Makadi Bay is a total showstopper for water babies and sun-worshippers who want their jollies served with a massive stonking side of underwater magic, and a ton of serious "look at that fish" moments.
Makadi Bay Holiday Highlights 2026 and 2027
Snorkelling off the beach - Makadi's north and south reefs come right up to the shore, with long jetties out to the drop-off, so you can be over coral with morays and blue-spotted rays minutes from your sunbed.
Makadi Water World - More than 50 slides, from toddler splash pools to the Kamikaze and Black Hole, in one of Egypt's biggest water parks.
Island boat days - Speedboat and snorkel trips to the white sand of Giftun Island, Orange Bay and Mahmya, with pickup from your hotel.
Mini Egypt Park - The pyramids, the Sphinx and more than 50 landmarks in miniature, a short drive up the coast road and the best-rated attraction around Makadi.
Desert safaris - Quads, camels and a Bedouin dinner under the stars in the mountains behind the bay.
Learn to dive - The bay's dive centres are its best-reviewed businesses, and courses start from the hotel jetties.
Good to Know for your Makadi Bay holidays
☀️ Sunshine all year, with winter highs in the low 20s and summer days pushing 36-38°C. The sea never drops much below 21°C.
💰 Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP), about 67 to the pound and 57 to the euro. A beer in a resort bar is around 100-200 EGP (£1.50-£3 / €1.75-€3.50), and tipping (baksheesh) of 10-15% is part of daily life.
🐠 Makadi's reefs start right at the shoreline, so at some hotels you can be snorkelling over coral a few steps from your sunbed.
A holiday in Makadi Bay is perfect for you if...
You want Makadi Bay holidays where the kids live on the slides and you live on a sunbed.
You'd rather snorkel off the beach than spend half a day on a boat to get somewhere good to swim
You like all-inclusive, done properly: drinks, snacks and dinner sorted, wallet in the safe.
You want winter sun that's warm enough to swim in.
You fancy a quiet evening in the resort, with Hurghada's bars there if you change your mind.
Where to Stay in Makadi Bay
Makadi Bay is a string of big beach resorts rather than a town, so the choice is which part of the bay suits you.
👨👩👧👦 Where should families stay in Makadi Bay?
Madinat Makadi, the cluster of resorts around Makadi Water World. Several of the hotels here include the water park, with shuttles to the slides, and there's a golf course too.
💑 Where should couples stay in Makadi Bay?
Near Makadi Promenade and Souk Makadi, where the adults-only hotels are and the restaurants and shops are a short stroll away.
✨ Where should snorkellers stay in Makadi Bay?
On the long sandy beachfront where the house reefs come right up to the shore. The biggest beach in the bay belongs to Fort Arabesque, with coral to explore straight from the sand.
🏨 Best Makadi Bay Hotels
Makadi Bay hotels are big, beachfront and all-inclusive, so the real choice is slides, peace and quiet, or reef. Here are our picks.
👨👩👧👦 Which hotels are best for family Makadi Bay holidays?
SRNTY Sun Ray - Its own aqua park with a wave pool and lazy river, plus fairground rides in the evening and a kids' club for ages 5 to 12. The beach is a free shuttle away.
Jaz Makadina - Right on the beach, with a kids' club and Makadi Water World shared with its sister hotels.
Xanadu Makadi Bay - Five pools including a slide pool for the kids, five à la carte restaurants and entertainment day and night.
💑 What are the best hotels in Makadi Bay for couples?
Jaz Makadi Star - Adults only (16 and over), with a spa, sauna and steam room, close to Souk Makadi.
Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden - Adults only, with a rooftop bar and the restaurants of Makadi Promenade a short walk away.
Fort Arabesque The Villas - Adults-only villas with their own heated pools and two restaurants just for villa guests.
✨ Which Makadi Bay hotels are best for snorkelling from the beach?
Iberotel Makadi Beach - A house reef off the beach, a free kids' club for ages 3 to 12 and access to the Madinat Makadi golf course.
SRNTY Sea Reef - A private beach with a reef, five pools and a PADI dive centre on site.
Fort Arabesque - The biggest beach in Makadi Bay, with a coral garden to snorkel straight from the sand.
All-inclusive Makadi Bay holidays
All-inclusive means your meals, drinks and snacks are all covered, from the breakfast buffet to the poolside ice cream to the last cocktail at the bar. So you can leave your wallet in the safe and get on with the serious business of holiday fun.
Holidays to Makadi Bay are made for it: every hotel we sell here is all-inclusive, and most come with an aqua park, a kids' club or a house reef thrown in. For something even quieter, with golf and kitesurfing, Soma Bay is further down the coast.
