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The Egyptian Red Sea: Hurghada, Marsa Alam & Sharm El Sheikh
The Red Sea holiday made for English speakers: 5-7 night beach breaks, Red Sea diving with English-speaking instructors, and Red Sea snorkelling on coral reefs you can reach straight from the beach. Three destinations to choose from, all combinable with Cairo or a Nile cruise. SEV, based in Cairo since 2020, negotiates rates directly with no middleman.
Our Egyptian Red Sea hub brings together our 3 best beach destinations: Hurghada (all-inclusive resorts, boat trips to Mahmya, Giftun and Dolphin House), Marsa Alam (premium diving, the turtles of Abu Dabbab, Elphinstone Reef) and Sharm El Sheikh (Ras Mohammed, the SS Thistlegorm wreck). A 5-night Hurghada stay from £470, a 7-night Marsa Alam diving stay from £790. Red Sea beaches of fine sand, 300 days of sun a year and an Egyptian coral reef you can snorkel straight from the beach (a rarity worldwide). All-inclusive Egyptian resorts, 4-5 star, with Steigenberger, Jaz and Sunrise partners. Beginner diving in Egypt: a first dive at £70 for newcomers; turtle diving all but guaranteed at Abu Dabbab (a resident colony of sea turtles); and a Dolphin House trip to Sha'ab El Erg to swim with wild dolphins.
Our Red Sea packages - a quick comparison
All-inclusive, private beach, pools, English-speaking entertainment, 1 Mahmya/Giftun boat trip included, Hurghada (HRG) airport transfers included.
5 dives with English-speaking CMAS instructors (2 dives/day + 1 boat), equipment included, Dolphin House at Sha'ab El Erg, all-inclusive meals.
8 dives (4 boat days), Elphinstone Reef + Abu Dabbab turtles + Abu Galawa, an English-speaking CMAS 3* instructor. One of the world's top dive spots.
All-inclusive family stay, trips to Ras Mohammed + Tiran + the Blue Hole, guided snorkelling for children, English-speaking kids' club partner.
Included in all our Red Sea packages
- Private airport transfers (Hurghada HRG / Marsa Alam RMF / Sharm SSH)
- An English-speaking WhatsApp coordinator, 24/7, throughout your stay
- All-inclusive (unlimited meals + local drinks)
- A boat trip (1 on Hurghada Discovery, 4+ on the diving packages)
- Mask and snorkel provided for snorkelling from the beach
- e-visa assistance ($25, outside the package)
- Beach towels, sun loungers, multiple pools
- Family activities (water polo, beach volleyball, kids' club partner)
The 8 essential Red Sea spots
Mahmya Island (Hurghada)
A protected island in the Giftun park, heavenly white sand, snorkelling from the beach. A full-day boat trip, £45 as an option.
Dolphin House, Sha'ab El Erg
A horseshoe-shaped lagoon with a resident colony of wild bottlenose dolphins. Guided swimming, £60 as an option. A rarity worldwide.
Abu Dabbab (Marsa Alam)
A beach 45 min from Marsa Alam, with a resident colony of green turtles and dugongs. Snorkelling from the beach. Sightings all but guaranteed.
Elphinstone Reef
Egypt's top dive spot for the experienced. Vertical walls, oceanic sharks, tuna. Reached by boat. Included in the Marsa Alam Premium package.
Ras Mohammed (Sharm)
A marine national park, 2 legendary spots: Shark Reef + Yolanda Reef. Moderate currents, 40 m visibility. 2 dives per boat trip.
SS Thistlegorm (Sharm)
A British WWII cargo wreck sunk in 1941 - trucks, motorbikes and munitions underwater. A technical dive to 30 m. Included in the Sharm Tech package.
Blue Hole (Dahab)
A natural underwater shaft of 110 m, with an arch at 56 m. Experienced divers only. Snorkelling along the rim is possible.
Tiran Island (Sharm)
4 famous coral reefs (Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, Jackson). Strong currents = fish in their masses. Ideal for drift diving.
SEV vs the competition - Red Sea price comparison
| Package | SEV | TUI | Fram | Aquarev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada 5N 4* | £470 | £600 (7N) | n/a | n/a |
| Hurghada 5N 5* + 5 dives | £630 | n/a | £880 (7N) | £960 (7N) |
| Marsa Alam 7N 5* + 8 dives | £790 | £720 (no diving) | n/a | £1,200 |
| Sharm 7N 4* family | £710 | £680 | n/a | n/a |
| English-speaking dive instructor | ✅ CMAS | ⚠️ large groups | ⚠️ on request | ✅ |
| 24/7 WhatsApp coordinator | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cairo/Nile combo possible | ✅ | ⚠️ day trip | ⚠️ day trip | ✅ |
FAQ - The Egyptian Red Sea
When is the best time for the Egyptian Red Sea?
