The Complete Guide for Dahab Egypt [2021 Edition]

Welcome to the only guide you need for the beautiful town of Dahab Egypt.

Dahab is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Egypt. Dahab is a small hippie town that is located in the Sinai peninsula. It’s around 100KM away from Sharm Al-Shaikh.

Dahab gained a lot of fame in the last years because of its very famous and unique diving spots and beautiful marine life. I’m sure you’ve heard about the Blue Hole diving spot. If not let me tell you that the blue hole is one of the most famous and dangerous diving spots in the world.

But diving is not the only thing Dahab is famous for. To be honest, The town of Dahab has a very unique kind of vibe. People are super chill and friendly. Everyone is there just to have a good time and relax. If you’re looking for a place to escape the outside world with tons of activities and fun stuff to do then say no more, Dahab Egypt is your ultimate escape town to do so.

Let’s just get straight into it, so in this guide, I’ll talk to you about:

1. Top things to do in Dahab.
2. Accommodation Options in Dahab.
3. What to eat in Dahab?
4. Weather in Dahab.
5. How to reach Dahab in Egypt?
6. How to get around the town of Dahab?
7. Tips & Tricks

Top Things to do in Dahab Egypt

1. The Blue Hole

The blue hole of Dahab Egypt. Also known as the graveyard of divers. This spot is one of the most beautiful diving spots in the world yet it’s extremely dangerous. It is believed that the blue hole was created millions of years ago when a meteoroid fell from the sky into that spot.

Many Divers lost their lives during attempting to pass the tunnel in the blue hole. To perform such a dive will require years and years of experience in diving and intensive training. 

I hope you’re not scared yet haha, Don’t worry you can dive in the blue hole without attempting to cross that tunnel and enjoy an epic view of the marine life there. Also, there are plenty of diving spots in Dahab beside the blue hole. 

2. Snorkeling Snorkeling & Snorkeling

The red sea is one of the best places in the world to enjoy epic marine life. Dahab’s snorkeling spots are really unique and beautiful. There are plenty of snorkeling spots in Dahab that you can go to. So pack your snorkeling gear and get ready to explore the marine life in Dahab.

The best places to snorkel in Dahab Egypt are: The Blue Hole of Dahab, Abu Galoum, the three pools of Dahab, and the last option would be to get on a sea trip and snorkel in the middle of the red sea. 

I’ll let you know how you can get to all these snorkeling spots later on in the guide.

3. Scuba Diving In Dahab

Egypt is one of the best places in the world to dive at. Not only that but it’s one of the cheapest diving destinations in the world. Many people come here just to get their open water certificate as it’s super cheap comparing it to other destinations.

So if you’re looking to get your open water certificate this is one of the best and cheapest places to get it. It’ll probably cost you less than 300$ for the whole course. 

Probably the most famous diving spot in Dahab is the blue hole, but there are a lot of other diving and snorkeling spots that I’ll talk about later in this guide.

4. Dive In The Eel Gardens

This spot is really different from any other diving spot you’ve ever been to. The Garden of Eels or Eels Garden takes its name from the massive eel gardens that cover the floor of the ocean. It looks like a garden of eels honestly. This diving spot is super unique and if you’re into diving then you’ve got to ask your instructor to take you there.

5. Chill In Dahab's Lagouna Beach

Dahab’s Lagouna is one of the most chilled beaches I’ve ever been to. Everyone is just chilling and vibing there. People be distributed over the shoreline minding their own business listening to their music through their speakers and sipping their drinks. 

There are a lot of activities that you can do in the Lagouna so let me list them down for you guys: 

1. Kite Surfing.
2. Parasailing.
3. Ride a Banana Boat.
4. Ride a Horse.
5. BBQ. 
6. Camp at night.

But you don’t even need to do anything, for me, I just chill there on the shoreline enjoying some good music with my friends. You won’t need anything else. 

6. Abu Galoum Protectorate

Such an amazing spot for snorkeling or even camping. You don’t have to worry about going back to Dahab once you’re there because you can stay the night in one of the huts or camps in the national park. It’s located north of the blue hole. You can hike from the blue hole to Abu Galoum or take a boat ride or even take a camel.

If you want to know more about how can you get there then make sure to check my full guide on how to reach Abu Galoum and the blue lagoon form here.

7. Dahab's Blue Lagoon

My favorite place not only in Dahab but in Egypt is the Blue Lagoon of Dahab. Such an amazingly peaceful place. It’s insanely beautiful. It’s kind of a long way to reach it from Dahab but you can check out the full guide from here. 