👨👩👧👦 Which all-inclusive hotels in Makadi Bay are best for families?
JAZ Makadi Oasis Resort - A lake-style pool with a kids' splash zone, and a shuttle to Makadi Water World.
Jaz Palmariva Beach Resort - A lagoon pool, a kids' club for ages 4 to 12 and an easy, sandy beach.
🎉 Which all-inclusive hotels in Makadi Bay are best for groups?
Albatros Makadi Resort - One of the newest resorts in the bay, with more than 30 pools, 16 slides and a long pontoon out to the reef.
JAZ Neo Saraya Palms - Seven à la carte restaurants to work through, plus free entry to Makadi Water World.
What are the best beaches to visit on your Makadi Bay holidays?
Every Makadi Bay beach is a gateway to some of the best underwater action in the Red Sea, so pack the snorkel.
Fort Arabesque's beach - The biggest stretch of sand in the bay, with a coral garden right off the shore at Fort Arabesque.
SRNTY Sea Reef's beach - A private beach with its own reef at SRNTY Sea Reef, and a dive centre on hand for lessons.
Stella Beach - Soft sand and a house reef at Stella Beach Resort, with the bay's calm water out front.
The Madinat Makadi beaches - Sandy, family-friendly beaches in front of the Jaz resorts, a short hop from Makadi Water World.
Local Lingo
English is spoken in every hotel, but a little Arabic gets a big smile.
Salam alaykum (sa-LAAM a-LAY-kum) - hello
Shukran (SHOOK-ran) - thank you
Min fadlak (min FAD-lak) - please (to a man; min fadlik to a woman)
La, shukran (laa, SHOOK-ran) - no, thank you (handy in the souk)
Bikam? (bee-KAM) - how much?
Samak (SA-mak) - fish (you'll see plenty)
Gamil! (ga-MEEL) - beautiful!
Makadi Bay Holidays Travel Guide
👨👩👧👦 What are the best things to do in Makadi Bay with kids?
Makadi Water World - Dozens of slides and splash zones, free for guests at several of the Jaz hotels.
Mini Egypt Park - Walk past the pyramids and Abu Simbel in an afternoon. Cheesy, brilliant for photos, and the kids love it.
Glass-bottom boat or submarine - See the coral and fish without getting wet, perfect for little ones and non-swimmers.
First dive - Junior courses for kids from around age 8, in calm water off the hotel jetties.
💑 What are the best things to do in Makadi Bay for couples?
Sunset horse ride - Gamila Stable Club leads rides along the beach as the sun drops behind the mountains.
A speedboat island day - Orange Bay or Giftun for white sand, clear water and a lazy seafood lunch.
Desert stargazing - A jeep into the mountains for a Bedouin dinner and more stars than you've ever seen.
Dinner at Sofra - Mezze, lentil soup and mixed grills at JAZ Neo Saraya Palms, which welcomes outside diners.
🎉 What are the best things to do in Makadi Bay with a group?
Quad and buggy safari - Race across the desert, then cool off with tea at a Bedouin camp.
Dive or snorkel the reefs - Master Diving Center at SRNTY Sea Reef runs fun dives and PADI courses straight from the beach.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing - The steady breeze makes Makadi a great place to learn, with schools right on the bay.
A night out in Hurghada - Hurghada's marina has the bars and clubs, around 30 to 45 minutes away by taxi.
More Destinations
Soma Bay - A private peninsula of kite beaches, golf and five-star resorts.
El Gouna - A lagoon town of canals and marinas, with the best nightlife on this stretch of coast.
Sahl Hasheesh - A swish bay of big resorts and a seafront promenade.
Marsa Alam - Wilder and quieter, with dugongs and turtles in the seagrass.
Sharm El Sheikh - Sinai's famous resort, with Ras Mohammed's reefs on the doorstep.
Popular Makadi Bay hotels
More Makadi Bay hotelsWeather in Makadi Bay
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The weather in Makadi Bay is basically "sun, sun, and more sun." Rain is so rare that if a drop falls, the locals might think it's a glitch in the Matrix. During the summer, it’s sizzling, and the sun is showing teeth, so you’ll end up being best friends with your SPF 50.
In the winter, the days are bright and beautiful, but don't be fooled by the sunshine; once that sun drops behind the mountains, it can get a bit nippy. The Red Sea stays at a dreamy temperature for a dip most of the year, though you might find the hotel's heated pool more lush for a long soak in January.