Red Sea Holidays – Makadi Bay

Camels on the Beach. Makadi Bay. Photo by LuLu Witch

Makadi Bay in Egypt lies on the coast of the Red Sea to the south of Hurghada. The natural bay here has been turned into a fantastic resort that lies nestled between desert and mountains with the white sandy beaches that this region sports, and the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Red Sea it makes a wonderful setting for any holiday.

Sun, sand and sea may be all you go for, and they’re available in plentiful supply all year round. Makadi has much more to offer visitors though, and the area is known for its excellent marine life and diving, as well as its friendly atmosphere and gentle pace of life.

Children are well catered for making family holidays here a great experience, and there is plenty for the adults too. From horse and camel rides in the desert to a wide range of water sports you can be active all day if you want to be. Diving is very popular here, and because the bay is well sheltered, it makes an ideal spot for beginners and there are lots of courses and tuition available for anyone wanting to learn.

Travelling further afield to places such as Cairo or Luxor can give you the chance to experience the wonders of ancient Egypt. Both are easily reachable by coach or plane and the pyramids and temples are quite unique to see. A trip by air also gives you the chance to look down on this amazing landscape and see it from a very interesting perspective.

Local shopping in Makadi is mostly at the Makadi centre, and although there are some stores who offer fixed prices, many will expect you to haggle over the prices of things, so be prepared to try and bag yourself a bargain. Traditional Shishah hubbly bubbly pipes, perfumes and oils make excellent gifts to take home with you.

With such vibrant and colourful marine life visible locally, snorkelling and glass bottom boats are very popular here. Trips out over the coral reefs will give you the opportunity to see many of the brightly coloured fish and other sea creatures that live in the Red Sea.

The Beach, Makadi Bay. Photo by LuLu Witch

Excursions inland into the desert can be exciting too. Take a desert safari to visit a traditional Bedouin camp and see how they live, or a night time trip out away from the bright lights so you can really see the stars and feel the emptiness of the desert at night. Whether you travel into the desert by camel, jeep or quad bike, being so close and not experiencing the vastness of the sands here would be a shame.

This beautiful land has much to offer, and holidays here are relaxed and enjoyable. Laze on the beaches or join in with the activities, with this region being just 5 hours flight from the UK, it might be easier to reach than you think.