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Hotels in Makadi Bay

A bay of all-inclusive hotels and house reefs with desert at its back

Makadi Bay

LanguageArabic
CurrencyEGP
TimezoneAfrica/Cairo
Temperature18-38 °C
Dial Code+20
Population104M
Area1,001,450 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterNot drinkable

Discover Makadi Bay

Makadi Bay is a purpose-built bay on the Red Sea coast about thirty kilometres south of Hurghada and its airport, served by charter flights from Europe. It is not a town but a continuous line of hotels with their own sandy beaches and house reefs, where you snorkel and dive among colourful fish right from the beach. The hotels are mostly four and five star and offer all-inclusive, so people come mainly to relax by the sea and pool. The sea is warm all year, the summer hot and the winters mild at twenty-three degrees, so holidays are sold year-round. Behind the hotels the desert begins, from which quad and jeep rides and visits to Bedouin can be made. Evening entertainment is provided by the hotels, and for more you go to Hurghada or Sahl Hasheesh. Makadi Bay suits families with children and divers who want a reef by the beach. Citizens of the EU need a visa.

What to see

The places worth your time in Makadi Bay, and what to expect at each

Makadi Bay Beaches

Makadi Bay Beaches

whole bay

A bay with sandy beaches where most hotels have their own section with loungers, a jetty and an entrance to the sea. The sand is fine, the water turquoise and calm and sheltered by a reef. The beaches are private, but open to hotel guests.

Tip: From the loungers you can enter the sea directly; the jetty helps get over the shallows near the shore. In the morning the sea is calmer and clearer than in the afternoon.

Admission:
included in the hotel
Time needed:
half a day

House Reefs and Snorkelling

bay

The reefs by the beaches are home to corals and colourful fish, which can be seen right from the jetty. Hotels have diving schools and rent out snorkels and fins. Entry to the reef is usually along a jetty, to protect the coral.

Tip: Do not walk on or touch the coral — fines are high and the reef is fragile. Bring water shoes and reef-safe sunscreen.

Admission:
included in the hotel
Time needed:
2 hrs
Giftun Islands

Giftun Islands

off Hurghada

An archipelago off Hurghada, reached by boat from the harbour on a full-day trip with snorkelling and lunch. The beaches are white and the sea clear, with colourful fish on the reefs. Trips usually include two or three stops.

Tip: Book a trip through your tour operator or hotel and bring sun protection. The sea is choppier in the afternoon, so choose a trip with an early departure.

Admission:
from €35
Time needed:
full day
Tourist Submarine

Tourist Submarine

Hurghada

A submarine with an observation deck below the surface that departs from the harbour in Hurghada and cruises along a coral reef. The trip lasts about an hour and suits those who do not want to dive or snorkel. The windows show fish and corals from a depth of several metres.

Tip: Book through the hotel, as it is often full in season. The best view is in clear weather and before noon, when the water is calm.

Admission:
from €40
Time needed:
1–2 hrs
Sahl Hasheesh

Sahl Hasheesh

south of Makadi

A purpose-built resort about twenty kilometres south of Makadi with a promenade and an Old Town of restaurants, shops and cafés. In the evening it is lively and a pleasant contrast to the hotels. The beach is calm and well kept.

Tip: Take a taxi in the evening and agree the price in advance. The Old Town is walked on foot and around eight in the evening the shops open.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Hurghada Marina

Hurghada Marina

Hurghada

A harbour in the centre of Hurghada with yachts, restaurants, shops and a promenade. In the evening it is lively and boats to the islands leave from the jetty. It is a good place for dinner and a stroll.

Tip: From Makadi it is about half an hour by taxi; agree the price in advance. From the evening, boats with dinner trips run from the marina.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2–3 hrs

Desert Safari and Bedouin Village

desert behind the coast

An evening or morning ride by quad or jeep into the desert behind the coast, which ends at a Bedouin village with dinner by the fire. The route offers views of the mountains and the sunset. It is the most popular excursion from the hotels.

Tip: Bring a scarf for your face, glasses and long trousers; the dust is fine. Quads are worth booking in advance.

Admission:
from €25
Time needed:
4–5 hrs

Hurghada Grand Aquarium

Hurghada

An aquarium in Hurghada with an underwater tunnel, sharks, rays and a display of Red Sea fish. It is air-conditioned and suits an hour's rest in the midday heat. It offers a taste of the sea for those who do not want to dive.

Tip: Tickets are bought on the spot, and midday is quietest. Combine it with a stroll along the marina.

