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Marsa Alam is a fishing village which also depended on phosphate mining. It is currently developing as a new seaside resort. In ancient times, the mountains concealed gold and emerald mines. Under Ptolemy II, a road was built linking Marsa Alam and Edfu and is still in use today.

790 km south of Cairo
Since the opening of the international airport in 2001, this small fishing village has become the new top Red Sea destination for diving enthusiasts. Lying between sea and desert, the hotel complexes offer a level of comfort and leisure facilities on a par with the majestic surroundings.


The village

Marsa Alam stands at the crossroads of the road from Edfu to the west and the road running the length of the Red Sea coast. The village itself is a small fishing port with a bus terminus, a few grocery shops and some restaurants.


Tourist complexes

For a long time tourists were accommodated in Bedouin-inspired encampments comprising environmentally friendly ecolodges but equipped with all modern facilities. Now luxury tourist complexes stretch along more than 80 km of coast from Port Ghalib in the north to the Wadi El Gemal National Park in the south.



Port Ghalib Marina
Opened in December 2005, Port Ghalib Marina offers facilities for up to 1 000 boats. Port Ghalib aims to become the leisure boating gateway to and foremost yachting port in the Middle East. Its proximity to an airport has convinced a number of hotel chains to open up establishments here, each rivalling the next in Middle Eastern-style sumptuousness.


Diving

Dive sites accessible from Marsa Alam number among the most attractive in the Red Sea for experienced divers. The preserved state of the coral reefs and presence of pelagic species are the principal draw factors. For less experienced divers, in-shore coral reefs offer the chance for hours of marine wildlife watching.

 

 
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