Situated 132km south of Al Quseir, Marsa Alam is still a tiny village with a small harbor and stone quay. With the construction of a new airport in the area, the relatively untouched coral reefs spectacular for snorkeling and diving will not remain that way for long. Once a fishing village Marsa Alam is the ideal base for a fishing or diving holiday.

Marsa Alam has an ancient past. Ptolemy 2 built the route linking the Nile Valley to the Red Sea. The mountains surrounding Marsa Alam are worth a day trip as ancient mines can be found there, a visit to the Emerald Mines is highly recommended.