How to Spend 3 Days in Dahab: Paradise on a Budget
When you think Egypt, you probably think of the pyramids in Giza, but rest assured, there is a lot more to this remarkable country. In this blog, we’ll be focusing in on one of the many paradise-like towns along the Red Sea on the Sinai Peninsula – Dahab. It is a hub of some of the most fabulous sights on the peninsula after all!
To see the best of Dahab and the Sinai Peninsula, you’ll need to plan at least 3 days in Dahab. If time allows, you may want to plan more time to see the surrounding area, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Here’s how to spend 3 days in Dahab – and then you’ll be able to determine if you’ll need more time.
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Day 1: Intro to Dahab
Dahab in 3 days is going to allow you to just scratch the surface of this beautiful resort town along the Red Sea in Egypt. Whether you’re a luxury traveler or a backpacker, it offers something for everyone looking for a laid back town that offers big adventures.
That’s right – you’re going to need to balance your time with the bucket list things to do in Dahab and the need to relax and enjoy the local pace of life.
Arrive in Dahab & Book Your Adventures
To get to Dahab, you’ll likely fly into nearby Sharm El-Sheikh, bus in from Cairo, or even take the ferry from Jordan. No matter which way you travel, you’re likely to arrive in Dahab a bit tired. For the first day you’ll want to take it kind of easy and get yourself organized for the follow days of adventures!
This includes booking your adventures in Dahab. There are a lot of options available, but I highly recommend climbing Mount Sinai and scuba diving or snorkeling at the Blue Hole. To book these trips, you can either do it online before you arrive, or you can check in with your accommodations and see if they can provide recommendations and help you book them.
In either case, you want to book your Dahab hotels and adventures before you arrive or early on to make the most of your three day Dahab itinerary. In fact, I recommend enjoying a restful first day and then taking off on your first big adventure on night one – to Mount Sinai!
Check out the 14 Best Things to Do in Dahab & the Sinai Peninsula.
Get a Feel for the Town of Dahab
Once you’re settled in at your hotel, it’s time to explore. Dahab is a small, cozy beach side resort town. From the center of town, you can easily stroll down the promenade between the coast of the Red Sea and the shops and restaurants.
It’s a great place to find an oceanfront cafรฉ or bar to grab a bite to eat and take a swim in the beautiful Red Sea. This is how you should spend your morning and afternoon after arrival. Relax. Enjoy the ambiance of this seaside town. Maybe kick back next to the pool at your hotel. You’re gearing up for a night of adventure!
Take a Pre-Mountain Climbing Nap
Tonight / tomorrow morning you should head to Mount Sinai, where Moses received the 10 Commandments. As you will spend most of the night awake and climbing a mountain, you will need to recharge your batteries before you go.
Depending on how long your journey was to get to Dahab, you might need a 6 hour nap or you might need just a quick 2 hour nap to top up your energy and prepare for an epic mountain climbing adventure.
Head to Mount Sinai
The climb to Mount Sinai typically leaves Dahab at about 11:30pm. It is about a 2 hour drive followed by a 3 hour hike to reach the top for sunrise. After sunrise, you’ll climb back down the mountain to visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the bottom before returning to Dahab.
You can find all of the details you need to know in my Climbing Mount Sinai post, but we’ll look a bit more into it below.
Day 2: Climb Mount Sinai
The second day of your 3 days in Dahab will be memorable as you’re kicking it off with an overnight hike up Mount Sinai for sunrise! Seriously, this day features a bucket list item and if you like hiking and views, you’re going to love it… even if you’re not a morning person!
Mount Sinai and Visiting Saint Catherine’s Monastery
As we briefly touched on above, you’ll hike 3 hours up Mount Sinai in the dark to get to the summit in time for sunrise. You’ll want to spend some time enjoying the scenery before starting the trek back. Before you head back to Dahab, stop at Saint Catherine’s Monastery to see the famous Burning Bush.
Take a Much Deserved Nap
You’ll arrive back in Dahab from Mount Sinai around noon. This means its time for some important self-care activities like taking one of the world’s best showers (showering after a long hike is always the best!) and then crawling into bed for a couple of hours to rejuvenate for the rest of the day.
Relax Along the Red Sea
Having done all of your physical activity for the day, it’s now time to find another great spot to relax, have a drink, and admire your gorgeous surroundings. Dahab features so many colorful beachfront places.
Select one, have a seat, try a smoothie or an appetizer. If you don’t love it, move on to the next spot. If you do love it, settle in and enjoy your afternoon by the Red Sea.
Treat Yourself to a Delightful Dinner
The restaurant scene is Dahab is lovely, however it does appear that some of them are quite costly. Many of the restaurants will have their menus out on the promenade along with someone trying to entice you to come in. If you find a menu too pricey, don’t be afraid to try negotiating before entering a restaurant.
My friend and I fortunately had a hostelmate who had given us a great tip on a delicious and inexpensive meal deal at a restaurant along the water. The rate they had told us, that the owner honored, was about 1/3 of the actual menu price. He even discounted the “thick shakes” or milkshakes made with ice cream to be more affordable.
To say I believe in feasting after climbing Mount Sinai is an understatement. My friend and I spent almost 3 hours eating appetizers, the main course, fruit and tea for dessert and two milkshakes each. The food is so fresh and tasty with a beautiful waterfront atmosphere.
