Dahab is what Sharm el-Sheikh was before the resorts: low-rise, barefoot and cheap, strung along a seafront promenade of cafés and dive shops. The reefs are right off the shore, so snorkelling costs nothing but a mask, and the Blue Hole and the Ras Abu Galum protectorate are a short drive north. Most people fly into Sharm and take a bus or taxi for about an hour and a half. Stay at least four nights; many stay weeks.
Compare Dahab with another place →
When to go
March to May and October to November are best: warm sea, hot but not punishing days. December to February is pleasant by day, cool at night and windy, which the kitesurfers love. June to August regularly passes 40°C; you will only want the water.
Dahab right now and the next 7 days
Loading the forecast…
Dahab on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Dahab · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Prices are per the way you travel, not a package.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Dahab in 4 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Snorkel the Lighthouse and Eel Garden reefsHalf day · free · Walk in from town. Bring your own mask or hire one on the promenade.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Blue HoleHalf day · ₹2,150 each · The famous sinkhole reef north of town. Foreigners recently paid about $25 in cash (checkpoint plus site fee); reports vary, so check before you go. Snorkel the rim; deep diving here has killed many divers.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Wadi trip into the mountainsHalf day · price to check · Jeep or camel trips into the canyons behind town with a Bedouin guide. Agree the price and route first.
- 13:00Lunch break
- A slow morning before the journey home.
How to get to Dahab
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus Cheapest
₹110A few departures a day from Sharm's bus station, not the airport, so add a taxi to the station. Fare around EGP 65; check the current one with the operator.
Taxi
Check fareAbout 100 km. Agree the price before you get in, or have your Dahab hotel send a car. Split it if you can.
Bus
₹1,030Twice daily, often overnight, roughly $10-14. Expect several police checkpoints with passport checks.
Taxi Last leg
₹70The bus station is out of the centre. Short rides start around EGP 40; agree the fare first.
Getting around once you're there
Taxi
₹70Short hops start around EGP 40. The Blue Hole runs EGP 100-200 one way. Always agree the price before you set off.
On foot
FreeThe promenade from Assalah to the Lighthouse and Mashraba is walkable end to end.
Bicycle
Check priceBike hire is common on the promenade and Dahab is flat. Price not confirmed.
Jeep or camel to Ras Abu Galum
Check priceNo road reaches the protectorate. You walk from the Blue Hole or go by camel or boat; Bedouin operators at the Blue Hole arrange it.
Where to stay in Dahab
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Camp or dorm
₹700/nightBasic rooms and dorm beds run roughly €5-10 a night. Look at the room, and the shower, before you pay.
Budget hotel
₹2,200/nightThe cheapest hotel listings run about £16-38 a night. Many have a pool or a sea-view terrace.
Mid-range hotel
₹6,900/nightHotels average about £63 a night. The Lagoon area suits families and kitesurfers.
What to eat, and what it costs
Meal at a cheap local restaurant
₹340About EGP 200. Fish, rice and salad, or koshari and falafel in Assalah, the local side of town.
Seafront dinner, mid-range
₹600About EGP 350 a head. Pick your fish at the counter and it is grilled by weight.
Cappuccino on the promenade
₹140About EGP 80. Bedouin tea is a fraction of that.
Local beer
₹170About EGP 100. Not every café serves alcohol; the promenade bars do.
Things to do in Dahab
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Snorkel the Lighthouse and Eel Garden reefs
FreeWalk in from town. Bring your own mask or hire one on the promenade.
Blue Hole
₹2,150The famous sinkhole reef north of town. Foreigners recently paid about $25 in cash (checkpoint plus site fee); reports vary, so check before you go. Snorkel the rim; deep diving here has killed many divers.
Ras Abu Galum protectorate
Check priceA protected coast with no road. Walk the coastal path from the Blue Hole or go by camel, then snorkel and eat at a Bedouin camp.
Learn to dive
Check priceDahab is one of the cheapest places to do an open-water course. Compare several centres and check their accreditation.
Wadi trip into the mountains
Check priceJeep or camel trips into the canyons behind town with a Bedouin guide. Agree the price and route first.
Day trips and next stops
Ras Abu Galum
Check fareTaxi to the Blue Hole, then walk or camel
Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery
Check fareOrganised night trip from Dahab
Sharm el-Sheikh and Ras Mohammed
₹110Bus or taxi
Cairo
₹1,030BusMisr or East Delta bus
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Security: the UK FCDO (updated 4 Aug 2026) advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweiba road, except the east and west coasts. Dahab is on the east coast and outside those areas. The US has told its citizens not to travel to Sinai except to Sharm el-Sheikh by air. Check both before you book, and before any trip inland.
