The Red Sea and the Nile under sail
Yachting & marinas
Day charters and liveaboards leave from the Red Sea marinas of Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm El Sheikh and Port Ghalib; on the Nile, dahabiyas sail between Esna and Aswan. Private yachts arriving from abroad need entry formalities and cruising permits arranged in advance.
Ideas to start with
- Island day charters from Hurghada
- Liveaboard dive safaris
- Dahabiya voyages on the Nile
- Sunset sailing in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour
Travel responsibly
- Use mooring buoys; never anchor on reefs.
- Check permits and safety equipment with a licensed operator.
Places
- Hurghada & Giftun IslandsResort coast with reef snorkelling around the protected Giftun islands.
© E v Schoonhoven · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Sharm El SheikhSinai's resort and conference city, base for Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran.
© Marc Ryckaert · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Marsa AlamThe quiet southern Red Sea, known for turtles, dolphins and Wadi el-Gemal.
© Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Red Sea coastCoral reefs, resort towns and marine protected areas from Hurghada to the far south.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Nile cruise, Luxor to AswanClassic river voyage with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo.
© Ввласенко · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons - AlexandriaMediterranean city of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel and Graeco-Roman catacombs.
© Argenberg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14Life below waterTarget 14.7 names tourism among the sustainable uses of marine resources; 14.2 calls for protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.
- SDG 8Decent work and economic growthTarget 8.9: devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Editorial overview. Opening hours, prices, permits and access rules change: confirm them with the responsible authority or a licensed operator before you travel.