The Red Sea Governorate is Egypt's premier coastal destination, stretching over 1,200km along the Red Sea coast and offering world-class diving, pristine coral reefs, and luxury beach resorts. From the bustling resort hub of Hurghada to the unspoiled shores of Marsa Alam, this governorate combines natural wonders with modern amenities. The region attracts millions of visitors annually seeking underwater adventures, desert safaris, and sun-soaked relaxation.
Local currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Red Sea.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $12-20/night (budget guesthouse in Ad-Dahar, Hurghada)
- Budget
- $20-40/night (simple hotels in Hurghada old town)
- Midrange
- $60-150/night (mid-range resort hotels with beach access)
- Luxury
- $200-800+/night (five-star resorts; all-inclusive packages often available)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (koshary, foul sandwich, hawawshi from local spots in Ad-Dahar)
- Local
- $5-10 (Egyptian restaurant full meal with mezze and fish)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (sit-down restaurant at the marina or El Gouna)
- Fine
- $50-120+ (hotel fine dining, Little Buddha, Kiki's El Gouna)
Transport
- Local Taxi
- $2-8 per ride within Hurghada
- Airport Transfer
- $10-20 (Hurghada airport to central Hurghada)
- Hurghada To El Gouna
- $15-25 by taxi or shuttle
- Hurghada To Marsa Alam
- $25-40 shared minibus; $60-80 private taxi
- Boat Day Trip
- $35-55 (Giftun Island or Dolphin House snorkeling trip)
- Liveaboard
- $300-800 for multi-day diving liveaboard
Activities
- Snorkeling Day Trip
- $35-55 (boat, guide, equipment included)
- Padi Intro Dive
- $60-80 (introduction dive for non-certified divers)
- Padi Open Water Course
- $350-450 (full 3-4 day PADI certification)
- Daily Dive Package
- $60-80 (2 guided dives with equipment)
- Desert Safari
- $30-50 per person (jeep safari half or full day)
- Camel Ride
- $15-25 (2-hour desert camel ride)
- Quad Biking
- $30-50 (2-hour sunset quad safari)
- Parasailing
- $25-35
- Glass Bottom Boat
- $20-30
- Monastery Day Trip
- $50-70 (both monasteries with transport and guide)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Red Sea costs end-to-end.
Budget 7 Days traveller
$210 for 7 days (hostel, Egyptian restaurants, 2-3 snorkeling trips)
Midrange 7 Days traveller
$700 for 7 days (mid-range hotel with beach, restaurant meals, 3-4 diving days)
Luxury 7 Days traveller
$2,450+ for 7 days (five-star resort, fine dining, private dive guide, monastery excursion)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Book all-inclusive packages from Europe — they are almost always cheaper than paying separately for accommodation, food, and activities
Dive packages bought as a 10-dive block from dive centers are significantly cheaper than day-by-day bookings
Stay in Hurghada's Ad-Dahar (old town) for accommodation costs 50-70% lower than the resort strip
Take a shared minibus rather than a private taxi between Hurghada and Safaga or Quseir
Eat breakfast and lunch at local Egyptian restaurants in Ad-Dahar — you'll pay 20-30% of resort restaurant prices
PADI Open Water courses are significantly cheaper in Hurghada than in Europe or the USA — many visitors come specifically for this
Visit in October-November or March-April (shoulder season) for 20-30% lower hotel rates than December-February peak
June-August is cheapest (40-50% lower prices) but temperatures exceed 40°C — only for heat-tolerant travelers
Hire snorkeling equipment from your hotel for the full stay rather than renting daily on boat trips
The Giftun Island day trip price varies significantly between operators — shop around before booking
Negotiating is expected for taxis, souvenirs, and some activity providers — the opening price is rarely the final price
Egyptian SIM cards (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat) cost $5-10 for 30 days of data — far cheaper than roaming charges
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Snorkeling from Sharm El Naga Beach
This protected bay 30km south of Hurghada has an excellent house reef accessible directly from shore — entry fee around $10 covers equipment hire
El Gouna Town Walk
Wandering the canals, bridges, and Arabesque architecture of El Gouna is free and beautiful
Hurghada Marina Evening Walk
The Senzo Mall marina promenade is free to walk and atmospheric in the evening
El Dahar Bazaar Browsing
Exploring the traditional bazaar in Hurghada's old town is free — buy only if you want to
Quseir Old Town Walk
Wandering Quseir's coral-brick old town and seeing the Ottoman fort exterior is free
Sunset Beach Watching
Many beaches offer free sunset access — the colors over the Red Sea are extraordinary
Monastery Visits
St. Anthony's and St. Paul's monasteries have free entry (donations appreciated) — transport is the main cost
Desert Stargazing
The Eastern Desert has almost zero light pollution — star gazing from any desert viewpoint is free and spectacular