Forget the stiff suits and choreographed pool dances; Dahab holidays are all about that hush-hush, barefoot energy where the desert meets a sea so blue it looks like an expertly filtered Instagram post.
Highlights of your Holidays to Dahab 2026 and 2027
World-class diving - Dahab is home to the legendary Blue Hole, plus reefs you can wade straight into from the shore, offering underwater views that are genuinely world-beating for any scuba fan.
The chillest vibes - Unlike its glitzy neighbours, this place is all about cushions on the floor, Bedouin coffee, and living your best low-maintenance life.
Adrenaline on tap - When you aren't underwater, you can be windsurfing across the bay or quad biking through monstrous desert mountains.
The Blue Lagoon at Ras Abu Galum - A mirror-flat turquoise lagoon up the coast, reached only by boat, camel or a stunning coastal walk.
Sunrise on Mount Sinai - Climb through the night to watch the sun come up over the mountains, a couple of hours' drive inland.
Budget-friendly bliss - You can live like royalty without the royal price tag, making it a crystal-clear choice for a cheeky low-budget getaway.
Good to Know for your Dahab holidays
☀️ Sun almost every day - Expect 8 to 13 hours of sunshine a day, highs of about 21°C in January and 36°C in July and August, and a sea between 21°C and 28°C. Winter nights drop to around 10°C, so pack a hoodie.
💷 Easy on the wallet - A beer is around £1.50-£3 / €1.75-€3.50, a falafel sandwich from a street stall costs pennies, and fresh fish dinners on the seafront are excellent value.
🐠 Worth its weight - Dahab means "gold" in Arabic, and you'll see why when the late sun hits the sand.
A holiday in Dahab is perfect for you if...
You'd rather wear flip-flops to dinner than heels.
You want to try diving, snorkelling or windsurfing, or all three.
You want holidays to Dahab to feel like a laid-back beach town rather than a big resort.
You like the idea of a sunrise on Mount Sinai and a sunset on a cushion by the sea.
You want great value, lots of facilities and adventures around, but a bit less touristy resort stuff everywhere
Where to Stay in Dahab
Dahab is small and easy to get around, and taxis are cheap, so it's mostly about whether you want the lagoon or the reefs on your doorstep.
💑 Where should couples stay in Dahab?
Laguna - The sandy lagoon about 3km from the centre, home to the windsurf and kite schools, with the promenade restaurants a short taxi ride away.
👨👩👧👦 Where's the best area for a family holiday in Dahab?
Laguna, too - The water is shallow enough to stand up in, with no waves, so it's perfect for little ones having a splash.
🤿 Where should divers stay in Dahab?
North, towards the Blue Hole - With the famous reefs closer, and the town about 8km away.
🏨 Top hotels in Dahab
Our Dahab Egypt holidays fly into Sharm El Sheikh, with a transfer up the coast you can add when you book, and every hotel below is a four-star on the beach.
💑 Which hotels are best for couples on Dahab holidays?
JAZ Dahabeya - Our best-reviewed hotel in Dahab, by the lagoon, with a private beach and two dive and watersports centres on site.
Dahab Lagoon - 650 metres of sandy beach on the lagoon, a lagoon-style pool and a windsurf and kite centre right there.
👨👩👧👦 Which hotels are best for a family holiday in Dahab?
Safir Dahab - A kids' club, a kids' pool and an indoor play area, a few minutes from both the bay and the lagoon.
Tropitel Dahab Oasis - North of town on the road to the Blue Hole, with a kids' club, a kids' pool and a poolside bar, and often our cheapest Dahab holiday.
All-Inclusive Dahab Holidays
All-inclusive means your meals, snacks and drinks are covered, so you can spend the day diving or windsurfing and come back to dinner without reaching for your wallet. Every hotel we sell in Dahab can be booked all-inclusive or half board, if you'd rather eat out on the seafront some nights.
🏖 Which all-inclusive hotels in Dahab are best for a beach holiday?
Tropitel Dahab Oasis - Great value, with everything taken care of and a beach right there.
Dahab Lagoon - All-inclusive on a long sandy beach, with the windsurf centre a few steps away.
What are the best beaches to visit on your Dahab holidays?
A Dahab beach is all about walking straight onto the reef rather than lying on miles of soft sand. Grab a snorkel and get ready to make some fishy friends between lounging sessions.
