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Safaga, Egypt: The Red Sea’s Hidden Gem for Divers, Windsurfers, and Healers

Discover Safaga, the Red Sea's hidden gem for adventurers and wellness seekers. Located 60km south of Hurghada, this tranquil port town is a world-renowned paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers due to its perfect winds. Divers flock here to explore pristine, uncrowded reefs and the famous Salem Express shipwreck. Safaga is also celebrated for its therapeutic black sand beaches and is the closest Red Sea resort to Luxor, making it the perfect base for a day trip to the Valley of the Kings.

EFT Team
October 30, 2021
Updated: November 6, 2025

Tucked away on the Red Sea coast, just 60 km (37 miles) south of the bustling city of Hurghada, lies a destination that remains one of Egypt’s best-kept secrets: Safaga.

Known officially as Port Safaga, this town is not your typical tourist hub. It’s an authentic, working port city that has organically grown into a haven for those in the know. While other Red Sea towns built their reputation on nightlife and sprawling tourist promenades, Safaga built its on three unique pillars: world-class water sports, phenomenal (and uncrowded) diving, and a unique, healing natural environment.

This is a place of substance over sparkle. It’s a destination for travelers who want to do things—to harness the wind, explore deep wrecks, or simply relax in a tranquil environment renowned for its therapeutic properties. It’s the perfect, quiet alternative to its northern neighbors and, best of all, it’s the closest Red Sea port to the legendary city of Luxor, making it the ultimate gateway for a “Nile and Red Sea” holiday.

Why Choose Safaga? The “Safaga Advantage”

For the right kind of traveler, Safaga isn’t just a good choice; it’s the best choice. Here’s why it stands out.

A Wind Sport Paradise: If you are a kitesurfer or windsurfer, Safaga is your paradise. The bay’s geography creates incredibly consistent, strong thermal winds, but the water remains flat and uncrowded, offering some of the best learning and high-speed conditions in the world.
Pristine, Uncrowded Diving: Forget dive sites with 20 boats. Safaga’s reefs are healthy, vibrant, and blissfully quiet. It’s also home to one of the Red Sea’s most famous and poignant wrecks, the Salem Express.
The “Climate-Therapy” Capital: Safaga is a world-renowned destination for natural healing. Its unique combination of mineral-rich black sand, highly saline water, and dry, unpolluted air is proven to offer therapeutic relief for conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Tranquility and Authenticity: Safaga is relaxed. It lacks the intense hustle of Hurghada. The atmosphere is more laid-back, the beaches are quieter, and you get a more authentic glimpse of Egyptian life.
The Gateway to Luxor: This is its strategic superpower. You can wake up at your beach resort in Safaga and, in just 3-4 scenic hours, be standing at the gates of Karnak Temple or descending into a pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

The Ultimate Red Sea Playground: Top Things to Do

Safaga is a destination for action and relaxation. The world-class resorts, many of which are all-inclusive, serve as the perfect base camps for your adventures.

Harness the Wind: World-Class Kitesurfing & Windsurfing

This is what put Safaga on the international map. The 1993 Windsurfing World Championships were held here for a reason.

The wide, sandy bay is protected by a headland, creating a massive, flat-water lagoon. The nearby mountains funnel the wind, creating a reliable, powerful thermal effect almost every day. This creates a perfect setup:

For Beginners: The shallow, waist-deep water and sandy bottom are ideal for learning. Numerous high-quality kite and windsurf centers (like those at the resorts) offer lessons.
For Freeriders: The vast, uncrowded expanse of water gives you all the room you need to practice, cruise, and enjoy high-speed runs.
For Freestylers: The mirror-flat water is a dream for practicing new tricks.

Dive the Depths: Safaga’s Underwater Kingdom

The diving in Safaga is, in a word, spectacular. The reefs are in pristine condition, offering a glimpse of what the entire Red Sea was like decades ago. The sites are diverse, from gentle coral gardens to dramatic drop-offs and legendary wrecks.

The Salem Express: A Wreck Dive of Profound Significance

This is the most famous dive site in Safaga, and it is not for the faint of heart. The SS Salem Express was a passenger ferry that sank in a tragic accident in 1991 during a storm, resulting in a devastating loss of life.

