Dahab Attractions and Dahab Travel Guide

Today I'm going to talk about the bohemian town of Dahab, known as Egypt's hippie city, which has not been very popular yet and is frequented by those interested in diving, especially freediving. Things to do in Dahab, what to eat in Dahab, where to eat, accommodation in Dahab, where is Dahab and how to get there and answers to more Dahab related questions Dahab travel guide Awaiting you in this article of the nature, pleasant reading.

About Dahab

Dahab is a small fishing village located on the side of the Sinai Peninsula overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba, 85 km from Sharm El Sheikh, one of the most important sea and diving tourism destinations in Egypt and the Red Sea. Although it has become popular in recent years due to the intense interest of those interested in alternative sports such as diving, yoga, and kite surfing, it still has the feel of a small and bohemian town.

Dahab has a very long coastline starting from the Lagoon in the south to Dahab Bay in the north. All of them have been arranged as a walking path, and the road passing between the hotels and the sea allows people to both take a walk and reach the sea easily.

There are five neighborhoods in the center of Dahab.

Masbat: The first is the neighborhood known as El Fener or Light House, which we can call the very center of Dahab. The Light House diving point is also located here. At this point, you can see many divers who have received diving training. Not only the seaside of this region, but also its side streets are very enjoyable with cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops.

mashraba: The second one is Mashraba Neighborhood, which continues south from Masbat by the sea. Along Masbat and Mashabat, you can swim in front of the restaurants and cafes on the seafront, order something to take advantage of the sunbed or table, and the prices are generally reasonable.

Assalah: This is the neighborhood in the north of Masbat with more residential areas in the interior. While looking at the hotel, you can look at the Masbat, Assalah and Mashraba neighborhoods near the sea. There are fish market and fish restaurants close to the fish market in the Assalah area.

Mubarak: The neighborhood away from the sea on the way from Dahab to the Blue Hole direction, you don't need to look here.

Medina: This is the neighborhood south of Dahab where the Dahab Lagoon is located. Kite can be preferred by surfers, but it is quite far from the center.

8 Reasons to Visit Dahab

Whenever I go to a place that people know little about, I am asked why I choose it to travel. Let me list the reasons why I went to Dahab twice in 2019 and 2023;

1. Egypt accepts Turkish Citizens for the Sinai Region with a door visa up to 15 days, so there is no visa problem.
2. You can reach a completely different culture and geography in just 2-2,5 hours from Turkey.
3. If you love the sea and especially underwater, the Red Sea is one of the best places in the world, and the Blue Hole in Dahab is counted among the top 10 diving spots in the world.
4. The food culture is very close to us, the food is affordable and delicious.
5. While the Turkish Lira has lost so much value, Egypt is still a suitable destination for us.
6. There are many activities not only in the sea, but also in desert safaris and mountain walks.
7. The most important reason why I prefer Dahab in Egypt is that tourists are harassed wildly all over Egypt. Dahab is one of the rare places where you won't see this harassment. It's a bohemian town, nobody messes with anybody.
8. Very safe for female travelers, you can see many women traveling alone.

Map & List of Places to Visit in Dahab

All the places you will need for places to visit in Dahab, food and beverage recommendations, accommodation and transportation in this article are marked on the map of places to visit in Dahab below.

Places to Visit in Dahab

I spent 4 days in Dahab, I could have spent another 4 days to the fullest. So Dahab is a city that should definitely be included when planning your trip to Egypt. It feels like a quiet beach town, but there's plenty of activity to do. There are nice and pleasant restaurants as well as places to eat shabby local food. You can surf in the sand, you can also take free diving training. You can spend a day just lying on the beach and watching the sea.

What's on the list of places to visit in Dahab? Is it worth going to Dahab and spending a long time? Should Dahab be added to Egypt itinerary?

I have to warn you about one thing on your way to this area!

Industrial Sickness Yani Sinai Disease There was a disease called Once they come here, they do not want to return, they are constantly prolonging their stay, those who get sick. Although I came back without getting sick, you guys be careful!

Let's see together what are the places to visit in Dahab.

Dhahab Lagoon

You can reach Dahab Lagoon in a 45-minute walk from the center of Dahab. A walking path has been arranged along the coast line. Lagoon is an area especially preferred by kite surfers because it gets a lot of wind due to its open front. If you come across a windless and cloudless day, the sunset is also beautiful from here, unfortunately I could not come across it.

Blue Hole

It wouldn't be a lie if I say Blue Hole is the reason why I add Dahab to my route. Those who have followed me for a long time know that my every journey begins with my obsession. The reason I added Dahab to my Egypt route was because I wanted to see the Blue Hole.

