Dahab is nothing short of a paradox. This small, Bohemian beach town on the banks of the Red Sea feels straight out of 1970’s California. My first walk along Dahab’s bustling boardwalk showed me a side of Egypt that made me question whether I had accidentally left the country ahead of schedule. From its outdoor adventures, intimate nightlife scene, and overall more relaxed atmosphere, Dahab quickly became my favorite place in Egypt.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing all the historical sites and monuments throughout Egypt, but Dahab is the only place I could see myself visiting time and time again. It just hits different here. Many travelers will tell you the same, and you’ll undoubtedly encounter quite a few who’ve ended up staying months or even years longer than they’d initially planned. Dahab may no longer be the hidden gem that it once was, but it is still so, so worth the visit.

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How To Get to Dahab

Admittedly, Dahab can be a journey to get to. While most of Egypt’s tourist trail is situated along the Nile River, Dahab lies on the coast of the Red Sea in the historically tumultuous region of Sinai. The closest airport to Dahab is Sharm-El-Sheikh, lying further down the coast about 90 kilometers away. Flights from Cairo to Sharm aren’t too expensive depending on how far in advance you book.

The most efficient, and most expensive, way to get to Dahab is to fly to Sharm-El-Sheikh and take a taxi from the airport to Dahab. A taxi from Sharm-El-Sheikh Airport to Dahab will cost you between $30 to $50 or more. It all depends on what rate the driver feels like charging you in that moment, and how dedicated you are to haggling. If you are willing to chance it, take a taxi to Sharm’s bus stop and pray that there is a bus headed towards Dahab. Public transportation in this part of Egypt is infrequent and unreliable. However, once you’re at the bus stop, you might be able to negotiate a better rate for a taxi to Dahab compared to the airport.

For those traveling overland, the journey is more straightforward, albeit significantly longer. The cost of a bus ticket to Dahab from Cairo costs around $12 USD. Supposedly, the journey takes 12 hours, but be prepared for it to take longer. It’s also possible to take a bus from other destinations in Egypt, although most will only go as far as Sharm and then you’ll have to book another bus from Sharm to Dahab. I took an overnight bus from Alexandria and arrived in Dahab in the morning fairly on schedule. The bus made one stop in Sharm-el-Sheikh before continuing to Dahab. Use the Go Bus website to book your ticket directly.

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Things To Know Before Going To Dahab

Although Dahab is a very foreigner-friendly destination, there are still a few things to mindful of before you go. Dahab was the final stop on my monthlong Egypt adventure, so if you’re like me, then you probably already know all of these. However, if your trip is just to Dahab, or you’re kicking off your own Egypt itinerary, give this a quick read to help get your feet set.

• Language and Language Barriers: English is widely-spoken in Dahab. While knowing a little Arabic will help, Dahab is probably the easiest place in Egypt to get away with just English. I wouldn’t worry about a language barrier when visiting Dahab.
• Cash and Currency: Like the rest of Egypt, Dahab uses the Egyptian Pound. Some places accept U.S. dollar. The only problem with Dahab is withdrawing cash. ATMs can be unreliable and frequently run out of cash. This poses a problem, as many places in Dahab don’t accept credit cards. Hotels, dive shops, and nicer restaurants will accept card, but expect to pay with cash at most places.
• Tourist Visa: Be sure to have the required documentation to enter Egypt. Being close to Sharm-el-Sheikh Airport, the land border, and the ferry port from Jordan, Dahab is often the first stop on many Egypt travel itineraries. It’s important to have your Egypt Tourist Visa sorted out before you visit Dahab.
• Cultural Norms: Dahab is the most relaxed and liberal part of Egypt that I visited. Egypt is predominantly Muslim, and even the most touristic parts that I’d visited prior to Dahab were extremely conservative. I’d often get harassed for having tattoos or having a more flamboyant and colorful wardrobe. It got to the point where I’d endure the Egyptian heat in jeans and a jacket just to cover up and stick out a little less. I don’t know if I just had an unlucky experience, as even my local Egyptian friends found it shocking that this happened to me, but I digress. The relaxed and more accepting atmosphere of Dahab was a breath of fresh air. Be respectful and continue to observe the religious norms, but overall, Dahab is not strict at all regarding attire and alcohol.

For everything else you need to know on Egypt, check out my crash course guide to backpacking Egypt.

