Marsa Nakari Village – Dolphins and more….
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Diving Vacation Marsa Nakari Village
Marsa Nakari is one of Marsa Alam’s best-kept secrets. It is a charming village in a quiet location 18 km south of the city of Marsa Alam. It has a rustic charm and gives a real natural feel that is in keeping with its surroundings, allowing guests to enjoy the natural beauty of the Red Sea away from mass tourism. Marsa Nakari is a perfect base for exploring the highlights of Marsa Alam, including El Nayzak beach, the Qulaan lagoon, Sharm el Luli and Ras Hankorab.
One of the diving highlights is the protected Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House) where snorkelers and divers have the chance to encounter spinner dolphins in the wild, but in an environment regulated and monitored to protect the dolphin population. This reef’s coral reef system and its resident dolphins are one of the southern Red Sea’s most popular attractions. Marsa Nakari Village offers exclusive access to this beautiful site by speedboat in just 20 minutes.
The nearby Wadi el Gemal National Park is one of the region’s biggest attractions with both sea and land areas of more than 7450 square kilometers. The marine area includes a strip of coastal waters with large stretches of mangroves and seagrass beds, as well as a number of islands (the Hamata Archipelago and the island of Wadi El Gemal) that are breeding grounds for birds and turtles. On land, it covers a vast rocky desert and mountainous landscape, with several archaeological sites, including Ptolemaic and Roman ruins, as well as mining sites from ancient Egypt. Wildlife such as birds, camels, gazelles, foxes and ibex roam the area.
Best travel time: Diving in the Red Sea is possible year-round. Usually the sea is slightly calmer between September and May and visibility is best then. In the summer months, the water temperature is most pleasant.
Marsa Nakari itself is a historic site dating back to Roman times; known to the ancients as the Port of Nechesia, from which the bay takes its name. The remains of the ruin are still present atop a hill on the south side of the bay.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for the Red Sea
In the summer months a 3mm is sufficient, but in the heart of winter a 7mm is wiser. In between, a 5mm will suffice.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1
Today your diving vacation to Egypt begins. Your flight to Marsa Alam from many airports in europe. The flight takes about 5.5 hours to Marsa Alam.
Once you are through passport control, have arranged your visa and picked up your luggage from the belt you will arrive in the arrivals hall. Here a staff member from Marsa Nakari Village is already waiting for you. In about 45 minutes you drive, south along the Red Sea coast, to the diving resort.
Arriving, you check in and settle into your room nicely.
Day 2 to 6 - Diving in the southern Red Sea
For the next 5 days, you will enjoy diving every day. How often? That’s up to you because you have 5 days of unlimited diving on the house reef. The house reef is accessed from the beach via a wide, convenient access point, with the coral reef starting right at the shoreline and extending both north and south. The northern Reef is popular for its hard corals, fish life and anemone city; on the southern reef, divers like to explore the pinnacles and passageways. The marine life at Marsa Nakari is extremely diverse and macro enthusiasts enjoy the nudibranchs, shrimp, velvet fish, and ghost whistle fish. Turtles and dolphins are not uncommon, and a school of Indian Mackerel constantly patrols the bay. Marsa Nakari is the first PADI IDC resort in the region, with its own on-site PADI Course Director offering year-round recreational and professional courses.
The quality of the coral reefs accessible by boat and car from Marsa Nakari often surprises divers and snorkelers. Despite being so close to shore, the quality and diversity of fish and coral life is stunning, and the variety of landscapes offers something for everyone, from pinnacles, passageways and canyons to drop-offs, hard and soft coral gardens and seagrass beds. It is also possible to dive to the wreck of the Hamada at Abu Ghusoun.
For a fee, you can expand this package (on site) to include boat dives. At Marsa Nakari, they work with boat zones. Zone A are the cuttings reasonably close and cost €15 extra per dive. Zone C includes Elphinestone and this dive costs an additional €30 per dive.
Day 7 - Excursions or Relaxation
Today you won’t be diving, but that doesn’t mean the vacation is over. On the contrary, today you can explore Egypt above water. There are several excursion options such as desert safaris. Explore by camel or four wheel drive the landscapes of mountains and wadis that serve as a backdrop to the Red Sea. Meet and learn about the Ababda Bedouins who live in the region. The area has a unique history that can still be seen, from gold and emerald mines from Ptolemaic and Roman times to petroglyphs that tell prehistoric and Pharaonic stories.
You can also book a day trip to Luxor. This is a unique opportunity to see something of Egypt’s historical culture. Departing at 3:30 in the morning and returning in time for dinner, you will have the opportunity to visit the following highlights: Valley of the Kings on the West Bank, Hatshepsut Temple, Memnon Colossi, 15-minute Tour on the Nile, Visit the East Bank and Karnak Temple
Day 8 - Return home or extension
The relaxing diving vacation is already over. Today you will be transferred back to Marsa Alam airport to fly back home.
