Things to do in Marsa Alam
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Colossi of Memnon
Colossi of Memnon are two massive quartzite statues standing on the plain on the west bank of the Nile. They were commissioned by Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the Eighteenth Dynasty during the New Kingdom period and originally served as the entrance guardians for the first pylon of his mortuary temple. Including their bases, the two statues are approx. 18m tall, stand approx. 15m apart, and face east toward the Nile. Smaller figures of Queen Tiye and the pharaoh's mother, Mutemwiya, are carved on the thrones beside the statues' legs. The sides of the bases feature reliefs of the Nile god Hapi, who holds lotus and papyrus plants to symbolize the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Both statues are heavily weathered, making their faces and upper bodies difficult to identify. The southern statue is carved from a single block of quartzite. The northern statue was severely damaged in an earthquake in 27 BC and was later repaired by the Romans using sandstone; its upper section is built from five layers of stone, which makes it look noticeably different from the southern statue. After the northern statue was damaged, a phenomenon occurred where the colossus would emit a sound resembling string music or whistling at dawn. Ancient Greek and Roman tourists flocked to listen and carved inscriptions on the base. Many of these inscriptions mentioned the Greek mythological hero Memnon, which is how the colossi got their name. Roman Emperor Septimius Severus later repaired the upper part of the statue, and the sound ceased to occur after that. Today, visitors can still see those Greek and Latin inscriptions from the Roman era on the base and experience the traces left by travelers from two thousand years ago.Egypt · Al Bairat
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis was the capital of ancient Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms, spanning the east and west banks of the Nile. The east bank features two religious complexes,Karnak and Luxor Temple, while the west bank is home to pharaonic tomb areas such as the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, as well as several mortuary temples, together forming a vast complex of ancient ruins. Karnak, located on the east bank of the Nile, is the core complex of the site. The Great Hypostyle Hall features densely packed giant stone columns covered in reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The temple also preserves towering obelisks and a sacred lake. An avenue lined with ram-headed sphinxes once connected it toLuxor Templein the south. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings is hidden within barren hills and canyons, where pharaohs of the New Kingdom carved their tombs into the mountains, with walls adorned in vibrant religious murals and depictions of the afterlife. TheMortuary Temple of Hatshepsutwas built against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, with three terraced levels rising in succession, blending into the steep rock face behind it and presenting a rare terraced layout in ancient Egyptian architecture. When visiting, you can arrange your itinerary by the east and west banks separately; the east bank is primarily for temple complexes, while the west bank focuses on tombs and mortuary temples.Egypt · Al Bairat
Nubian Village Aswan
Nubian Village Aswan is located on the west bank of the Nile, across the river from downtown Aswan. Getting to the village is an experience in itself: take a small sailboat or motorboat from the riverside pier to cross the river, passing through the waterways around Elephantine Island—once the ancient boundary between Egypt and Nubia—with shoals, rapids, and date palm forests lining the banks along the way. This is a Nubian settlement; many families' ancestors relocated here due to the construction of the Aswan Dam. Today, the exterior walls of the houses are painted in bright blues, oranges, and yellows, with geometric patterns and murals depicting daily life extending from the walls to the doors and windows, making the entire village look like a vibrant spread of color. The village still preserves the Nubian language, song and dance, and hospitality traditions. Camels roam the dirt roads and are available for rides; some families keep crocodiles in their courtyards, continuing the local tradition of crocodile keeping, and if you are lucky, you can even see baby crocodiles up close; many families will invite guests into their homes, serve sweet and sour hibiscus tea, offer homemade Nubian food, and chat about their lives to the rhythm of drums and singing. The small market near the village entrance sells handmade beads, silver jewelry, scarves, and painted pottery, with patterns that carry a distinctive Nubian style. Compared to temples and tombs, this place presents a vivid, lively side of daily life in Egypt, and it is worth slowing down to explore at a leisurely pace.Egypt · Aswan
Giftun Islands
Giftun Islandsare located in the Red Sea in Egypt, across the water from Hurghada. They mainly consist of Big Giftun Island, Small Giftun Island, and several surrounding reefs. It takes about 1 hour to reach them by boat from the Hurghada marina. The entire archipelago is designated as a marine protected area. There are no permanent residents on the islands, and visitors are not allowed to stay overnight. Therefore, tours are mostly conducted as day trips, departing by boat in the early morning and returning in the evening. Fine white sandy beaches and coral reefs right next to the shore are the core highlights of this archipelago: over 200 species of coral and thousands of fish species make their home here. When snorkeling, you can see staghorn coral and table coral stretching out in patches. Butterflyfish and parrotfish swim by in schools, and if you are lucky, you might encounter sea turtles and moray eels. During the boat trip, you also have a chance to see wild dolphins appearing near the boat. Visitors who cannot swim or do not want to go into the water can take a glass-bottom boat to view the coral through the bottom of the boat, or simply lie on the beach to sunbathe. The beaches of the archipelago each have their own characteristics. Among them, Orange Bay is popular for photo opportunities, thanks to the hammocks set up in the shallows and the swings on the water. There are also lagoon areas with shallow, calm water that are suitable for children to play in. For diving enthusiasts, there are multiple dive sites distributed around the archipelago. Local dive centers in Hurghada provide equipment rental and instructor guidance year-round and can arrange boat diving itineraries. As it is a protected area, please follow the rules when visiting the islands; do not touch or step on the coral. The Red Sea has intense sunlight, so it is recommended to prepare high-SPF sunscreen, sun hats, and plenty of drinking water in advance. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can choose to travel on days other than local weekends and holidays.Egypt · Hurghada
El Gouna
El Gouna is a purpose-built resort town on Egypt's Red Sea coast, located north of Hurghada. The entire town is spread across islands and lagoons connected by bridges, with turquoise waterways winding through. White walls, arcades, and colorful Nubian-style buildings line the water, and with boats and stone bridges everywhere, it is often called the "Venice of the Red Sea" by tourists. Water-based activities are the focus here: kitesurfing is the town's signature activity. Mangroovy Beach offers steady sea breezes and calm lagoon waters, where enthusiasts from beginner to advanced levels can find suitable areas. You can take a boat out to visit the "Dolphin House" reef, famous for its dolphins, where you have the chance to swim with pods of bottlenose dolphins, while the nearby Abu Nuhas shipwreck cluster is a classic Red Sea wreck diving spot. If you don't want to learn to surf, you can also take a lagoon cruise through the waterways or spend half a day at the cable wake park. The land-based side is also worth exploring at a leisurely pace: Abu Tig Marina is lined with rows of yachts, and the cafes and restaurants along the water are perfect for watching the sunset. The area around Tamr Henna Square in the town center is filled with markets and small shops, making it the main place for dining and strolling. Most tourists arrange their itinerary for half a day on the water and half a day on land, ending the evening with a walk along the canal. The pace is relaxed, making it perfect for a laid-back vacation.Egypt · El Gouna
Elephantine
Elephant Island is an island located in the Nile River. It is one of the very ancient areas in Egypt. There are also artifacts unearthed on the island that belong to prehistoric times. Located near a large waterfall on the Nile River, it is the border between Egypt and Sudan. It is called "elephant" for several reasons. One is that it was an important ivory trading area in the past. Sun Elephant.Egypt · Aswan
Avenue of the Rams
The Avenue of the Sphinx is an important ancient road connecting the Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple, located in Luxor, Egypt. The avenue is about 3 kilometers long, with hundreds of sphinxes lined on both sides, symbolizing the power and mystery of ancient Egypt. The Avenue of the Sphinx was the main route for ancient festival parades and has important historical and cultural value. Tourists can start their tour from either end of the Luxor Temple or the Karnak Temple. Walking is the recommended way to experience this ancient road. Along the way, you can admire well-preserved statues and ancient architectural remains, and feel the glorious history of ancient Egypt. There are many restaurants and cafes near the Avenue of the Sphinx, where tourists can enjoy local cuisine after the tour. The Avenue of the Sphinx is not only a paradise for archaeology enthusiasts, but also an ideal place to learn about ancient Egyptian civilization. Visitors can explore ancient culture in depth while enjoying the unique charm of Luxor.Egypt · Luxor
Abu Haggag Mosque
This temple was built when the Arabs occupied Luxor in the 13th century. At that time, the Luxor Temple was buried by the silt of the Nile River. In the 19th century, when the temple was excavated, people discovered that the temple was built on the ruins of the temple courtyard. The temple itself is beautiful, but the style is incompatible with the temple. For various reasons, the temple was preserved and now has become a scenic spot in front of the Luxor Temple.Egypt · Luxor
Aswan Old Souks
This is a bazaar located in Aswan. The bazaar starts from the train station and runs through the entire city from north to south. There are various shops on both sides, including souvenir shops, daily necessities shops, restaurants, etc.Egypt · Aswan
Aga Khan Mausoleum
The Mausoleum of Aga Khan is located on the west bank of the Nile River and can be reached by brig from the city of Aswan. It is free for tourists to visit. This is the villa where Aga Khan lived during his lifetime. After his death in 1957, he was buried in the domed mausoleum above the villa. On the white marble tomb, there are exquisite patterns and inscriptions from the Koran. On his 60th birthday in 1945, Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili tribe of Shiites and a wealthy man, publicly weighed his treasures and distributed them to his followers.Egypt · Aswan
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Free things to do in Marsa Alam
Colossi of Memnon
Egypt · Al BairatAncient Thebes with its Necropolis
Egypt · Al BairatNubian Village Aswan
Egypt · AswanGiftun Islands
Egypt · HurghadaEl Gouna
Egypt · El GounaElephantine
Egypt · AswanAvenue of the Rams
Egypt · LuxorAbu Haggag Mosque
Egypt · LuxorAswan Old Souks
Egypt · AswanAga Khan Mausoleum
Egypt · Aswan
What travelers say about Marsa Alam
fooler080920 October 2020
4.0
There are several statues of kings, all sitting, with their bodies made of huge stones. Their faces are broken and even a little sunken, which makes them look a bit funny. They are quietly placed on the lawn and are free to visit.
Colossi of Memnon
还不曾去过倒悬山！5 October 2020
4.0
The epitaphs on the tombstones of the ancient tombs here generally have a sentence, which translates into Chinese as "The cattle, sheep and crops that the Pharaoh entrusted us to manage are all growing well, and we have not deducted the slightest bit from the tributes we paid to the Pharaoh." Historians believe that it is this description of "there is no silver here" that reflects the Pharaoh's lack of control over the local area at that time.
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Gully2 September 2023
5.0
Nubian village is a must stop in Aswan. Across the Nile River from main town, it has a completely different feel from Egyptian cities. The people are incredibly friendly. Be sure to get a snack or two while you are there as well.
Nubian Village Aswan
juki23510 January 2020
5.0
Giftun Island is an island in Hurghada, with long sandy beaches and beautiful island style. The water around the island is very clear. It is a very worthwhile holiday island in Hurghada and worth a good visit.
Giftun Islands
AricFong16 February 2020
5.0
There are two small piers to go to Koh Chang, one of which is at the entrance "next to" KFC. The 5 pounds you pay is already the round trip fare, so you don't need to pay when you return to the other side [Proud] This is a small island Nubi Where Nubia lives, there are B&Bs, high-end hotels, coffee shops and attractions on the island, which can be visited in half a day. We walked around for about half a day, but we couldn't find the way to the Movenpick Hotel [sad] But it's okay anyway, come to Koh Chang when you come to Aswan and visit Koh Chang.
Travel Wedding Day 182, Country 11, Aswan, Egypt
Elephantine
gbviking26 February 2022
5.0
Walking on this dirt road is like walking in the shadow of ancient Egypt...
Avenue of the Rams
YoYo_0T9A3B0L3 July 2025
5.0
Hajjaq Mosque does have impressive architectural beauty and a peaceful atmosphere, but it did not bring me the spiritual cleansing experience I expected. Although its exterior is magnificent and the interior decoration is meticulous, overall, I did not get the impression I imagined, perhaps due to different personal expectations. During the visit, the tranquility around made people temporarily forget the hustle and bustle of the city, but this feeling did not go deep into my heart. In short, Hajjaq Mosque is a place worth seeing, but for my personal spiritual experience, it did not achieve the expected effect.
Abu Haggag Mosque
王海娃子16 May 2016
3.0
The Khan’s villa when he was alive and his tomb after his death are all here. If you are interested, you may take a boat to visit!
Aga Khan Mausoleum
