01The house reefs
Walk in off the beach or out along the jetty and you're over coral. The bay's reefs are made for snorkeling, and the water is warm enough to swim in every month of the year.
Any time of day
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Sea Coast · Destination guide
Makadi Bay
A quiet, purpose-built resort bay south of Hurghada – all-inclusive beaches, house reefs you can snorkel from the sand, and the airport 30–40 minutes away.
- Region
- Red Sea coast
- Best for
- Beach resorts · snorkeling · quiet
- Ideal stay
- 4–7 nights
- When to go
- October–April
- Airport
- Hurghada (HRG), 30–40 min
- Pairs with
- Luxor · Hurghada
Get your bearings
What Makadi Bay actually is
Makadi Bay is a single curve of sand about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada, built from scratch for resorts. There's no old town underneath it. Hotels line the beach one after another, with a small promenade and souk area for an evening stroll and not much else, which suits the people who choose it.
The water does the work. Most resorts have a house reef you can reach from the beach or a jetty, so you can snorkel before breakfast without booking a boat. When you want more than the bay, trips leave for Hurghada marina, the Giftun Islands and the desert, and Luxor is about four hours away by road.
What you're really here to see
The landmarks that make Makadi Bay
01
02Giftun Islands by boat
The standard boat day on this stretch of coast: islands ringed with sandbars and shallow reef, swim stops over the coral and lunch on board. Boats leave from Hurghada marina, a short drive north, and we arrange the transfer.
Full day
03Desert safari
The dry-day option: 4×4s or quad bikes into the Eastern Desert behind the coast, tea and dinner at a Bedouin-style camp, and a night sky with no resort lights to dim it.
Half day
Time to allow
How many days in Makadi Bay?
Makadi Bay rewards a slow stay. Give it at least four nights.
3–4 nightsThe short stop
Beach days, a few snorkels on the house reef and one boat trip. Enough to unwind after a busy itinerary.
5–7 nightsThe right amount
A week of beach days with a Giftun boat trip, a desert safari and an evening in Hurghada.
From LuxorThe classic finish
About four hours by road after the temples, with the airport only 30–40 minutes from your hotel.
Two basesQuiet plus lively
Split the week between Makadi Bay's calm and a busier base such as Hurghada or El Gouna.
Where it fits
Makadi Bay in your itinerary
Makadi Bay is the restful end of a trip, not the busy middle.
From Luxor
About four hours by road each way. Most travelers do the temples first and finish on the beach.
From Hurghada
Around 30 kilometers south, so Hurghada marina, the Giftun Islands and the desert are all day trips from your hotel.
Resort first
All-inclusive beach resorts on one sandy bay, with little else to organize once you arrive.
Snorkeling at the door
House reefs you can reach from the beach or a jetty, without a boat or a booking.
From the catalog
Tours that start in Makadi Bay
Iberotel Makadi Beach Hotel
Iberotel Makadi Beach is a five-star hotel in Makadi Bay, on the Hurghada-Safaga Road. Makadi Bay is a Red Sea resort area south of Hurghada. This listing covers a hotel stay rather than a sightseeing tour, so you can arrange visits and transportation separately to suit your plans. Room type, meal plan, and specific amenities should be confirmed for your selected booking. We arrange hotel bookings in Egypt and can help clarify what is included before you reserve. Unlike a packaged tour, this hotel product does not combine sightseeing or transfers with the stay.
From $156
Cleopatra Luxury Resort Makadi Bay
Cleopatra Luxury Resort Makadi Bay is a five-star hotel in Makadi Bay, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Makadi Bay is a resort area south of Hurghada, known for its coastal setting and access to Red Sea activities. This listing is for a hotel stay, rather than a guided sightseeing tour; Discovery Tours Egypt can help coordinate trip arrangements on the ground. Confirm the room type, meal plan, facilities, and any airport transportation for your dates before booking, as these details can affect the overall stay. The property’s location makes Makadi Bay the central point for planning time on this stretch of the Red Sea coast.
From $107
JAZ Makadi Star & Spa Adults Only
JAZ Makadi Star & Spa is an adults-only hotel in Makadi, on the Hurghada-Safaga Road at kilometer 34. The property is listed as a five-star hotel. Makadi is a Red Sea resort area south of Hurghada, giving travelers a base in the region rather than a city-center stay. The hotel name identifies a spa, but specific treatments and facilities should be confirmed before booking. Unlike a day visit to Makadi, a hotel stay places your accommodation in the resort area. We can help confirm the room, meal plan, and services available for your dates before you book.
From $115
Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden Hotel
Lemon & Soul Makadi Garden is a 3-star hotel in Makadi, Hurghada. Its listed address is 34 KM, Hurghada Safaga Road, Makadi, Hurghada, placing the property along the road connecting Hurghada and Safaga. Makadi is a resort area south of central Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The hotel’s name and address identify it with the Makadi area rather than central Hurghada. We can help coordinate a stay at this property; confirm meal arrangements and available amenities for your dates before booking, as those details can affect what is included. This listing is for the hotel stay, not a sightseeing tour.
From $35
Xanadu Makadi Bay Hotel
Xanadu Makadi Bay is a five-star hotel in Makadi Bay, a resort area on Egypt’s Red Sea coast south of Hurghada. The setting places guests in a coastal region known for access to Red Sea beaches and marine environments. We arrange the hotel booking as part of your Egypt trip. Room categories, meal plan, facilities, and services depend on the selected booking and should be confirmed before reservation. Makadi Bay is separate from central Hurghada, so consider transfer time when planning excursions to the city or other Red Sea destinations.