It is also possible to extend your diving vacation with, for example, a liveaboard departing from Marsa Alam towards southern St. Lucia. Johns or the shark paradise NDE. It is also possible to take a beautiful cultural tour of Egypt. For example, visit the pyramids at Luxor or sail down the Nile on a traditional felucca (sailing ship).
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Marsa Nakari Village
A range of accommodation options is available, from traditional tents on the beach where you can experience the Red Sea as it used to be, to Deluxe Chalets with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms and views of the incredible desert landscape and house reef. Meals are served in the buffet restaurant that overlooks the center of the village and caters to all tastes and requirements.
On the grounds of Marsa Nakari, in addition to the restaurant, dive shop and accommodations, you will also find a cafeteria and a massage tent.
The cafeteria team provides all-inclusive soft drinks, water and hot drinks (Nescafe/tea) from 06:00 – 24:00. The cafeteria also serves (for a fee) other drinks, snacks and items such as; specialty coffee (latte, cappuccino, espresso, etc.), diet drinks, beer, chocolate, chips, ice cream, souvenirs, etc.
During this trip, you will stay in a Royal Tent. The Royal Tent (photos 1,2 &3) is the most popular accommodation option. The tent is 5×5 meters and well furnished with a minibar, fan, beanbag chairs and table, and a sitting area just a few meters from the shoreline. Royal tents are available with one double bed or two single beds and share a common bathroom. Shower towels are available at the reception if needed (free of charge) and beach towels can be rented on site for a fee.
There are other options regarding accommodation. So you can upgrade to a Hut (photos 4 &5). The cabins are simple rooms with a domed roof measuring 3.5 x 3.5 meters. They are located on the beach, slightly back from the shoreline, but offer uninterrupted sea views. They have two single beds and no private bathroom.
More luxurious are the deluxe chalets (photos 6 & 7). These chalets have air conditioning and a private bathroom.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is US$ 756 per person based on two people in one Royal Tent. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from US$ 756 p.p.
- 7 Nights in a Royal Tent
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers
- Dive package consisting of 5 days of unlimted house reef diving
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Marsa Alam from US$ 581 p.p. but usually around US$ 739
- Marine Park Fee US$ 5 per stay
- Hyperbaric Chamber Fee US$ 7 per stay
- Visa at Egypt airport approx. US$ 26
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe.
However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide.
Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Upgrade to a Deluxe Chalet US$ 163 p.p.
- Boat dive Zone A US$ 16 per dive
- Boat dive Zone B US$ 21 per dive
- Boat dive Zone C (Elphinstone) US$ 32 per dive
- Nitrox US$ 2 per tank
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
You can do both boat diving and shore diving here. An unlimited house reef diving package is offered in this trip.
There are a total of 3 boat diving zones, of which Zone A is very close and Zone C, which includes Elphinstone is about 40 minutes away by boat.
Since you have a package for unlimited diving, you can dive as much as is allowed within your limits.
Yes definitely!
Yes definitely!
Marsa Nakari has its own PADI dive center and they can offer a full range of PADI recreational courses, from Discover Scuba Diving to PADI Rescue Diver. If you want to do a particular specialty course, feel free to contact us regarding the possibilities.
The diving school is on-site
Diving equipment
15-liter tanks are available in the villages of Shagra and Nakari (according to availability) at an additional cost of 3 euros per dive.
The additional charge is €2 per tank.
Full equipment per day with computer costs €35 p.p. and for 5 days €165. Please indicate before departure what you would like to rent so we can coordinate with the diving school.
Other activities & excursions
Marsa Nakari House Reef is easily accessible from the beach and offers both a north and south reef for snorkelers to explore. Snorkeling on the house reef is free for guests staying at Marsa Nakari Village. The house reef offers diverse marine life and is a particular favorite of macro lovers because of the variety of macro critters that can often be found even in shallow water, such as velvet fish, ghost whistle fish, and more. Turtles are fairly common in the bay, as are rays, napoleon lipped fish, Indian mackerel, reef squid and sometimes dolphins and reef sharks.
The topography of the southern part of the house reef is particularly interesting to explore, with pinnacles and coral blocks covered with marine life. There is also a large patch of anemones on the north side. For those who want to explore the outer reef, zodiacs are available from early morning until sunset.
There are several excursions including desert excursions. Explore the landscapes of mountains and wadis that serve as a backdrop to the Red Sea by camel or Four Wheel Drive. Meet and learn about the Ababda Bedouins who live in the region. The area has a unique history that can still be seen, from gold and emerald mines from Ptolemaic and Roman times to petroglyphs that tell prehistoric and Pharaonic stories.
Accommodation
No, only the Deluxe Chalets have air conditioning.
There is internet access via Wi-Fi. Ask at the front desk for more information and prices. Also keep in mind that due to the remoteness of the location, Internet access is not always as fast and efficient as in other parts of the world!
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