Lighthouse Reef - The central spot, sheltered and easy to get in and out, with cafés right by the water for snacks between swims.
Eel Garden - Named after the tiny garden eels poking out of the sand, a shallow reef that's a big hit with snorkellers.
Laguna Beach - The sandy lagoon where the windsurfers hang out, with water shallow enough to stand up in, so the little ones can splash around safely.
The Blue Lagoon - Up the coast at Ras Abu Galum, a mirror-flat turquoise lagoon with simple huts, reached only by boat, camel or a 5.5km coastal walk from the Blue Hole.
The Canyon - A dive site rather than a beach: a narrow underwater canyon for divers with some experience.
Things to do on your Dahab holidays: The local insider guide
👨👩👧👦 What are the best things to do on a Dahab family holiday?
Snorkel at the Lighthouse - A sheltered reef in the middle of town with a gentle sandy slope, perfect for first-timers.
Learn to windsurf or kite - The shallow lagoon is made for beginners, with schools right on the beach at hotels like JAZ Dahabeya. The wind blows best from March to November.
Breakfast at Ralph's German Bakery - Join the morning crowd on Assalah Square for a knockout coffee and a pastry.
💑 What are the best things to do in Dahab for couples?
Sunrise on Mount Sinai - Leave late at night, climb by torchlight and watch the sun come up from the summit. You'll need a full visa for this one.
Ras Abu Galum and the Blue Lagoon - A boat or camel ride up the coast to a protected bay and a perfectly calm lagoon.
Sunset from the cliffs - Hike up to the viewpoint above town to watch the sun dip behind the mountains.
Late-night sahlab at Lenopatra - A thick, creamy hot milk drink topped with nuts, at the café by the Lighthouse that never closes.
🎉 What are the best things to do in Dahab with a group?
Dive the Blue Hole - Dahab's most famous dive, with a dramatic drop-off and seriously clear water. The deep arch is for technical divers only.
Coloured Canyon by jeep - A day trip through narrow canyons of coloured rock, with lunch and Bedouin tea.
The underwater museum - Divers can find statues and a huge metal elephant at 24 metres off the Lighthouse.
Dive the Caves - South of town, for advanced divers who want something different.
Magic Lake - A pool behind the Laguna whose mud, locals say, has healing powers. Worth a go for the photos alone.
🍴 What's the food like on a Dahab holiday?
Zanooba - Slow-cooked Egyptian food that's often called the best restaurant in town. Order by WhatsApp before 1pm.
Fresh fish on the seafront - Grilled to order at the seafood places along the bay, and great value.
Falafel on Assalah Square - A stall that's open around the clock, for a cheap and delicious snack.
Local Lingo
Arabic is the language here, and English is spoken all over Dahab, but the Bedouin cafés will love you for trying a few words.
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
Bikam? (bee-KAM) - how much?
Yalla (YAL-la) - let's go, come on
Sahlab (SAH-lab) - a thick, sweet hot milk drink
Halabessa (ha-la-BES-sa) - a spiced hot chickpea drink
More Destinations
Sharm El Sheikh - Sinai's big resort, with Ras Mohammed's reefs on the doorstep.
Naama Bay - Sharm's lively heart, with a promenade full of bars and clubs.
Hurghada - A big Red Sea resort town, with long beaches and all-inclusive hotels.
Marsa Alam - Quiet reefs and turtle bays in Egypt's deep south.
Luxor - The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and the temples of the Nile.
Popular Dahab hotels
More Dahab hotelsWeather in Dahab
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
If you're looking for a place where the sun basically never takes a day off, you have found it. Dahab is the king of the "scorchio" holiday, with 365 days of sunshine that make the British winter sound like an ice age. Because it's tucked between the mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba, you get a lovely, consistent breeze that stops things from getting too muggy, even when the thermometer is doing its best work in the summer months.
During the height of summer, the heat is a fiery character, so you’ll want to stay hydrated with plenty of water (and maybe the occasional cocktail). Winter is far from a washout, too; while it’s not exactly "sit-on-the-beach-at-midnight" weather, the daytime is lusciously warm and the sky is a shade of blue that you can only find on a canvas. It’s the kind of place where rain is so rare that the locals might actually take a photo of it.