What To Do in Dahab, Egypt – More Than Diving!

After several months living here, this chilled beach town is my happy place in Egypt. Unlike some of the top tourist destinations packed with archaeological sites, Dahab’s activities are relaxed and wholesome, largely featuring the ocean and its sublime corals.

The Sinai Peninsula is incredibly arid. As someone from the UK accustomed to greenery (okay, perhaps it’s a bit TOO wet for me at times), I found this scenery captivating. Dahab is surrounded by epic canyons and towering cliffs, shaped by long-gone waters and coloured by ancient minerals.

It’s a hiker’s dream, as well as a paradise for divers and snorkellers. If you love to escape the hustle and bustle of cities, reconnect with nature and enjoy a slow pace of life, you’re going to fit right in.

Things to do in Dahab

Here’s how to stay busy in Dahab (if you want to be – chilling out is also a VERY viable option)…

Dahab consistently ranks among the cheapest places to learn to dive, along with Koh Tao in Thailand, Utila in Honduras and a few places in the Philippines.

Having dived here and in Koh Tao (where I got my Open Water), I felt the quality of teaching is higher in Dahab. My overall feeling in Koh Tao was that group sizes were too large for beginners to get the attention they need, and schools felt like dive factories, churning out hundreds of new divers daily.

Dahab feels more relaxed with plenty of small dive centres to choose from, most with fantastic reviews. To do a refresher (as I hadn’t dived in a while) and some fun dives, I chose Octopus Divers and only have positive things to say about them.

Prices are competitive across agencies so you’ll pay the same pretty much everywhere. Expect to pay around €350 for the Open Water and €40 per fun dive. It’s highly cost-effective to purchase packages with the same agency as the cost drops to €30 if you do more than six dives.

Best dive sites in Dahab if you have the Open Water (18m):

• Lighthouse – this is a good location for beginners (especially those doing skills like mask clears) although not necessarily the most impressive marine spot.
• Mashraba – starting below the bridge in central Dahab, this is another popular spot for beginners with a high likelihood of seeing turtles (I was lucky and we hung out with a huge one!)
• The Islands – towards Laguna Beach, this is one of my favourites for scuba and snorkelling
• Eel Garden – another of my favourite dive and snorkel spots, easily accessed from Dahab town (although it’s tricky on windy days as heavy waves make it a challenge to walk out far enough to begin your dive).
• Moray Garden – a 10-minute drive down south, this is a lovely dive spot surrounded by striking cliffs.

Best dive sights if you have the Advanced Open Water (30m):

• Blue Hole – this scuba and freediving location is world-famous, not always for the right reasons. Although accidents have occurred in the formidable 56m tunnel, recreational divers take a safe route so there’s nothing to worry about.
• The Canyon – often combined with the Blue Hole on dive trips, this is another (slightly less crowded) site with a spectacular coral garden.
• SS Thistlegorm Wreck Dive – this WWII wreck often ranks as one of the world’s best shipwreck dives. It’s closer to Sharm el Sheikh than Dahab, but there are day tours that will take you, usually visiting a couple of other dive spots and costing around €180.

Note – often you set up camp during a dive day at a beachfront restaurant with a minimum spend of 2-300 EGP. So, factor this extra cost and bring some cash (this doesn’t apply to the Islands), or check with the dive school what the plan is.

Snorkelling

If you don’t fancy scuba diving (it’s certainly not the cheapest hobby), fear not. Some of the most beautiful corals and fish I’ve seen in Dahab have been while snorkelling from the beach. I love that in Dahab you don’t need to pay for a boat trip; bring a snorkel and it’s free!

When the weather’s good, my favourite snorkel spot in town is Eel Garden beach. Swim out for five minutes to find the most sublime, colourful reef. Past the drop off, you’ll find a section where eels poke up from the ground, but retract when you swim down towards them!

I also love the Islands but it’s further from town (a 40-minute walk or pay 100 EGP in a local taxi). Make a day of it, but bring snacks as there are no shops nearby. However, you can buy Bedouin tea from the little stands. Finish the day with sunset at Laguna Beach nearby.

When it’s windy, neither spot is good. The public beach section at the Lighthouse (on Mashraba) is your best option for a secluded snorkel. Although not as impressive as the other two, you can still see beautiful corals and fish here.

If you don’t have your own snorkel already, there are plenty of shops selling them.

Freediving

I’m more of a scuba girl (at least for now) but I have plenty of friends familiar with freediving in the world-famous hub of Dahab.

This is an endurance sport, connecting with your mind, body and breath. Countless schools and freelance instructors will teach you the basics, even if you’ve never freedived before. If you have, hire some weights and find a buddy (I don’t think you’ll struggle in Dahab) to practice.

Hike to the viewpoint

For an easy sunrise or sunset hike, walk to the north end of the beach and find the footpath to the panoramic viewpoint (pinned).

From the starting point, it’s only around 10 minutes to the summit, and not too steep. Depending where in town you’re staying, it may take 20-30 minutes to walk to the start point as it’s right on the edge of town.

Getting up at 5am to do this for sunrise was pretty gruelling, but worth it to see the ocean and town bathed in golden light. Sunset is the more relaxed option.

Take note that in the early morning, local dogs may bark and follow you. They’re harmless but may make you feel nervous if you’ve had bad experiences with dogs before (after four rabies scares, I feel that!).

Occasionally, locals may ask you for money to climb the hill but this is unofficial and has only happened to me once.

Day trip to the Blue Hole / Blue Lagoon

If you do one day trip from Dahab, make it the Blue Hole! This spectacular location is the stuff of legends, especially since the Netflix Deepest Breath documentary aired.

