12 (Mostly) Aquatic Adventures for Families in Egypt
Egypt is a country filled to the brim with fascinating history and plenty of adventure, but it’s not usually the first place that comes to mind for water-based adventuring. After all, most people know Egypt for its seas of sand rather than the very literal seas on its borders. Nevertheless, Egypt is a surprisingly great place to visit for some amazing aquatic field trips!
While deserts are typically considered dry places, Egypt borders two separate seas and has several different sources of freshwater within its borders. Whether your family is looking for some fantastic SCUBA adventures or a soak in natural hot springs, it turns out that Egypt has you covered!
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The Red Sea
Making up the majority of Egypt’s Eastern border, the Red Sea stretches from Egypt’s southern border with Sudan all the way north to the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba. That’s nearly 1,000 miles of coastline! Plus, since the waters in the Red Sea are much warmer than in other parts of the world, a wide variety of corals and unique marine animals call these waters home.
In fact, the Red Sea is consistently ranked among the best locations in the world for snorkeling and SCUBA diving!
If you’re looking for some water-based adventures in Egypt, the Red Sea is an excellent place to start.
Need some gear for your next dive? Also check out…
10+ Amazing Snorkel Gear Options for Families with Kids
Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is among the most popular diving destinations in Egypt. It is located near the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, putting it in easy reach of several magnificent coral reefs, including the reefs of the Straits of Tiran and at Ras Mohamed National Park.
Whether you’re looking for a great snorkeling spot close to shore, or are hoping for beginner-friendly SCUBA spots with a huge amount of biodiversity, Sharm El Sheikh is definitely worth looking into.
Dahab
In recent years, Dahab has become something of a digital nomad haven, both because of the low cost of living in in Egypt and because of the stunning nature on display in the Gulf of Aqaba. As such, Dahab’s culture feels much more Western than many other places in Egypt.
But what really sets Dahab apart is the amazing diving in the area. Many different local snorkeling spots can be reached simply by grabbing your gear and a local taxi, but tours of dive sites like Blue Hole are available if you’d prefer to have a guide. There’s even glass-bottomed boat tours, of you’d prefer to see the wonders of the reef without getting wet!
Hurghada
Unlike Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab, Hurghada is located on mainland Egypt to the south of then Gulf of Suez, making it much easier to add on to an already-planned Egyptian itinerary. In fact, it’s only a 4-hour bus ride from Luxor!
The best diving and snorkeling spots in Hurghada are located around the islands a bit farther off the coast, which means that you’ll need to hire a boat to get out to them, but the expense is well worth it. The reefs in this part of the Red Sea are absolutely teeming with amazing reef fish, and beautiful coral formations are everywhere.
Many of the SCUBA tours in this area are beginner-friendly, with access to all the gear you’ll need and experienced guides. This makes Hurghada an especially great place to visit for families wanting to get started with diving!
Spinner dolphins can also be seen in these waters, traveling in huge pods. These dolphins are named for their propensity for jumping and spinning through the water, which makes them a ton of fun to watch.
Marsa Alam
The Egyptian Red Sea Coast is filled with smaller cities and villages, each with their own charms and attractions. Marsa Alam is one such city located to the south of Hurghada and just to the north of Wadi el Gemel National Park, which is in consideration of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Marsa Alam is much smaller and quieter than other Egyptian cities like Cairo, or even Luxor, but which makes it great if you’re looking for a quiet place to retreat. The town itself really doesn’t have a lot to offer beyond a handful of restaurants and some hotels, but its location directly on the Red Sea makes it perfect for some watery adventures!
Some popular Red Sea trips include visiting the Satayh Dolphin Reef to see Spinner Dolphins in the wild, or the Abu Dabab Reef, where sea turtles and endangered dugongs occasionally decide to make an appearance. Snorkeling and SCUBA trips are both readily available for those looking to get into the water.
But Wadi el Gemel is definitely the highlight of the area. It is an Egyptian National Park covering more than 7,000 square kilometers of space. Within that area, there are herds of wild camels, gazelles, and ibex that call the valley home, a large mangrove forest, and 5 separate islands with their coral reefs. For those who are interested in archaeology, the park also contains Roman and Ptolemaic ruins as well as rock art that dates back to prehistoric times!
Wadi El Gemal Tours Marsa Alam
The Mediterranean Sea
Of course, the Red Sea is just one of the two seas bordering Egypt. The other one is the Mediterranean Sea, to Egypt’s north.
The Mediterranean Sea is world-renowned for its mild weather and beautiful views, and in the ancient world, coastal cities like Alexandria became gateways for trade and cultural exchange. However, though much has changed over the millennia, that has not!
Explore the Underwater Ruins of Alexandria
The city of Alexandria is nearly synonymous with the concept of Egypt’s northern coast, and has been for centuries. It was a repository of knowledge and power in the ancient world, and scholars came from all over to do research in the Alexandria Library. It was also home to one of the ancient 7 Wonders of the World.
But the city is most strongly associated with Egypt’s final Pharoah, Cleopatra.
Cleopatra’s palace was once located in Alexandria, but time and tide has since caused that entire part of the city to collapse into the waves. For land-based travelers, it’s a tragedy of Greek proportions, but for those looking for amazing underwater locations to explore, it’s an opportunity!
Scuba tours of Cleopatra’s palace allow visitors to swim among the sphinxes and Roman columns of the palace, giving them a unique and unforgettable experience!
Diving in Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria Egypt
Relax on some of the best beaches in Egypt in Marsa Matruh
To the West of Alexandria sits a small port town called Marsa Matruh. It’s not nearly as famous as many other locations in Egypt, but if you’re looking for sun, sand, and beautiful blue waters, Marsa Matruh has exactly the beaches that you’re looking for!
