Contrary to popular belief, Egypt is a safe country, and Dahab is one of the friendliest and most welcoming places on earth. It is so diverse, there is no way you will ever feel bored. If you don’t fall in love with the sea, you will fall in love with the desert, the people, or the animals.
Getting to Dahab
Getting to Dahab is reasonably easy. Since the Egyptian Red Sea is a popular dive mecca, you can fly directly into the coast from Europe and other places. The airport you will land at is Sharm El Sheikh. If you’re coming from within Egypt, most likely Cairo or Alexandria, you can fly domestically into Sharm El Sheikh. From there, you book a taxi to wherever you need to go along the coast. I arranged my taxi through my accommodation, which came to a total of $40. From there - everything is easy! The road is great and you’ll be in Dahab in an hour or so.
Where to Stay in Dahab
Most people stay on the main boulevard, which is exactly what the name implies. There’s a long wooden boulevard filled with restaurants and bars and shops and it stretches for a good twenty or thirty minutes walking. You’ll find many affordable accommodations around here, and this is where most people stay. I stayed a bit further away (about 15 minutes walk) which I think was a good choice. You have a part of the ocean to yourself, things are not so busy or noisy, but everything is close. Personally I think this is the best place to stay in Dahab, but be mindful that you’ll need to do a bit of walking to get your groceries and food etc. I stayed at the Skyrock Garden which was perfect! There are a lot of great places to stay along that stretch of beach, great deals can be found here.
Things to Do in Dahab
Dahab is a sleepy place, ideal for relaxing near the water, eating some good food, and doing a bit of sightseeing. It's not the type of place where you come to party until sunrise (although that's around, if you want it), but a way to detach from the chaos of places like Cairo or Alexandria and enjoy no traffic, bicycles, fresh pomegranate juices, laid-back people and lots of sun! Dahab is one of our favourite destinations in Egypt.
Snorkeling and Diving
When you think of the Red Sea, you probably think of incredible diving and snorkeling and maybe a bit of beach relaxation time too. And whilst that is definitely on offer here - in fact, Dahab has one of our all time favourite snorkel spots - there’s so much more to it than that.
Read also: Learn to Freedive in Dahab
- Snorkel or dive at the Blue Hole: Put on a snorkeling mask and jump in the water at Lighthouse or Eel Garden - the reefs are amazing! The snorkeling is incredible and you can walk from the shore and into deep water within less than a minute. The deep blue water and colorful fish, as well as steep coral shelves, were utterly spectacular and it shot into our top three snorkel experiences of all time.
- Experienced diver? Go on a Night Dive with and explore the fluorescent nightlife underwater.
- Dive the mysterious Caves south of Dahab and relax at the camp “The Caves” after.
- Dive the Underwater Museum at the Lighthouse in Dahab. The i-Dive Tribe built a museum underwater, consisting of several artworks statues (including a huge elephant) made by Egyptian hands and representing the culture.
- The national park of Ras Mohammed close to Sharm El-Sheikh is one of the most beautiful diving and snorkeling spots in the world with more than 1,000 different species of fish.
The Blue Hole is a popular dive spot which is very deep and the water is very blue. It’s only a 15 minute drive from Dahab so very easy and you’ll only pay around $20 or $30 or so for a guide to take you there and bring you back, with a lunch included.
Desert Adventures
If you don’t fall in love with the sea, you will fall in love with the desert.
- Hike the Coloured Canyon: Strolling beneath the towering walls of Coloured Canyon is guaranteed to be one of your most memorable experiences in Dahab. In parts, it reminded us of America’s spectacular Antelope Canyon, but without the crowds. The walk is a 2.8km circuit, and easy for the most part. There are a couple of points where you have to think about footing, but your guide will always be on hand to help if needed.
- Adventure through the Arada Canyon: The canyon is gorgeous, but it’s also a bit challenging at points, which makes it both fun and rewarding. You’ll start by climbing up through Double Canyon, before making your way down the narrow slots and cracks of Arada Canyon. There are even a couple of slides, which definitely feels like you’re doing a bit of proper canyoning.
- Go horseback riding into the desert or on the beach! You can even go into the water with some horses.
- Ride a camel. You can’t leave Egypt before you’ve done that. It’s not exactly comfortable, but fun!
- Go rock climbing in the nearby mountains of Dahab.
- I bet you haven’t tried sandboarding yet. Now’s your chance!
- Go on a tour to Serabit El-Khadem in the south-west of Sinai. You can visit the Hasthor Temple and Gebl el Fuga, the forest of pillars.
- Go on a mountainbike adventure to Abu Galum or Nabq. If you’re up for a challenge, you can even go to St. Catherine. You can rent bikes from Dahab Cycling Club.
- Go on a 4×4 jeep excursion to see the “Eye of the desert” and the big sand dunes on the way to St. Catherine.
