Safaga and Soma Bay: a calm Red Sea holiday for Gulf families
Safaga is a quieter Red Sea town about 53 km south of Hurghada, with Soma Bay — a peninsula of large resorts — just to its north. Families come for calm beaches, space and fewer crowds, not for nightlife.
Where is Safaga, and how is it different from Hurghada?
Safaga sits on the Red Sea coast in the Red Sea Governorate, around 53 km south of Hurghada. Soma Bay is a resort peninsula between the two, about 45 km south of Hurghada International Airport and about 28 km north of Safaga port. Most visitors fly into Hurghada and drive down — so Safaga is not a suburb of Hurghada: plan on about an hour each way if you want to visit Hurghada’s marina or town.
| Safaga & Soma Bay | Hurghada & El Gouna | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Quiet, spacious, resort-based | Livelier, with a town, marinas and restaurants |
| Best for | Rest, kitesurfing and windsurfing, golf, diving | Families who want more to do outside the hotel |
| From Hurghada airport | About 45–60 minutes by road | About 10–30 minutes |
Compare with our Hurghada & El Gouna guide and Sharm el-Sheikh guide.
Why families choose Safaga and Soma Bay
- Calm and space — large resorts with long beaches and fewer day-trippers.
- Wind sports — steady winds make the area popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing; Safaga hosted the 1993 Red Sea World Windsurfing Championships.
- Reefs and diving — snorkelling from some hotels and boat trips to nearby reefs.
- Golf — Soma Bay has an 18-hole championship course shared by its resorts.
- Spa time — resort spas for relaxation.
We arrange Safaga as a relaxation holiday only; we do not arrange treatments there. For treatment followed by a calm stay, see Treat & Recover by the Sea.
Packages
El Gouna & Safaga Calm Stay — 5 Nights
Lagoon-side El Gouna or the quiet bays of Safaga and Soma Bay: slow days, calm water and low humidity.
Marsa Alam Reefs & Turtles — 5 Nights
Egypt's far-south Red Sea coast: untouched reefs, turtle bays and some of the clearest water in the country.
When to go and how long to stay
The Red Sea is warm all year. July and August are hot; winter is mild and sunny, and it is also when the wind is often strongest — good for kitesurfers, less so for small children on open beaches, so ask us for sheltered spots. Most families stay 5–7 nights, and some combine a few nights in Cairo with the rest by the sea.
Costs
Our El Gouna & Safaga calm stay package typically costs 2,000–8,300 SAR per room for 5 nights, depending on the resort and dates, excluding flights. Transfers and a private car with driver are arranged through a licensed transport company. You receive a written, itemised quote before paying; families in Saudi Arabia pay in Saudi Arabia, in riyals, through our licensed Saudi partner company.
If someone needs a doctor
Resorts usually have an on-call doctor. If you prefer an Arabic-speaking doctor, nurse or dentist, we can coordinate a visit — see doctor at your hotel. In an emergency in Egypt call 123.
Sedan or family van, with a professional driver
Airport pickup, day trips, and the road between Cairo and the coast — in a clean, air-conditioned car with a driver who knows the way. Cars and drivers are provided by a licensed tourist transport company; Hayakkom books and coordinates them for you and stays on WhatsApp throughout.
| Option | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Sedan with driver, full day (8–10 h) | 375–560 SAR |
| Family van with driver, full day | 790–1,125 SAR |
| Cairo airport ↔ city, one way | 65–310 SAR per vehicle |
Questions people ask
How far is Safaga from Hurghada?
About 53 km south of Hurghada, roughly an hour by road. Soma Bay is about 45 km south of Hurghada International Airport.
Is Safaga or Hurghada better for families?
Safaga and Soma Bay are quieter and resort-based; Hurghada and El Gouna have more to do outside the hotel. Choose Safaga for rest, wind sports and golf.
Which airport do I fly into for Safaga?
Most visitors fly into Hurghada International Airport and transfer by road, about 45–60 minutes.
How much does a Safaga holiday cost?
As a guide, 5 nights cost 2,000–8,300 SAR per room before flights, depending on the resort and dates. You receive a written quote before you pay.
Plan it with us on WhatsApp
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and your budget. We reply in Arabic or English with a written, itemised quote.
📱 WhatsApp +20 103 156 7949✉️ support@hayakkom.com