Coral reefs, a marina and top sights from Gorgonia Beach to Marsa Alam Beach - discover it all in Marsa Alam.
Marsa Alam is one of the fastest growing holiday
resorts in Egypt. Located in south-east Egypt near the Red Sea, it is a popular
area with wind surfers, divers and sun worshippers.
Previously a small fishing
village, Marsa Alam is fast becoming one of Egypt’s most popular sea side
destinations. The construction of an International Airport in 2001 has
established it as an upcoming and exclusive holiday resort for those fortunate
enough to have discovered its remote tranquillity. Lying between sea and
desert, the hotel complexes offer a level of comfort and leisure facilities on
a par with the majestic surroundings.
With a host of tourism projects planned for
the near future, Marsa Alam is set to rival the popularity of established
Egyptian resorts such as Hurgada and Sharm El Sheikh.
The appeal of Marsa Alam lies
in its tropical appearance, boasting rich blue sea coasts fringed with coral
reef barriers, stunning beaches and palm trees. As a result it has become a
favourite of divers eager to explore the resorts numerous unspoilt diving sites
where spinner dolphins and sea turtles swim freely.
Marsa Alam’s relatively
remote location, approximately four hours away from the popular Hurgada resort,
makes it the ideal destination for a peaceful, relaxing vacation. However
although Marsa Alam remains relatively undiscovered for now, a major boom in
the resort’s tourism market is inevitably on the horizon which is set to
transform the area in to a vibrant, world renowned holiday destination.
Situated near the Tropic of Cancer,
winter temperatures in Marsa Alam range from 18-35°C (October to March) and
summers range from 20-45°C (April to September).
The average monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
23 |
24 |
27 |
30 |
32 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
34 |
32 |
27 |
25 |
|
Night |
13 |
14 |
16 |
20 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
22 |
18 |
15 |
Being a fairly new resort and
relatively uncommercialised, Marsa Alam does not have many shops. The few that
can be found are in the larger resorts like Cataract, Kahramana Shams Alam, and
Breaka.
A good place to shop is in the historic
city of El Quseir with its Ottoman
fort and many small shops and bazaars. It's just a short drive away (about
15 minutes). Go shopping in the souk were you
can often find cheaper prices for papyrus, alabaster, perfumes,
shishas, silver and other goods than you can in the hotel shops.
One thing to remember is to make sure
you carry cash as travellers cheques are not accepted at most of the places in
Marsa Alam. You will also only find ATMs
at resorts.
Marsa Alam provides a blend of
top-class hotels that offer an excellent nightlife experience. It has a strong
local character and proffers local eateries and drinks at cheap and economical
rates. A couple of places worth trying out are:
·
Ciao Marsa – a Mexican Disco famous for its diversity
in playing all kinds music particularly Latin.
·
Planet Bedouin – an authentic tent on the beach presenting
Oriental drinks every day and an Oriental show.
When you
have had enough sun, sea and relaxation, excursions to the Eastern Desert are available. You can
either take a camel trek or a jeep/quad bike safari around the region whilst
sampling the local flavour by stopping off at a traditional Bedouin oasis.
Other possibilities are:
There are
certain basic precautions for health and safety in Marsa Alam that will help
you make the best of your stay. As it is located in the tropics you must use
sun screen and sun block, even in winter. Make sure you use a high factor sun
block that gives maximum protection against the desert sun.
Drink
plenty of water to prevent dehydration and other problems due to the heat.
Don't drink the tap water, stick to bottled mineral water.
