EG
Dahab
A laid-back Red Sea town of seafront cafés, shore diving and windsurfing, beneath the Sinai mountains
A laid-back Red Sea town of seafront cafés, shore diving and windsurfing, beneath the Sinai mountains
A deep sinkhole in the reef north of town, spectacular for snorkelling around its rim. It is notorious among divers: its depths have claimed many lives, so stay within your training limits.
Snorkellers can enjoy the reef rim safely; only experienced divers should go deep.
Photo: Mohamed kamal 1984, CC BY-SA 4.0
The seafront promenade through Masbat and Mashraba is lined with cafés and dive centres, with shore reefs such as the Lighthouse and Eel Garden steps away.
Photo: Grand Parc – Bordeaux, CC BY-SA 2.0
A sandy, shallow lagoon south of the centre with steady winds, ideal for learning to windsurf or kitesurf.
Photo: Mc Paskal, CC0
Night trips leave Dahab to climb Mount Sinai (about 2,285m) for sunrise, followed by a visit to St Catherine’s Monastery, about two hours’ drive away.
Bring warm layers; it is cold on the summit before dawn.
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Seafront restaurants serve fresh fish, Egyptian dishes and international food; choose your fish and have it grilled.
Try Bedouin tea with herbs, and feteer pastries.
The nearest airport is Sharm el-Sheikh, about 90km (around an hour) away by taxi or transfer. Buses link Dahab with Sharm and Cairo.
Visitors flying into Sharm el-Sheikh who stay only in the South Sinai resorts (from Sharm to Taba, including Dahab) can usually get a free Sinai-only entry stamp valid for up to 15 days instead of a full visa; you need a full visa to travel elsewhere in Egypt. The US State Department advises caution in southern Sinai and does not include it in its “do not travel” zone. Check current rules before you travel.
Dahab is one of the cheapest places on the Red Sea; diving is good value.
Reefs, wind and mountains.
Snorkel or dive at the Lighthouse and Eel Garden, then relax in a seafront café.
Snorkel at the Blue Hole, then hike or take a camel trip into the Ras Abu Galum protected area.
Take a night trip to climb Mount Sinai for sunrise and visit St Catherine’s Monastery.
Tipping is expected for many small services; carry small notes in Egyptian pounds.
Choose a reputable dive centre and respect depth limits, especially at the Blue Hole.
Dahab is often windy, great for windsurfers but choppy for snorkellers in the afternoon.
The free Sinai-only stamp does not cover travel to Cairo or the Nile valley.
Quick answers for planning time in Dahab.
If you fly into Sharm el-Sheikh and stay in South Sinai, you can usually get a free Sinai-only stamp for up to 15 days.
For snorkellers on the rim it is safe; deep diving there has caused many deaths and is only for highly trained divers.
Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh and take a taxi or transfer, about an hour; buses also run from Cairo.
The US advises caution in southern Sinai, including Dahab, but it is not in the “do not travel” zone.
Yes, night tours leave Dahab for a sunrise climb, about two hours’ drive each way.
Google Maps works well in cities; download offline maps for desert areas.
Free
Arabic is the language; English is common in tourist businesses.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Egypt travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.