Where To Stay in Dahab

Without a single nanosecond of hesitation, every traveler should stay at Rafiki Hostel. Out of the hundreds of hostels I’ve found myself in, Rafiki Hostel is easily in my top ten. It is a place that instantly felt like home, and will always hold a space in my backpacker heart. To be honest, the hostel scene in Egypt is not particularly great. Most of the ones I stayed at were underwhelming, serving as little more than a place to rest my head for a few nights. When I rolled up to Rafiki, it was a breath of fresh air and I immediately felt free and relaxed. Right from the get-go, I could feel the hostel culture and how successful Rafiki was at fostering a lively, social atmosphere.

This hostel truly had it all, from a pool to relax and socialize in, to nightly events and daily excursions, and a big WhatsApp group to coordinate with other travelers and locals. The dorm beds are affordable, although I did find them quite cramped. I moved to a private room later on, which was one heck of a deal. It was basically my own private apartment, and both comfortable and beautifully-designed.

For travelers prioritizing diving, a popular hostel among divers is Deep Blue Divers. There are a few alternative hostels to choose from in case those two are fully booked. You can view all Dahab hostels on Hostelworld.

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How Many Days To Spend in Dahab

This is a tough one to answer. For non-divers, there’s not too, too much in Dahab that warrants staying for long. But as anyone who’s been to Dahab can tell you, it is just not an easy place to leave. Dahab sucks you in. The vibe is so overpoweringly good that nothing else matters and you just want to stay forever. It’s easy to settle into a routine here, making it popular among digital nomads and long-term backpackers. The longer you stay, the easier it is to find a community here, which makes it even more difficult. It’s a vicious cycle, really.

Sticking to a schedule? I’d recommend booking four nights in Dahab to start off. It will give you time to enjoy the beach vibes, hike up Mount Sinai, and maybe squeeze in a day trip to the Blue Hole or one of the nearby canyons. After that, you can decide whether this peaceful beach town warrants a few extra days or if you’d rather keep moving. Just go with the flow. That’s what Dahab is all about.

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How To Get Around Dahab

Dahab is a fairly small town with a population of only about 15,000 people. Staying in the touristic center, also known as Lighthouse, makes it very easy to walk wherever you need to go. Lighthouse is a lively neighborhood with plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops, making it perfect for a short-term visit to Dahab.

However, there are beaches and canyons and less-touristic neighborhoods that you might want to visit. Some travelers also prefer staying outside of the touristic center, in the neighborhood of Lagona, for example. Most of the digital nomads I’ve met living in Lagona have rented a bicycle or motorbike to get around. There are also the pick-up truck taxis that drive up and down the main roads and cost about $.50 to hop in the back of. Hitchhiking is another option, as is simply befriending a local guy with a car. The people in Dahab are very friendly and hospitable, and it isn’t hard to meet helpful locals everywhere you go.

Before setting off for an epic desert adventure, staying connected is essential. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Navigating directions, coordinating travel plans with new hostel friends, booking a ride, and so on — having an eSIM makes life that much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for Egypt start at just $5, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 10% off of your first Saily eSIM.

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The Best Things To Do in Dahab

Although I spent the majority of my time in Dahab taking in the chilled out vibes and soaking up the sunshine by the sea, there is quite a bit to keep you busy here. Unsurprisingly, most of Dahab’s top attractions revolve around the sea. Water-based activities like windsurfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling are the main draws for adventurous, adrenaline-seeking travelers. Throw in some great hiking trails to go along with a diverse culinary and nightlife scene, and Dahab becomes a surprisingly well-rounded destination. For its size, it truly packs a punch. Here are the best things to do in Dahab.

Scuba Diving

I’m not a diver myself, so I can’t speak for the diving in Dahab, but surely it is famous for good reason. What I can tell you is that getting your certifications are about as cheap as you’ll find anywhere in the world. There’s a world-famous dive spot known as The Blue Hole close to Dahab, attracting divers from all over the world. Whatever language you can imagine, there is a dive shop in Dahab that speaks that language. For more information on diving in Dahab, just hit up one of the countless dive shops lining Dahab’s main seaside strip and they’ll happily set you up. Whatever level of diving you’re at, you can’t go wrong with Dahab.

Wadi El Weshwash

The hidden gem of Wadi Wishwashi is a popular day trip out of Dahab, taking you to a beautiful canyon with several natural swimming holes. To get here requires a bit of a journey, involving an off-road jeep ride on bumpy roads, followed by a stretch of hiking through desert canyons before reaching the natural springs. After being covered in dust and sweat, you have no excuse not to jump in. Booking a tour from Dahab costs about $25 USD, which is well worth it for a trip that takes up most of the day.