A Somber Experience: Diving the Salem Express is a deeply moving and somber experience. It is a mass grave, and divers must treat it with the utmost respect. No penetration of the lower decks is permitted.
The Wreck Itself: The massive, 100-meter-long ship lies on its side in about 30 meters of water. It is largely intact, and its cargo—suitcases, cars, and personal effects—is still visible, a poignant reminder of the lives lost. It is a powerful dive that will stay with you forever.

Other Must-Dive Sites

Panorama Reef: A massive, submerged mountain with sheer vertical walls that drop to over 200 meters. The “panorama” is a plateau at 15-20 meters, covered in anemones and soft corals, and patrolled by reef sharks, tuna, and barracuda.
Tobia Arba: Known as the “Seven Pillars,” this site features 5 to 7 (depending on who’s counting!) coral pillars that rise from the seafloor. It’s a fun maze to navigate and is packed with glassfish, scorpionfish, and octopuses.
Ras Abu Soma: Located at the tip of the neighboring Soma Bay, this site has a beautiful hard coral garden and is a great spot to see sea turtles and eagle rays.

Snorkeling & Island Day Trips

You don’t need a scuba tank to see the magic. Join a boat trip for a day of snorkeling and relaxation:

Tobia Island: A small, idyllic sandbar surrounded by a shallow, turquoise lagoon. It’s the classic “paradise island” stop, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling the easy-access reefs nearby.

The “Black Sand” Miracle: Health & Wellness

Safaga is a unique hotspot for climatotherapy. Visitors come from around the world, particularly Europe, to treat psoriasis and rheumatic conditions.

The “Safaga cure” relies on a natural synergy:

Black Sand Beaches: The sands are rich in unique minerals (including low-level, safe radioactive isotopes) that are said to stimulate the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response.
Highly Saline Water: The water in the bay is extra-salty, which buoys the body (relieving joint pressure) and has a cleansing effect on the skin.
Pure, Dry Air: The unpolluted desert air, combined with intense, year-round sun, completes the therapeutic effect.

Many resorts in Safaga have dedicated wellness centers and clinics that specialize in supervising these natural treatments.

The Gateway to History: Your Day Trip to Luxor

This is Safaga’s ultimate advantage. No other Red Sea resort town makes visiting the “world’s greatest open-air museum” this easy.

Egypt Fun Tours specializes in this exact excursion. We will pick you up from your Safaga hotel in a comfortable, private, air-conditioned vehicle for a scenic 3-4 hour drive through the stunning Eastern Desert mountains.

You’ll arrive in Luxor just as the day begins, ready to explore:

Karnak Temple: Walk through the awe-inspiring Great Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 134 massive columns.
The Valley of the Kings: Descend into the vibrantly painted tombs of legendary pharaohs like Ramesses II and Tutankhamun.
Hatshepsut’s Temple: Marvel at the three-tiered mortuary temple of Egypt’s greatest female pharaoh.
The Colossi of Memnon: Stand in the shadow of the two massive statues that have guarded the Theban necropolis for millennia.

After a full day of ancient wonders, we will drive you back to your hotel in Safaga, where you can have a late dinner and reflect on your incredible journey from the sea to the pharaohs, all in one day.

Safaga vs. Hurghada: Which Is Right for You?

This is a common question, and the answer is simple:

Choose Hurghada if: You want a massive variety of hotels, bustling nightlife, extensive shopping malls and bazaars, and a high-energy, “big city” vacation vibe.
Choose Safaga if: You are a serious diver, kitesurfer, or windsurfer. You prefer a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. You are traveling for health and wellness. Or, your primary goal is to combine a beach holiday with easy access to Luxor.

Plan Your Safaga Adventure

How to Get There: The easiest way is to fly into Hurghada International Airport (HGH). Safaga is just a 45-60 minute drive south. Egypt Fun Tours provides private, air-conditioned transfers directly from the airport to your Safaga resort.

Best Time to Visit:

For Wind Sports: The winds are strongest and most reliable from April to October.
For Diving/General Touring: Spring (March-May) and Autumn (Sept-Nov) offer the perfect balance of warm air and water temperatures. Summer is very hot, but fantastic for being in the water.

Book the Best of Both Worlds with Egypt Fun Tours

Safaga is a special place for travelers who want more than just a beach chair. It’s an active, healing, and inspiring destination.

Let us handle all the logistics. We can book your all-inclusive resort, arrange your private airport transfers, and, most importantly, be your expert guide for that unforgettable day trip to Luxor.

Contact Us Today to Plan Your Perfect Safaga “Red Sea & Nile” Holiday!

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