Egypt’s Red Sea coast runs over 800 km from the Gulf of Suez to the Sudanese border, and all-inclusive resorts are packed into four main clusters — Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, El Gouna, and Marsa Alam. Each destination has a different personality: Hurghada for family-value packages, Sharm for dive-focused 5-star luxury, El Gouna for a boutique lagoon escape, and Marsa Alam for remote reefs with almost no crowds.
This guide compares all four, covers what’s actually included (and excluded) in Egyptian all-inclusive pricing, and links to our full hotel pick pages for each destination.
Hurghada: Best for Families and Value
Hurghada is Egypt’s highest-volume all-inclusive market. Resorts range from EGP 2,500 budget properties with limited buffets to EGP 18,000-per-night 5-star Kempinski and Rixos properties at Soma Bay, 45 km south of the city.
Best areas for all-inclusive resorts:
- Sahl Hasheesh — 15 km south of Hurghada city, quieter enclave with upscale resorts and a sandy private beach. Good for families. Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh and Amwaj Oyoun Resort are established mid-range picks (EGP 4,000–9,000 all-in).
- Soma Bay — 45 km south, the highest-grade hotel zone on the Hurghada coast. Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay and Robinson Club Soma Bay set the benchmark; prices from EGP 8,000 per night all-inclusive.
- Makadi Bay — halfway between Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh, concentrated with 4-star all-inclusives including Jaz Makadi Aquaviva and Jaz Makadi Star. Good value for families (EGP 3,500–7,000).
What Hurghada all-inclusives include: Three buffet meals, house alcoholic drinks, daytime snacks, non-motorised water sports (kayak, paddle board, pedalos), kids’ clubs at larger properties. Not included: Scuba diving, motorised water sports, spa, Red Sea excursion boats, airport transfers.
See our full Hurghada hotel guide →
Browse Hurghada hotels on Booking.com →
Sharm el-Sheikh: Best for Diving and Luxury
Sharm el-Sheikh has Egypt’s most concentrated luxury all-inclusive market. The Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh and Rixos Premium Seagate anchor the top tier; Naama Bay and Sharks Bay offer mid-range options with house reefs.
Best areas for all-inclusive resorts:
- Naama Bay — the original resort strip, walkable, best for independent travellers who want restaurants and nightlife alongside an all-inclusive base. Camel Hotel and Marriott Red Sea Resort are reliable mid-tier (EGP 5,000–10,000).
- Sharks Bay — quieter cove north of Naama Bay, known for an excellent house reef. Hilton Sharm Dreams and Sharks Bay Umbi Lodge suit divers (EGP 4,000–8,000).
- Nabq Bay — 20 km north, large-footprint resort complexes for families wanting quieter beach space. Albatros Aqua Blu Resort is a strong family pick (EGP 3,500–7,000).
Sharm’s biggest advantage over Hurghada: proximity to world-class dive sites. Ras Mohammed National Park is 15 km from most resorts, and the SS Thistlegorm wreck is a 90-minute liveaboard from Sharm Marina. If diving is a priority and budget allows, Sharm is the Red Sea resort base.
See our full Sharm el-Sheikh hotel guide →
Browse Sharm el-Sheikh hotels on Booking.com →
El Gouna: Best Boutique All-Inclusive
El Gouna is a privately planned resort town 25 km north of Hurghada built around interconnected lagoons. It has fewer all-inclusives than Hurghada or Sharm, but those that exist are quieter and more thoughtfully designed. The lagoon network makes El Gouna genuinely car-free in its resort core — guests move between hotels, restaurants, and the marina by golf buggy or boat taxi.
Top all-inclusive and resort options:
- Club Med El Gouna — the flagship all-inclusive in El Gouna, purpose-built around the Club Med formula. Family-friendly with kids’ clubs, multiple pools, and included water sports (sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling). Rates from EGP 7,000 per night.
- Mövenpick Resort El Gouna — adjacent to the lagoon, large pool complex, full restaurant choice. Not strictly all-inclusive but offers bed-and-breakfast and half-board packages from EGP 5,000.
- Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna — 18-hole Gary Player golf course, adults-focused, quiet. EGP 6,000–12,000 per night.
El Gouna suits couples, older travellers, and families wanting quality over quantity. It’s a clear step up from mid-range Hurghada in atmosphere, though water sports infrastructure (particularly diving) is less developed than Sharm.
Comparing these two destinations directly? See our El Gouna vs Hurghada guide →.
See our full El Gouna hotel guide →
Browse El Gouna hotels on Booking.com →
Marsa Alam: Best for Eco-Resorts and Remote Reefs
Marsa Alam, 230 km south of Hurghada, has the fewest all-inclusives but some of the most impressive reef access anywhere on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. Dugong sightings, manta rays at Elphinstone, and hammerhead aggregations at Rocky Island make it the Red Sea’s dive specialist destination.
The all-inclusive offer here is smaller — around 15–20 properties rather than Hurghada’s 150+ — but the quality-to-price ratio is good, and the absence of crowds is a genuine selling point.
Top all-inclusive and resort options:
- Three Corners Sea Beach Resort — solid 4-star all-inclusive with a house reef, from EGP 4,000 per night.
- Mövenpick Resort & Spa Soma Bay Marsa Alam — premium end, long private beach, snorkelling directly from shore. From EGP 7,000.
- Lahami Bay Beach Resort — smaller eco-style property 70 km south of Marsa Alam town. Known for direct reef access including dolphin and turtle encounters. EGP 5,000–9,000.
- Berenice Beach Club — boutique adults-only, southernmost resort on the Egyptian coast with access to virtually pristine reefs. From EGP 5,500.
The trade-off is access: Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) has limited European charter flights. Check route availability before planning around this destination.
See our full Marsa Alam hotel guide →
Browse Marsa Alam hotels on Booking.com →
Destination Comparison at a Glance
| Hurghada | Sharm el-Sheikh | El Gouna | Marsa Alam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Families, value | Diving, 5-star luxury | Boutique couples | Remote reefs |
| Resort count | 150+ | 120+ | 20 | 15–20 |
| Price range (all-in) | EGP 2,500–18,000 | EGP 4,000–25,000 | EGP 5,000–12,000 | EGP 4,000–9,000 |
| Reef quality | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Outstanding |
| Flight connections | Excellent (HRG) | Excellent (SSH) | Via HRG | Limited (RMF) |
| Nightlife | Good | Good (Naama Bay) | Quiet | Minimal |
| Family suitability | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
Prices as of 2026 and highly season-dependent. Rates in July–August often 20–30% lower than October–April peak.
Choosing Between Sharm and Hurghada
These are the two most popular queries. Both have excellent all-inclusives and strong flight connections, but the experience differs:
- Choose Hurghada if price is important, you’re travelling with young children who need sandy beaches and shallow pools, or you want add-on excursions to Luxor by day flight (45 minutes, EGP 1,500–3,000 return).
- Choose Sharm if diving quality is the priority, you want access to Ras Mohammed and Sinai hiking, or you want a higher concentration of 5-star options.
Our full comparison covers budget, diving, beaches, and nightlife in detail: Hurghada vs Sharm el-Sheikh →
Also worth reading: Dahab vs Sharm el-Sheikh → if a more independent dive-base is appealing over a packaged resort stay.
Where to Stay Pages by Destination
- Where to stay in Hurghada →
- Where to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh →
- Where to stay in El Gouna →
- Where to stay in Marsa Alam →
- Where to stay in Dahab → — for those who prefer a backpacker/dive base over a packaged resort