To make things better, the total bill was only around $15 USD total, so we tipped exceedingly well, which is not normal in Egypt. But the rates of the food were really too low to justify and the owner was such a pleasure!
Day 3: Scuba Dive or Snorkel the Blue Hole
After a solid night of sleep, it’s time to make the most of your final day in Dahab. This means doing another of the “Best Things to Do in Dahab” and visiting the famous Blue Hole! While the Blue Hole in Dahab is not as famous as the Blue Hole in Belize, it is one of the most famous “Blue Holes” in the world. Let’s learn a bit about it.
What is the Blue Hole in Dahab?
The Dahab Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole. Essentially, it’s a large, circular opening in the coral reef that plunges to depths of around 130 meters (426 feet). Its diameter is about 30 meters (98 feet), making it a relatively small but incredibly deep and intense dive site.
The hole is accessible from shore and slowly transitions from a shallow reef to the deep blue of the sinkhole. It’s visually striking and gives the Blue Hole its name. It’s also home to a wide variety of marine life which makes it great for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Scuba Dive the Blue Hole
As a diver, I have to say the Red Sea is one of the best places to scuba dive in the world. That combined with the fact that it is also the cheapest diving I’ve ever heard of, it’s an experience hard to skip. It’s only about $20 USD (in 2015) per dive including all of your equipment, and if you dive twice in a day, your hostel bed is free. Talk about a steal!
Just make sure you won’t be flying within the next day before you book your scuba diving trip. If you are, don’t worry, you can still go snorkeling at the Blue Hole.
Snorkel the Blue Hole
For the non-divers out there, many of the reefs are shallow at the Blue Hole which makes it a prime location for snorkeling. And, of course it is even more reasonable at under $5 for transport and snorkeling gear. I love Egyptian pricing (especially after Jordan being so unexpectedly expensive)!
Snorkeling at the Blue Hole is always an adventure. When I went, our group was a Chinese couple and a large group of Arabian men, none of whom spoke English. We just followed along in the truck and in getting our equipment.
When entering the water, beware as there are lots of sharp rocks. Additionally, know that you may encounter a number of local teenage boys who hang out in the water all day. They want to show you around the reefs, for a tip of course. In fact, it’s a bit hard to get them to leave you to snorkel in peace, but be firm, and eventually they’ll go away. Or, take them up on their offer for a guided tour of the Blue Hole.
You can easily spend a couple of hours snorkeling. There are plenty of coral and colorful fish to keep you entertained. If you have a GoPro or other underwater camera, definitely take it!
Make the Most of Dinner Time
As your last night in Dahab, you need to eat like a king. Fortunately, the restaurant scene will not disappoint. We actually ended up returning to the same place for dinner since it was so delicious the first time around.
Upon arrival we were welcomed home and greeted with big smiles. The hospitality in Dahab is amazing, and I hope you have the same experience!
Fly Out of Sharm El-Sheikh Airport
Once your Dahab itinerary for 3 days comes to an end, it’s time to say goodbye to this fabulous Red Sea town. For most travelers, this means you’ll need to make your way to Sharm El-Sheikh to fly out.
Allow yourself plenty of time to get from Dahab to the Sharm El-Sheikh airport. It is only about an hour drive, but traffic and roads can be unpredictable. Don’t cut it too close. We left Dahab at 10:30pm for our 1:55am flight.
Check-ins for flights don’t start until two hours beforehand, but if you are there early you can enter the airport outside of the first security station. This security station is between the airport entrance and the check-in counters.
When it is time, go through the first security checkpoint, get your boarding pass, continue through passport control and descend down to the arctic where the gates are. Seriously, the air conditioning in this airport is no joke.
How can they get a 50 degree temperature difference? It was probably 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside and 50 degrees inside. Was it the modern building which featured some new “ice” mode of air conditioning? Everyone waiting at the gates was freezing with people layering clothes, cuddling together, running in place, etc. The lesson here is take layers when flying out of Sharm El-Sheikh!
Where to Stay in Dahab
Dahab has a wide variety of hostels and resorts, all at an affordable price. That’s right, there are hotel rooms for right around $20 – 25 USD. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can live in a bit more luxury still at a budget-friendly cost.
The biggest thing I would take into consideration when admiring the many options available is location. I highly recommend staying within walking distance of the main promenade. This will help you make the most of your 72 hours in Dahab by walking to all of the cafes, bars, and restaurants whenever you want.
Budget Accommodations in Dahab
As mentioned above, accommodations are extremely affordable in Dahab. That being said, there are some that are even more budget friendly than others. Here are my top picks:
Mid-range Accommodations in Dahab
There are no super expensive hotels or accommodations in Dahab, which means you can get luxury at a much lower price. Here are your best bets for the most bang for your buck while being close to town:
Check out the 8 Best Hotels in Dahab here!
Explore More of Egypt
Now that you know how to spend 3 days in Dahab, here are some other posts to help you plan your time in Egypt and the surrounding areas. It’s a country that brings me back time and time again!
- Discover the 8 Best Hotels in Dahab: Where to Stay on Vacation
- 14 Best Things to Do in Dahab & the Sinai Peninsula
- Climbing Mount Sinai: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Get from Cairo to Dahab in Egypt: 4 Transportation Options
- How to Get an Egyptian Visa in Aqaba, Jordan
- Taking the Ferry from Jordan to Egypt: A Local Experience
- One Day in Cairo + Dozens of Scam Artists
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