This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. If you told me a few years ago that in the not-too-distant future I’d be in Marsa Alam Egypt diving with dolphins in the pristine Red Sea, I’d have looked at you incredulously. Firstly, I wouldn’t have had the faintest clue where Marsa Alam was. Secondly, I would’ve never imagined fulfilling a life long dream of swimming with dolphins in the wild, in the middle of the ocean. Yet, there I was… breast stroking as fast as I could, to keep up with a super pod of dolphins. Pinch me. Unquestionably, it was the things bucket list dreams are made of. Marsa Alam means ‘Anchorage Mountain’ It’s really fascinating to me that Marsa Alam means “Anchorage Mountain,” considering everyone visits to spend time in the ocean. Unless I missed something, it also appeared very flat and desert like. However, come to find out, there are over twenty two Red Sea Islands, and voila! That is where you’ll find the mountain ranges. Probably not too widely known outside the dive community is that Egypt is an absolute paradise for diving and ocean swimming. Some of the well known dive towns that are highly publicized are Dahab, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheik. However, likely even less widely known is that a little town named Marsa Alam is also an ocean lovers delight. Although Marsa Alam isn’t too far from Luxor, it isn’t exactly close either. By vehicle, it’s roughly about a four and a half hour drive. For context, that’s similar to the drive from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. Our accommodation in Luxor set us up with a private car and driver to transport us to Marsa Alam. The drive isn’t too bad, however, it isn’t exactly scenic, either. We are talking long stretches of desert here. Tip: You can take the bus from Luxor to Marsa Alam as well. Cost is somewhere in the range of $4 -$8 USD, which is much cheaper than a taxi or private vehicle with a driver. However, it will increase your transport time to over 12.5 hours. While Marsa Nakari Village is, by definition, an eco resort, it is also a place to swim, snorkel and dive to your hearts content. Marsa Nakari Village is kind of a mixture of a Glamping site and dive resort. It is ran and operated by Red Sea Diving Safari. This would definitely be classified under a very unique lodging experience. You can read all about glamping at Marsa Nakai: here. If you will already be traveling through Egypt, Marsa Alam, or any of the other aforementioned towns (Dahab, Hurghada, Sharm-el-sheik) are a relaxing way to end your trip. After being immersed in the bustle of cities, it’s a chance to go slower in a calmer environment. Basically, two words: breathtaking water. I’m talking, crystal clear, warm water. Altogether stunning reef, beautiful fish, an abundance of marine life and waters tremendously inhabited by dolphins. To demonstrate, here I am, sitting in the shallow portion of Marsa Nakai’s house reef (this is at least 15- 20ft from the shoreline. The waters are clear, pleasantly balmy and calm. Truly, these are dream waters to swim or explore in for any type of swimmer. The temperature, current, and overall environment is extremely serene and ideal. Marsa Alam is also considered a fairly remote destination for all intents and purposes. Because of this, it’s an ideal place to “escape from it all” geographically. Besides this, you’ll likely be breaking free of all technology and any type of routine. In many areas of Marsa Alam, particularly the eco resort of Marsa Nakai, you will only be able to connect to wifi in designated areas of the camp. Although, you’ll likely be so busy enjoying sun, water, nature, serenity and good food that being online won’t be a priority, if it even crosses your mind. The Marsa Nakari house reef is accessible right from the beach. Basically, you can just walk right from the shore into the ocean and it is shallow for a long stretch. The deeper parts do offer more fascinating things to look at in my perspective, but the entire area is beautiful to swim in. This. I would say, that visiting Marsa Alam is worthwhile for Shaab Samadai alone. And, whenever I find myself in Egypt again, I’d want to go back to Marsa Alam to revisit “Dolphin House.” It’s a government protected, designated marine park for dolphins. Though, make no mistake, this is a marine park in the open ocean in the Red Sea. This excursion departs from Marsa Nakari and is a roughly 20 -30 minute zodiac ride. Boy, when I tell you that I was hanging on for dear life on that zodiac, I’m not kidding. Between the speed, wind, and choppy waters that day, I didn’t fiddle with my camera to film. I was also too busy clenching the ropes and trying not to fly out of the zodiac. Similar to any dive, snorkel or watching trip, there are never any guarantees that you’ll see any Dolphins. However, in my case, I suppose all that is divine was smiling upon us. Not only did we see dolphins. Boy, we saw a superpod. Apparently, most pods contain anywhere from two – thirty dolphins. But, a super pod can contain anywhere from a hundred dolphins to thousands. I’m sure, as you can imagine, it was a sight to behold. This is genuinely one of the most majestic and awe inspiring things I’ve ever witnessed. To this day, I can still see the countless dolphins, gliding and bobbing gracefully, in sync through the sea. Watching them swiftly motion through the water in unison, until they were so far, they started to fade away, was moving. They became more and more faint into the depths, until they disappeared. To this day, it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. Truly, what dreams are made of. Have you ever heard of or considered visiting Marsa Alam? Do you have any questions about this destination or experiencing “Dolphin House”? If so, drop them in the comments below. Check these out! Want to know how I travel so frequently? By booking jaw-dropping flight deals that are often so low you’d have to see ’em to believe it. The best part? They’re sent right to my inbox. You can try it out for free: here. I exclusively use this site to book all my stays. I get 20% off on all my stays plus additional perks from their loyalty program. Check it out! Get reliable travel medical insurance for your trip, for just $2 a day – here Looking for a flight on a specific date? Use this search engine and start earning rewards! Need to book your excursions and tours? This company is my favorite. This is another marketplace for tours, that is especially great for Europe. Renting a car for your adventure? Discover the right car for your journey: here. Do you love train travel as much as I do? Get your train tickets here! Want to travel in comfort and have lounge access around the world? Get that right here. You know what I love to do when I visit a new city? This!Marsa Alam Egypt: Diving with Dolphins in the Epic Red Sea
But, where even is Marsa Alam?
A remote Beach Paradise in Egypt
Staying at Marsa Nakari Village
Glamp and Dive with Red Sea Diving Safari
What makes Marsa Alam worth visiting?
Marsa Alam
What makes Marsa Alam worth visiting?
Marsa Nakari House Reef
Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Are Dolphin sightings guaranteed?
A bucketlist moment, fulfilled
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