15 Days Exploring the Red Sea From Two Beautiful Resorts Plus Tours of the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum
May 18 – June 1, 2024
September 11-25, 2024
Join this guided group Egypt snorkeling trip to explore the stunning reefs of the Red Sea, from two different resorts, each with their own fantastic house reef. Not only will you get endless hours of snorkeling on the house reefs, but also will be taken on a number of boat tours to close by reef locations, with opportunities to see dugong, spinner dolphins, and many other underwater wonders. Oh, and you also get fascinating cultural and historical tours of the Great Pyramids of Giza and of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.
The Red Sea is considered some of the best snorkeling grounds in the world. It is certainly high on our list of places to visit. In fact we will be on a similar trip in 2024, that we booked before this came out. One of our community contributors regularly visits this area, staying at the same seaside resorts, and has glowing reviews about them.
This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts at running amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world. You will be accompanied by a guide from Ben’s team for the entire trip who has spent many years working in Egypt, and is also an underwater photography pro. There will be local guides from the resorts always with the group, too.
Where Is the Red Sea and Where Will You Be Staying?
The Red Sea lies between Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea in Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, with the Sinai Peninsula at the northern end. This trip will be focused on the reefs of the Egyptian coastline, in the northern part of the Red Sea.
Getting There
Your tour starts in Cairo. At Cairo International Airport (CAI) in Egypt, you will be met by a driver who will take you to the Sofitel Cairo Nile el-Gezirah Hotel, where you will meet and stay with your guide and tour group. You will spend three nights there, with tours of the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities included.
Next your group will fly from Cairo to Marsa Alam, and then shuttle by land to the Marsa Nakari Village Resort for a five night stay and lots of snorkeling.
Next you will travel about a half hour north to the next resort you will be staying at for six nights, Marsa Shagra Village Resort.
Finally your group will transfer back to Marsa Alam Airport, for a group flight back to Cairo, which will complete the tour.
What Will Your Tour of Cairo and Your Hotel Be Like?
Your first three nights will be spent in a Luxury Room at the five-star Sofitel Cairo Nile el-Gezirah Hotel, which is situated right on the Nile River.
After being transferred from the airport to the hotel, you will relax your first evening, and meet for a welcome dinner with your group and your tour leader. It is a great time to get to know your fellow travelers.
The next day your group will have breakfast together, and then head off for a tour of the the famous Pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx.
The next day, you will again have breakfast together and take a tour of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the famous Tutankhamun collection, and the Royal Mummy room.
When not touring Cairo, you will have time to relax and to enjoy the luxurious facilities and dining of the Sofitel Cairo Hotel. There are indoor and outdoor pools with stunning views of the Nile River, numerous restaurants and a spa, all located in the most popular area of Cairo.
Your Luxury Room will be very spacious with air-conditioning, free WiFi, a large bathroom, top quality linens and mattresses, and a full view of the Nile.
About Marsa Nakari Village Resort and Snorkeling
Marsa Nakari is a remote and intimate resort that sits right on their own expansive house reef. You will have five nights at this beautiful location, and you can snorkel the house reef as often as you like during this period.
You will have guided explorations of this magnificent house reef for two days. The reef comes right up to the surface, and the waters are so clear that you can see for great distances. The reef is full of hard corals, and tropical fish, with colorful damselfish, and larger jacks and trevally cruising along. Turtles are common, munching on soft corals, and keep your eyes out for moray eels.
While at Marsa Nakari you will also have three days of boat tours, to close by sites. One will be a full day at Dolphin House (Shaab Samadai). This is a designated marine park to protect the resident pods of spinner dolphins.
Another full day tour by boat will visit Wadi Gimal Island National Park. This 60km protected coastline includes healthy coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds where dugong feed, and a huge diversity of birds, with a high species richness of birds of prey.
A third day you will be shuttled by car, and by boat, to visit Stayah Reef, which is another opportunity to snorkel with spinner dolphins. This area of the Fury Shoals reef system is a large resting place for the dolphins.
Your room at Marsa Nakari will be a Deluxe Chalet, their finest rooms. You will have stunning views of the desert mountains on one side, and the Red Sea on the other. There are outdoor terraces to enjoy the scenery.
