Sahl Hasheesh is a purpose-built bay 25 km south of Hurghada, laid out around a long crescent of beach. It was designed rather than grown, which makes it calm, spacious and slightly unreal — and means that everything you do here needs a little planning.

The bay itself

The water is shallow and warm a long way out, which suits families and anyone uneasy about swimming. There is a genuine reef within the bay, so snorkeling straight off the beach is realistic — a rarity on this coast, where most reef access needs a boat.

The underwater museum

Few guests know about this. A short swim from shore there is a submerged sculpture park, built deliberately as an underwater attraction. Snorkelers can reach it without a boat. Ask at your hotel for the entry point, and go on a calm morning when visibility is best.

The Old Town boardwalk

A pedestrian promenade of restaurants, cafes and bars along the water, and the centre of the evening here. Live music, sports on the screens, quiz nights and pool tournaments run through the week — the schedule varies by season, so check locally rather than online.

Diving and snorkeling

Abu Hasheesh Island offshore sits inside a local protected area, and the reefs around it see far fewer boats than the sites closer to Hurghada. Our semi-submarine trip departs from the bay with free transfers from any Sahl Hasheesh hotel — the easiest way to show non-swimmers the reef.

Getting out and about

This is the thing to plan for. Sahl Hasheesh is self-contained: there is no town to wander into, no market and no taxi rank. Everything beyond your resort needs transport.

  • Our private transfers run to and from Hurghada and the airport at a fixed price.
  • Most of our Hurghada excursions — the island days, the desert safaris, the Cairo and Luxor tours — will collect from Sahl Hasheesh for a $5 per person supplement.
  • Book both directions. Arranging a car back late in the evening is difficult and expensive.

Practical advice

  • The bay is long — resorts at opposite ends are a genuine walk apart. Give any driver your exact hotel.
  • Bring your own snorkel mask if you have one that fits; the house reef rewards it.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen, please, and never stand on the coral.
  • There is limited nightlife outside the Old Town boardwalk. If you want a livelier evening, plan a trip into Hurghada.

See what we run from here on the tours page.