Marsa Alam: turtles and dolphins of the Red Sea

More wild and less developed than Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam offers some of the Red Sea's best-preserved coral barriers.

Attractions are scattered along the coast: an organized boat tour remains the most common solution.

In the shallow bay of Abu Dabbab, green sea turtles feed on posidonia meadows just a few meters from shore, often visible even with just a snorkel mask.

Offshore, a boat excursion takes you to Sha'ab Samadai, the "house of dolphins," where groups of Fraser's dolphins live permanently in a protected area with regulated visiting hours.

For more experienced divers, the Elphinstone Reef, a coral formation offshore with vertical walls, is known for sightings of oceanic whitetip sharks.

Toward the interior, Wadi El Gemal National Park protects a stretch of coast and desert inhabited by Ababda Bedouin communities.

Visit hours to Sha'ab Samadai are regulated by law precisely to avoid disturbing the dolphins during their rest periods: boats can approach only during designated time slots.

Unlike Hurghada and Sharm, Marsa Alam does not yet have a true city center: the resorts remain isolated along the coast, separated by long stretches of desert coastline.