From $177
Albatros Makadi Resort in Makadi Bay
Albatros Makadi Resort is a five-star hotel in Makadi Bay, within Hurghada in Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate. Its location places the stay in the Makadi resort area rather than central Hurghada. The hotel name and address identify the property and its setting; confirm the room type, meal plan, and stay dates with us before booking. We arrange hotel bookings as a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Unlike a city-center hotel stay, this option is based in Makadi Bay, a coastal resort area on the Red Sea. Check the confirmed booking terms for what your rate includes.
From $136
Steigenberger Makadi Hotel
Steigenberger Makadi is a five-star hotel in Madinat Makadi, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The property’s adults-friendly policy sets a minimum age of 16, distinguishing it from hotels that welcome younger children. Its address is Safaga Road, Madinat Makadi, Safaga, Red Sea Governorate. Makadi is a resort area south of Hurghada, known for its Red Sea setting. We arrange hotel bookings as a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with room type, board basis, and booking conditions depending on the selected offer. Check those terms before booking to confirm what your stay includes.
From $102
Stella Beach Resort & Spa Makadi Bay
Stella Beach Resort & Spa Makadi Bay is a five-star hotel at Km 32 Safaga Road in Makadi Bay, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Makadi Bay lies south of Hurghada, along the road toward Safaga. Its location differs from a hotel in central Hurghada, placing the stay in the Makadi area rather than the city center. The property is identified as a resort and spa, but room features, facilities, and meal plans should be confirmed for your dates. We can help clarify which services are available and what the selected rate covers before you book.
From $116
SUNRISE Royal Makadi Resort
SUNRISE Royal Makadi Resort is a five-star resort on Makadi Bay, along the Safaga-Hurghada Road, about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada. The Red Sea setting places the property in a coastal area known for beach stays and access to the water. The resort’s address identifies its location, but room types, board basis, facilities, and services should be confirmed for your dates before booking. We can help coordinate your stay as a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Unlike a city hotel, this property is in Makadi Bay, so plan transportation around the distance to Hurghada and other destinations.
From $93
Every way in
Ways to travel from Makadi Bay
Day trips, classic multi-day tours, Nile cruises, hotels and private transfers – every part of an Egypt trip can be arranged from Makadi Bay. Start wherever makes sense.
Day tours from Hurghada
Hotel pickup, a private Egyptologist, half or full day.
Classic Egypt tours
2–15 day private itineraries, hotels and guides included.
Tours with a Nile cruise
Pair Makadi Bay with a 3–4 night river cruise in one trip.
Nile cruises
Aswan ↔ Luxor sailings, dahabiyas and classic cruisers.
Hotels in Makadi Bay
5★ and boutique stays, hand-picked by our team.
Airport transfers
Private meet-and-greet from the airport to your hotel.
Best time to visit
When to go to Makadi Bay
You can swim here all year. October to April is the comfortable stretch.
October–April · best
The pleasant months for beach days and day trips, and the best window for pairing the bay with Luxor.
Summer · hot
Around 40°C on land. The sea and a pool keep it manageable, but plan trips for early morning or late afternoon.
The water · all year
The sea is warm enough to swim in every month, so a winter trip still means time on the reef.
Pairing with the Nile
Upper Egypt is hottest in summer too, so a temples-then-beach trip works best between October and April.
The practical part
Getting there & around
Close to the airport, quiet once you arrive – the practical part.
01
Getting in
Fly into Hurghada (HRG). Makadi Bay is around 30–40 minutes by road, and we arrange a private transfer to your hotel.
02
Where to stay
The resorts share one bay, so the choice comes down to the beach, the reef access and the board plan. We match the hotel to your trip.
03
Getting around
Beyond the resort promenade and souk area there's no town center. Day trips include pickup, and a taxi covers anything else.
04
Snorkeling and diving
Snorkel the house reef from your hotel. Boat trips and dive centers run from Hurghada, and we line them up before you arrive.
Common questions
Makadi Bay, answered
01Where is Makadi Bay?+
Makadi Bay is a purpose-built resort bay on the Red Sea, about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada. It's around 30–40 minutes by road from Hurghada International Airport (HRG).
02Is Makadi Bay good for snorkeling?+
Yes. Most resorts have a house reef you can reach from the beach or a jetty, so you can snorkel without taking a boat. The water is warm enough to swim in all year.
03Is there anything to do in Makadi Bay besides the beach?+
Not in town. Beyond the resort promenade and souk area there's little, which is the point. Day trips run to Hurghada marina, the Giftun Islands and the Eastern Desert, and to Luxor by road.
04Can I combine Makadi Bay with Luxor?+
Yes. Luxor is about four hours from Makadi Bay by road each way. Many travelers do the temples and the Nile first, then finish on the beach.
05When is the best time to visit Makadi Bay?+
October to April is the most comfortable. Summer is hot, around 40°C, though the sea is warm enough to swim in every month.
Plan your trip
Build your Makadi Bay trip with our Egyptologists
Tell us your dates and what you want out of Makadi Bay – we'll send a private, tailored itinerary within 24 hours. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.