Port Ghalib Guide: Marsa Alam's Marina Town Next to the Airport

Most of the Marsa Alam coast is desert, sea and widely spaced resorts. Port Ghalib is the exception: a purpose-built marina town with a promenade, cafés, restaurants, dive boats and yachts – just a few minutes' drive from Marsa Alam International Airport.

That makes Port Ghalib a very practical base. You're in your hotel within minutes of landing, liveaboard dive safaris leave from the marina, and in the evening you can stroll along the water rather than staying inside your resort. This guide covers what Port Ghalib is like, what to do, where to stay and how to get there.

Port Ghalib at a glance

The marina and promenade

Port Ghalib was built around a large marina with berths for yachts, dive boats and liveaboards. A promenade runs along the water, lined with cafés, restaurants, shops and a few bars. In the evening it's the liveliest place for many kilometres around – modest compared with Hurghada's marina, but a welcome change from resort buffets.

The marina is also an official port of entry, so you'll see private yachts arriving from abroad alongside the dive fleet.

Things to do in Port Ghalib

Go on a liveaboard dive safari

Port Ghalib is the main starting point for liveaboard trips to the southern Red Sea: the Brothers islands, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone, Fury Shoals and St John's. These offshore reefs are famous for sharks, steep walls and big schools of fish. Most trips last a week and are for experienced divers. Read our Red Sea liveaboard guide for routes and tips.

Snorkel with turtles at Marsa Mubarak

Just south of Port Ghalib lies Marsa Mubarak, a sheltered bay with seagrass meadows where green turtles graze and dugongs are occasionally reported. It's a quieter alternative to Abu Dabbab, which is about 30–40 minutes' drive further south. The same rules apply: keep your distance and never block an animal's way to the surface.

Keep an eye on the rocky shore, too: ospreys and western reef herons fish in the shallows of Marsa Mubarak.

Day boats and dolphins

Day boats from Port Ghalib and nearby harbours reach local reefs, and trips to Samadai Reef – the southern "Dolphin House", where spinner dolphins rest in a protected lagoon – leave from harbours along the coast. Visitor numbers there are limited, so book ahead. See our Marsa Alam travel guide for details on Samadai, Elphinstone and Wadi El Gemal.

Desert evenings and stargazing

The desert behind Port Ghalib is dark and empty, which makes for spectacular night skies. Jeep and quad tours with dinner in a Bedouin camp and stargazing are offered by most hotels and local operators.

Where to stay

Port Ghalib's hotels range from small marina hotels on the promenade to large beach resorts a short walk or shuttle ride away, including Marina Lodge at Port Ghalib, Pickalbatros Sands Port Ghalib and the Radisson Individuals Marina Resort Port Ghalib. Marina hotels put you close to restaurants and the dive boats; beach resorts have more space and pools.

For detailed hotel profiles of Port Ghalib and the rest of the coast, see the Port Ghalib area guide on Marsa Alam Voyage, an independent encyclopedia of the Marsa Alam region.

Getting there

Port Ghalib is next to Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), which has direct flights from many European cities, especially in the winter season. The drive to Port Ghalib takes only 5–10 minutes. Alternatively, fly to Hurghada and drive south – about three to four hours.

There's no public transport and few taxis at the airport, so pre-book your transfer. A private transfer costs a fixed price per car, the driver waits outside arrivals with your name and tracks your flight. You can book a transfer from Marsa Alam Airport to Port Ghalib online.

Practical tips

• Visa: get the e-Visa in advance or buy the visa stamp at the bank counters on arrival.
• Money: there are ATMs in Port Ghalib, but carry some cash for tips and small purchases.
• Diving: bring your certification card and logbook; liveaboards often require a minimum number of logged dives.
• Evenings: pack a light jacket for winter – nights in the desert can be cool.
• Respect marine life: don't touch coral, turtles or dolphins, and use reef-safe sunscreen.

Explore more of the south: read the Marsa Alam travel guide, snorkel with turtles at Abu Dabbab and compare resorts in Hurghada vs Marsa Alam vs Sharm el-Sheikh.