14 Unique Things to Do in Dahab, Egypt
Dahab is a great home base for digital nomads because there are so many things to do when you’re not working.
It is a paradise for water hobbies from wind sports to diving, as well as experiencing the incredible desert landscape hiking or camping.
It’s always nice to stay in a place where you can get out in nature and totally disconnect.
From under the sea to the top of a mountain and everything in between, there are tons of things to do in Dahab.
Read on for your ultimate Dahab bucket list.
The Ultimate Dahab Bucket List
Discover the depths
Dahab is one of the top places in the world for freediving and scuba diving.
What makes Dahab so unique, is all the vibrant underwater life accessible by swimming just offshore. It’s as if Dahab is located on a cliff, but the cliff drops off under the water.
This makes for some incredible walls of corals that is amazing to snorkel by just swimming 10 meters from the beach. These depths located so close to shore is also ideal for freedivers and scuba divers. You don’t need a boat to access it.
Taking freediving or scuba diving lessons is also a great way to make friends and be a part of a community.
Freedive N Egypt is the best freediving school, and Dahab Divers or Octopus Divers for scuba diving come highly recommended as well.
Have a bonfire and watch the sunset
One of the most peaceful and relaxing pastimes in Dahab is to hand out at Lagoona waiting for sunset, and then have a bonfire.
Before you go, grab a towel or blanket and pick up some scrap wood from the industrial area. Then head to Lagoona and chill, play games, and snorkel until the magnificent sunset. Then once it starts getting dark, light up the fire.
There are usually a few people selling juice, desert, or tea along the beach.
If you took a taxi to Lagoona, get their number so they can come back and get you. Otherwise the walk back to Mashraba is about 15-20 minutes.
Explore the famous Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is one the the most iconic things to do in Dahab. It is especially popular for scuba, freediving, and snorkeling.
Inside the hole is really not very exciting. But that’s where you’ll find world famous freedivers going for depths not possible in other areas around Dahab.
On the outside of the hole, there are vibrant reefs with all kinds of colorful fish. If you’re snorkeling or scuba diving, I think the best place is called “El Bells” which is just passed the hole after the Diver’s Memorial.
Outside of the water, there are many cafes and restaurants to hang out at and get some nice food and drinks.
I personally think the Blue Hole is a bit overrated, but I’m still glad I went. If you are thinking of doing a dive here, Ras Muhammad or the Islands are much cooler in terms of underwater life.
Experience Ras Muhammad
Exploring Ras Muhammad is probably my #1 favorite thing to do in Dahab. You definitely need to add it to your bucket list.
Ras Muhammad is a national park on the very tip of Sinai. It is home to breathtaking corals reefs, incredible desert landscapes, as well as other natural phenomena.
If you go on your own, you will need to arrange transportation to and from ahead of time. But you can also visit the park as part of a tour, or on a dive trip.
Here are somethings you can do inside Ras Muhammad:
Why not take a picture?
This chaotic little façade on the main promenade is THE premier spot for one-upping your friends on Instagram. For whatever reason, there is always someone in front of it striking a pose. Sometimes there is even a queue!
Disconnect at Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon is a little secluded oasis within the Abu Galum protectorate located between the mountains and the Red Sea. This natural lagoon is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and diverse marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkeling and diving.
The lagoon is accessible by hiking or camel riding through the desert, which adds to the adventure and experience of visiting this unique natural wonder. The area is also known for its stunning desert landscapes and traditional Bedouin culture, making it a fascinating destination for tourists seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation.
Visitors come here to camp on the beach, kitesurf, and disconnect from the world for a bit.
The best way to reach Abu Galum and Blue Lagoon is by boat from Daniela Hotel or Blue Hole. Read more about how to get to Abu Galum from Dahab.
Hike Mount Sinai and St Catherine Monastery
St. Catherine’s Monastery is an ancient Orthodox Christian monastery located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It was built by the Byzantine Emperor in the 6th century on the site where Moses is believed to have seen the burning bush.
The monastery houses many important religious and historical artifacts, including the oldest known complete Bible, known as the Codex Sinaiticus.
Nearby, Mount Sinai is believed to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It is a popular pilgrimage site and hiking destination, offering stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape.
This area is tricky to navigate and is best done with a guided tour.
