Sun, sea, sand and a whole lot of fun are what the Red Sea Coast is all about. Whether it’s diving, sightseeing, or wild nightlife you are after, this strip of pristine coastline, with its warm waters and endless coral reefs, has it all.

Beginning with the tranquil resorts of Ain Sokhna, less than two hours from Cairo, and spreading all the way to the seaside towns of El Gouna and Hurghada, the Red Sea Coast boasts some of Egypt’s most relaxing and isolated getaways as well as some of its best party hotspots. Opt for a vacation of diving, water sports and adventure, or book yourself a luxury holiday package at one of the coast’s countless five-star hotels.

Ain Sokhna is a popular destination among Cairenes looking for a quick weekend getaway. With its beautiful sandy beaches and temperate climate, this town is all about basking in the sun and lounging at one of the many resorts. Unfortunately, Ain Sokhna doesn’t see much nightlife; the area caters more to the early risers ready to relax, swim, and play volleyball on the beach.

If you do feel the need to get out and sightsee, a trip to the nearby sulfur springs — after which Ain Sokhna gets its name — that flow from Gabal Ataqa in the Eastern Desert, is a great way to spend the day. The Suez Canal, linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, is also less than an hour away.

How to get there: Ain Sokhna is located 110 kilometers east of Cairo, and you can drive there in less than 90 minutes along the Katameya Road. If you don’t have your own car or are not up for renting one, hopping on the bus is easy enough. From Almaza Station in Cairo (Tel: +2 (02) 419-8533), take a bus to Suez where you can catch a microbus for a short 20-minute ride to Ain Sokhna.

Courtesy of Taba Heights The coast below Taba offers isolated beach gettaways.

Eat & Sleep: The most popular resort in Ain Sokhna is Stella di Mare (Tel: +2 (062) 325-0200), where a double room with half board is around LE 610 for Egyptians and LE 715 for foreigners. The next best thing is the Palmera Beach Resort (Tel: +2 (062) 341-0816/24) where Egyptians and foreign residents alike can expect to pay about LE 350 for a double room, including breakfast and dinner.

The new Porto Sokhna Hotel (Tel: +2 (062) 321-0100), where bed and breakfast goes for LE 450 on weekdays and LE 700 on weekends, is one of Ain Sokhna’s most recent additions. Aside from luxury suites, the hotel will eventually offer a golf course, yacht marina, five state-of-the-art spas, restaurants, a cinema and three malls.

Developed by the Sawiris family and their close friends in the mid-1980s, El Gouna (www.elgouna.com) has grown to become an elite, internationally-renowned resort town with a resident population of over 4,000. About 22 kilometers north of Hurghada, El Gouna resort caters to those looking for a little luxury in their vacation, with its three five-star hotels; the Mövenpick, Steigenberger Golf Resort and the Sheraton Miramar.

The area has something for everybody. While golf lovers can enjoy a round at the 18-hole golf course, others can treat themselves to a luxurious massage at one of the many spas. Hotels will also arrange for a wide array of water sports activities such as diving and kite surfing.

El Gouna also boasts the 14,000-square-meter Abu Tig Marina as its epicenter of activity and nightlife. As more restaurants, shops, hotels and world-class yachts come to Abu Tig, so do the crowds. On Friday nights, the marina hosts a street party of eating, drinking and live music. For the children, El Gouna offers a fish pond, horseback riding and go-kart racing.

Eat & Sleep: Three reliable favorites for those who want five-star comfort, sprawling grounds and spacious accommodations are the Mövenpick Resort and Spa (Tel: +2 (065) 354-4501), Steigenberger Golf Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 358-0140) and Sheraton Miramar (Tel: +2 (065) 354-5606). In Abu Tig Marina, there are now several good options including the Ocean View Hotel (Tel: +2 (065) 358-0350). If large rooms and luxury facilities are not a priority, guests can try the 34-room Ali Pasha Hotel (Tel: +2 (065) 358-0088).

The ever-increasing dining options in El Gouna mean that you never have to eat at the same place twice. Although all of the larger hotels offer excellent dining and entertainment facilities, guests are encouraged to venture out and try some of the restaurants in Kafr El Gouna and Abu Tig Marina.

Located in the heart of Abu Tig is the Seventh Star Restaurant and Café, everybody’s favorite meeting point. Seventh Star’s coffees, breads, pastries and sandwiches are world class, and it’s an excellent option for breakfast, lunch or a light dinner. For more structured meals we recommend La Scala and La Deaville. Located on opposite ends of the marina, these two restaurants serve exquisite Italian and French cuisine in a relaxed environment.

