Photo by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0Things to Do in Marsa Alam (2026): Dolphins, Turtles & Reefs
The best things to do in Marsa Alam — Dolphin House, snorkelling with turtles and dugongs, Elphinstone diving, desert safaris — with real 2026 prices from 500 bookable experiences.
Marsa Alam is the Red Sea's quieter, wilder south — a diving and snorkelling destination where the headline acts are wild dolphins, sea turtles and dugongs rather than crowds. Across nearly 500 bookable experiences the typical price is about 6,075 EGP (~$124) per person — higher than the northern resorts, because many trips are longer boat days — and 76% offer free cancellation. Here's what to do.
The best things to do in Marsa Alam
Swim with dolphins at Dolphin House (Sha'ab Samadai). Marsa Alam's signature trip: a boat out to the horseshoe reef of Sha'ab Samadai — "Dolphin House" — where spinner dolphins gather, for snorkelling in a protected lagoon.
Snorkel with sea turtles & dugongs at Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak. These bays are among the few places on earth you can reliably snorkel with green sea turtles and the elusive dugong (sea cow) over shallow seagrass meadows.
Dive the southern reefs, including Elphinstone. Marsa Alam is a serious dive base — Elphinstone Reef and the offshore marine parks draw divers for walls, pelagics and pristine coral.
Desert safari, quad and Bedouin nights. Inland, the Eastern Desert delivers quad biking, camel rides and Bedouin village dinners, often with stargazing far from any light.
The top-rated experiences travellers book
- Marsa Alam: Dolphin House Adventure at Shaab Samadai Reef — 4.65★ · 201 reviews · from 3,933 EGP (~$80).
- Marsa Alam: Elite vip Turtle bay snorkeling with BBQ Lunch — 4.44★ · 218 reviews · from 5,802 EGP (~$118).
- Marsa Alam: Marsa Mubarak Sea Cow & Turtles Snorkeling — 4.34★ · 128 reviews · from 3,619 EGP (~$74).
- Marsa Alam: Snorkelling with Sea Turtles Marsa Mubarak — 4.69★ · 54 reviews · from 3,491 EGP (~$71).
- Marsa Alam: Sea and Desert Camel Riding Tour — 4.51★ · 107 reviews · from 1,323 EGP (~$27).
- Quad with Camel Ride & Bedouin village, Dinner From Marsa Alam — 4.5★ · 73 reviews · from 1,762 EGP (~$36).
Browse all things to do in Marsa Alam, read our Marsa Alam travel guide, or compare activity prices in the Egypt activity price guide.
When to go
Marsa Alam is year-round, with the Red Sea at 22–28°C. Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is hot but the sea is the point. Dugong and turtle sightings are good all year — they're resident, not seasonal — though calm mornings give the clearest water.
Getting there & practical notes
Marsa Alam has its own international airport, and many visitors also arrive by road transfer from Hurghada (about 3–4 hours). Trips include hotel pickup; the marine-life bays are protected areas, so guides enforce no-touch rules — bring reef-safe sunscreen. Sightings of wild dolphins, turtles and dugongs are frequent but never guaranteed.
Where Marsa Alam fits in your trip
Marsa Alam suits travellers who want the Red Sea at its most natural, and it pairs well with Luxor (a few hours' drive to the Nile Valley temples). For a livelier base with more nightlife, compare things to do in Hurghada.
How we built this guide
This guide combines the live prices and details of 499 bookable Marsa Alam experiences (June 2026) from our marketplace with Egypt's official Red Sea & Sinai tourism guide for the facts on Sha'ab Samadai, Abu Dabbab and the southern reefs. Prices are per person in Egyptian pounds at about 49 EGP to the dollar; we use the median. Updated as prices and availability change.
Common questions
What is Marsa Alam known for?
Wild marine life — snorkelling with spinner dolphins at Dolphin House (Sha'ab Samadai), sea turtles and dugongs at Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak, and world-class diving at Elphinstone Reef.
Can you swim with dolphins in Marsa Alam?
Yes — boat trips run to Sha'ab Samadai (\"Dolphin House\"), a protected horseshoe reef where wild spinner dolphins gather and you snorkel in a designated zone. Sightings are frequent but not guaranteed.
Where can you snorkel with turtles and dugongs near Marsa Alam?
Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak bays, where green turtles and the rare dugong (sea cow) feed on seagrass — among the few reliable places on earth to snorkel with a dugong.
How much do things to do in Marsa Alam cost?
The median experience is about 6,075 EGP (roughly $124) per person, higher than the northern resorts because many are longer boat days; 76% offer free cancellation.
When is the best time to visit Marsa Alam?
Year-round; the Red Sea stays 22–28°C. Spring and autumn are ideal. Turtles and dugongs are resident, so sightings are good in any season.
How do you get to Marsa Alam?
Marsa Alam has its own international airport; many visitors also transfer by road from Hurghada, about 3–4 hours up the coast.
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