Getting around — Red Sea

The Egyptian Red Sea coast stretches over 600 km and requires logistics adapted to your travel profile.

If you are in all-inclusive formula in a single resort (Hurghada, El Gouna, Soma Bay, Marsa Alam), you will hardly need to move — most activities take place on site or with transfers included organised by the hotel or the diving centre. Private taxis for occasional excursions cost €10-30/trip in town, €50-150/day for private service.

Airport transfers are the first step. From Hurghada Airport (HRG), Hurghada centre resorts are 10-25 min by taxi (€10-20), El Gouna 30 min (€25-40), Soma Bay 40 min (€35-50), Marsa Alam (in case of arrival at Hurghada) 3h30 (€150-250 in private, to be avoided — prefer direct charter flights on Marsa Alam). From Marsa Alam Airport (RMF), Marsa Alam centre resorts are 15-30 min by taxi (€15-25), Port Ghalib 5 min, Quseir 1h (€50-80). Check if your tour operator or your hotel offers a transfer included in the package.

Inter-resort travel (for example Hurghada → Marsa Alam, 280 km) is done by: private tourist minivan (3h30, €150-250 for 4-6 people); public bus Go Bus or Super Jet (5h, €5-15/person, daily departures); private taxi (3h, €200-300). Avoid individual driving — the coastal road is monotonous, poorly secured and police checks are numerous.

To reach Luxor from the Red Sea (3h30 from Hurghada, 4h from Marsa Alam): public bus Go Bus daily at 6-8am (4-6h, €8-20/person) or private taxi (3h30, €200-400). Prefer organised group excursions by your hotel or a recognised operator (Memphis Tours, Egypt Explorers) which include transport, lunch, English-speaking guide and site entries.

To reach Cairo from Hurghada, the EgyptAir plane is the only reasonable option (1h, €80-200). The night bus (8-10h) is very tiring and inadvisable.

Diving cruises (liveaboards) generally depart from Hurghada (for Thistlegorm, Brothers, Elphinstone), Safaga (for Brothers, Daedalus) or Port Ghalib/Marsa Alam (for St John's, Daedalus, Elphinstone). Transfers from your arrival airport to the boarding port are generally included in the cruise package.

Within the large resorts (Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam), free resort shuttles, taxis and tuk-tuks (in Hurghada only) cover most needs. In El Gouna specifically, travel is on foot, by bicycle (rental €5-10/day) or by boat-taxi (the resort's canals connect the different hotels and zones).