Marsa Alam

The wild south — dugongs, sharks, empty beaches and dark skies

Marsa Alam is what the Red Sea was before the crowds: a 200 km ribbon of coast where sea turtles graze metres from shore, spinner dolphins sleep in lagoon reefs, and the desert behind is an actual national park. It rewards travellers who want nature over nightlife — days are for the water, evenings for grilled fish and a sky full of stars.