To try out El Gouna’s nightlife, swing by The Kafr, Le Tabasco or The Clubhouse. During most holidays, the Clubhouse hosts the wildest parties in El Gouna with occasional appearances by international DJs. Le Tabasco, on the other hand, is more laid back.

Another Red Sea spot famed for its diving, Hurghada boasts some of Egypt’s best coral reefs with its warm waters and species of rare fish. During the day, visitors in Hurghada can keep busy with the various water sports and activities offered by the resorts. Snorkeling, water skiing and even fishing are popular activities in Hurghada. Tourists can also check out the Museum of Marine Biology (Tel: +2 (065) 350-0032), which has a great collection of Red Sea flora and fauna. At night, there are literally hundreds of dining and clubbing options, one of the more popular being Ministry of Sound.

Eat & Sleep: Hurghada has no shortage of resorts. Favorite five-star options include the InterContinental Resort and Casino (Tel: +2 (065) 326-0700), Sofitel Hurghada Red Sea (Tel: +2 (065) 346-4646), as well as the three Hilton locations: the Hurghada Long Beach Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 346-1501), Hurghada Plaza (Tel: +2 (065) 354-9745) and Hurghada Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 346-5036). Another great alternative is the Hurghada Marriott Beach resort on Corniche Road (Tel: +2 (065) 344-6950).

Newer than El Gouna, but just as carefully planned, Makadi Bay is the creation of the Ministry of Tourism. Beach bums looking for a perfect sun and sea holiday will find Makadi Bay an ideal destination. It is also perfect for diving enthusiasts; gorgeous coral reefs are everywhere just waiting to be explored, replete with an exciting world of marine life. Hotels here also offer day or overnight trips to Luxor, though the four-hour drive is a bit taxing. When you feel up to venturing off hotel grounds, be sure to check out Souq Makadi, which has a variety of shops selling everything from jewelry to pure perfume oils and high-quality cotton clothing.

How to get there: Fly to Hurghada International Airport on EgyptAir, and take a taxi to Makadi Bay. Or, take one of the buses that leaves Cairo seven times daily.

Eat & Sleep: The Iberotel hotel chain has something of a monopoly on Makadi Bay, with the Makadi Beach Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 359-0000), Makadi Oasis & Family Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 359-0050) and Makadi Saraya Resort (Tel: +2 (065) 359-0120). Visitors can also opt for Le Meridien Makadi Bay (Tel: +2 (065) 359-0590).

If bustling nightlife isn’t your thing, head to Soma Bay for a bit of relaxation on some of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Red Sea. Forty-five kilometers south of Hurghada, Soma Bay has excellent diving spots and superb conditions for both windsurfing and sailing. Most hotels in Soma Bay either have their own diving facilities or cooperate with local certified diving centers.

Soma Bay is also a golfer’s haven, with its 18-hole golf course — the Cascades — designed by world-renowned golf course architect Gary Player. Adventurous souls can also sign up for excursions outside Soma Bay, including a visit to the monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony nestled deep in the mountains.

How to get there: the easiest way to get to Soma Bay is to fly to Hurghada Airport on EgyptAir. All five-star resorts provide free transportation to and from the hotel, but you can always grab a local taxi. Catching the SuperJet or Upper Egypt buses (approximately LE 45), which leave Cairo multiple times during the day, is also an option.

Eat & Sleep: At the Sheraton Soma Bay (Tel: +2 (065) 354-5915), a double room with half-board is LE 1100 for Egyptians and LE 1,400 for foreigners. La Residence des Cascades (Tel: +2 (065) 354-2333) – home to the 18-hole golf course – offers a double room with half-board to Egyptians for LE 1000, and to foreigners for LE 1,600. The InterContinental Abu Soma (Tel: +2 (065) 326-0700) maintains stables with Arabian horses as part of its five-star activity offering. A double room with breakfast starts at LE 1,100 for Egyptians and LE 1,300 for foreigners.

Also bursting onto the scene as a burgeoning scuba diving site — with a reputation of unpolluted, pristine waters — is Safaga. Some 53 kilometers south of Hurghada and 220 kilometers from Luxor, Safaga is attracting more and more tourists, becoming one of the most popular resort towns on the Red Sea. And with its mineral springs and saline-rich coastal waters, the area has also become one of the most prominent curative therapy destinations. Safaga’s swift breeze makes it an ideal spot for water sports.

