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Marsa Mubarak, Turtles & Dugongs, Marsa Alam
A protected bay famous for resident green turtles and a chance of dugong encounter.
Boat trip7hUp to 40 guestsPay on arrival OK
Nothing to pay now
From
€60€45
per adult
Where the animals are the reason
Snorkeling in Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam is the quiet end of the Egyptian Red Sea and the only one of the three towns where the trips are named after animals rather than islands. Dugongs at Abu Dabbab, green turtles at Marsa Mubarak, spinner dolphins at Samadai and Sataya. The reefs sit closer to shore here, so several of these are bay snorkels rather than long crossings.
- Seeing a dugong, which no other Egyptian town offers
- Calm shallow bays instead of long boat crossings
Quick answer
Quick answer: come to Marsa Alam for a specific animal. Abu Dabbab for dugongs and turtles in one shallow bay, Marsa Mubarak for the calmest turtle snorkel, Samadai for a protected dolphin lagoon with rules, and Sataya for the largest pods if you can face a five thirty pickup.
Best if you want
- Seeing a dugong, which no other Egyptian town offers
- Calm shallow bays instead of long boat crossings
- Travellers who prefer nature over resort nightlife
Recommended bookable trips
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Abu Dabbab, Snorkel with Dugongs, Marsa Alam
One of the few places on Earth where you can swim with the rare and gentle dugong.
Boat trip7hPay on arrival OK
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€55
per adult
DolphinsBest seller
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Samadai Dolphin House, Marsa Alam
A horseshoe-shaped lagoon, home to the most famous spinner dolphins in the Red Sea.
Boat trip9hUp to 40 guestsPay on arrival OK
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From
€75€65
per adult
Dolphins
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Sataya Dolphin Reef, Marsa Alam
A horseshoe reef south of Marsa Alam, home to one of the largest spinner dolphin pods in Egypt.
Boat trip11hUp to 40 guestsPay on arrival OK
Nothing to pay now
From
€75€65
per adult
Pick the animal first, the boat second
Abu Dabbab is a seven hour day in one bay where seagrass feeds both dugongs and green turtles, which is why it is the trip people fly to Marsa Alam for. Marsa Mubarak is the gentler version of the same idea, shallow and sheltered enough for weak swimmers. Samadai and Sataya are dolphin trips and start very early because the pods use the lagoons to rest at dawn.
How far the pickup really is
Marsa Alam resorts are spread along about thirty kilometres of coast between the airport and Port Ghalib, so pickup runs thirty to sixty minutes depending on where you sleep. That is the trade for the quiet. Check the start time before booking Sataya in particular, because an eleven hour day that begins at half past five is a real commitment.
Related guides
Snorkeling with Dugongs in Marsa Alam, Where, When, and How
Marsa Alam is one of the few places on Earth where you can swim with the rare and gentle dugong. Here's exactly how to do it ethically, and where they're most reliable.
Samadai Reef: the regulated way to see spinner dolphins
A protected lagoon an hour off Marsa Alam where strict daily quotas mean fewer swimmers and a calmer pod. Here's how the permit system works.
Sataya Dolphin Reef: snorkeling with hundreds of spinner dolphins
A horseshoe-shaped reef south of Marsa Alam where a resident pod of 80 to 200 spinner dolphins rests every morning. Here's how to see them respectfully.
Questions before you book
Is a dugong sighting likely at Abu Dabbab?
Likelier there than anywhere else in Egypt, because the bay has the seagrass they feed on and they return to it. It is still a wild animal in open water and no guide can promise it. Green turtles are the more reliable sighting in the same bay, and most days you see several.
Are dolphins, turtles, or dugongs guaranteed?
Wildlife sightings are possible in known areas, but nature is never guaranteed.
Need help choosing?
Send your hotel area, travel date, group size, and what you want to see. The team can point you to the closest suitable trip without inventing guarantees.