Port Ghalib at a glance
Port Ghalib is an international yacht harbour on the Red Sea with a resort area around it, close to Marsa Alam airport. The marina has a harbour master, a customs and immigration office, and repair and fuel facilities. A corniche and a number of places to eat, shop and spend free time sit around it. Safari boats and liveaboards leave from here.
Port Ghalib is not Marsa Alam town. It lies about 65 kilometers north of Marsa Alam and about 75 kilometers south of El Quseir, which makes it a base for the northern part of the coast. If you want snorkeling or diving, see what the Marsa Alam snorkeling trips offer before you choose a base.
What Port Ghalib is used for
Three roles in one place.
A marina for boats
Yachts can clear customs and immigration here, refuel and have repairs done. The harbour master is the contact for anything to do with arrival. Ask the harbour master about entering after sunset before you rely on it.
A departure point
Safari boats and liveaboards for diving trips leave from the marina. If your boat trip starts here, the transfer from the airport is short.
A resort area
Hotels and resorts surround the marina, and the corniche links the places to eat and shop. The hotels page explains how to choose an area.
Our pick: a cruise from the marina
A 90 minute semi-submarine cruise that leaves from Port Ghalib marina, a short outing without a full day on a boat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Port Ghalib and Marsa Alam boat trips and excursions
Boat trips, snorkeling tours and day excursions with pickup around Port Ghalib, with live prices and availability.
Distances and transfer times from Port Ghalib
Short links to the airport, longer ones to everything else on the coast.
| From Port Ghalib | Distance or time | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Marsa Alam airport | 4 to 5 km | The airport is very close, which suits short stays. |
| To a hotel in the area | About 10 minutes from the airport | For the hotel's own location, not for every hotel. |
| To the marina by transfer | 15 to 20 minutes from the airport | Typical time for boat guests. |
| Marsa Alam town | About 65 km south | Plan a transfer or an organised trip. |
| El Quseir | About 75 km north | A day trip, see the El Quseir page. |
| Hurghada | About 3 to 3.5 hours by road | An alternative for flights, not for every resort. |
For most visitors who fly in and want a short transfer, Port Ghalib is the easiest base on the coast. If you plan to spend most days at the southern bays and in the national park, a base further south saves driving.
Beaches and swimming at Port Ghalib
Do not assume a public beach. Beach access in the area depends on the resort or the operator, and a hotel beach is for hotel guests unless it says otherwise. If a day on the beach matters to you, confirm access before you book.
For a beach day with proper facilities, a bay with a day pass is the safer plan, and the page on Abu Dabbab Bay shows how that works. The beaches page compares the bays along the coast.
Getting to and from Port Ghalib
Most guests arrive by air.
Marsa Alam airport (RMF) is a few minutes from the marina, and its arrivals and departures include flights with German and other European cities. Most visitors take a pre-booked transfer or a taxi, and you should agree the fare before you get in. Plan on a transfer or a taxi rather than a public bus. The airport page covers visas, transfers and taxis in detail.
Hurghada is an alternative gateway, about 3 to 3.5 hours from Port Ghalib by road. That time is for Port Ghalib, not for southern resorts, which are further away.
More Marsa Alam guides
Pages for planning around Port Ghalib.
Port Ghalib: frequently asked questions
How far is Port Ghalib from the airport?
Between 4 and 5 kilometers. A transfer to a hotel in the area takes about 10 minutes, and to the marina about 15 to 20 minutes.
Is Port Ghalib the same as Marsa Alam?
No. It lies about 65 kilometers north of Marsa Alam town and about 75 kilometers south of El Quseir.
Does Port Ghalib have a public beach?
Do not assume so. Beach access depends on the resort, and hotel beaches are for hotel guests unless stated otherwise.
Is there an airport bus?
Plan on a transfer or a taxi rather than a public bus, and agree the fare first.
Can boats enter the marina at night?
Ask the harbour master before you rely on a night arrival.
Where do safari boats and liveaboards leave from?
Many leave from the Port Ghalib marina. If your boat trip starts here, the transfer from the airport is short.