It’s a famous spot for freediving and scuba diving (although you’ll need your Advanced Open Water due to the depth). The easiest option is a snorkelling day trip with stops at the Blue Hole and Abu Galom, finishing at the striking Blue Lagoon where you can watch the kitesurfers and drink tea overlooking the brilliant blue waters.

It’s a great day out! The corals and marine life are so vibrant.

Expect to pay around €35 for a day trip including entry fees and transport by car and boat. Our trip also included lunch, but check the details as some waterfront restaurants require a minimum purchase.

Tip – a cheaper DIY way to visit is by getting a boat to Abu Galum (50 EGP to reach the port from Dahab in a local taxi, then 300 EGP per person for the boat) and taking a lovely 2-hour coastal walk to the Blue Hole to avoid the $20 entry fee. Take a taxi back to Dahab for 300 EGP (per car).

One of the more challenging things to do in Dahab is climbing Mt Sinai, a 2,285-meter granite mountain, around 100km away.

This is one of the more gruelling hikes I’ve done, not because it’s especially difficult but because it’s overnight! We began at midnight and hiked ’til sunrise, stopping in snack huts and taking a brief nap at the summit while waiting for the sun to rise.

Watching the sunrise was simply breathtaking. All the wispy clouds made it look like an ocean. However, the visitors’ experience isn’t especially tranquil because it’s so busy and crowded.

Overall, I’m glad I did the hike because it was a testing experience and a story to tell. I went with a fun group of other volunteers from the cat shelter who kept me motivated. I’m not sure I’d have done it solo incase I got a quiet group!

Visit the sacred site of St Catherines Monastery

At the base of Mount Sinai, this ancient monastery can be combined with the hike. The tour I took concluded with a visit to the monastery before heading back to Dahab.

Whether you’re religious or not, it’s a spot of historical significance. Not only is it the world’s oldest continually inhabited monastery, but it’s the spot where Christians, Jews and Muslims believe Moses received the 10 Commandments.

If the hike isn’t for you, it’s possible to find trips that visit St Catherines Monastery during the day before returning to Dahab.

For a fun and beautiful day out in nature (and a hike that’s MUCH less difficult than the overnight Mt Sinai one), take a trip to the Red and White Canyons, just a short drive from Dahab.

The White Canyon was my favourite. We took a peaceful 2.7km walk through the canyon with no other groups around. It started with a downwards scramble holding a rope, but otherwise wasn’t especially challenging. For much of it, we were walking with bare feet through the sand, marvelling at the cliff formations towering around us.

Our tour included lunch after the White Canyon, then a stop at the Mushroom Rock and the Red Canyon in the afternoon. Both felt busier and more touristy than the White Canyon, but still worth seeing.

We departed Dahab at 8.30am, returning at 3pm. We paid 1,600 EGP each. As far as I know, it’s not possible to go independently because no public transport runs. We entered the canyon at one location and exited via another, where our driver was waiting for us. So, without a driver, it could be hard to DIY.

More Dahab hikes

With mountains surrounding the town, there’s endless scope for hiking. Along with friends living in Dahab, I’ve jumped in local taxis and tackled routes listed on AllTrails. However, there’s little in the way of signage when you’re out in the wilderness (and often no signal), so it depends how adventurous you’re feeling!

One especially nice hike is along the coastal path from Abu Galum to the Blue Hole (take a boat to the start point for 300 EGP per person and a taxi back for 300 EGP per car).

One option is to message in Facebook and WhatsApp groups for the expat community to join pre-organised hikes.

Cafe hop in Dahab

Once you’ve completed the above activities in Dahab, there’s no better way to while away time than by cafe hopping on the seafront.

There are so many iconic cafes with colourful bean bags where you can relax and soak up the sea views, quality coffee in hand.

Some of my favourites are:

• Vallee – a quiet cafe with beanbags and sea views. Try the smoked salmon toast with avocado, halloumi, fried potatoes, olives and dates. It’s a feast!
• Sarda – towards the edge of town, this is a hidden gem with a fantastic menu of brunch dishes, woodfired pizza and quality coffee, served with figs. My happy place for reading and chilling.

Note – some beach restaurants require a minimum spend of 2-300 EGP (I feel it’s usually the places with lower quality food that do this) but the above places don’t; you can just buy a coffee.

These are just my favourite waterfront cafes; there are so many other great places to eat in Dahab, hence I have a separate post on that topic.

Evening community events

There are plenty of weekly events in Dahab, from live music to open mic nights and dance classes. Although these may change over time, in 2026 you can expect…

Live music at Moods (Sunday nights from 8pm) – this is a lovely, open-air cafe with quirky decor and a tranquil vibe. Entry is free; just buy a drink.

Open mic nights at Tota – on Saturday nights, semi-professional acts perform, while on Tuesdays, it’s more of a karaoke vibe where anyone can get up to sing. Entry is free; just order something to eat or drink.

Bachata and salsa classes at Jackie’s – suitable for all levels including beginners. There are various classes during the week; follow them on Instagram @jackies_dahab for the current schedule.

Evenings at wadis

There are several wadis surrounding Dahab. These valleys flanked by cliffs make atmospheric venues for bonfires and live music.

I’ve been a few times with friends, and after a Bedouin tea beside the fire (alternatively, you can bring your own drinks; the wadi we visited didn’t mind us drinking alcohol), we hiked up to a scenic vantage point away from the crowds. The stargazing is unrivalled, especially when the moon is at its smallest!

A popular option is Wadi Gnai, located a short drive from Dahab. It’s easy to arrange a taxi ride by speaking with the pick-ups waiting around Asala Square. Just be sure to arrange the return ride, otherwise you might get stuck! Many of the drivers speak basic English.