Egypt Excursions » Marsa Alam
Marsa AlamMARSA ALAM
Marsa Alam (135 km south of Al Qusseir ) is a town in
south-eastern Egypt, on the west coast of the Red Sea. It is
connected with Edfu by a desert road 280 km long. It is
currently seeing fast increasing popularity as a tourist
destination and development following the opening of Marsa Alam
International Airport in 2001. Marsa Alam is situated near the
Tropic of Cancer where the Arabian Desert meets the Red Sea, and
it has the appearance of a tropical paradise with its palm
trees, mangroves and sea coasts fringed with barrier coral
reefs. It has already gained a strong reputation amongst scuba
divers due to its numerous and unspoilt diving sites both along
the coast and offshore. Sightings of spinner dolphins, dugongs
and hammerhead sharks are a frequent occurrence for those who
venture into its waters. Marsa Alam also has some inland
attractions, such as the Emerald Mines and the Temple of Seti I
at Khanais.