The rooms are air-conditioned, and offer either a double bed or two singles and feature wardrobe, side and dressing table, digital safe, mini-fridge, and water kettle with coffee and tea.
All meals are included, and are freshly prepared. They are served buffet style and dinners offer alternating cuisine theme nights. Dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten free, etc.) can be accommodated. The restaurant, pictured below, is an outdoor terrace with wonderful views in all directions.
There are snacks, tea, coffee, water, and bottled soft drinks always available. You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle to be refilled to help reduce plastic waste. Alcohol and other specialty items are not included.
About Marsa Shagra Village Resort and Snorkeling
Marsa Shagra Village Resort is perfectly located to access some of the very best snorkeling available in the Red Sea, and you will have six nights there.
The resort has a vast house reef in a bay that is so large, and so interesting, that you will have two days of guided explorations of different parts of it.
To explore some parts of the reef you will be taken by boat. And you will also be free to snorkel the reef all you want by simply walking in from the beach. There are beautiful hard and soft coral reef structures to explore around, in a variety of depths.
The corals are home to a myriad of beautiful reef fish, turtles, giant eels, rays, and other larger fish cruising by looking for a snack, like jacks and trevally.
In addition to exploring the house reef your group will also have four day trips by boat or by car to close by spots that offer sensational snorkeling experiences.
- Full day to Shaab Marsa Alam by boat, which offers another great opportunity to snorkel with spinner dolphins.
- Half day boat trip to Abu Dabab, to look for dugong.
- Half day trip to Marsa Abu Dabab (by car)
- Half day trip to Marsa Egla (by car)
Your room at Marsa Shagra will be a Deluxe Chalet, their finest rooms. These upscale rooms have everything you would expect with air-conditioning, a TV, safe, and large bathrooms. Each has a private terrace with views of the sea and mountains.
All meals are included, and are freshly prepared. They are served buffet style and dinners offer alternating cuisine theme nights. Dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten free, etc.) can be accommodated. The restaurant, pictured below, is an outdoor terrace with wonderful views in all directions.
There are snacks, tea, coffee, water, and bottled soft drinks always available. You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle to be refilled to help reduce plastic waste. Alcohol and other specialty items are not included.
Not only the water clarity is high in Egypt, so is the air quality, which makes it perfect for star gazing. You will be treated to an Astro Stargazing Tour during your stay.
Snorkel Boats for This Egypt Snorkeling Trip
During this adventure at both resorts the group will at times be transferred to and from snorkel spots on Zodiac rigid inflatable boats that have ladders for access out of the water.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
This is a small group charter and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Dates:
May 18 – June 1, 2024 – Available
September 11-25, 2024 – Available
Price:
$4950 US per person (Deluxe Chalets)
Single Supplement: $750 US
The initial deposit for this trip is $800 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $600 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers – Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- All transfers to and from the airports and resorts during the tour
- 3 nights Sofitel Cairo Luxury Room with breakfast and the first dinner
- Guided tour of Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx
- Guided tour of the Egyptian Museum
- Domestic flights with 20 kg/44 lbs checked baggage and 7kg/15lbs carry-on baggage allowance, economy class (Cairo – Marsa Alam – Cairo)
- 5 nights Marsa Nakari Deluxe Chalet with full board (all meals)
- Unlimited house reef snorkeling
- Full day to Dolphin House (Shaab Samadai) by boat
- Full day to Wadi El Gimal Island National Park by boat
- Full day to Wadi Lahami (car then speedboat) to snorkel at Satayah reef
- 6 nights Marsa Shagra Deluxe Chalet with full board (all meals)
- Unlimited house reef snorkeling
- Full-day trip to Shaab Marsa Alam (by boat)
- Half day trip to Abu Dabab to look for the dugong (by boat)
- Half day trip to Marsa Abu Dabab (by car)
- Half day trip to Marsa Egla (by car)
- Astro Stargazing Tour
- Accompanied by a tour leader from Ben’s team
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Lunches and Dinners Cairo
- Alcoholic drinks
- Snorkel equipment rental
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen & Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on two of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips, and all funds are held in a trust until the trip is completed giving you 100% financial security if they or any of their suppliers go out of business before the trip happens.
Learn More About the Hotel, Resort and Liveaboard
Sofitel Cairo Nile el-Gezirah Hotel