Egypt Holidays
Egypt’s Red Sea coast is one of the world’s great diving and snorkelling destinations — and one of the most reliable winter sun escapes available from the UK within a four-hour flight. Our Egypt specialist Paul Cowley has been diving these waters for decades and visits Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam four to five times every year. When Paul recommends something about Egypt, it is because he has been there recently and seen it himself.
“Nowhere else within reach of a short-haul flight from the UK offers what the Red Sea offers underwater. I have been diving these waters for decades and they continue to surprise me. The visibility, the marine life, the reef systems — Giftun Island off Hurghada, Ras Mohammed at the tip of Sinai, the reefs at Marsa Alam — these are genuinely world-class dive sites, not simply good-for-Europe dive sites. And the winter sun case is just as strong. When the UK is at its bleakest in January, Hurghada is 24–28 degrees. That combination is very hard to beat at this distance.”
Paul Cowley — GotoBeach Board Member & Egypt Specialist, 40+ years in travelWorld-class diving & snorkelling
The Red Sea is one of the world’s great diving destinations — extraordinary visibility (20–30 metres is common), water temperatures of 22–28°C year-round, coral reef systems of remarkable health and colour, and marine life that includes sharks, rays, dolphins, dugongs and hundreds of species of reef fish. For divers and snorkellers, Egypt offers a level of experience that is genuinely difficult to find elsewhere within a four-hour flight of the UK.
The best winter sun from the UK
Egypt’s Red Sea coast has no meaningful off-season. In December, January and February — when Greece and Turkey are closed and Morocco is cooler — Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh deliver reliable sunshine and temperatures of 22–28°C. For UK guests who want guaranteed warmth in winter within a four-hour flight, Egypt is one of the most dependable answers in the entire GotoBeach portfolio.
Excellent all inclusive value
Egypt’s Red Sea resort hotels offer strong value for money — a broad range from solid three and four-star all inclusive properties to genuine five-star luxury resorts, all at price points that make Egypt one of the most competitive beach holiday destinations available from the UK. Paul’s view: Hurghada in particular over-delivers on its promise consistently.
Calm, warm waters
The Red Sea is naturally sheltered, calm and warm — making it ideal for families with young children, confident swimmers and nervous swimmers alike. The water is extraordinarily gentle by the standards of the open Mediterranean, and the clarity means you can see the bottom in most beach areas even without snorkelling equipment.
Year-round sun
Egypt’s Red Sea coast receives over 360 days of sunshine per year and less than 10mm of annual rainfall in some areas. There is genuinely no bad time to visit. Summer (June–August) is very hot (35–40°C) but manageable at the coast. Spring and autumn are comfortable and uncrowded. Winter is warm, sunny and excellent value.
Direct flights from the UK
Hurghada International Airport (HRG) and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) are served by direct charter and scheduled flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK regional airports. Flight times are approximately 4–4.5 hours. Marsa Alam Airport (RMF) is also served by direct flights from the UK.
Egypt’s Red Sea holiday coast covers three distinct resort areas, each with its own character and appeal. Here is Paul’s honest assessment of each.
Hurghada
Hurghada is GotoBeach’s most important Egypt destination — the one Paul knows most intimately. What began as a small fishing village on the western shore of the Red Sea is now Egypt’s most developed resort city, with a hotel strip stretching over 40 kilometres and an underwater world that consistently ranks among the finest in the world for recreational diving and snorkelling.
The reefs offshore — including Giftun Island, Shaab Abu Ramada and the wrecks of the Thistlegorm — are among the most celebrated dive sites in the Red Sea. Paul considers Giftun Island’s reef system among the most beautiful he has encountered anywhere in the world.
- Best for: families, couples, divers, first-time Egypt visitors
- All inclusive: very strong selection across all budgets
- Diving: world-class — Giftun Island, Abu Ramada, wrecks
- Winter sun: 24–28°C in January
Sharm El Sheikh
At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh sits in a landscape of dramatic desert mountains descending to one of the most biodiverse coral reef ecosystems on the planet. Ras Mohammed National Park — a UNESCO-listed marine reserve at the very tip of the Sinai — is, in Paul’s assessment, one of the great dive destinations in the world.
The resort is compact, well-organised and easy to navigate. Beaches in Sharm are typically accessed via jetties rather than sand, reflecting the coral reef structure immediately offshore — which Paul considers an advantage, as the reef begins within metres of the waterline.
- Best for: serious divers, couples, winter sun
- Diving: Ras Mohammed, Shark & Yolanda Reef — world-class
- Beach: jetty access — reef directly offshore
- Annual rainfall: less than 10mm — over 360 days of sun
Marsa Alam
Further south along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, Marsa Alam is Paul’s personal recommendation for guests who want the Red Sea at its most unspoiled. The resort retains a quieter, more remote character that the more developed northern resorts no longer offer. The marine life here is exceptional — dugongs feeding on seagrass beds offshore, spinner dolphins, hammerhead sharks, extraordinary coral.
