From liveaboard diving and snorkeling day trips to desert safaris, speedboat tours and spa days — here are the best things to do in the Red Sea across Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh.
The Red Sea is Egypt's greatest natural playground — a coastline where coral reefs drop into deep blue water, historic wrecks rest in warm, gin-clear visibility, and the desert begins right where the beach ends. Whether you have one free afternoon in Hurghada or two full weeks based in Marsa Alam or Sharm El Sheikh, there is far more to do than you can fit into a single trip. This guide rounds up the best things to do in the Red Sea, with practical pointers and trusted local operators for each one.
1. Sail on a Red Sea liveaboard
The single best way to experience the Red Sea is from the deck of a liveaboard — a dive boat that takes you to remote reefs that day boats never reach. Over a week you can dive world-famous sites such as Elphinstone Reef, the Brothers Islands and Daedalus, often three or four dives a day. Browse our Red Sea liveaboard routes and full dive-site guide to plan a trip around the marine life you most want to see, from oceanic whitetip sharks to schooling hammerheads.
2. Snorkeling and boat day trips
You do not need a scuba certification to fall in love with the Red Sea — most reefs are alive with colour just a mask and a fin-kick below the surface. Day boats run every morning from each resort town. From Hurghada, browse the full catalogue of snorkeling trips in Hurghada to Giftun Island and the inshore reefs. Heading south, the snorkeling tours in Marsa Alam reach the dugong grounds and dolphin houses, while the Sharm El Sheikh snorkeling trips take in Ras Mohammed and the legendary Shark & Yolanda reef.
3. Scuba diving and dive courses
If you have never breathed underwater, the Red Sea is one of the best — and most affordable — places on earth to learn. Warm water, gentle house reefs and certified instructors make it easy to go from your first try-dive to a full Open Water certificate in a few days. In Hurghada, plan your lessons and guided dives with diving and dive courses in Hurghada. Further south, diving and dive courses in Marsa Alam put you within reach of Elphinstone and the southern shark sites with a smaller, quieter crowd.
4. Private speedboat trips from Hurghada
For families and groups who want to set their own pace, a private speedboat beats the big group boats every time — you choose the reefs, skip the crowds and spend more time in the water. See the options for private speedboat trips in Hurghada, from Orange Bay and Magawish to the Giftun sandbanks and dolphin spotting.
5. Desert safaris and Bedouin nights
The desert is the perfect counterpoint to the reef — dunes, silence and some of the darkest, most star-filled skies you will ever see. Most travellers pair a few days at sea with one desert evening. From Hurghada, book a desert safari in Hurghada (quad bikes, jeeps, camel rides and a Bedouin dinner under the stars). From the south, browse desert safari tours in Marsa Alam, and from the Sinai the classic Colored Canyon and St. Catherine trips are listed under Sharm El Sheikh desert safari.
6. Spa, massage and wellness in Hurghada
After days of diving, walking reefs and bouncing across dunes, your body will thank you for an afternoon of recovery. Hurghada has a growing scene of spas, massage studios and beauty salons. Book a treatment through spa, massage and beauty in Hurghada — deep-tissue and post-dive recovery massage are especially popular with divers.
When is the best time to visit the Red Sea?
The Red Sea is a year-round destination. Air temperatures are most comfortable from March to May and September to November. Summer (June to August) is hot on land but offers the warmest water and the best chance of pelagic sharks at the offshore reefs. Winter (December to February) is mild, quieter and cheaper, with water around 22–24°C — a 5mm wetsuit is plenty. Underwater visibility regularly exceeds 20–30 metres in every season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number-one thing to do in the Red Sea?
Diving or snorkeling the coral reefs is the headline experience. A liveaboard week is the best option for certified divers, while a snorkeling day trip is the easiest introduction for everyone else.
Can non-divers enjoy the Red Sea?
Absolutely. Snorkeling trips, dolphin-watching, private speedboat tours, desert safaris and spa days all need zero diving experience, which makes the Red Sea ideal for mixed groups and families.
Hurghada, Marsa Alam or Sharm El Sheikh — which is best?
Hurghada has the widest choice of trips and the easiest access; Marsa Alam is quieter and closer to the southern shark and dugong sites; Sharm El Sheikh borders the Ras Mohammed National Park and the Strait of Tiran. Many visitors combine two of them in one trip.
Do I need a certification to scuba dive?
No. You can join a supervised try-dive with an instructor without any certification, or take a short course such as PADI Open Water — typically three to four days — to dive independently.
