Desert Meets Sea: The Most Secluded Beach Escapes in Dahab, Egypt

Let's get one thing straight – Dahab isn't completely undiscovered. Its famous Blue Hole draws divers from around the world. But here's what most visitors miss: just a 15-minute trek north or south from the main beach area, the crowds thin dramatically, and you'll find stretches of coastline that feel like your own private paradise.

My personal favorite is Ras Abu Galum, about 8 miles north of Dahab proper. You can hire a local Bedouin guide with a camel for about 150 Egyptian pounds (roughly $5) to take you there, or if you're feeling adventurous like I was, hike the coastal trail. The trail hugs dramatic cliffs with the deep blue sea below – just make sure you're wearing proper hiking sandals since regular flip-flops won't cut it on this terrain.

When I finally rounded that last bend and saw the tiny settlement of bamboo huts and the empty beach stretching before me, I knew I'd found something special. The snorkeling here is incredible – healthy coral gardens just feet from shore with barely another soul in sight. I spent hours floating above giant brain corals and following schools of fluorescent fish, occasionally looking up to see nothing but mountains and sea.

Another hidden gem is Lighthouse Beach's northern extension. While Lighthouse itself gets busy, walk about 10 minutes past the last restaurant, and you'll find several small coves with perfect entry points for snorkeling. I camped out at one of these for an entire day with just my dry bag containing snacks, water, and my camera.

One of Dahab's greatest charms is how it seamlessly blends Bedouin culture with beach life, creating experiences you simply can't find at more commercialized destinations. And the best part? It's ridiculously affordable.

I stayed at a small Bedouin-run camp called Coral Coast about 10 minutes south of the main strip. For just $15 a night, I had a simple but clean bamboo hut steps from the water. The camp's owner, Mahmoud, treats guests like family, and within two days, I was joining nightly gatherings around the fire pit where locals and travelers share stories under star-filled skies.

The real magic happens when you connect with the Bedouin communities along the coast. One evening, I was invited to join a small group for a traditional Bedouin dinner on the beach. For about 100 Egyptian pounds ($3), we feasted on freshly caught fish, grilled over open flames and served with rice, tahini, and fire-baked bread. As we ate cross-legged on colorful rugs spread across the sand, our host explained how his family has lived along this coast for generations.

For those wanting a more immersive experience, several camps offer overnight stays in more remote beach locations. I splurged (if you can call it that at $25) on an overnight trip to a camp accessible only by boat. We slept in simple palm-frond shelters right on the beach, ate fresh-caught seafood, and spent the evening learning traditional Bedouin music around a campfire. The experience felt genuinely authentic rather than staged for tourists.

I've snorkeled in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii, but pound for pound (or dollar for dollar), Dahab offers the most accessible world-class snorkeling I've ever experienced. The real beauty is that you don't need expensive tours or equipment to access it.

The Three Pools area, about a 15-minute taxi ride south of town, became my go-to spot. Unlike the more famous Blue Hole (which is primarily for experienced divers), Three Pools offers incredible snorkeling directly from shore. The site features a series of coral gardens separated by sand channels, creating a natural aquarium effect. During my four visits here, I spotted octopuses, moray eels, lionfish, and even a sea turtle – all while floating leisurely in bath-warm water.

I brought my own snorkel set from home, which I'd recommend if you're serious about underwater exploration. But if you're traveling light, quality gear rentals in Dahab run about 50 Egyptian pounds ($1.50) per day – just inspect for cracks and proper seals before heading out.

For those comfortable with deeper water, the Canyon area offers a glimpse into the underwater topography that makes Dahab famous among divers. From the surface, you can clearly see the dramatic drop-off where the reef plunges into the deep blue. Float along the edge of this underwater cliff and you'll likely spot larger pelagic fish rising from the depths.

My insider tip: head to any snorkel spot around 7:00 AM. You'll have the place virtually to yourself, the water visibility is at its best before the day's wind picks up, and the morning light creates stunning underwater light rays perfect for photography.

As someone who documents food almost as obsessively as I photograph baseball stadiums back home, Dahab was an unexpected culinary playground. The food scene here hits that perfect sweet spot – authentic, dirt cheap, and surprisingly diverse for such a small town.

Skip the tourist-oriented restaurants on the main promenade and head two streets back, where the locals eat. My daily breakfast routine quickly became a stop at a tiny bakery called Ramadan's, where fresh-baked flatbread stuffed with eggs, cheese and za'atar spice costs just 15 Egyptian pounds (less than 50 cents). Pair it with the intensely sweet Egyptian tea served in small glass cups for the perfect morning fuel.

For lunch, nothing beats the seafood shacks that dot the coastline south of the main beach. At Ali's Fish Restaurant (really just a few plastic tables under a palm-frond roof), I'd point to whatever looked good in the day's catch displayed on ice, and 20 minutes later, it would arrive perfectly grilled with lemon, herbs, and a mountain of rice and salad. A feast that would easily cost $30+ back home runs about $5-7 here.

The real hidden gem is a place called Nemo's, run by a local fisherman-turned-chef named Ahmed. Located in a blue-painted home about 10 minutes' walk from the main strip, this spot has no sign, no menu, and operates on a simple system: Ahmed cooks whatever he caught that morning, and you eat it. For about 200 Egyptian pounds ($6), I had one of the best meals of my life – fresh barracuda in a spicy tomato sauce that I'm still dreaming about.

Don't miss trying koshari, Egypt's ultimate comfort food – a hearty mix of rice, lentils, pasta, and crispy onions topped with spiced tomato sauce. Ralph's Koshari, a hole-in-the-wall joint near the local mosque, serves massive portions for about 30 Egyptian pounds ($1).

While Dahab's beaches are the main draw, some of my most memorable experiences came from short inland excursions where the stark desert landscape creates a dramatic backdrop to the coastal scenery.

The Colored Canyon, about an hour's drive from Dahab, offers a half-day adventure that feels worlds away from the beaches. This natural sandstone labyrinth features towering walls streaked with purples, reds, and oranges – nature's own abstract art gallery. I joined three other travelers to split the cost of a driver (about $15 each round trip) and spent a morning scrambling through narrow passages and marveling at the geological formations. The contrast between the harsh desert environment and the refreshing sea waiting back in Dahab makes for a perfect day of variety.

Closer to town, the Wadi Gnai oasis provides a surprising green respite just 20 minutes inland. This hidden valley features natural pools fed by mountain springs – perfect for cooling off after a morning hike. Local Bedouin guides can take you on a three-hour circuit for about 200 Egyptian pounds ($6), showing you ancient rock inscriptions and sharing knowledge about desert survival that's been passed down for generations.

For photography enthusiasts like myself, the desert-meets-sea landscapes create stunning opportunities, especially at sunrise and sunset. One evening, I hired a local guide with a 4x4 (300 Egyptian pounds/$9) to take me to a viewpoint in the nearby mountains. As the sun set behind me, it cast the perfect golden light over Dahab's coastline, with Saudi Arabia visible across the water and the desert mountains glowing red. I set up my travel tripod for some long-exposure shots that captured the changing colors as day turned to night.

If you're feeling adventurous, several camps offer overnight desert experiences where you can sleep under the stars in traditional Bedouin style. Just be prepared for temperature drops at night – the desert cools dramatically after sunset even when daytime temperatures are scorching.