Hotels here tend to be smaller, set on longer stretches of coastline with a greater sense of space. The atmosphere is considerably more peaceful than Hurghada or Sharm. For serious divers, snorkellers and guests seeking genuine seclusion, Marsa Alam is Paul’s first choice.
- Best for: serious divers, couples, seclusion seekers
- Diving: dugongs, spinner dolphins, hammerhead sharks
- Atmosphere: quieter and more intimate than northern resorts
- Access: direct flights from UK available
The Red Sea’s reputation as a diving destination is not marketing hyperbole — it is earned. The combination of extraordinary visibility, warm water temperatures year-round, diverse marine life and a large number of accessible dive sites within boat range of the main resort areas makes it one of the most consistently rewarding dive destinations in the world at any experience level.
For complete beginners, Egypt is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive — the calm, warm, clear water makes the experience considerably less intimidating than colder, less clear alternatives. For experienced divers, the Red Sea offers sites that rank among the finest anywhere — the wrecks of the Thistlegorm and the Rosalie Moller, the reef systems at Giftun Island, Ras Mohammed National Park and the deeper sites at Marsa Alam where hammerhead sharks and mantas are regularly encountered.
Paul dives the Red Sea multiple times a year and is the GotoBeach team member best placed to advise on dive site selection, PADI certification courses available through specific hotels, and which properties have the best house reefs for snorkelling directly from the beach. If diving or snorkelling is central to your Egypt holiday, speak to Paul directly before booking.
“When I recommend a resort for its house reef, I have dived it myself. When I advise against a hotel’s beach access for snorkellers, it is because I have stood on it at low tide. That level of direct, repeated, personal experience is what sits behind every Egypt recommendation GotoBeach makes. It is not something you can get from a review site.”
Paul Cowley — GotoBeach Egypt SpecialistVisa
UK passport holders require a visa for Egypt. An e-Visa can be obtained online before travel at visa2egypt.gov.eg. Visas on arrival are also available at Egyptian airports for UK citizens. Always check the latest requirements at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt before booking.
Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP). USD and EUR are widely accepted in hotels and tourist areas. Credit cards accepted in most hotels. Carry some local currency for taxis, tips and smaller purchases outside the resort.
Best time to go
Egypt is a year-round destination. October–April is ideal for most guests — warm, comfortable and excellent diving conditions. November–March is Paul’s top recommendation for UK guests wanting winter sun. Summer (June–August) is very hot but the diving remains excellent and prices drop significantly.
Flight time from UK
Approximately 4–4.5 hours to Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) from London. Marsa Alam (RMF) is similar. Direct flights operate from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK regional airports throughout the year.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. UK passport holders require a visa for Egypt. You can obtain an e-Visa online before travel at visa2egypt.gov.eg, or a visa on arrival is available at Egyptian airports. We recommend obtaining the e-Visa in advance to avoid queues on arrival. Always check the latest requirements at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt before booking.
Is Egypt good for families?
Yes — particularly Hurghada. The Red Sea here is extraordinarily calm and warm, with shallow, clear water that is ideal for young swimmers and safe for children of all ages. The all inclusive hotel infrastructure in Hurghada is well-suited to families, with good children’s clubs, pools and beach facilities. The snorkelling directly from the beach at many Hurghada resorts is exceptional — children who have never snorkelled before frequently discover a lifelong passion here.
Which Egypt destination is best for diving?
All three — Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam — offer excellent diving. For variety and accessibility, Hurghada suits most divers. For the finest individual dive sites (Ras Mohammed, Shark & Yolanda Reef), Sharm El Sheikh is unmatched. For the best overall marine life experience including dugongs, spinner dolphins and hammerhead sharks in a more remote setting, Marsa Alam is Paul’s personal favourite. If diving is central to your Egypt holiday, speak to Paul directly before booking.
Is Egypt a good winter sun destination?
One of the best available from the UK. In December, January and February, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh deliver reliable sunshine and temperatures of 22–28°C. Greece and Turkey are effectively closed in winter. Morocco is cooler. Egypt at this time of year is warm, sunny, uncrowded and significantly better priced than peak summer. Paul specifically recommends Egypt in November–March for UK guests who want a winter escape.
What deposit do I need to book an Egypt holiday with GotoBeach?
For Egypt dynamic package bookings, the full cost of the flight at the time of booking is charged immediately, plus a £30 per person deposit for the hotel and other arrangements. Every Egypt package holiday booked through GotoBeach is ATOL-protected under licence #11211 held by Caria Holidays Ltd.
Can beginners learn to dive in Egypt?
Egypt is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive. The warm, calm, clear water of the Red Sea makes the learning experience far less intimidating than colder or less clear alternatives. Most major hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh have PADI-certified dive centres offering discover scuba experiences and full open-water certification courses. Paul can recommend specific properties with the best on-site dive schools based on your level and interests.
Browse our full Egypt hotel collection across Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam — or speak to Paul directly about diving, house reefs and the right property for your holiday.
All Egypt holidays booked through GotoBeach are ATOL-protected · Caria Holidays Ltd · ATOL #11211 · +44 208 211 00 01 · info@gotobeach.co.uk