Things to do in Marsa Alam

Red Sea

Red Sea is located between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and the Egyptian coastal city of Hurghada is the gateway to experiencing the scenery of this sea area. The water here is a deep blue-green with high transparency. Looking down from a boat, the underwater coral reefs are clearly visible. The sprawling coastline, fine soft sand, and year-round abundant sunshine make this small coastal city a well-known resort destination along the Red Sea, where days spent reading, relaxing, and sunbathing are quite pleasant. However, the real highlight of this sea area is underwater. The coral reefs are colorful, with tropical fish like clownfish and stingrays swimming among the rocks, and if you are lucky, you might even encounter wild dolphins. You can take a boat out to Giftun Island and Orange Bay: Giftun Island is a protected marine park where white sandy beaches coexist with surrounding coral reefs, and the waters around Orange Bay are shallow and clear, making it a favorite among snorkeling enthusiasts. Visitors who can swim can experience snorkeling or even scuba diving, while those who cannot swim can ride a semi-submarine to enjoy the underwater world through large portholes. Most boat itineraries depart from the Hurghada marina and usually include a few snorkeling stops. A quick reminder: encountering dolphins depends on luck, so don't force it. The Red Sea is located on the edge of the desert with intense sunlight, so be sure to apply sunscreen before heading out and wear a life jacket when entering the water for a safer experience.

Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House)

Dolphin House Reef (Sha'ab Samadai) is a marine protected area in the Red Sea region of Egypt, located approx. 18 km south of Marsa Alam. It is one of the habitats for dolphins and a paradise for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. The waters of this attraction are crystal clear, and the underwater world is rich and colorful, featuring various coral reefs, seaweed, and marine life. Here, visitors can see various marine life such as fish, sea turtles, rays, and octopuses, and can also have close encounters with dolphins to experience their gentleness and intelligence. In addition to diving and snorkeling, this attraction also offers various marine activities, such as sailing, kayaking, and jet skiing. It is also an ideal location for underwater photography and filming, attracting many photographers and filmmakers.

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Al-Nayzak

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Egypt

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings lies on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, Egypt, and was the royal resting place of ancient Egypt's New Kingdom. Over nearly five hundred years, from the Eighteenth Dynasty to the Twentieth Dynasty, pharaohs and nobles were buried in tombs cut into the cliffs; more than sixty tombs have been discovered to date, arranged under "KV" numbers, with the royal tombs mainly clustered in the East Valley, while the West Valley is more secluded. The tomb murals are the real highlight here: the corridors and the walls and ceilings of the burial chambers are covered with scenes from religious texts such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of the Underworld, and the pigments remain vivid after more than three thousand years. Tutankhamun's tomb became famous after archaeologist Howard Carter discovered a large trove of burial treasures there in 1922, and the pharaoh's mummy still rests in a temperature-controlled glass display case in the burial chamber; the tomb of Ramesses III is grand in scale with well-preserved painted decoration; the ceiling of the tomb of Ramesses VI depicts the sky goddess Nut stretching across the entire chamber; and the painted corridor of the tomb of Seti I is especially exquisite. Visiting tips: there is almost no shade in the valley, and afternoons are hot, so going in the early morning is more comfortable; a small electric shuttle runs between the entrance and the main cluster of tombs, saving you the walk. Most tomb entrances are inconspicuous openings in the cliffs, lined up along the path; slow down and take note of the hieroglyphs and images of the gods in the murals, and you will notice far more detail. Visitors with plenty of energy can also follow the ridge path up for a panoramic view over the whole valley; the peak of Al-Qurn above, shaped like a natural pyramid, is one of the reasons the ancient Egyptians regarded this valley as a sacred place.

