Dahab is one of our favourite destinations in Egypt. When you think of the Red Sea, you probably think of incredible diving and snorkelling 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.
With ancient rock art sites, world-class slot canyons, Moses Mountain, and even a lake you can float in just like the Dead Sea, Dahab is probably one of the most underrated travel destinations in Egypt.
We initially booked four nights, quickly extended to eight, and already dream about returning.
If you’re looking for the perfect mix of exciting and relaxing things to do, then Dahab definitely needs a spot on your Egypt itinerary.
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1. Dive at one of the best dive sites in the world
2. Enter the otherworldly Coloured Canyon
3. Visit the spectacular St Catherine’s Monastery
4. Adventure through the incredible Arada Canyon
5. Marvel at 2,000 year old rock art
6. Take a dip in the beautiful Blue Lagoon
7. Admire the views from Makhroum Cave
8. Float Dead Sea style at Magic Lake
9. Climb the magical Moses Mountain
10. Catch a sunset at Laguna Beach
11. Stroll through the ethereal White Canyon
12. Indulge in coffee with a view
13. Traverse the remote beaches on the Ras Abu Galum Coastal Walk
14. Delight in incredible night skies
A note on things to do in Dahab
It’s worth noting that many of the things to do in Dahab (and the Red Sea in general) do require a guide and permits (which your guide will organise). You don’t need to do group tours though, each tour we did was private and paid for by us, so you can be sure there is no bias in this guide. Anytime an activity could be done without a tour we took this option, so you’ll find out exactly how to do the same in the linked articles.
If you organise a private guide, then you can usually tailor make a day trip that includes 3-4 stops. Many things you see in this article were done on the same day, which helped keep the costs down a little - we’ll note where this is the case so you get an idea of what’s possible on a day trip.
14 Amazing things to do in Dahab
1. Snorkel or dive at one of the world’s top snorkel sites
I knew the Blue Hole was famous and assumed it would be pretty good, but I was blown away by just how good it really was. Not only in terms of the quality of snorkelling, but also the fact you can go independently.
More often that not, we’re used to having to take a boat trip out to the best snorkel spots. Offshore snorkelling tends to be less impressive and also a bit of a pain, as you try not to step on coral while making your way out to the deeper water.
It was the exact opposite at the Blue Hole. The snorkelling is incredible and you can walk from the shore and into deep water within less than a minute.
And from there It’s like you’ve entered a whole new world. The deep blue water and colourful fish, as well as steep coral shelves, were utterly spectacular and it shot into our top three snorkel experiences of all time.
If you want to visit without a tour, there are a few things you need to know in advance, all of which can be found in our detailed guide.
2. Enter the otherworldly 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.
We were the only people (along with our guides) in the entire canyon, and the silence was absolute. A truly magical experience, and a highlight of our month in Egypt.
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. And on that note, unfortunately you can’t do any of the canyons in the region without a guide.
Although we always prefer to do things alone, we did have a brilliant time with our guides and would highly recommend them.
You can read more details in our Coloured Canyon article, which we highly recommend checking out to make sure you don’t fall for the local scam (where you’ll be taken to a tiny canyon instead of the real Coloured Canyon).
3. Visit the spectacular Saint 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. The highlight is the basilica with it’s collection of ornate lanterns. You can’t take pictures inside this room, but it will likely remain forever etched in your mind.
You can also visit the burning bush, where God spoke directly to Moses.
We’d recommend paying the nominal extra fee (50 EGP) to enter the small museum, which has some of the oldest books in the world. It was absolutely fascinating to see these beautiful old tomes, some of which dated back many thousands of years.
The monastery’s opening times do vary, so please check before visiting, but at time of writing it’s open Monday - Thursday and Saturday from 8.45am until 11.30am. On Fridays it is only open from 10.45-11.30am and it’s closed every Sunday. It is also closed on certain holidays, including Easter.
It can get busy with tour groups, but we found the final hour was generally very quiet.
4. Adventure through the incredible Arada Canyon
If you’re ready for a real desert adventure, then it’s time to head to the breathtaking Arada Canyon. I feel like anywhere but Egypt, it would be a star attraction, yet here we were, just us and our fab guide Joe, getting to experience this magnificent canyon alone.
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.
The walk is a 1.5km circuit and as with Coloured Canyon, must be done with a guide. There are no public tours here, so it will be a private tour and you can add on a number of other stops to create a full day’s desert adventure.
We have detailed the route in full, plus all the information you need to plan your own trip in this guide.
5. Marvel at 2000 year old rock art
We got really into ancient rock art living in Australia, and couldn’t miss the opportunity to see some rock art Egypt style. There are a vast number of sites spread across the desert, so there’s endless possibilities depending on your interests and how far you want to travel.