If you say what is the feature of this blue hole, it is estimated that it was formed as a result of a meteor strike. After walking just a few meters from the beach, you fall into a hole 110 meters deep in the sea. The dark navy blue area on the back of my hand in the photo below is where that hole is. As the hole is surrounded by coral reefs, various fish-coloured corals attract people here.

Another feature of this place is that it is highly preferred by free divers. A pit with a depth of 110 meters that you can enter from the shore is perfect for both training and practice.

The caves in the Blue Hole also attracted the attention of divers, but due to the many divers who lost their lives in those caves, the entrance to the caves was prohibited. Blue Hole also has a bad reputation as a diver's graveyard.

If you're snorkeling here, which I did. You enter the water from the closest point of the hole to the shore, draw a wide circle around the hole and exit from the other end, this tour takes about 1 hour. In the photo below you can see where people enter the water.

Some may wonder why I'm wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt in hot weather. That t-shirt is made of a light, non-greasy, UV-protected and easy-drying material preferred by those who are into surfing or diving, and is called a rashguard. It saves me from getting burned when I go to warm seas because I am so white.

You have to be out of the water at the last hour, at the latest 16:00, to enter the water at the Blue Hole at 17:00 in the afternoon. These rules are very carefully observed throughout Egypt. Several people said that such a precaution was taken because dangerous fish approached the shore after dark. If you know any other reason, please write in the comments.

Blue Hole is located only 15 minutes, 10 km from Dahab. There are many alternative ways to come here by taxi, bicycle, ATV or camel. In order to use my time effectively, I took a day tour that includes the Blue Hole, Ras Abu Galum and Blue Lagoon routes. The cost of the tour was 25 Usd. Food, snorkeling, transportation were included in the tour. I bought the tour through King Safari Tour, they have 2 offices in Dahab Light House. They pick you up from your hotel and drop you off. In fact, many tour companies sell the same route, so choose the cheapest one you can bargain with.

Kanyon

The canyon is another diving and snorkeling spot in the national park, only 1 km from the Blue Hole. You can enter here by walking from the shore. When you cross the reefs full of fish and reach the open sea, you descend into a canyon at a depth of 30 meters. A little creepy for me.

Ras Abu Galum

We took boats from Blue Hole and came to Ras Abu Galum, one of the protected areas in the Sinai Peninsula. Just getting on the boat was not enough, we got off the boat and got on the pickup and after another 5 minutes we reached the beach of Bedouin Village.

Ras Abu Galum is a region where the mountains are very close to the shore and the sea is full of coral reefs. It is a very popular spot for snorkelers and divers alike. We left Abu Galum after a 1-hour snorkeling break. There are many thatched places where you can eat and stay.

A general cultural knowledge: Ras is used in a sense like head/nose in Arabic. The names of many dive sites or national parks around here also begin with Ras.

Blue Lagoon

We got on our pickups again from Abu Galum, and this time we came to the Blue Lagoon with a journey that didn't take even 10 minutes. One of the most popular spots in Dahab is the Blue Lagoon.

Although a magnificent sea awaits you here due to the shallow water level in the bay and the light color of the sand, there are no coral reefs or colorful fish. You can calmly swim or sunbathe, sit in the shade on the beach and enjoy the view. We can also call the Blue Lagoon the Maldives of Dahab because of the color of the water…

After three stops, we returned to the Blue Hole area with the pickup and boat duo. Even though it was 17:00 in the afternoon, they deemed it appropriate to have our “lunch” at this hour. Luckily I had snacks in my bag and I didn't go hungry. After we ate our meal of chicken, rice and salad, this time we took the minibus and returned to Dahab.

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery

Another activity that I would definitely recommend you to reserve a day for while you are in Dahab is the sunrise walk on Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai, formerly Mount Moses, Hz. It is a very holy mountain as it is the place where Moses received the 10 commandments. There is a church on the 2285-meter-high summit of Mount Sinai, and a monastery at 1700-meter-high where the hike begins: St. Catherine's Monastery.

They pick you up from Dahab at 10:00 am to watch the sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai. You reach the place where the monastery is at around 12:30 midnight. The walk begins here, in the dark. They give you a local guide at the entrance. According to the speed of the group, you reach the top in 3 hours.

On your return, the monastery is opened to visitors, and after visiting the monastery, you return to Dahab. The vehicle reaches Dahab around 12:00 noon. I took a tour from the same place for this organization. I paid 15 Usd including transportation and entrance fee. It's a good idea to bring food and drink with you.

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery Check out my travel post. You can watch my Mount Sinai video below. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel if you like it!

Canyon Hike

With a 45-55 minute walk from Dahab city center, it is possible to climb the hills behind the city and watch the magnificent view of Dahab from above. Even Saudi Arabia, located on the opposite shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, can be seen from here. There are many walking routes on the Maps.me application, you can also take a walk by choosing one of them.

Other Places to Visit in Dahab

If you have time in Dahab; There are many places to visit around Dahab such as the White Canyon, the Colored Canyon, the Gunai Valley, and Serabit El Kadim. Is it over or not: there are many activities that can be done, such as valley walks, ATV or camel tours, surfing in the dunes, dining in Bedouin villages.

You can find the attractions and prices in the table above as of 2023. If there are any I missed, they are also on this list.

Dahab Travel Guide

If you are researching or already planning to go to Dahab, all the information you need for your Dahab trip is waiting for you in this article's Dahab travel guide. Is visa required to go to Dahab, where is Dahab, how to get to Dahab, what to eat in Dahab, what to buy in Dahab, where to stay in Dahab, best time to go to Dahab and much more in this article.

Is a Visa Required to Travel to Dahab?

As of April 1, 2022; Turkish Citizens do not need to apply for an Egyptian visa to go to Dahab, Turkish Citizens can enter the Sinai Region, which also includes Dahab, for 15 days with a free gate visa..

Filling out the pink-colored forms distributed by the airline company on the plane is enough to enter with a gate visa. In official statements; It is stated that hotel and flight reservations and 2000 Usd cash or credit card limit are requested, but these documents were not requested during our trip in March 2023.

For more information about Egypt visa; How to Get Egypt Visa, Documents Required for Egypt Visa Check out my post.

Where is Dahab?

Dahab is one of Egypt's lesser-known gems. Located just 90 km from the famous resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, this small city is especially frequented by those interested in diving, even freediving. With its location in the Gulf of Aqaba, many dive sites and world-famous spots such as the Blue Hole, Dahab will soon be a holiday destination that we will hear more about.

On Dahab's Google Maps app Click for location.

How to Get to Dahab?

“How to get to Dahab?The answer to the question ”; I tried to share detailed information about transportation from Turkey, Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh to Dahab.

How to get from Turkey to Dahab by Airline?

The easiest and fastest way to fly from Turkey to Dahab; Choosing one of Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines' scheduled flights flying to Sharm El Sheikh Airport. From Sharm El Sheikh Airport; You can transfer to Dahab by airport transfer, taxi or bus. Taxi or transfer fees vary between 30 usd and 45 usd one way, depending on your bargaining power. The 89 km road takes about 1.5 hours.

There is a downside to traveling to Dahab by air; Pegasus flight departs from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 00:15, the flight takes around 2-2,5 hours and you land in Sharm in the middle of the night, at this time you have to take a taxi or airport transfer to go to Dahab Since you check into the hotel around 04:30 at night, you have to pay the hotel fee. On the way back, the flight is at 03:25, you have to get hotel accommodation that night as well, or you have to make a plan for yourself until 12:00 at night. Unfortunately, Turkish Airlines flights are at similar times.

How to Get from Sharm El Sheikh to Dahab

If you are coming from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh or from Sharm El Sheikh to Dahab by bus; East Delta, Go-Bus and Blue Bus bus companies have frequent buses. However, the last bus from Dahab is at 11:00 am from East Delta company. With 2019 prices; You can reach 45 Egyptian Pounds by bus.

From Sharm El Sheikh Bus Station to Sharm El Sheikh airport, you can reach the airport in figures such as 100 Egyptian Pounds.

On my trip in 2019; I used East Delta company to go from Dahab to Sharm by bus. The time of the bus was 22:30. When I went to the bus station around 22:00, they said "the bus is leaving immediately" and I got on quickly. I went to Sharm with a bus that leaves around 22:10 and is not normally on the list. What I'm saying is that you don't believe in the scheduled hours in Egypt, try to go early.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION; In Egypt, bus companies have their own bus stations or bus stations. So be sure to go to the service point of whichever bus company you prefer. I generally preferred Go-Bus company during my trip to Egypt, being able to buy tickets online and having service points close to the city centers are a great advantage. However, I should not go without saying that some buses leave 1 hour late.

How to Get from Cairo to Dahab by Plane?

If you want to come to Dahab from Cairo by plane; You can take a flight from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh and then proceed to Dahab as above.

How to Get from Cairo to Dahab by Bus?

If you want to come from Cairo to Dahab by bus; It's a bus ride that takes between 10-12 hours. If you are going to evaluate the bus alternative, choose the day buses and the large buses called "elite plus" instead of the night buses. You can buy these bus tickets between 2019 prices and 400-500 Egyptian Pounds.