Staying the night in the Blue Lagoon is definitely a recommended thing to do. It’s also a hub for kite surfers so if you’re into kite surfing you’ll definitely enjoy it there. 

You’ll find every detail you need to know before going to the Blue Lagoon of Dahab in this guide right here.

8. The Three Pools Of Dahab

If you want to avoid some crowds while snorkeling then that’s the perfect spot for you. Usually, the three pools of Dahab are not as crowded as the blue hole or Abu Galoum, So it’s the perfect spot to do some peaceful snorkeling. 

You’ll find lots of beautiful shiny fishes and corals due to direct sunlight. it’s such amazing scenery. 

Activities you can do in the three pools of Dahab: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Safari, Riding a Horse or even a Camel, and just chilling on the beach with a good drink in your hand.  

9. Kite Surfing

Just like Ras Sudr, Dahab is one of the best places that you can kitesurf in Egypt. If you haven’t checked my guide on Ras Sudr yet you can check it out from here.

The good wind supports about 80% of the year, so it’s your go-to if you’re a kitesurfer or a windsurfer. Even if you’re not there is nothing better than just chilling on a sandy beach and just watching those kites fly over the lagoon.

10. Have A Cup Of Coffee At Flatwhite

This is one of the best places to have coffee in Dahab. Not only because the coffee tastes good. but because of the stunning view, this place offers. 

If you want to start your day right just wake up and head straight to Flat white and chill for an hour or two while you’re sipping your coffee and listening to your favorite music. Life doesn’t get any better than this for real.

You can also check my guide on the best 9 cafes/restaurants in Dahab from here.

11. Take A Trip And Climb Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is also known as Jabal Mousa. The hike begins at night so that you can be able to catch the sunrise from the top of the mountain. 

The height of the mountain is about 2285m so it’s not an easy hike. Get some water and be prepared cause it’s super cold at the top if you’re doing this in the winter.

This mountain holds a unique spiritual story as well. This is where the prophet Moses talked to God and received the 10 commandments.

You can find lots of travel agencies in the town of Dahab offering this kind of trip so make sure to check them out and never forget to bargain! Also if you want to know some basic Egyptian words to help you out on your journey make sure to check this guide out.

12. El Mamsha

Dahab’s Mamsha is not like any other or at least that’s just my opinion. 

This is the part of the town that you’re going to chill at most likely every day. Here you’re going to find shops, cafes, bars, nightclubs, and basically everything.

If you’re looking for snorkeling gear before you head out to your snorkeling trip you can buy it from here. Also, you’ll find Dahab’s most famous bohemian clothe here but make sure to bargain when you’re buying anything that’s just how it works in Egypt.

13. Some Other Cool Activities That You Can Do

So these are some other activities that you might be interested in doing. The only reason I’m going to mention them is that I want you to know everything before coming here so yeah here is the small list of other things you can do in the town of Dahab in Egypt.

1. Bedouin night at Jabal El Toilat.
2. Spend the day in Wadi Gnai.
3. Sign up with Desert Safari Adventure.
4. Visit the colored canyon.
5. Visit Wadi El Wishwashi.
6. Sip some drinks in Yalla Bar and watch the sunset there.
7. Take a trip to visit El-Petra in Jordan.

Most of these trips are available through the travel agencies in the town of Dahab But make sure to bargain a lot so you can get the best deal. Also, there is another way that you can do to visit most of these places without a travel agency. I’ll explain it later on in this guide.

That’s it for basically everything that you can do in Dahab. It’s time to jump into the next part of our guide which is accommodation options in Dahab Egypt.

Accommodation Options in Dahab

In this section, I’ll talk to you about the best Hotels & Hostels that you can find in Dahab. So if you’re a budget traveler or a luxurious traveler you’re going to find something that suits your budget in this list.

The Best Hotels In Dahab

Those two Hotels are by far the most recommended hotels in Dahab: Le Meridien Dahab Resort and Jaz Dahabeya. If you’re looking for a luxurious stay in Dahab then make sure to check out both of those Hotels.

The Best Hostels/Camps In Dahab

If you’re like me and you’re looking for a budget option to stay in. Then this list will help you out. 

1. El Rayga Camp.
2. Sindbad Dahab.
3. Golden Plaza
4. Charlie House Dahab.

Those are my go-to budget hostels or camps when I’m in Dahab Egypt. Make sure to check them out and compare prices for yourself to check which suits you better.

