Getting there By plane : Port Ghalib and the Marsa Alam International Airport are located about 65km north of the small town of Marsa Alam, which is 750km south of Cairo, and approximately 300 kilometres north of Sudan. Direct international charter flights arrive at the airport daily from major airports in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, and other locations. The carriers include Candor and Hapagfly, and reservations can be made directly from their websites. From within Egypt, the only charter that goes from Cairo to Marsa Alam is operated by Petroleum Air Services. It can be booked via Express Travel (+202 624 2760) in Cairo. Round trip costs LE990 for Egyptians, and approximately $240 for foreigners. The smallish plane is comfortable and the flight takes just over two hours. It leaves twice a week from Cairo, on Thursday and Monday. By boat : International yachts can dock at Port Ghalib, which is the first entry point into Egyptian waters from the south. Berthing fees are extremely reasonable, and are calculated based on the length of the boat and the duration of stay (i.e. a five night stay by a 40 meter vessel might cost approximately $360.). Reservations can be made via the Port Ghalib web site. -- www.portghalib.comwww.portghalib.com/i By land : Driving to Marsa Alam is also possible. Take the southern highway from Cairo to Hurghada, then continue onwards for another 235 kilometres. You will pass the resort towns of Soma, Makadi, Safaga and Qusseir on the way. There are also several Upper Egypt company buses that leave Cairo daily from the downtown Turgoman bus station. Staying there The only hotel currently operating in the Port Ghalib project is the Coral Beach Diving Hotel (+2065 370 0245) . It is scheduled to soft launch on 1 July, and will officially open on 1 September. There are other resorts nearby, including four Iberotels (+0265 375 0000/1/2/3/4) just 10kms north of the airport. There is also a Kahramana Hotel (+2012 745 4105/6 in the area. There are also diving camps in the area, the most popular of which is Marsa Shagara, located halfway between the town of Marsa Alam. Bookings can be made via www.safari-travel.net or www.redsea-divingsafari.com. Many travellers do not actually stay in Marsa Alam, but immediately board yachts for five days of sea adventures. This option is available via www.scuba.co.ukwww.scuba.co.uk/i. Rates start at 450 sterling/week. Things to do For now, there is not much nightlife in Marsa Alam, other than the standard resort-type restaurants and bars at the various hotels. That should all change once the Port Ghalib marina boardwalk takes shape in March 2006.