We visited numerous sites and conveniently, several were on route to, or beside, our favourite desert attractions (Arada Canyon and Makhroum Cave).
You’ll see everything from animals such as camels and ibex, to hunting scenes, and even ancient Nabatean script (the same people that built Petra).
The artwork is remarkably well preserved and gives you a wonderful insight into the past - we even saw images of ostriches, which I didn’t know had ever existed in Egypt!
Besides the rock art sites, there are also hills containing many fossils from back when the area was under water, millions of years ago. You can also see the nearby Nawamis - pre-historic tombs that were built over 6,000 years ago.
As all these sites are located in the desert, you’ll want to pair them up with other activities. You can see the day we put together here, but there are plenty of alternative options in this article, which would also match up with the rock art sites.
6. Take a dip in the beautiful Blue Lagoon
With crystal clear water, sheltered from the waves, Dahab’s Blue Lagoon is the perfect place to go for a dip.
It’s often referred to as the Maldives of Egypt, which we personally think is pushing it a bit, but it is a lovely spot.
It’s located in the Ras Abu Galum Reserve, with beautiful views out to the surrounding mountains. It’s best combined with some snorkelling at both the reserve, and the Blue Hole, which is one of Egypt’s most spectacular snorkel spots.
It’s easy to organise a trip independently as long as you know what you need to do in advance, and we have you covered on all of that in our detailed guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon without a tour.
7. Admire the views from Makhroum Cave
Makhroum Cave is located in a gorgeous stretch of desert, with amazing Lawrence of Arabia style views. There’s nothing to do here as such, but it’s a great place to come if you want to sit and relax whilst taking in the stunning scenery.
It’s also a fab photography spot.
Climbing into the cave involves walking up a very small sand dune, and then there are footholds cut into the rock to get into the cave. It’s quite easy on the way up, but a touch slippery on the way down (but only for a few steps), you could just go down on your bum though, which was my preferred exit method.
The cave is located opposite our favourite rock art site, where there was a unique painting of an ibex feeding her baby.
We visited the cave alongside the rock art sites and two canyons (including Arada).
8. Float Dead Sea style at Magic Lake
Egypt has its very own Dead Sea, who knew?! I was sceptical until I got in, and low and behold it felt exactly like floating in the Dead Sea!
The lake is actually a gorgeous turquoise colour, but we visited a little too close to sunset to see the water at its bluest.
You can visit the lake independently and it’s right beside the road, so there’s no walking involved. The bottom of the lake feels clay like, which is a bit squishy, but it does make getting in and out of the water very easy.
The area gets quite a bit of wind, so if you see all the kite surfers out, you might want to pick another day as the water gets ripply - as you can see in our photos!
9. Climb the magical Moses Mountain
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.
If you happen to be at the top with the soft light of sunrise or sunset, then it becomes even more magical.
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. Preferring solitude and sleep, we opted for sunset which was breathtaking - and there were just a handful of other people at the top.
The 12km return walk is steep in places, but the trail is in excellent condition and there are drink stops galore. You can read how to organise your trip and all our other tips for climbing Mount Sinai here.
10. Catch a sunset at Laguna Beach
If you fancy an easier sunset spot, that doesn’t require any exertion whatsoever, then head for Dahab’s Laguna Beach. It’s a great spot to sit and watch the sun slowly sink behind the spectacular Sinai mountains.
If it’s a windy day you’ll also get a good display from all the kite surfing enthusiasts, some of whom put on a really impressive show.
The only downside to this spot is that you won’t be alone. It’s incredibly busy with everyone from those enjoying the view, to people trying to tempt you into a horse ride or new scarf purchase - although if you’ve come from Giza or Luxor, they are nothing like the sellers there.
A polite no here always sufficed, and many people didn’t bother us at all.
11. Stroll through the ethereal White Canyon
I know, it’s a third canyon, but what can I say? The Sinai canyons are some of the most underrated treasures in the whole of Egypt in my opinion. Once you’ve done one, you’ll probably be hooked.
Anyway, back to the White Canyon.
The scenery here is just stunning. The white sand and huge canyon walls are incredibly striking, and even though we visited nine hours into our day trip, I immediately felt the tiredness ebb away. Though there are only a few sections which are narrow slots, the whole 2.7km walk is just beautiful.
The climb out at the end was unexpected after an easy walk through - expect a ladder and a couple of ropes, in what was the most memorable exit of any of the five canyons we visited in the area.
We combined our trip to White Canyon with Salama Canyon, Coloured Canyon, Mushroom Rock and a desert oasis. You can read all the details on the trip and our guide here.
12. Indulge in coffee with a view
We tried a few different coffee shops in Dahab before finally finding our favourite, Flat White, on the pedestrianised area by the wooden bridge.
Not only do they have a fabulous sea view, the coffee is by far the best in the Red Sea and only rivalled by one other cafe (in Cairo) we tried during our month in Egypt.
Whilst the flat white didn’t taste like a flat white if you’re coming from Australia or New Zealand - it was more like a European cafe creme - but a very good one! As soon as we found Flat White, we didn’t go anywhere else, and we missed it after we left.
The food was also lovely and the staff so friendly. They treat you like friends and we couldn’t recommend the place more highly.
13. Traverse remote beaches on the Ras Abu Galum Coastal Walk
This 5.1km easy coastal walk takes you between the famed Blue Hole and the Ras Abu Galum Reserve. The reserve is nice enough, with some good snorkelling and access to the Blue Lagoon, but actually it was the walk itself we enjoyed the most.
The path is easy to follow and almost entirely flat, so it’s very leisurely. You’ll have glorious sea views almost every step of the way, as you traverse secluded beach after secluded beach.
Granted, they aren’t the picture perfect beaches you’d want to spend the day on, but they’re very pretty and the setting, nestled beneath the mountains, is glorious.
We even got closer to an osprey than we ever have before.
Added to all that, the walk is really quiet, so you’ll likely experience all of this in complete solitude. Unless you’re really keen, we’d recommend getting the boat back (a 10-15 minute ride) otherwise you’ll just be retracing your steps.
If you’re visiting in the cooler months you can hike anytime, but in the hotter times you’d want to start early as there isn’t any shade until you reach the reserve.
14. Delight in incredible night skies
We did some wonderful star gazing on the way down from Mount Sinai, but if we’d had more time we would have loved to have gone out into the desert.
All tour companies in Dahab offer this as an option and it sounded amazing. You could also use any of the guides we’ve mentioned in our articles (who took us on the canyon trips) to take you out there.
There’s nothing like a desert night sky and on clear nights (which is most in Dahab) you’ll be able to see the full Milky Way.
If we’re lucky enough to return to Dahab, and we hope that we are, a night time desert trip is the next one we’d be looking at taking.
Where to stay in Dahab
Le Meridien
Le Meridien is an oasis of tranquility in Dahab, it was perfectly quiet - which is incredibly rare in Egypt. As it’s set a little way out of town, it means you’re away from the hustle and bustle, but the drive in only takes 10 minutes and costs about 50 EGP ($2 USD) one way - do not use the hotel’s taxi service though which is very over priced. You’ll want to grab the number of a driver from town and then call or Whatsapp them for lifts.
The deluxe rooms are comfy, quiet, spacious and some come with an outdoor shower, which was my absolute favourite way to end the day. The resort also has 3 pools (2 saltwater, 1 fresh), its own beach and pretty grounds. It’s one of the best hotels we stayed in in Egypt and if you visit out of peak season, you can snag a great deal.
Check reviews & the latest prices on:
Picking your tour operator
It’s worth doing a bit of research before talking to any tour operator, and we recommend asking questions and striking up a conversation before you book a tour in Dahab.
Whilst all of our tours were exactly what we hoped for, this was primarily because we discussed our expectations first and then chose trips based on how much we trusted the person selling them. It’s well worth digging into how long you spend at each site, what is and isn’t included in the tour (meals, entry permits etc), and whether your guides speak English.
Finally, be wary of the photos tour sellers will show you. We saw companies showing photos labelled as “Coloured Canyon” which were in fact Antelope Canyon in the USA.
There are a number of companies selling tours around the coastal promenade in Dahab. We used two tour guides who we highly recommend. They aren’t the cheapest in Dahab, but they charged a fair price for the quality of tour they delivered. Feel free to send them a Whatsapp message on the numbers below:
- Tarek from Planet Divers Safari: Whatsapp +20 127 301 2274
- Joe: Whatsapp +20 106 020 0950
We paid full price for our tours, so you can rest assured these are unbiased recommendations.
Getting to Dahab
The easiest way to get to Dahab is to fly to Sharm El Sheikh and then take a bus or taxi. If your flight lands in the evening, then your only option will be a taxi or hotel transfer.
The distance is about 90km and it will take between 1-1.5 hours. The road is in great condition, but a bit windy at times. The scenery is gorgeous, with steep mountains lining much of the route.
Unfortunately airport taxis will try and extort you for as much money as they possibly can, and you’re a bit of a sitting duck if your flight comes in late. In the end we shared with another traveller and had to pay USD $60 between us. In contrast, when returning to the airport at the end of our trip, we paid less than half that and it included three stops during the day to do various activities, including the Blue Hole.
If you arrive by day you should have better negotiating power, but you’re still unlikely to get a great price.
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