Marsa Mubarak
Marsa Alam, Egypt
With its pale sands and translucent waters, Marsa Mubarak is an idyllic bay on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast. Set within the protected Wadi El Gemal National Park and nicknamed “Turtle Bay,” its biggest draw is rich undersea life: its sheltered waters reveal bright corals and seagrass fields populated by exotic fish, green sea turtles, and even dugongs.
The basics
Aside from two private hotel zones, Marsa Mubarak is largely undeveloped. Most visitors come purely to experience its marine world, visiting on snorkel and scuba boats to observe colorful fish and perhaps spot sea turtles and dugongs.
While you can snorkel independently from the private hotel beaches, the easiest way to experience Marsa Mubarak when staying elsewhere is to join full-day snorkel excursions from the nearby resorts of Port Ghalib and Marsa Alam. Most include lunch, use of snorkel equipment, and hassle-free hotel transfers. Some also offer introductory scuba sessions for beginners. Qualified divers, meanwhile, can join scuba excursions that visit the bay alongside other dive sites in a day.
Things to know before you go
Marsa Mubarak is ideal for snorkelers and scuba divers of any level of experience.
Visitors are required not to touch and keep their distance from all marine life here. Snorkelers are required to wear flotation vests.
Facilities are limited to the private hotel beaches. There are no shops, restaurants, or restrooms outside these areas.
The Wadi El Gemal National Park charges an entry fee, typically not included in tour prices.
How to get there
Marsa Mubarak lies about 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of Port Ghalib and 36.3 miles (58.5 kilometers) north of Marsa Alam. Entering the waters from the beach outside the hotel zones isn’t recommended, so consider staying at the hotels for direct access. Alternatively, book a snorkel or scuba excursion: many include return transfers from Marsa Alam or Port Ghalib hotels, plus Port Ghalib marina pickup and drop-off.
When to get there
While Marsa Mubarak is suitable for snorkeling and diving year-round, its seas are the calmest and warmest between June and October. The best chance of spotting sea turtles and dugongs is early morning or late afternoon, when they feed on the seagrass and the tourist boats visiting in the middle of the day haven’t arrived or have gone.
Marine life at Marsa Mubarak
Marsa Mubarak boasts diverse marine environments, including corals and drop-offs teeming with butterflyfish, parrotfish, wrasse, and other fish. However, the bay’s seagrass meadows to the south of the corals offer the most memorable sights, from sea turtles—many with ‘sharksucker’ fish attached to their shells—to elusive dugongs.
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