The sea temperature at Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib) today is 28.2 °C (83 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 28 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is 28 to 28.1 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 29.4 °C to 28.2 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 22 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.1°C / 73.5°F | 23.8°C / 74.8°F | 24.3°C / 75.7°F |
| February | 22.3°C / 72.2°F | 23.0°C / 73.4°F | 23.9°C / 75.0°F |
| March | 22.2°C / 71.9°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F | 23.5°C / 74.3°F |
| April | 23.3°C / 74.0°F | 23.8°C / 74.9°F | 24.4°C / 75.9°F |
| May | 25.2°C / 77.3°F | 25.6°C / 78.1°F | 26.0°C / 78.9°F |
| June | 27.2°C / 80.9°F | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 28.2°C / 82.8°F |
| July | 28.9°C / 84.1°F | 29.8°C / 85.6°F | 30.5°C / 87.0°F |
| August | 30.0°C / 86.0°F | 30.4°C / 86.7°F | 31.0°C / 87.7°F |
| September | 29.1°C / 84.4°F | 29.6°C / 85.3°F | 30.0°C / 85.9°F |
| October | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F |
| November | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 27.0°C / 80.5°F | 27.4°C / 81.4°F |
| December | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.9°C / 78.6°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.3°C / 66.8°F | 20.5°C / 68.9°F | 21.7°C / 71.0°F |
| February | 18.8°C / 65.8°F | 20.0°C / 68.1°F | 21.1°C / 70.0°F |
| March | 20.8°C / 69.5°F | 21.9°C / 71.3°F | 22.6°C / 72.7°F |
| April | 23.7°C / 74.6°F | 24.6°C / 76.3°F | 25.2°C / 77.3°F |
| May | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F | 27.5°C / 81.4°F |
| June | 29.0°C / 84.3°F | 29.5°C / 85.2°F | 29.6°C / 85.2°F |
| July | 30.6°C / 87.2°F | 31.1°C / 87.9°F | 30.9°C / 87.7°F |
| August | 31.4°C / 88.5°F | 31.8°C / 89.2°F | 31.7°C / 89.0°F |
| September | 29.8°C / 85.6°F | 30.3°C / 86.6°F | 30.4°C / 86.7°F |
| October | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F | 27.9°C / 82.3°F |
| November | 24.1°C / 75.4°F | 25.0°C / 77.1°F | 25.9°C / 78.5°F |
| December | 20.9°C / 69.7°F | 22.0°C / 71.6°F | 23.0°C / 73.5°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Port Ghalib holidays
Port Ghalib is a purpose-built marina resort on the southern Red Sea coast of Egypt, next to Marsa Alam International Airport, with a harbour for dive boats and yachts surrounded by hotels, shops and restaurants. Marsa Alam, the small port town that gives the whole coast its name, lies about 60 km further south, and a string of resorts spreads along the road between the two.
Beaches
The beaches around Port Ghalib and Marsa Alam are sandy bays in front of coral reefs, and many hotels have a jetty that leads over the shallow reef flat to deeper water, so snorkelling starts right from the shore. Water shoes protect your feet on the entry paths, but never stand on or touch the coral. Abu Dabab bay, north of Marsa Alam, is known for green sea turtles grazing on seagrass in shallow water, and dugongs have been seen there too. The sea temperature on this page is measured off the beach at Port Ghalib.
Things to do
Diving is the main reason people come to the Marsa Alam coast: Elphinstone Reef is known for oceanic whitetip sharks, and Samadai Reef, also called Dolphin House, is a lagoon where spinner dolphins rest, with visitor numbers limited. In Port Ghalib, the marina promenade is the place for evening walks and restaurants. South of Marsa Alam, Wadi El Gemal National Park protects desert valleys, mangroves and islands, and jeep trips go into the Eastern Desert. Luxor can be visited on a long day trip.
Weather and best time to visit
At Port Ghalib the sea stays above 22 °C / 72 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
The climate around Marsa Alam is desert: it hardly ever rains, summers are very hot and winters are mild and sunny. A steady north wind blows much of the year, which cools the air but can make boat trips rough. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months.
Hotels and where to stay
Port Ghalib suits those who want restaurants and the marina within walking distance and a short transfer from the airport. The resorts along the coast towards Marsa Alam are mostly large all-inclusive hotels with their own house reef, some of them far from any town.
Signature hotels: Pickalbatros The Palace Port Ghalib (Port Ghalib) · Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort (Abu Dabab)
Airport and getting there
Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) is right next to Port Ghalib, with charter and scheduled flights mostly from Europe, especially in winter. Hurghada Airport (HRG) is roughly 220 km north of Port Ghalib by road, a transfer of several hours. Most hotels arrange transfers, and taxis are the easiest way to move between resorts. Most visitors need a visa for Egypt, which many nationalities can get online or on arrival.