Spend the weekend in Nuweiba
Nuweiba is a small coastal town about an hour north of Dahab. One of the unique experiences available in Nuweiba is camping in a hut on the beach, where you can enjoy the stunning views of the sea and mountains, as well as the peacefulness of the desert.
Huts are often equipped with basic amenities such as beds, mattresses, and a small bathroom. Our hut at Baraka Camp even had a skylight and AC! It’s a great way to disconnect from the world and enjoy the simplicity of life while surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Some of the camps I recommend:
Baraka Camp
Paradise Swire
White Sand Camp
Queen Swer
But there are so many more! It all depends on personal preferences and budget.
Hike through the desert
Disclaimer: don’t attempt these hikes unless you really know where to go or else you could get lost in the desert.
Get a tan by the sea
Laying out in the sun at one of the many beach-front restaurants is one of my favorite things to do in Dahab.
My favorite places are Jays (it’s a little overpriced but it’s where all our friends would hang out) and Namaste (if you can get a spot! It’s very popular). All of them are slightly different versions of the same thing.
They can get very crowded too so sometimes you’ll just have to go wherever has an empty bed.
Not only can you lay out and catch some vitamin D, but you can order tea, juice or food. And the best part is jumping into the sea and swimming or snorkeling around.
Even if the water is a little chilly, you’ll warm right up again in the sun.
Harness the wind kiting or windsurfing
Dahab has warm temperatures and favorable windy conditions year round. Summer and Fall are the most ideal times to visit in my opinion as the water and air is warmer. Winter and Spring can get pretty chilly in the water and out.
No matter the season however, you will still want to wear a wet suit.
Dahab actually has three locations you can kite, wing, and windsurf: Lagoona, Eel Garden, and Blue Lagoon.
Lagoona is the easiest place to start and is where all the kite schools are located. Inside the sand bar the water is calm and shallow, but you can also venture out of the lagoon for deeper water and more waves.
Eel Garden is popular if you have your own gear. The conditions are a bit more advanced with wavey conditions and reefs, and there are only a few small beaches you can launch from.
Windsurfers can also launch from a small beach at the tip of Lighthouse (near Benuin Sons), but please be careful and watch out for divers. If you launch from this area, head directly out into the ocean and don’t come too far into the bay.
Kiters should just avoid this area altogether as it poses a huge hazard for freedivers coming to the surface for air. Imagine holding your breath underwater for 2 minutes and when you surface you get hit in the head by a falling kite.
Blue Lagoon should definitely be on your kiting bucket list as it’s a very unique experience.
Located about 20km north of Dahab, Blue Lagoon is only accessible by boat. However once you get there, you can stay the night (or several) at a camp on the beach. There are also restaurants and kite schools. Similar to Lagoona, there is calm, shallow area within the lagoon and a deeper area outside.
Camp on the beach
Spending the night on the beach is a pretty classic thing to do in Dahab. But you can go about this in many different ways.
If you have your own equipment, you can pitch a tent on the beach at the Lagoona where people have bonfires at sunset. It’s allowed to sleep there overnight, but beware of the rising tide!
The picture above is from a camp in Ras Mohammed. The tents are already set up with mattresses and blankets, and breakfast and dinner is provided.
Or you can go glamping in little huts on the beaches of Abu Galum, Blue Lagoon, and Nuweiba. These camps range from little shacks somehow not blowing over in the breeze, to luxurious multi-story cabins.
Whatever your camping style (I’m more of a glamping girl myself), there is a camp for you!
Taste Koshary from the famous cart
Koshary is a typical Egyptian dish made up of noodles, lentils, chickpeas, rice, tomato sauce, and garlic sauce.
It reminds me of something you would make if you didn’t want to go to the grocery store and were just throwing together everything left in the pantry.
But somehow koshary tastes amazing – if you go to the right place.
Ali is ‘famous’ for his style of koshary and you wont find a better place in Dahab. He studied under the guy who started the famous koshary restaurant in Cairo (Abou Tarek) back when he just had a cart 35 years ago.
Making koshary longer than I’ve been alive? You know it’s gonna be good.
Things to Do in Dahab
There are so many hobbies and things to do in Dahab that I haven’t even mentioned yet. There’s no excuse not to try something new! Here are some options for hobbies and activities that you can try during your time in Dahab.
Your new favorite hobbies:
