Dahab Egypt in 2 Weeks – Everything You Need to Know
Why Dahab Is Egypt’s Ultimate Adventure Town
Dahab is a laid-back, bohemian seaside town on Egypt’s southern Sinai Peninsula, known for its relaxed vibe and vibrant hippie culture. But it’s not just a chill escape—it’s a global hotspot for extreme sports and underwater exploration.
Thanks to its proximity to legendary Red Sea dive sites like the Blue Hole, The Canyon, Lighthouse Reef, and the Blue Lagoon, Dahab offers world-class scuba diving and free-diving year-round.
From April to October, steady northwesterly winds also make it a prime destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Add ATV riding and desert trekking to the mix, and you’ve got a playground for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike.
Getting to Dahab from Cairo or Luxor
To travel from Cairo to Dahab, the quickest options are flying to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) airport and then taking a bus or taxi to Dahab, or taking a direct bus service that takes about 9-11 hours.
For Luxor to Dahab, there are no direct routes; the most common way is to travel from Luxor to Cairo by overnight train or bus, and then take another bus or minivan from Cairo to Dahab.
The hostel we were staying with ended up charging us 1500 EGP for 2 people via private taxi (about just under 47 AUD | 26.7 EUR | 31.2 USD at the time).
A Haven for Locals, Travelers, and Digital Nomad
Many local Egyptians also come to Dahab over the weekends or holidays to relax and unwind from the colourful and controlled chaos of Cairo and Port Said or change their surroundings during remote work.
Whereas a lot of international travellers use it as a final end-point of their trip to slow down and recover from the typical fast paced travel that occurs when visiting many of Egypt’s ancient sites along the Nile.
There is also a slow but growing community of Nomads that enjoy spending part of their year in Dahab, as the town is very affordable, close to beautiful reefs and beaches and the town has many nomad community events planned day-trip activities.
💻 Nomad Life in Dahab: Where to Work, Connect, and Explore
☕ Coworking & Café Culture
- Everyday Café: Reliable Wi-Fi, sea views, and a relaxed vibe—great for deep work sessions.
- Ralph’s German Bakery: Popular with remote workers for its strong coffee and quiet mornings.
- Cafe Yalla: Social hub with shaded outdoor seating and regular meetups.
Community Events & Meetups
- Weekly yoga sessions on the beach
- Group day trips to the Blue Lagoon and Ras Abu Galum
- Open mic nights and language exchanges at local bars
Activities to do Around Dahab
Day Trips Around Dahab
Daily Dahab is a great website with all the latest events happening in and around the town.
Here’s a short list of some of the many things you can do around Dahab:
- Small Canyon Hiking Trail – Free
- Scuba diving course – 330 EUR for 3 day course (includes the Blue Hole)
- Kitesurfing – 460 EUR for 4 day course
- Bedouin dinner underneath the stars – 5 USD
- Drive and hike through to St. Catherine’s Monastery – 30 USD
- Drive and hike to Mt. Sinai – 35 USD
- Snorkelling at Mashrahab beach and Eel Garden – Free
- Color Canyon
Small Canyon Hiking Trail
If you’re eager to get some exercise and get familiar with your surroundings, I’d recommend doing the completely free Small Canyon hiking trail. The trail is easy to medium difficulty and should preferably be done in the morning hours to avoid the intense 12 o’clock heat.
The trail doesn’t really have many official signs to guide you, but it starts at Eel Garden reef, which is west of the Lighthouse Reef and town centre. Once you’ve arrived at Eel Garden head further along the shore towards the view of the mountain chain and palm trees (the sea shore will be on your right). You’ll eventually pass some signs that will point you left towards the small canyon hiking trail.
At the end of the trail you’ll arrive at a small peak with a trig beacon and be rewarded with a jaw-dropping view of the town and surroundings.
Scuba Diving – Fun Dives and Courses
Scuba diving is very safe and accessible in Dahab as all water entries are from the shore as opposed to being from a boat making it an ideal place for beginners and advanced divers alike.
Sea Dancer Dive Center offers certified PADI courses and is run by a very professional team of international and local scuba divers that currently provide course instruction in English, German, French, Spanish and Arabic.
They provide all recreational PADI dive courses as well as most technical dive programs. They are also a registered scuba centre with SSI and which is great because they’ll also be able to certify all your dives on the SSI dive log app.
As I had already completed my SSI Open Water certificate in Koh Tao in Thailand, I enrolled in a 3 -Day Advanced Open Water course. The total course costs 295 Euros (as of May 2025) and covers mandatory Navigation and Deep-diving modules and 3 other specialised electives.
As I hadn’t dived in the past 6 months, I also did a refresh dive for 35 Euros to regain confidence before starting the AOW, bringing the total cost (including all transport and equipment rental) to 330 Euros.
3-Day Advanced Open Water course breakdown in Dahab:
Day 1 – Refresher and Navigation (Bannerfish Bay and Lighthouse Reef, 18m)
Refresher and navigation dives were taken close to the Light House reef and Bannerfish Bay. Navigation included compass bearing and distance estimation skills.
Day 2 – Deep Dive and Drift Diving electives (The Canyon and Blue Hole, 30m)
After successfully demonstrating the skills for the underwater navigation dive. The second day includes a morning deep dive at The Canyon to a max depth of 30m with gas narcosis and colour perception tests towards the end.
Day 3 – Underwater Naturalist and Night Dive electives (Lighthouse Reef and Mashraba)
The final day’s dives covered identifying different fish and animals at a deeper depth (26 m) and diving at night with a primary dive light.