The biggest disadvantage of night journeys; There are security checks almost every hour along the way. Some have only identity checks, and some have both identity and bag checks, so they get out of the vehicle and take out your bags and check your bags. For this reason, the road takes longer, and it is impossible to sleep, you are constantly awakened.

Is Dahab Safe?

Dahab may be the safest city I've seen in Egypt. The problem of tourist harassment, which is prevalent throughout Egypt, is not here at all. It is also safe for women. I've encountered many solo female travelers, so I went solo in 2019 and had no issues.

What to Buy in Dahab?

If you say what to buy from Dahab; Colorful local dresses, trinkets, specially designed handmade gifts, dates are among the top things you can buy from Dahab. If you like shopping, there are also many stores where you can find Indian salwar suits, trousers and shirts.

Best Time to Visit Dahab

The best time to go to Dahab depends on what you want to do and what you like. However, there is one thing I know well that you do not want to be there in 40 degrees heat in summer.

Although spring and autumn are the best times to go to Dahab, you can go hiking in many places on the Sinai peninsula when you go in January or February.

If you're going for diving or snorkeling, they don't recommend it between December and March because the water is a little colder. March-May, September-November are the best times to go to Dahab. If you want to go in the summer anyway, don't forget to take high factor sunscreen and a hat!

Activities to Do in Dahab

Diving, snorkeling and kitesurfing are the main activities to do in Dahab.

Diving and Snorkeling in Dahab

Although the Gulf of Aqaba has rich underwater resources, many underwater enthusiasts shift their route to Dahab because it has not become as popular and touristy as Sharm El Sheikh.

Dahab is also preferred because it is more economical than other popular destinations. Those who want to take diving training, those who want to improve themselves in free diving or technical diving, prefer Dahab because of its affordable prices.

Another advantage of Dahab is getting into the water with diving equipment from the beach and immediately encountering a rich underwater environment. I stayed at Light House which is one of the 3 areas in Dahab, it is very normal to see many people training on the beach or to see people diving or training in groups down below while snorkeling. You even run the risk of stepping on someone diving if you're not careful.

Dahab is a paradise for diving enthusiasts. Many options, from snorkeling to scuba diving to free diving, attract diving lovers with the opportunity to easily enter from the beach and start diving.

We paid USD 2 per person for a 60-dive package including Blue Hole and canyon diving, USD 25 for clothing rental and USD 10 for Blue Hole National Park entrance. You can organize diving from the hotel you are staying in. Almost all of the hotels in Dahab either have their own diving company or have a contracted place. If you dive more, you can make your deal/bargain accordingly and get more affordable prices.

Kite Surf in Dahab

Another of the activities that can be done in Dahab is Kite Surfing. Kite Surfing, which is the most beautiful way of dancing with the wind but requires the most conditioning, is done especially in the Lagoon region, which is open to the wind.

What to Eat and Where to Eat in Dahab

Let me start with the good news first, you can find any food you are looking for in Dahab. There is a wide variety of food in Dahab, from a vegan restaurant to an Italian restaurant, from Thai food to Indian food, and of course to local restaurants. You won't be hungry, relax.

Along the coastline, there are many touristic fish restaurants named after the fairy tale heroes that come to mind when Egypt is mentioned, such as Alaaddin, Ali Baba and Sinbad.

Dahab consists of several districts: Assalah, Masbat, Mashraba, Medina and Mubarak. The place where I stayed was very close to the area known as Masbat and also known as Dahab Bay. Therefore, my recommendations for eating and drinking also include this region.

Let's take a look at the places I tried during my stay in Dahab:

By The Sea Restaurant

Right next to the Light House corals, there are rows of restaurants on the seafront. By The Sea is one of them. Here you can eat and drink and benefit from the sun loungers throughout the day. The employees are very caring and smiling. Foods are good. Pizza, salads and sandwiches are on the menu. Pizzas are around 30 TL. Cold drinks are 5 TL. Coffees such as Americano and Latte cost around 13 TL. The pizza is Italian style, thin crust and huge, too much for one person. Two people can easily be satisfied with a pizza and a salad.

Nemo Restaurant

While walking from Light House to Mashraba side, there are many fish restaurants along the coast. We went to one of these restaurants for a dinner.

If you order a main course; water and the appetizers (hummus, eggplant…) you see in the first photo above, watermelon and tea are served at the end of the meal. Main courses are between 150-200 pounds. So around 50-70 TL. The main course plates are also very satisfying. I ordered a grilled squid, I can't say I found it very successful, but it was okay.

When we went to 2023, the fish restaurant Shark next to Nemo was very popular, there is always a queue in front of it.

