7-Day Red Sea Yacht Charter Itinerary: Marsa Alam and the Southern Reefs

Board at Port Ghalib, a marina a few minutes from Marsa Alam's international airport. After the safety and dive briefings, the yacht makes a short run to a sheltered bay nearby for the first swim.

Divers do an easy check-out dive on the house reef. The first evening is quiet, at anchor.

Not diving? Snorkel the reef edge straight from the yacht, or try a paddleboard in the calm water of the bay.

Elphinstone is a long, narrow reef that rises from deep water a short run south of Port Ghalib. Its walls are covered in soft corals, and in autumn it is known for oceanic whitetip sharks.

The currents and depth make it a dive for experienced divers with a guide. The yacht moves back to a sheltered anchorage on the coast for the night.

Not diving? On a calm morning the top of the reef is spectacular from the surface. Otherwise, the crew finds a protected reef closer to shore.

Sha'ab Samadai is a horseshoe-shaped reef south of Marsa Alam, where a large group of spinner dolphins rests in the lagoon during the day. The reef is protected, with set zones and a limit on visitor numbers, so the crew times the visit.

You swim and snorkel in the permitted area and let the dolphins come to you if they choose. In the evening the yacht starts the run south to the Fury Shoals.

Not diving? This is the best day of the week for snorkelers. Most of the time the dolphins are seen at the surface.

The Fury Shoals are a large group of reefs south of Hamata, far from the day boats. Reefs such as Abu Galawa and Claudio have coral towers, shallow caves and swim-throughs, and clear water.

This is one of the most remote parts of the route. The yacht anchors behind a reef for the night, often with no other boats in sight.

Not diving? Many of the coral towers come close to the surface, so snorkelers see the same reefs as the divers.

Sataya is a long horseshoe reef in the Fury Shoals with a sandy lagoon where spinner dolphins often rest. It is quieter than Sha'ab Samadai, and the outer walls have good diving.

Spend the morning in the water and the afternoon on the sandy shallows of the lagoon.

Not diving? Snorkel the lagoon edge in the morning, then take the tender to the sand for the afternoon.

The Qulan islands off Hamata are low sand islands ringed by turquoise reef, part of the Wadi el Gemal National Park. There are mangroves along the shore and good snorkeling around each island.

Guests who want a day ashore can visit the Wadi el Gemal desert valley. In the evening the yacht begins the run back north.

Not diving? This is the best beach day of the week, with shallow water around each island.

Abu Dabab is a sandy bay near Port Ghalib with seagrass beds where green turtles feed. Dugongs have also been seen here, though sightings have become rare.

After a last swim, the yacht returns to Port Ghalib for a final dinner aboard. You disembark the next morning, a few minutes from the airport.

Not diving? The turtles feed in shallow water, so snorkelers often get the best view.