Freediving in Dahab
Dahab is a freediving Mecca and has garnered recent fame due to the well-shot documentary on Netflix (The Deepest Breath | Official Trailer | Netflix) and being frequented by multiple time world champion, Alexy Molchanov and his late mother Natalia Molchanova.
Freediving beginner and intermediate courses that are AIDA or SSI certified can be completed at Dahab Freedivers (just above the Red Sea Relax Resort) from 130 – 320 Euros (150 – 360 USD) over a 2-3 day course (AIDA Level I & II).
The entry requirement is that you need to have a resting breath hold time of 2 minutes. Courses train one to get to a free-diving depth of 12-20m.
Kitesurfing in Dahab
Lessons are taught at the idyllic Blue Lagoon, a shallow and safe turquoise lagoon 10 minutes south of the main town. Beginner lessons typically cover kite setup, basic kite handling skills, wind and power zone theory as well as practical skills such as safe kite self-launching, water body dragging, water starts and launches with a wake board.
Harry Nass kitesurfing school currently offers a 4 day (4 x 2-hour lesson per day) beginners course that is VDWS certified for 460 Euros. Impact vests and helmets are provided with all lessons.
Other notable kitesurf schools around Dahab include Kitesurf Dahab and Jeep Kitesurfing.
Bachata and Salsa Dance Classes in Dahab
If you feel like shaking that booty and dusting off those dance shoes (or flip flops in my case), head to Jackie’s bar and restaurant . Dance classes are every Saturday and Sunday and cost 250-300 EGP per group class.
Restaurants, Cafe’s and Gyms in Dahab
Schönemanns Cafe
A great little cafe along the way towards Lighthouse square. The place opens around 8am and closes at 3pm. They have delicious pancakes and other affordable breakfast and lunch options. The WiFi is decent and there are plenty of plug points to work during the morning and afternoon.
Kakao
They have a really good beef burger and tasty falafels. Also try their other vegan options, homemade ice cream and tea.
IFA (International Fighting Academy) Gym
This small MMA and fighting focused gym has a modest selection of workout equipment and punching bags, however the a view of the reef near Lighthouse square is unlike any other gym I’ve seen before. The entry for the day is 100 EGP and 200 EGP per MMA class, making it super affordable place to stay in shape for your stay.
Nemo Restaurant – The restaurant is located right in the heart of Dahab’s Lighthouse area and serves excellent seafood and cocktails with beautiful views of Bannerfish Bay and the mountains across in Saudi Arabia.
Old Every Day Cafe – great honey cake for only 100 EGP
Cotton Tree Cafe – very popular and has plug points for working inside and outside.
Ralph’s German Bakery – A local favourite and great bakery with plenty of affordable pastries, desserts, some with an Egyptian spin.
Happy Hour Restaurant – Head to Happy Hour just next to Eel Garden beach for some refreshing beers and great Italian-styled dishes. Try their pizza and some of the best tiramisu in town.
Athanor Pizzeria
Athanor has a great atmosphere with its outdoor courtyard area for seating. They have great-tasting and relatively cheap pizzas. I’d recommend the mushroom pizza, cheese garlic bread and paired with some cold or hot hibiscus tea, all for 230 EGP | 7.30 AUD | 4 EUR | 4.80 USD)!
El Coworking Space – for those that need a more serious and quiet spot to do work, conference calling or online presentations
Darwish Fishmarket – Local and ethically sourced fish that can be purchased per kg and cooked for you there.
Accommodation – Where to Stay in Dahab
- Tranquilo Hostel – A very affordable place run by a caring and knowledgeable owner that will be able to organise transport from Sharm-el-Shaik Airport to Dahab (25 USD, approx. 1500 EGP for the private taxi driver for 2 passengers)
- Amanda Beach Hotel – Prices are 1225 EGP per night (447 ZAR, 25 USD, 21.7 EUR, 39 AUD). The hotel is right next to the beach and close to the main Lighthouse reef town centre and Eel garden reef. They make their own homemade kombucha and have a bi-weekly market outside the hotel entrance.
- Neptune Hotel – It’s located right next to the bridge by Mashraba beach and close to the main town and dive shops. Rooms start from 918 EGP per night (355 ZAR, 19 USD, 16.25 EUR, 29.18 AUD).
- Greek Camp – budget accommodation starting from 866 EGP per night for 2 people (316 ZAR, 18 USD, 15.33 EUR, 27.53 AUD). Rooms are simple but conveniently located main town, restaurants and beach.
Scooter Rentals
Getting around the town will mainly take a combination of walking, cycling and taxis, however scooter rental shops are dotted throughout the town.
Here is a list of the more well known ones:
- Koka Rentals
- Dahab Scooter House – 800 EGP per day
- Go2Safari
Conclusion
After spending two weeks in Dahab, it’s clear that this isn’t just another stop on the well-trodden tourist trail, it’s a destination in its own right. From its world-class dive sites and thrilling water sports to its stunning desert landscapes and vibrant bohemian culture, Dahab offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation.
Whether you’re a seasoned diver looking to explore the legendary Blue Hole, a digital nomad seeking a peaceful and affordable place to work, or a traveler wanting to slow down and unwind, Dahab has something for you. The town’s easygoing atmosphere and welcoming community make it an ideal place to recharge, connect with fellow travelers, and create unforgettable memories.
Ultimately, Dahab is a place where you can be as adventurous or as relaxed as you want. It’s more than a town, it’s a place that invites you to trade the chaos of city life for the tranquil rhythm of the Red Sea. So, pack your bags and get ready to discover Egypt’s ultimate adventure town.
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