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2026 Global 100 - Night Attractions

Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple is located on the east bank of the Nile in the city of Luxor, forming a north-south counterpart to Karnak Temple. It was a worship site built during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt for the "Theban Triad"—Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. In ancient Egyptian, it was called the "Southern Sanctuary" and is often referred to as the "Southern Harem of Amun." The main structure of the temple was constructed by Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, while the pylon, forecourt, colossi, and obelisks at the entrance were added by Ramses II. Later pharaohs like Tutankhamun continued to add reliefs, and during the time of Alexander the Great, the rear sanctuary was rebuilt. A single temple thus layers over a thousand years of construction history. At the entrance still stands a granite obelisk of Ramses II, while its paired counterpart crossed the ocean as early as the 19th century and now stands in Paris's Place de la Concorde. The seated statue of the pharaoh in front of the pylon, the grand colonnade, and the sun court of Amenhotep III unfold layer by layer. The reliefs on the colonnade walls vividly depict the procession of the Opet Festival—during the Nile flood season in ancient Egypt, the statue of Amun was ceremoniously transported from Karnak Temple to here. The avenue of sphinxes in front of the temple gate was precisely the sacred path for this ritual. After years of archaeological restoration, this nearly three km-long avenue has been reconnected, and today, visitors can walk the round-trip route between this temple and Karnak Temple. In one corner of the temple stands a still-functioning mosque built atop the ancient pillars, sharing the same courtyard with the pharaonic-era pylon. When illuminated at night, the pillars, colossi, and minaret form a highly recognizable nightscape in Luxor.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Egypt

Karnak

Karnak is located in Luxor on the east bank of the Nile. It is a massive ancient Egyptian temple complex and the core religious area of the ancient city of Thebes. Construction of the entire complex began during the Middle Kingdom (around 2000 BC) and continued through the New Kingdom and into the Ptolemaic period. About thirty pharaohs successively participated in its expansion and decoration, with construction lasting nearly two thousand years—an exceptionally long building period rarely seen in ancient human architecture. The complex is divided by enclosure walls into several main areas, of which the larger and better-preserved part is dedicated to Amun-Ra, the chief of the Theban gods; the northern area is dedicated to the war god Montu, and the southern area to the goddess Mut—companion of Amun-Ra, symbolized by the vulture. Numerous small temples and chapels are also scattered among the areas. Lining the processional way leading to the temple pylons are ram-headed sphinx statues; this ceremonial road once extended all the way to Luxor Temple to the south, a total distance of about 3 km, and was an important religious processional route in ancient Thebes. The core structure of the temple is the Hypostyle Hall, covering several thousand square meters and supported by more than a hundred massive stone columns, with the central colonnade reaching over twenty meters in height, its shafts covered with reliefs and painted decoration. Light enters the hall through high windows, falling among the dense forest of columns and creating a solemn and deeply atmospheric sense of space—one of the most impressive sights of Karnak. The complex also contains a large obelisk erected by Queen Hatshepsut and a sacred lake used for ritual purification. Many murals, reliefs, and statues record the military campaigns and ritual scenes of successive pharaohs, making them important physical materials for understanding ancient Egyptian religion and royal culture. Due to their great age, as well as human and natural erosion, many parts of the temple were once severely damaged. Through long-term archaeological excavation and restoration, large numbers of stone elements have been repositioned and reassembled, revealing the appearance seen today. When visiting, you can enter through the massive pylon at the entrance and follow the central axis past the Hypostyle Hall, the obelisk, and the sacred lake in turn, taking note of the well-preserved painted reliefs on the column capitals and walls.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Egypt

Philae Temple

Philae Temple is dedicated to the goddess of love, Isis. Philae was originally a small island in the Nile River south of the Aswan Dam, where the temple was first built. After the completion of the Aswan Low Dam in 1902, Philae Island would be flooded during the flood season, and travelers arriving by boat could only see the temple gates and stone columns protruding above the water. The temple walls preserve numerous hieroglyphic inscriptions and vivid reliefs, primarily worshiping Isis, while deities like Hathor also received offerings here. Legend says Isis possessed ten thousand names; she governed fertility and was also the protector of the people, widely revered in ancient Egypt.

No. 5 of Cool Water Escapes in Egypt

Agilkia Island

Agilkia Island is an island in the Nile, located in Lake Nasser south of Aswan. The island is home to thePhilae Temple complex, which was relocated in its entirety from thePhilae Templesite. Between 1977 and 1980, the complex was dismantled stone by stone, numbered, and reconstructed here. To accommodate the temple, the island itself was leveled and reshaped to replicate the original terrain of thePhilae Templeas closely as possible. Visitors must take a boat from Aswan, and the short journey on the Nile is an experience in itself. The sound and light show held on the island in the evening uses lighting and narration to tell the myth of Isis and Osiris, and the silhouette of the temple against the night sky creates a unique atmosphere.