Marsa Alam

Holiday in Marsa Alam, Red Sea 21 /28 March 2004

By plane from Verona, stay at the village Veraclub Elphistone, tour operator Veratour, travel agency: Viaggi del Buonconsiglio Trento

the place

Marsa Alam is located on the Red Sea south of the better-known Hurghada, not far from the border with Sudan, and is the latest novelty when it comes to holidays on the Red Sea.

After the opening of the international airport, construction sites have multiplied along the whole coast and this suggests that within a few years it will become like Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada, so better to take advantage of it right away before mass tourism ruins it definitively. The temperature is not as high as in Sharm el Sheikh, with very little humidity, the whole area is constantly beaten by the wind so the heat is not felt much.

From Marsa Alam it is possible to do many interesting excursions, especially for those who have never been to the desert. Some are demanding and require the whole day, others instead last half a day or even a couple of hours.

You can do guided "raids" in the desert, with quad bikes or with jeeps; at night they organise an astrological tour which consists of an excursion into the desert and a guide shows the most beautiful constellations visible at that latitude. You can visit both the town of Marsa Alam and that of El Quseir; in truth there is not much to see because they are fishing villages, if you have to decide which excursions to sacrifice given that they cost a lot, these two are the best candidates. Among the more demanding ones is the visit to Luxor, it lasts all day and you leave very early in the morning, it is tiring but if you do not plan to do a Nile cruise it can be an excellent opportunity to see the vestiges of ancient Egypt.

the sea

The coastline of Marsa Alam is subject to the phenomenon of tides which causes a change in the depth of the water. This leads to having a few dozen centimetres of water up to about a hundred metres from the beach, and makes it possible to reach the reef on foot... on the other hand, you cannot use canoes... Veratour has set up a free shuttle service to reach the nearby beach of Abu Dabab, always suitable for swimming, where with simple snorkelling equipment you can admire splendid seabeds.

the village

Inaugurated in March 2002, the Veraclub Elphistone is directly on the sea, made up of a central body from which, on the sides, two semicircular wings develop, giving the complex a characteristic horseshoe shape.

At the centre of this layout are the pools, the square, the theatre, the various services, and sloping gently down towards the beach, the bocce, football and volleyball courts, etc. Part of the village is still under construction, but the construction site present does not disturb the stay in the slightest.

On the beach, wide and sandy, and in the pool area, sun loungers, umbrellas and free beach towels are available.

The village has two restaurants. In both, the cuisine is looked after by Italian chefs excellently assisted by Egyptian staff.

The main one offers breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet-style; the second, where you eat exclusively fish, open only for dinner, seats about 50 people, so you have to book the day before the meal (table service).

In both, a large choice of dishes for all palates, finishing with many excellent desserts.

Various moments of the day are accompanied by snacks and appetisers at the pool bar, pizza and crêpes.

There is a well-equipped diving centre, wellness centre, 2 pools (one of which is heated), bazaar, theatre for evening shows, disco.

Entertainment and sport

The entirely Italian entertainment team is always present and available for any eventuality, from arrival at the airport to departure; there are countless sporting appointments throughout the day.

Games, tournaments, dance lessons, evening shows (cabaret, games, comedies, local folklore) and an evening entertainment show at the theatre, and to finish, evenings in the disco.

The All Inclusive formula includes the following activities: canoeing (courses, races and free use), beach tennis (tournaments and matches), five-a-side football (grass pitch), beach volleyball (tournaments and matches), archery (courses and tournaments), step, aquagym, aerobics, water polo, bocce, darts, ping-pong. For a fee: billiards, snorkelling and diving with courses and dives.

our stay

Dedicated exclusively to relaxation.... to break up the winter that here this year seems never to end...

On arrival in Marsa Alam, we were immediately struck by the strong breeze blowing from the northern quadrants... almost worried about the temperature, certainly not high.... later, we realised that the initial discomfort was unfounded; in fact the wind, almost always present, was not bothersome, and indeed in the central hours of the day, when the sun reaches its maximum, it gave relief...

All the umbrellas, both on the beach and by the pool, are provided with windbreak screens, and by moving the sun loungers accordingly... it is possible to "regulate" the ambient temperature...

Near the Elphistone... excluding a second village a short distance away.... only the desert and the sea....

conclusions

We had a very good time at the Elphistone, the days passed pleasantly serene and without hitches, we relaxed and got a tan...