Day 1: Dahab in One Day: Dive, Eat, Chill
Snorkelling at the Blue Hole
Taxi (E£100–150) or minibus (E£20) 8km north to the Blue Hole, the world's most famous dive site and a giant sinkhole dropping 100+ metres straight down. Snorkelling around the rim (free with your own gear, E£50–100 rental) reveals extraordinary coral walls and reef fish in crystal-clear water. The Blue Hole is breathtakingly beautiful from the surface. The deep blue circle surrounded by shallow turquoise reef is mesmerising. Don't attempt to freedive the arch at 56 metres. It has killed over 200 people.
Lighthouse Reef & Waterfront
Return to town and snorkel or dive the Lighthouse reef (free shore entry), Dahab's best all-round site with coral gardens, a sandy slope, and abundant marine life including moray eels, octopus, lionfish, and Napoleon wrasse. The entry point is marked by the old lighthouse. After snorkelling, walk the Dahab waterfront promenade, a string of laid-back restaurants, dive shops, and shisha cafes facing the Gulf of Aqaba with Saudi Arabia visible across the water.
Seafood Dinner on the Waterfront
Dinner at one of Dahab's waterfront restaurants, where the freshest seafood in Egypt is served on cushions at low tables right on the beach. Ali Baba for grilled fish and shisha (E£100–200), Shark Restaurant for Red Sea seafood (E£150–300), or Friends Restaurant for budget traveller fare (E£60–120). The waterfront comes alive after dark, with backpackers, divers, and Bedouin locals mixing over mint tea and shisha. The vibe is the most relaxed in Egypt.