What to Eat in Dahab Egypt?

I wrote a full blog post discussing the best places that you can eat in Dahab Egypt you can check it out from here. 

All you need to know honestly is that there are a lot of awesome restaurants and bars that you can eat at in Dahab Egypt and let’s say that 80% of them are reasonably priced. Just head straight to check out my blog post from here on the top 9 Restaurants that you need to try when you’re in Dahab.

Weather in Dahab Egypt

The weather in Dahab Egypt is basically hot and dry all year long. It barely rains here so you shouldn’t be worried about rain at all. If you’re going to come in the summer season it gets pretty hot here maybe reaching 40 Celcius degrees in august which is considered the hottest month.

While February is considered the coldest month but still in the morning it’s pretty warm with some cold nights. 

So if you’re asking when is the best time to come to Dahab Egypt? I’d say you can come any time of the year just try to avoid August if you can’t tolerate the heat and try to avoid February if you can’t handle some cold nights.

How to Reach Dahab in Egypt?

There are plenty of ways for you to get to Dahab and I’ll break them down for you in this list.

1. Flight: You can take a flight from Cairo or from wherever you’re to Sharm Al-Shaikh then from there you can either take a taxi or get another bus to get you to Dahab. The distance between Sharm Al-Shaikh and Dahab is approximately 90KM. You can check flights on Egypt Air and Nile Air.
2. Bus: There are a lot of buses that go from Cairo to Dahab all year long. Some of them are Go-Bus, Otobesy, and Blue Bus. 
3. We Bus: I only added this specific company because they allow you to travel with your pet. So if you’re traveling with your Pet then this option is perfect for you.

Keep in mind that any bus ride from Cairo to Dahab will probably take from 6-12hrs depending on pure luck. Because there are a lot of checkpoints on the road from Cairo to Dahab. So if you’re in a hurry then you might wanna consider the flight option.

How to Get Around Dahab?

Your rides here are going to be either pick up trucks or old wranglers. Those are the most two common ways of transportation around Dahab. You can rent a Bicycle as well if you want and that’s honestly a really good option if you want to explore at a slow kind of pace. 

So you just head straight to the main road and stop one and tell them the destination that you want to do to. Ask for the price before going in and make sure to bargain hard because most likely they will try to overcharge you. 

Ask about the price of the ride to the destination that you’re seeking and if he can pick you up from there at a specific time or not. If yes make sure to take his number so you can call him whenever you want so he can pick you up.

Some common Pick up truck rides and their prices: 

1. Dahab’s Lagouna = 30-40EGP.
2. The Blue Hole = 30-50EGP.
3. Abu Galoum to The Blue Lagoun = 125EGP.

Note: The prices are of the whole pick-up trick so whether you’re alone or with other travelers you’re going to pay for example 50EGP to the blue hole for the whole truck. So if you’re 4 people it’s going to be 12.5EGP Each (50/4).

Another thing to keep in mind is that they will definitely try to overcharge you so make sure to bring your bargaining skills with you otherwise you’ll end up paying a lot more.

Dahab Tips and Tricks

I’ll tell you all the tips and tricks you need so you can have the best time in Dahab Egypt.

1. Try to avoid visiting Dahab on Egyptian Holidays. Because it really gets super crowded over the holidays and the prices are much higher than the usual.
2. Take the number of the Pick-Up truck driver just in case you want them to pick you up again.
3. You’re going to find lots of stuff in the town that you might consider buying like Dahab’s famous bohemian scarfs or pants, spices, necklaces, or any sort of souvenirs that you might consider getting. Don’t settle for the first price they give you to make sure to bargain hard in anything even if you’re buying snorkeling gear.
4. Pick your accommodation wisely, close to the Mamsha but not right inside it so you can avoid the noise. This theory doesn’t apply if you’re visiting in the offseason.
5. If you’re going to the Blue hole make sure to have a copy of your ID if you’re Egyptian or a copy of your passport because you’ll be asked to provide one at the police checkpoint. 
6. It will definitely help if you know some basic Arabic words to communicate with the people around so if you’re interested here is a blog post I wrote on the top 10 useful Egyptian words that you need to know before visiting Egypt check it out from here.

And that’s it! Everything you need to know about Dahab. Make sure to save this post so you can come back to it whenever you want. Also, Don’t forget to share it with your friends that are going to Egypt.

Let me know what you guys think about this guide in the comments also if you have any questions make sure to ask them in the comment section down below I’ll be more than happy to answer them all.