Admission:
about €20
Time needed:
1–2 hrs

Spa and Hammam

hotels

Hotels in Makadi offer spas with hammams, massages and scrubs that are cheaper than in Europe. A traditional hammam takes one to one and a half hours and includes hot steam and a massage. It is a pleasant change after swimming.

Tip: Book treatments as soon as you arrive, as evening slots fill quickly. Ask whether the price is included in the all-inclusive package.

Admission:
from €20
Time needed:
1.5 hrs

Photos: Makadi Bay Beaches — Dirgela (CC0) · Giftun Islands — user:vberger (Public domain) · Tourist Submarine — Photographer: Mosbatho (CC BY 4.0) · Sahl Hasheesh — Joshfdrake (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hurghada Marina — 1stTam3r (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Makadi Bay – centre

Best for: beachfront hotels and transport

The middle of the bay with the largest concentration of hotels and the nearest transport to the airport. There are a few small shops and a choice of transfers. Suits those who want to stay near the beach.

Northern Makadi

Best for: calm and family hotels

The northern end of the bay closer to Hurghada, with family hotels and a broad shoreline. It is calm and better connected. A good choice for families.

Southern Makadi

Best for: luxury and privacy

The southern hotels with sprawling grounds and private beaches. Prices are higher and the setting calmer. Suits couples and those seeking quiet.

Sahl Hasheesh (nearby)

Best for: promenade and evening life

The neighbouring resort with an Old Town, shops and restaurants. Hotel prices are comparable and the choice of evening entertainment bigger. Suits those who want more than a hotel.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

The nearest airport is Hurghada (HRG), about thirty kilometres from the bay, served by charter flights from Prague and other cities. The transfer to a hotel takes about twenty-five to forty minutes and is arranged by the tour operator or by taxi. Hurghada also has coach services to Cairo, Luxor and other cities.

Hurghada International Airport (HRG) · 30 km

  • Tour operator transfer· 30 min
  • Taxi to the hotel· 30 min· 400 EGP
  • Private transfer· 30 min· €20

Around town

The hotels at Makadi lie in a remote bay, so you cannot manage without transport. Taxis and hotel shuttles run to Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh, with prices agreed in advance. There is no public transport. Excursions are arranged by tour operators or hotel receptions.

Hotel shuttleTo Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh, often for a fee. · €10
TaxiFrom the hotel to Sahl Hasheesh or Hurghada. · 400 EGP
Organised excursionBook through a travel agency or at reception. · €35
On footAround the hotel bay and along the beach.

Useful apps: Google Maps, Uber, Careem, Maps.me

When to go

Makadi Bay has a desert climate with almost no rain. The summer is extremely hot at around thirty-eight degrees, but the air is dry and the sea refreshes. In winter it is about twenty-three degrees by day and fourteen at night, which is borderline for swimming. The best time is March to May and September to November, when it is warm and the sea around twenty-five degrees.

Best time

March to May and September to November

What to avoid

July and August (about 38°C) and January (cooler sea)

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day22°23°26°31°35°37°38°38°36°32°27°23°
Night14°14°17°21°24°26°28°28°26°22°18°15°
Rainy days000000000000
Sea22°22°22°23°25°26°28°29°28°27°25°23°

Food & drink

Makadi Bay is a hotel zone, so most meals are eaten at the hotel: buffets, à la carte restaurants and beach bars. The cooking is Egyptian and international and hotels differ in quality. Outside the hotels there are only restaurants in Sahl Hasheesh and Hurghada. All-inclusive covers most drinks and meals.

What to try

All-inclusive buffet

International buffets with a salad bar, grill, pasta and desserts, eaten three times a day. Hotels also offer themed evenings with Egyptian cooking.

Ful medames

Stewed fava beans with olive oil, lemon and cumin, served for breakfast with bread. The basis of an Egyptian breakfast.

Koshari

Egypt's national dish: rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas with tomato sauce. In hotels it appears on themed evenings.

Grilled fish

Fresh Red Sea fish, grilled with lemon and served with rice. In Hurghada you get it in fish restaurants for a few hundred EGP.

Shawarma

Sliced meat from a rotating spit in pitta with vegetables. A cheap meal for sixty to a hundred EGP in Hurghada.

Karkadé

Hibiscus tea served hot or cold, a staple drink of Egypt. In hotels it is served by the beach.

Egyptian sweets

Baklava, basbousa and kunafa, sweet desserts with honey and nuts. In hotels they are served with tea.

