Marsa Alam is the base for the southern Egyptian Red Sea: quieter water, offshore reefs, resident dolphins and empty sand islands, with far fewer boats than the north. Charters start at Port Ghalib, a marina a few minutes from Marsa Alam International Airport, so you can step off the plane and onto the yacht the same afternoon.
A week here suits divers looking for sharks and big walls, and families and snorkelers who want dolphins, turtles and beach days. Our seven-day southern itinerary shows how the main stops fit into one route.
Where do Marsa Alam yacht charters start?
Most charters start and end at Port Ghalib. It is a port of entry with its own customs and immigration, and it sits next to Marsa Alam International Airport, which has direct flights from much of Europe in season. Starting and ending in the same marina keeps the logistics simple for the whole group.
A few yachts also run from Hamata, further south, which saves a long passage to the Fury Shoals. Your broker will tell you which base suits the yacht and the route.
What are the best places to visit from Marsa Alam?
The southern Red Sea has four stops that most private routes are built around:
- Elphinstone Reef: a long offshore reef with soft-coral walls, known for oceanic whitetip sharks in autumn.
- Sha’ab Samadai, the Dolphin House: a protected horseshoe reef where spinner dolphins rest in the lagoon.
- The Fury Shoals: a remote group of reefs with coral towers, caves and Sataya, the second dolphin reef.
- Hamata and the Qulan islands: low sand islands, turquoise shallows and mangroves in the Wadi el Gemal National Park.
Closer to Port Ghalib, the sandy bay at Abu Dabab has seagrass beds where green turtles feed, an easy stop for the first or last day.
When is the best time for a Marsa Alam yacht charter?
Marsa Alam is warmer than the northern Red Sea in winter, which makes it a good choice from November to April, when the north is cooler. Spring and autumn are the sweet spot for warm water and calm seas, and autumn is the best season for oceanic sharks at Elphinstone. Our month-by-month guide to the Red Sea has water temperatures and wildlife seasons for each month.
Which yacht suits a Marsa Alam charter?
The southern reefs are spread out, so the yacht needs the range for longer passages. Captains usually make the long runs at night or at first light, so the days are spent on the reefs. A crewed motor yacht with a dive deck, a compressor and a fast tender is the best fit, and many Egyptian yachts sail with a dive guide on board.
See what a week costs in our Red Sea yacht charter cost guide, or compare a private yacht with a shared liveaboard.
People also ask
How far is Port Ghalib from Marsa Alam airport?
Port Ghalib is a few minutes by road from Marsa Alam International Airport, so most guests are aboard within an hour of landing.
Can we swim with dolphins near Marsa Alam?
Yes, at Sha’ab Samadai and at Sataya in the Fury Shoals. Both reefs have spinner dolphins resting in the lagoon. At Samadai part of the lagoon is reserved for the dolphins and visitor numbers are limited, so the crew times the visit.
Is Marsa Alam good for non-divers?
Yes. The dolphin reefs, the turtles at Abu Dabab and the sand islands off Hamata are all best seen snorkeling, and many reefs start right under the swim platform.
Can we combine Marsa Alam with Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh?
It is possible on a longer charter, but the distances are large. For a single week most groups choose either the north or the south. Our northern route runs from Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh.
Red Sea yacht charter itineraries.
7-Day Red Sea Yacht Charter Itinerary: Marsa Alam and the Southern Reefs
A seven-day southern Red Sea route from Port Ghalib: Elphinstone Reef, the Dolphin House, the Fury Shoals, Sataya and the Qulan islands.
See full itinerary
7-Day Red Sea Yacht Charter Itinerary: Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh
A seven-day northern Red Sea route from Hurghada to Sharm el Sheikh: the Giftun islands, Abu Nuhas, the SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed and Tiran.
See full itineraryPhotos via Wikimedia Commons: Marsa Alam coast by Roland Unger (CC BY-SA 4.0); Qulan islands by Andrea Piroddi (CC BY 3.0); Elphinstone Reef by Alexander Vasenin (CC BY-SA 4.0); spinner dolphins by Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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