The Red Sea – a winter charter destination from El Gouna, Egypt.
Published: 22nd Oct 2025
The Red Sea lies between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, forming a long, narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean stretching for around 2,300km (1,400miles) to the Suez Canal in the North of Egypt.
A one-week yacht charter in the Red Sea offers a mix of adventure, relaxation and natural beauty both above and below the water. Explore crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and remote uninhabited islands and endless opportunities for snorkelling and diving among vibrant marine life. The coastline around El Gouna provides calm anchorages and striking desert backdrops.
We would suggest starting your charter at El Gouna on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, a modern marina town just 30 minutes north of Hurghada where there is an international airport with frequent direct flights from Cairo and major European airport hubs. From this convenient port there are islands, coral reefs and calm sailing grounds within easy striking distance.
A big attraction for choosing a charter in the Red Sea is for scuba diving. In the area just off El Gouna there’s a broad mix of dive experiences from shallow coral gardens for beginners, lagoon sites and for more experienced divers deeper wreck sites, drift diving and steep drop-off walls. Visibility in the region can often exceed 30m (100ft) in good conditions.
Expect to see large swarms of reef fish such as bannerfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, schools of snappers and fusiliers, plus moray eels, lionfish and clownfish and dramatic underwater terrain. Turtles are regularly seen as well as rays on gentle slopes and sandy patches. On the deeper sites and drift dives you might well encounter jackfish and barracudas. The wreck dive sites are generally in water depths of 15-30m (50-100ft).
Some yachts will offer scuba diving from the boat with a qualified diver. Alternatively, scuba can be arranged for you with a reputable local operator.
And if you are not diving enthusiasts or are a mixed group, many of the dive sites can also be fully appreciated by snorkellers as the visibility is so good. At the Dolphin House site for instance, much of the reef-top lies in 1-5m (3-15ft) depths with clear, calm water inside the lagoon. Easy to see will be healthy hard corals, schools of fish, blue-spotted rays, and sometimes spinner dolphins cruising through the shallows.
Water temperatures range from 22 degrees in the winter (January/February) to 28 or 29 degrees in the summer.
As well as underwater excitement, there’s also fascinating desert, coastal and island scenery to marvel at as well as all of the usual facilities and water-sport toys carried by well-equipped charter yachts. Great food, attentive service, quiet moments and good times with family and friends.
El Gouna is a purpose-built marina and resort town with waterfront art galleries, restaurants, boutique hotels and dive shops. If you have time, visit the town’s museum which presents a cleverly curated display of ancient Egyptian art, culture and crafts.
Places you might visit include Tawila Island which is a favourite anchorage of turquoise water ideal for paddleboarding, kite surfing possibly and a whole range of other water-sport toys. Ashore there are beaches of fine white sand ideal for a beach picnic and a sunset walk. Expect to see herons, oystercatchers and terns nesting in the dunes. By contrast, Shadwan Island, is more rugged with dramatic rock formations and with just a short climb enjoy spectacular views over the gulf and on a clear day across to the Sinai Peninsula. And other island stops could be at Mahmiya or Magawish, secluded paradises of soft sand and crystal-clear water. Along the mainland coast are the Eastern Desert Mountains of copper-coloured ridges which glow red at sunset.
Excursions which can be arranged for you are camel rides and visits to Bedouin camps to taste traditional food and learn about desert life.
From the deck, the night sky offshore is amazing as there is little light pollution and with the Milky Way easily visible. And don’t miss the sunrise as the desert horizon glows.
On a longer (10-day) itinerary you could cross the Gulf of Suez to the Southern Sinai Peninsula. Here you’ll discover Egypt’s oldest and most famous marine protected area, Ras Mohammed National Park. From Dahab it’s a day’s excursion by 4x4 vehicles to St Catherine’s Monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage site. And Sharm el-Sheikh one of Egypt’s best-known Red Sea resorts.
In summary, a yacht charter in the Red Sea offers an exciting alternative to traditional Mediterranean routes combining world-class diving, unspoiled anchorages and Egyptian hospitality in one unforgettable voyage.
The climate here is dry and sunny and the warm waters make it a superb alternative to the Med. Summers are hot and the best time to visit is from September onwards. Christmas and New Year is popular, and the weather then is very pleasant with daytime temperatures around 26C (79F). However, nighttime temperatures can be chilly and you will need a warmer layer especially out on the water.
The choice of yachts which we are happy to recommend to you include fully-crewed catamarans from 51 to 82ft and a range of motor yachts.
If you would like to discuss charter options in this area, please do get in touch. We are happy to help.
About MWYC
Marlow Worldwide Yacht Charters Ltd is owned and operated by Liz Marlow, who has over 25 years’ experience as an independent yacht charter broker. Now in the UK and based in Poole, Dorset, Liz established her business in Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean. She lived in Antigua for many years and gathered specific knowledge of chartering in the Caribbean - one of the prime yacht charter destinations each winter season.
As well as the Caribbean, her experience of arranging private yacht charters also covers the West Mediterranean, the East Mediterranean (Greece and Turkey) and the Bahamas.
