, and you can even expect to see the odd hammerhead shark.

Visiting the Valley of the Camels

The out-of-the-way location may be part of Marsa Alam's appeal, but there are daytrip options that aren’t much more than an hour away. Queseir is one of them – a 4,000-year-old town with an Ottoman fort, as well as Roman and Egyptian ruins to root around. And then there’s a national park called the Valley of the Camels, where, not altogether unsurprisingly, you can ride a camel. Treks last around 45 minutes and, afterwards, you can try some camel cheese. Or, you can swap four legs for four wheels and speed through the nearby desert on a quad bike.

Taste for adventure

When it comes to desert adventure, Marsa Alam has all bases covered. The cliffs of Wadi Hammamet are carved with hieroglyphs that go back 4,000 years, while Wadi el Gemal National Park is home to roaming Bedouin tribes. To explore these sites, take your pick from quad bike treks, coach tours, or camel safaris. Those who prefer adventures in shopping should head for Port Ghalib and its luxury marina – it’s only a 20-minute drive from Coraya Bay