What it costs

1.5 L water

10–15 EGP

Beer in town

80–150 EGP

Shawarma

60–100 EGP

Taxi to Sahl Hasheesh

300–500 EGP

Giftun Island (trip)

€35–50

Desert safari

€25–40

4★ all-inclusive hotel (night)

€60–120

Massage

€20–40

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage220V / 50Hz
Tap waterDo not drink tap water — Tap water in Egypt is not for drinking. Bottled water is cheap and hotels provide it free. Ice cubes in hotels are usually made from clean water.
TippingTipping (baksheesh) is expected in Egypt: a few EGP for restaurant staff, 20–50 EGP for housekeeping and beach staff. In all-inclusive hotels it is given according to satisfaction.
Driving on theright
SafetyMakadi Bay is a safe, enclosed hotel zone. Watch for sun and dehydration, and for sea urchins and coral in the water — wear water shoes. On excursions check that the operator is licensed. The emergency number is 122.
Opening hoursHotels run around the clock. Shops in Hurghada open around nine and close after ten. On Friday they are closed until noon. Hotel restaurants have fixed hours.
Customs & etiquetteIn Egypt dress modestly outside the hotel: shoulders and knees covered. Alcohol is served only in hotels. When bargaining in shops, smile and be patient.
A few local wordsHello — Marhaba / As-salamu alaykumThank you — ShukranPlease — Min fadlakHow much is it? — Bikam da?No, thank you — La, shukranCheers — Fi sihhatakWhere is the toilet? — Fein el-hammam?

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Makadi Bay

  1. 1Morning breakfast and snorkelling at the house reef.
  2. 2Afternoon pool and beach.
  3. 3Early evening a stroll along the bay.
  4. 4Evening dinner at the hotel.

2 days

Two days: sea and desert

  1. 1Day one as above.
  2. 2Day two a boat trip to Giftun.
  3. 3Afternoon hammam.
  4. 4Evening a desert safari with dinner by the fire.

3 days

Three days: Makadi and surroundings

  1. 1Days one and two as above.
  2. 2Day three Sahl Hasheesh and its Old Town.
  3. 3Afternoon Hurghada Marina.
  4. 4Evening return to the hotel.

Day trips

Hurghada

30 km · 30 min by car

The Red Sea's largest resort with a marina, bazaar and aquarium. It suits half a day or an evening, with transport by taxi.

El Gouna

55 km · 50 min by car

A resort on canals with a marina, cafés and golf. It is calmer and more upmarket than Hurghada.

Luxor

290 km · 4.5 hrs by car

The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temple. The journey is long and the trip is worth it only as a full day with an early start.

Frequently asked questions

Is Makadi Bay suitable for families?+

Yes, the hotels have kids' clubs, pools with slides and a shallow beach. The sea by the shore is calm and clear. House reefs are ideal for children, as you can snorkel without a boat.

How far is Makadi Bay from the airport?+

About thirty kilometres, and the transfer takes about half an hour. The tour operator usually provides a shared transfer in the package price. A taxi from the airport costs around four hundred EGP.

When is the best time to stay?+

March to May and September to November, when it is warm and the sea is about twenty-five degrees. In summer it is hot at about thirty-eight, but the sea refreshes. In winter the sea is borderline for swimming.

What is a house reef?+

A coral reef by the hotel beach that you can walk or swim to without a boat. There are many fish and corals and it suits snorkelling, including for beginners. Protect the coral and do not walk on it.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?+

Yes, citizens of the EU need a visa, arranged electronically in advance or at the airport for about twenty-five dollars. The passport must be valid for at least six months. Conditions change, so check with your foreign ministry.

Which excursions are worth it?+

A boat trip to Giftun, a desert safari with dinner by the fire, and Luxor or Cairo as a full-day trip. Diving and snorkelling are also available at the hotel. Book excursions through a travel agency.

Is Makadi Bay safe?+

Yes, it is a guarded hotel zone and only hotel guests have access. The main risk is sun and dehydration, so drink plenty of water. Outside the hotels stick to official operators.

What does all-inclusive cost?+

4★ hotels cost roughly sixty to a hundred and twenty euros a night per person in season, 5★ more. The price includes food, drinks and entertainment. It is cheaper outside the holidays and when booked in advance.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police122Ambulance123Fire180

Language

Arabic

Currency

EGP

Timezone

Africa/Cairo

Dial Code

+20

Population

104M

Area

1,001,450 km²

Voltage

220V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

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