Cultural and Spiritual Experiences
Dahab offers a unique blend of cultural and spiritual experiences that are sure to enrich your visit.
- Visit St. Catherine’s monastery: It’s hard to imagine a monastery in a more spectacular location than Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Backed by the jagged peaks of the Sinai Mountains, the setting is out of this world. The monastery itself is also incredibly picturesque and dates all the way back to 330 AD.
- Climb Mount Sinai: If you’re up for a great hike, climb Mount Sinai. The view from the top of Mount Sinai (aka Moses Mountain) is jaw-dropping. Endless jagged mountains and vast desert as far as the eye can see. Most people visit for sunrise, however it requires a midnight pick up and means you’re almost guaranteed to be up there with lots of other people.
- Interested in alternative healing methods/energy healing? Paola offers all sorts of sessions, from Reiki to Pranic Healing to Morphological Massage.
- Buy traditional herbs as medicine/tea for whatever health issue you have - Just ask a local Bedouin and they surely know what herb works best for your specific problem.
Relaxation and Leisure
For those seeking relaxation and leisure, Dahab has plenty to offer.
- Watch the sunset at the Laguna.
- Go paddle boarding on a day with little wind. Enjoy the view on Dahab from above. If you’re lucky, you get to watch dolphins! They’re not always seen around Dahab, though.
- Give your body a rest from all the sporty activities and enjoy a wellness day at one of the high-class spas at the Laguna (Meridien Hotel (now Retac Qunai) and Ecotel are amazing). While overlooking the sea, sweat out some of those toxins, get a body scrub and a relaxing massage.
- Visit the Art Exhibition at the Meridian Hotel that is held every three months.
- Nothing! Yes, that’s right! One of the best things you can do in Dahab is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
- Have Bedouin Tea every day and with everyone.
Local Culture and Entertainment
Immerse yourself in the local culture and entertainment scene in Dahab.
Read also: Best Dahab Dive Sites
- Go to the Friday Market to enjoy some homemade international food cooked by locals and buy handcrafted jewelry, pottery, etc.
- Talk to the locals. Everyone in Dahab is incredibly welcoming and nice. It’s worth getting to know them and their stories.
- Ever wanted to see a traditional Bellydancing show? In that same wadi (toalat), there’s an event every night. It's super interesting for foreigners as it’s really Egyptian and in Arabic only. Not an issue since it’s mostly a show and not much talking is involved (2 bellydancers, 1 sufi dancer). Costs 200le (as of August 2024).
- Test your performing skills - go to CarmInn for a fun karaoke night.
- Let someone paint a henna tattoo on your body to get the holiday vibe going. Don’t worry, it will disappear after 1-3 weeks.
- Get some tailor-made clothes from Nadr, a super-talented tailor.
Food and Drink
Dahab has a thriving food scene and you definitely will not go hungry here!
- Finally, there’s a traditional Bedouin food restaurant (HKAYT) in Dahab and it’s in a beautiful setting in the mountains.
- Hungover and in need of a proper breakfast? Ralph’s German Bakery has better bread rolls than my bakery at home in Germany.
- Try some Mexican burritos at Jackie’s.
- Get a falafel sandwich at Yum Yum Falafel in Mashraba or even better: a big Egyptian breakfast. Egyptian Falafels are the best in the world, and they are not made from chickpeas!
- Try the taste of Molokhia, a traditional Egyptian stew or soup made from leaves of Nalta jute.
- Missing some Italian flavor? Dai Pescatori’s got you covered!
- You need to try Om Ali - a traditional Egyptian desert equivalent to North America’s bread pudding. You can serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Or two.
Day Trips from Dahab
- Spend a night in Ras Abu Galum, a protected natural area and Bedouin village. The local families will take care of you and serve fresh fish (or veggies) for dinner after spending the day snorkeling.
- Spoil yourself at Castle Zaman in Nuweiba. This place is more expensive than all other places in Sinai, but well worth the money.
- Can’t get enough of the incredible rock formations? You’re in for a treat! Another magical place for nature lovers is Rainbow Canyon.
| Activity | Description | Cost (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Diving in the Blue Hole | Explore one of the world's most famous dive sites. | $30 - $50 |
| Desert Safari | Experience the beauty of the Sinai desert. | $40 - $60 |
| Visit St. Catherine's Monastery | Explore the historic monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. | $20 - $40 |
| Snorkeling in Ras Mohammed National Park | Discover diverse marine life in crystal-clear waters. | $25 - $45 |
Dahab is a special place, and a destination I’d recommend for any traveler, from budget backpacker to digital nomad. The people of this small beach town really made my time there memorable. While it may be difficult to recreate the perfect experience I had there, everyone falls in love with Dahab in their own way. Few places have captured my heart like Dahab have.
72 Hours in Dahab Egypt | Blue Hole Dive & Best Food
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