Koshari or Koshary

Koshari or Koshary is one of the most typical local delicacies of Egypt. They mixed various sizes and types of pasta, boiled lentils and chickpeas. It is served with tomato sauce and roasted crispy onions. Koshari is a very satisfying and delicious dish that you can buy for 30-40 Egyptian Pounds per plate.

Yes I'm Famous Koshary – CLOSED 🙁

Fortunately, the only Koşarici in the area where I was staying in Dahab was only 2 minutes walk from the hostel. If you stay late in the evening, it is better to go early.

Alternatively, there is Roots Koshary, I couldn't match it, but Google scores are pretty good.

Abo Ahmed Restaurant

When I asked the staff at the hostel where I could eat falafel, they suggested Abo Ahmed restaurant. This place is also very close to the Light House, 5 minutes walking distance from the hostel. I didn't have time to eat here, but the people in the hostel said it was delicious.

Namaste Indian Restaurant

I said there is a restaurant of every cuisine in Dahab. Namaste Restaurant is one of them, an Indian restaurant. It was also 2 minutes walking distance from the hostel. In general, when all the restaurants are empty, this place is full, there is a lot of demand. I ate meat buryani and it was quite tasty. I paid an account of around 30 TL.

ElMasryeen King Falafel

To taste traditional Egyptian food, King Falafel in one of the most lively streets of Masbat neighborhood should definitely be one of your food stops. You can find all kinds of dishes such as hummus, falafel, babaganuş and koçari here, and you can have them mixed in the middle. Moreover, the prices are quite affordable, the price list above is for 2023.

When falafel is mentioned in the name of the place, let me give you important information about the falafels made in Egypt. In Egypt, falafel is made with peas, if you want chickpeas, you have to say Lebanese style, which is not available everywhere. There are all kinds of falafel at King Falafel, eggplant, egg, potato, but my favorite was the falafel with pastrami. A legendary flavor, its taste is still in my mouth…

Chinese Express

It is possible to find every example of world cuisine in Dahab. We tried Chinese Express, one of the Chinese restaurants in Masbat neighborhood. We ordered sweet and sour chicken, soy sauce chicken and fried rice, all of which were delicious. We paid 10 USD for all meals, which is quite affordable compared to Turkey.

Fan-koush Tea

Fan-koush tea is marketed as a "special tea" unique to Dahab. You can add freshly squeezed orange juice, ginger, mint, cinnamon, lime and optionally honey. Served hot, it is a very healing tea, perfect for refreshing the lungs after getting out of the sea or diving. I haven't tried one of the restaurants in Blue Hole, but you can find it in the center of Dahab. The price is around 2 USD.

Mango – Anything With Mango!

Egypt, especially around Sharm and Dahab, is a mango paradise. Fruit, ice cream, freshly squeezed mango juice, dessert, whatever you can think of… I already feel like I've fallen into heaven as I'm a mango lover. We even had friends who bought a crate of mangoes during our trip to Sharm and took them to Turkey.

Accommodation in Dahab

You can decide where to stay in Dahab according to the regions I mentioned at the beginning. When I was choosing, I took care to make it an area where it would be easy to swim in the sea. Light House coral reefs are one of the most beautiful places to swim in this region.

When I first went to Dahab (2019), I stayed at Sinai Gate Adventure Hostel. They describe themselves as Diving and Hiking hostel. Here you can take diving training, participate in diving, take part in walks. However, I bought my tours from another agency because it was a bit expensive for me compared to the prices outside. For example, the Mount Sinai tour I bought for 15 Usd is 25 Usd at the hostel. Prices below are for 2019.

There are people making music and chatting on the rooftop of the hostel in the evenings. The day after I went there was the first year celebration of the hostel. We had a nice party, a pleasant evening.

This hostel has changed its name to the Chillout Motel, but a huge telephone transmitter has been installed in the building. I guess I wouldn't want to stay with the transmitter for a long time.

On my second visit, I stayed at the hotel called Blue Beach Club, but I do not recommend your stay as it has many negative sides; The hotel building is quite old and neglected, it lacks cleanliness. There is a lot of noise in the diving center inside the hotel, as there is a continuous operation of tube filling etc. Although its location and staff are good, it is unfortunately not on my recommendation list.

You can find a budget hotel in Dahab by clicking the link below. There is a cleanliness issue in hotels across Egypt, so I recommend choosing places with a Booking.com rating of 9 or higher. Click for the most suitable Dahab hotel options.

Dahab is among the places that must be on your route if you go to Egypt. The rest of my Egypt travel notes will follow, stay tuned.

Until new articles come, I wrote before Egypt travel writingsCheck me out.

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