Mount Moses (Mount Sinai) Sunrise Hike

One of the best day trips from Dahab is a sunrise hike up Mount Sinai. It’s not an easy hike, requiring an early start and several hours of steep hiking in the dark. However, the views from the top are breathtaking and simply unforgettable. It’s one of my favorite things I did in Egypt. Even if you aren’t an avid hiker, the hike is fairly doable and well worth doing. Take your time, but if you are truly struggling, it is possible to get a camel for the majority of the way up.

Pack layers and everything you’ll need for a day hike. You’ll be hiking up in the cold and hiking down in the heat. There are shops along the way selling drinks, snacks, and renting out blankets. It is chilly and windy at the top, especially once you’ve sat down and are no longer moving your body. I hid in a little shop until the sun started to peek out, before racing to find an open spot to watch the sunrise.

Enjoy the beautiful sunrise before making your way down the mountain in the ethereal golden glow of the Egyptian morning. There are no shortage of views, especially now that you can actually see where you’ve been hiking. There’s a monastery at the end of the hike that you can visit before heading back towards Dahab. All in all, this was well worth the early wake-up call and the challenging hike up.

Colored Canyon and White Canyon

Last and probably least is the day trip to the Colored Canyon and White Canyon. If you’re running out of things to do, then this is a worth while journey. Otherwise, I wouldn’t prioritize this over the other day trips from Dahab. It’s a long ways away, and I don’t think it’s spectacular enough to justify the long drive and hike. The hike is undeniably beautiful but it’s far from a unique or can’t-miss experience. I’ve seen my fair share of slot canyons both in the U.S. and in the Middle East and Colored Canyon didn’t particularly stick out. For travelers who plan on continuing to Petra and Wadi Rum after Dahab, save the slot canyon adventures for there.

Beaches and Snorkeling

Even if scuba diving isn’t your thing, Dahab still has some stunning underwater scenes for you to discover. There are snorkeling spots right off the shores of Dahab’s main beach. It’s very affordable to rent a snorkel and goggles. I went snorkeling at Eel Garden and was able to get a glimpse of the breathtaking Dahab Canyon from above. It was absolutely stunning, and actually the closest thing to convince me to face my fears of the deep sea and get my PADI certification. Almost.

A lesser-visited beach is Lagona beach to the south of the main tourist area. It’s also beautiful, and even more tranquil than Dahab’s already laid-back main beach.

Best Places To Eat in Dahab

Dahab’s boardwalk in the Lighthouse neighborhood is where the brunt of Dahab’s restaurants and bars can be found. Many of these restaurants overlook the sparkling waters of the Red Sea. It’s hard to go wrong with a view and the cool sea breeze in your face, especially if you’re just looking for a drink or a shisha. Food? Well, that can be more up in the air. The restaurants along the strip tend to be pricier, given their location and views. It’s often hard to tell whether or not the quality will live up to the price.

Whenever I needed a drink or a hookah, nothing beat heading to the boardwalk and finding a spot along the sea to sip on a coffee or a beer. However, most of my favorite restaurants for actual food were more tucked away. Dahab has a fairly international scene when it comes to cuisine. You’ll find Thai food at Lemongrass, vegan food at The Vegan Lab, Chinese food at Box Meal, a hearty English breakfast at Ralph’s German Bakery, as well as a slew of Egyptian and Middle-Eastern restaurants throughout town. Abo Ahmed and Roots Kushary are great spots for Egyptian food.

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Nightlife Guide: Where To Party in Dahab

Once the sun sets and the weather cools down, it’s time to hit the bars. There are a few bars in Dahab but overall, nightlife is a fairly small affair. While you won’t find huge clubs or parties, the more intimate nightlife scene in Dahab is actually quite nice. You’ll run into the same people night in and night out, making it easy to befriend locals and travelers alike. The key is to meet the right people, which isn’t hard. You’ll quickly find yourself in the know for whatever’s happening on any given night, from karaoke nights at The Furry Cup, techno nights at Blue Beach, evening bonfires at Lagona Beach, to hidden parties tucked away in the canyons.

Again, staying at Rafiki Hostel played a huge part in finding out the nightly activities around town. The staff and the hostel itself are a staple in the local community. Whenever something’s going on, there’s a good chance they know about it, or are organizing it themselves. Don’t expect to be clubbing and dancing until sunrise, but there is a party any given night should you be looking for one. Sometimes, the party is simply picking up some beers from the small liquor store and heading to the beach to stargaze with your new hostel friends.

Dahab is a special place, and a destination I’d recommend for any traveler, from budget backpacker to digital nomad. The people of this small beach town really made my time there memorable. While it may be difficult to recreate the perfect experience I had there, everyone falls in love with Dahab in their own way. Few places have captured my heart like Dahab have. If you’re thinking about going, now is the time.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

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