While there’s not a lot going on in the area archeologically, it often gets passed over. However what Marsa Matruh does have makes it one of the most popular vacation sites for many locals. There are several soft, white sand beaches you can visit, including Rommel Beach and Cleopatra Beach, and the water is almost always a bright, sapphire blue.
If you need a few days to escape the desert heat, this is an excellent choice.
Also be sure to check out…
7 Great Ways To Add Education To Your Next Beach Trip
Egypt’s Desert Oases
While beach-side resorts and salt-water snorkel trips are great, the ocean isn’t typically what travelers come to Egypt for. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t, but facts are facts.
People come to Egypt to discovery history, culture, and deserts.
Luckily, even in desert places, there are locations where you can indulge in a little water-based tourism!
Egypt has several oases in its vast stretches of desert. These are places where water naturally appears in the desert, and they tend to be the locations where towns spring up. Here are a few that are definitely worth a visit!
Siwa Oasis
Siwa is an absolutely fascinating location in Egypt, culturally speaking. Because of its remote location, Siwa grew up relatively isolated from the rest of Egyptian culture. Plus, its people have Berber roots, which are distinct from the majority of locations in Egypt. However, despite those differences and the difficulty of getting there, Siwa has thrived where it is. In large part, that’s all thanks to one natural resource.
Water.
Oases are the places where underground water reservoirs come to the surface, and Siwa has several astonishingly beautiful springs and lakes worth visiting. There are saltwater pools in the desert where it is nearly impossible to sink, similar to the Dead Sea in Jordan. There are freshwater springs where drinking water is collected, and others where visitors can take a dip. And there are even natural hot springs, like Cleopatra’s Bath, where it is rumored that Cleopatra herself came to relax!
Siwa can be difficult to get to, but if you have the time and the inclination, it is worth spending a while there.
Faiyum Oasis
Unlike Siwa Oasis, Faiyum is technically not a true oasis, since it receives some of its water from the Nile. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit!
The Faiyum Basin has several small lakes which have made the area a haven for many different species of bird. Ibises, herons, and even flamingos are known to spend time in the area, making it a wonderful place to visit if you’re interested in bird watching. Plus, nearby Wadi-Rayan is the location of Egypt’s only waterfall, which is caused when water runs off a small, overhang between the upper and lower portions of the Wadi-Rayan lake. It’s not a particularly large waterfall, but as the only one in Egypt, it makes for an interesting stop!
But the real reason for visiting Faiyum is the chance to see whales. Or their skeletons, at least.
Wadi-al-Hitan, or the Valley of the Whales, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just outside Faiyum and has several ancient whale and dolphin fossils on display, in situ. This was actually one of my favorite stops on my last trip to Egypt, and definitely worth a visit! Just don’t expect to get wet. You can read more about it in my post, Finding Egypt’s hidden desert whales in beautiful Wadi al-Hitan.
The Nile River
Despite several oases and access to not one, but two seas, the best known and most accessible source of water in Egypt remains the Nile River. In fact, it could be said that without the Nile, there may never have been an Egypt at all!
Flowing from its source south of Egypt all the way north to the Mediterranean, the Nile has been the lifeblood of Egypt for millennia, providing water for drinking and for growing crops, and easing travel between the major cities of the Egyptian Kingdoms.
Nile River Cruises
Sailing the Nile remains one of the best ways to see the majority of Egypt’s archeological wonders, via a Nile River Cruise! Cruises can last anywhere from a few days to 11 or more, with shorter cruises typically costing less than the longer ones. Cruise ships can be larger, boxy ships or sleek, luxury Feluccas, but no matter what ship you choose there will almost certainly be plenty of amazing shore excursions.
A typical cruise will make stops in some combination of Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, and includes lodging, food, and tours! Plus, you get to spend time cruising the waters between!
Nile Cruises – Via Get Your Guide
Felucca Rides
If you aren’t quite ready to spring for a full cruise, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend some time enjoying the river. During our months in Luxor, my family spent several evenings enjoying sunset felucca rides. In fact, felucca rides made it onto my list of 17 Amazing Things to do in Luxor!
Typically, we would hop on board in the later afternoon, just before sunset, and sail down the Nile. My kids loved sitting at the prow of the boat to watch the sunset, and often the captain would provide tea during our voyages. Once we even attended a floating pizza party on a boat!
A ride on a felucca is an excellent way to get out on the water and see the Nile from up close!
Explore the Nile Islands in Aswan
If you really want to lean into spending some time on the Nile, I highly suggest visiting the city of Aswan.
While we stayed pretty close to the banks of the river in Luxor, Aswan has several populated islands where you can book a hotel or rent a house right in the middle of the river! Other islands in the area host botanical gardens, nature preserves, and the ruins of the Nubian Monuments, like Philae Temple, which can only be reached by boat.
We stayed on Elephantine Island, and absolutely loved the laid-back atmosphere! We spent most evenings in restaurants overlooking the river watching the boats go by on the river below us.
Travel Tip:
Many of the archeological sites in Aswan can only be reached by chartering a boat. Places like Philae Temple have specific ferries that you can hire to take you only after you’ve paid for entrance to the Temple. These ferries are more expensive than the regular ferries in Aswan, and are less likely to flex on their prices. Be sure to bring some extra cash to account for this!
While choosing a water-based activity for your family to do while in Egypt might not be an obvious choice, I hope that that this article has shown you that it can definitely be a good one!
Whether it’s exploring the deep, or simply relaxing on your cruise ship between ports, water should definitely be a part of your family’s next Egyptian adventure.