- The Blue Hole and its arch have killed many divers. Snorkel the rim, and only dive it with a reputable centre and the right training.
- Agree every taxi, camel and trip price before you start. Unmarked taxis and some tour sellers overcharge newcomers.
Ways to spend less
- Snorkelling is free: the reef is right off the promenade. Buy a mask once and use it every day.
- Stay a week and ask for a weekly rate. Camps and small hotels drop prices sharply for long stays.
- Eat in Assalah, the local quarter, at a fraction of promenade prices.
Before-you-go checklist
Dahab in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Dahab?
Mar–May, Oct–Nov is the best time. March to May and October to November are best: warm sea, hot but not punishing days. December to February is pleasant by day, cool at night and windy, which the kitesurfers love. June to August regularly passes 40°C; you will only want the water.
How do I reach Dahab?
Bus: Sharm el-Sheikh → Dahab (East Delta or Go Bus), About 1 h 30 m, about ₹110 one way. Bus: Cairo → Dahab (BusMisr or East Delta), About 7-9 h, about ₹1,030 one way.
How much does a 4-day trip to Dahab cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹6,800 on a shoestring, ₹10,800 mid-range or ₹24,000 in comfort over 4 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Sharm el-Sheikh → Dahab (East Delta or Go Bus)) at about ₹110 each way.
How many days do you need in Dahab?
4 days is right for most people. That covers Snorkel the Lighthouse and Eel Garden reefs, Blue Hole, Wadi trip into the mountains without rushing.
Is Dahab good for families or solo travellers?
Dahab works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Dahab?
Easy. Egyptian food has a big vegetarian core: falafel (taameya), ful, koshari, molokhia, salads and fresh bread. Many promenade cafés also cater for long-stay travellers with vegan bowls.
Will my phone and cards work in Dahab?
Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE sell tourist SIMs at Sharm airport. Coverage is good in town. Hotels and the bigger dive centres take cards; many small places do not. The Egyptian pound (EGP) is worth about ₹1.7. Carry cash: many cafés, camps, taxis and the Blue Hole take cash only, and the Blue Hole may ask for dollars.
Guides for Dahab
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
The Cheapest Places to Visit in 2027: 12 Underrated Picks on Four ContinentsThe 12 cheapest underrated places to visit in 2027 on four continents, with real daily costs, the best months and…Read the guide →
Cheap Winter Sun Destinations: Where Is Warm and Affordable from December to FebruaryEleven underrated, cheap winter sun places rated good or best for December, January and February, with daily costs,…Read the guide →Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO: advise against all travel to North Sinai; all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai beyond the St Catherine-Nuweiba road, except the coastal areas on the west and east of the peninsula (page updated 4 Aug 2026, current 17 Oct 2026)
- osac.gov OfficialUS: do not travel to the Sinai Peninsula except Sharm el-Sheikh by air (OSAC report, Mar 2025; travel.state.gov could not be fetched)
- numbeo.comCheap meal EGP 200, mid-range for two EGP 700, cappuccino EGP 82, water EGP 10, beer EGP 100, taxi start EGP 40 (updated 2 Oct 2026, 76 entries)
- ulysse.comDorm or basic room €5-10 a night; local dishes €2-4 (2026)
- hotelscombined.co.ukAverage hotel £63 a night; cheapest about £16-38 (updated 18 Feb 2026)
- rome2rio.comEast Delta and Go Bus Sharm-Dahab, about 1-2 h, bus leg about ₹80-110; taxi about 100 km
- welcomepickups.comEast Delta Sharm-Dahab EGP 65 (undated)
- rome2rio.comBusMisr Cairo-Dahab twice daily, $10-14, about 7 h; East Delta also runs
- blog.wego.comBlue Hole about $25 per foreign visitor in cash (checkpoint plus site fee); taxi EGP 100-200 one way (updated Jul 2026)
- english.ahram.org.egEGP about 51 per USD (23 Aug 2026)
Similar underrated places
_02.JPG/500px-Shali_(Historic_Center_of_Siwa)_02.JPG)
Siwa OasisA mud-brick fortress town between two salt lakes, ten hours by bus from Cairo, where the Great Sand Sea…From ₹1,200/day · Mar, Oct–Nov
DjerbaA flat, whitewashed Mediterranean island of palm groves, domed mosques, a 2,500-year-old Jewish community…From ₹2,800/day · May, Sep–Oct
Chefchaouen & the Rif MountainsThe blue town where Rif Mountain trails replace Marrakech's touts.From ₹1,600/day · Apr–May, Sep–OctMake the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Paul Grach · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Passantadnan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase · CC BY 2.0 · source
.jpg){kind=link}
