Makadi Bay vs. Sahl Hasheesh: Which Hurghada Resort Area Is Right for You?
Two of Hurghada's best resort bays, side by side. Makadi leans family-and-value; Sahl Hasheesh leans polished-and-upscale. Here's how to pick the right one for your trip.
South of Hurghada's centre, two purpose-built resort bays sit just a few minutes apart, and travellers often agonise over which one to book. The honest answer is that both are excellent — but they have different personalities. Makadi Bay is the family-friendly, great-value crowd-pleaser. Sahl Hasheesh is the more polished, upscale, design-led option. Choose based on who you're travelling with and what kind of week you want.
Here's the quick split before we dig in: pick Makadi for big all-inclusive resorts, waterparks, and value; pick Sahl Hasheesh for a smarter, calmer, more refined feel with a lovely promenade.
What they have in common
Both bays are self-contained resort zones a short drive south of central Hurghada, roughly half an hour or so from the airport. Both offer calm, swimmable beaches, healthy house reefs in places, easy access to the same day-boat trips (Giftun, Orange Bay) and desert safaris, and the security and ease of a managed resort area. Neither is a town you'll wander through for local life — for that you'd head into Hurghada itself.
Makadi Bay: family value and big resorts
Makadi Bay is built around large, often all-inclusive resorts, many with waterparks, kids' clubs, and a lively family atmosphere. If you're travelling with children, want maximum facilities for your money, and like the idea of barely leaving the resort, Makadi is hard to beat. The beaches are good, several hotels have house reefs for easy snorkelling, and the overall vibe is cheerful and busy without being chaotic.
The trade-off: it's more about volume and value than refinement. Some resorts are vast, and the feel is firmly "big holiday resort" rather than boutique.
Sahl Hasheesh: polished and calmer
Sahl Hasheesh was designed with a more upscale eye. It curves around a wide bay with a long landscaped promenade, and the resorts tend to be more design-conscious and a touch quieter. There's an Old Town–style piazza for strolling and dining, and the overall mood is calmer and more grown-up. The house reef in parts of the bay is genuinely good, with an underwater attraction or two adding interest for snorkellers.
The trade-off: you'll generally pay a little more, and it's less geared toward the waterpark-and-kids'-club crowd, though plenty of families still love it.
How to choose
- Travelling with young kids, want a waterpark and the best value? Makadi Bay.
- Want a calmer, more polished, more romantic feel and a nice promenade? Sahl Hasheesh.
- Diver or snorkeller? Both have good house reefs; check the specific hotel's reef access either way.
- Budget-driven? Makadi usually edges it for all-inclusive value.
- Want a quieter, more upscale base for couples? Sahl Hasheesh.
Practical tips
Whichever you choose, your hotel matters more than the bay — both areas range from solid to superb depending on the property, so read recent reviews carefully. Confirm house-reef access if snorkelling is a priority. Remember you can do exactly the same excursions from either bay, so don't let the boat-trip menu sway your choice; pick on atmosphere and budget instead. And factor in the short transfer into Hurghada centre if you want a night of local restaurants or markets.
Both bays deliver the same warm sea and the same easy access to the Red Sea's best days out. The real question is simply the mood you're after — boisterous family value, or calm and polish. Get that right and you can't really lose.
Still weighing it up? Browse what each bay puts within reach — boat trips, reefs, desert nights — on packnplan, and let the experiences you actually want decide the bay for you.