The Red Sea can be visited all year round (the south is warmer than the north). March to May and September to November = ideal temperatures of 26-32°C, water at 24-27°C. December to February: pleasant (22-25°C, water 21-23°C, good diving visibility). June to August: hot (35-42°C) but comfortable in air-conditioned resorts with pools. July-August = UK school-holiday peak, prices +25%.
Hurghada or Marsa Alam - which to choose?
Hurghada = a lively atmosphere, plenty of resorts, the well-connected HRG international airport, and varied boat trips (Mahmya, Giftun, Dolphin House). Marsa Alam = preserved calm, the better diving (Elphinstone, the Abu Dabbab turtles), the RMF airport, and a quick internal flight from Cairo that we arrange for you. For first-timers: Hurghada. For experienced divers: Marsa Alam.
Is beginner diving in Egypt possible?
Yes, perfectly. A first dive (one guided dive at 5-7 m) is £70 per person in Hurghada or Marsa Alam, equipment included, with an English-speaking CMAS instructor, lasting 2 hours with a briefing. The Open Water course (a 4-dive certification, 5 days) is £315. Children can dive from age 8 (the PADI Bubble Maker, £45). No experience required, and you don't even need to be a strong swimmer.
Can you combine the Red Sea with Cairo or a Nile cruise?
Absolutely - it's our speciality. Popular combos: Cairo + Nile + Hurghada, 12 days, Cairo + Nile + Marsa Alam. Transfers by internal flight Cairo-Hurghada (£70) or a 4h private van Luxor-Hurghada (£100). A 5N Red Sea + 5-day Cairo/Nile package comes to around £1,030.
Can you snorkel the Red Sea straight from the beach?
Yes, and it's exceptional in Egypt: the Egyptian coral reef begins 5-20 m from the beach at most resorts (a jetty and a direct step into the water). Abu Dabbab in Marsa Alam: turtles 50 m from the beach. Hurghada's Steigenberger Al Dau: an accessible coral garden. Mask and snorkel are provided by our partner hotels. For the exceptional spots (Mahmya, Giftun), a full-day boat trip is recommended.
How do you get to Hurghada or Marsa Alam from the UK?
You arrange your flight to Egypt however suits you (there are direct charters from the UK, around 5-6 hours). Once you land in Egypt, SEV takes over: we book your internal flights (Cairo-Hurghada or Cairo-Marsa Alam, about 1h15) and all your airport-to-hotel transfers. There is no logistics to sort out on the ground - our team greets you the moment you touch down.
Do you need a visa for the Egyptian Red Sea?
Yes: a $25 tourist visa (e-visa or on arrival). Exception for Sharm El Sheikh: a free "Sinai-only permit" is possible (14 days, but it limits you to South Sinai - no Cairo/Nile with that). For Hurghada/Marsa Alam: the visa is required. We send the official e-visa link and check your passport (at least 6 months' validity).
Are the Abu Dabbab turtles really guaranteed?
All but guaranteed: turtle diving at Abu Dabbab is home to a resident colony of 8-12 green turtles and 2-3 dugongs in an underwater seagrass meadow. Regular sightings for 20 years. Trips from Marsa Alam only (45 min by van). Touching is forbidden - keep at least 3 m away. Our English-speaking guide runs through the rules before you enter the water.
Can you swim with dolphins in the Red Sea?
Yes, at Dolphin House: Sha'ab El Erg off Hurghada (1h30 by boat) is a lagoon home to 30-50 wild bottlenose dolphins. A full-day trip is £60 per person, with guided snorkelling and a respectful approach (no feeding). 85% of trips get a sighting, 60% a close swim. An early start (7am departure) gives the best chance. Available as an option on our Hurghada packages.
Why choose SEV rather than TUI or Fram?
Three reasons: (1) a guaranteed English-speaking, CMAS-certified instructor and small-group diving, rather than large mixed-language classes. (2) An English-speaking WhatsApp coordinator, 24/7, based in Egypt, replying in 10-20 minutes. (3) A native Cairo/Nile combo - we are Egypt specialists, not generalists. We negotiate rates directly with no middleman, and our guests rate us highly on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