Its unique black sand dunes are a trendy spot for sunbathers, while the nearby granite quarry, Mons Claudianus, built by the Romans, can be seen on a day trip organized by any of the major hotels.

How to get there: You can fly from Cairo to Hurghada on EgyptAir, then catch a mini-bus or a taxi from the airport for the 40-minute drive into Safaga. You can also take the SuperJet bus to Safaga from Cairo’s Almaza, Torgoman or Tahrir Square terminals. Buses leave at 7:30 am and costs LE 60.

Eat & Sleep: The Holiday Inn Resort Safaga Palace (Tel: +2 (065) 326-0100) offers half-board single rooms at LE 350 for Egyptians and at around LE 580 for foreigners. Be sure to stop by the Positano at the Lotus Bay Beach Resort (Cairo office tel: +2 (02) 3748-2639) for fresh seafood and an excellent ocean view.

Now lauded as a first-rate diving destination, Quseir has taken quite a turn from its role as a bustling trade port for the last 5,000 years. Perched on the Red Sea 140 kilometers south of Hurghada, Quseir is fighting to maintain its cultural heritage while still bringing in tourists. Popular diving centers have sprung up at resorts around the city, amid centuries old fortresses, ruins and ancient port structures.

If you want to take a break from exploring Quseir’s attractive coral reefs, the most important historical site in Quseir is the Citadel, or Fortress of Quseir, built at the end of the sixteenth century by the Ottoman Sultan Selim. Entrance fee is LE 2 for Egyptians and LE 10 for foreigners.

How to get there: If you have time, you can take the seven-hour bus from Cairo’s Almaza Terminal for LE 60. Another option is to fly to Hurghada and take a bus to Quseir. EgyptAir flies three times a day from Cairo to Hurghada (LE 480 - 660 for residents and LE 900-1,020 for non-residents).

Eat & Sleep: The five-star Mövenpick Sirena Beach Resort hosts seven restaurants and bars, including Orangerie with its international cuisine. The Mövenpick also organizes customized safaris and snorkeling trips upon request. Egyptian resident rates are LE 300 for a double room with breakfast, while non-resident rates range from LE 875–LE 1,100 (Tel: +2 (065) 333-2100/21). All rooms at the Radisson SAS resort (Tel: +2 (065) 335-0260) have a private balcony overlooking the beach. The Radisson is known for its Ayurvedic Spa, which offers a variety of relaxing massages. Resident rates are LE 500 for a double room with breakfast, and foreigners are charged around LE 700.

Marsa Alam is the perfect place to mix both beachside fun and summer sightseeing. Located 790 kilometers south of Cairo and 300 kilometers south of Hurghada, the town is surrounded by what was once a remote fishing village. Along the Marsa Alam-Edfu road are prehistoric rock inscriptions, depicting hunting scenes and trade expeditions. Also be sure to check out the ancient gold and emerald mines in the mountains south of town, as well as the tomb of the thirteenth-century Sufi Sheikh, Sayyed El Shazli. Booking an overnight boat trip to Elphinstone Reef or Zabargad — a lagoon-encircled mountain containing the wreckage of a number of ships — is also a great option.

There are a wide range of accommodation options, including everything from posh resorts to eco-friendly tents, huts and stone chalets. The up-and-coming destination is Port Ghalib (www.discoverportghalib.com), a resort community a la El Gouna that once complete will include five hotels, luxury residences, a convention center, swimming lagoon and copious land and water sports options. The international marina is already operational.

How to get there: Marsa Alam’s International Airport serves daily charter flights from Europe, as well as flights every Monday and Thursday from Cairo (LE 500 one-way for both Egyptians and resident expats). Upper Egypt Travel (Tel: +2 (02) 2576-0261) runs buses from the Cairo Gateway, formerly Turgoman Station, three times a day. The journey to Marsa Alam is at least 10 hours.

Eat & Sleep: Marsa Alam has two five-star Iberotels – the older, Moroccan-style Coraya Iberotel (Tel: +2 (065) 375-000), and the more family-oriented Lamaya Iberotel (Tel: +2 (065) 375-0030). For more rustic alternatives, Marsa Alam has several camps. Ecolodge runs two locations — Shagra (Tel: +2 (012) 398-9682) and Nakari Village (Tel: +2 (012) 391-3793) — in areas that are good for beginning divers, as well as for snorkeling and swimming with dolphins. Prices range from LE 30-40 per night for a tent to LE 55 for a chalet.  et