Michael Mitrakos, Unsplash License, Source

Soma Bay

Luxury peninsula on Red Sea

Soma Bay is a coastal town on Egypt’s Red Sea, known for calm waters and coral reefs close to shore. The area has many dive sites where divers see colorful fish, turtles and occasional dolphins. On land, resorts provide pools, beach access and restaurants serving local seafood alongside international options. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular during spring and summer due to steady breezes. Local markets sell handmade crafts, spices and souvenirs. The town maintains a relaxed atmosphere with easy transport links to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh for day trips or longer travel.

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Town in Egypt

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.4

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	3

Read details

3/5

English is widely spoken in Soma Bay's resorts, restaurants, and tourist facilities. Staff at luxury hotels are typically fluent, while service providers for activities and excursions generally have good conversational English. Some knowledge of basic Ara

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Soma Bay Summary

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Excellent for Red Sea water sports. Go kitesurfing and diving, relax at luxury resorts, play golf courses and enjoy warm sunny beaches.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Sea

Spa & wellness

Beaches

Natural sites

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Egypt – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Egyptian Pound (EGP) £1 ≈ EGP 74.69
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in Egypt, especially in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and businesses, but cash is still preferred in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in Egypt, with a 10-15% tip in restaurants being standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Egypt, and alcohol consumption is limited to licensed establishments like hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is permitted in outdoor public spaces and licensed indoor venues such as cafes and bars, but it is prohibited in public transport and closed areas.

Revolution Day (25 January)	National holiday celebrating the 2011 revolution
Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)	Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 122 (Police), 123 (Ambulance), 180 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Egypt is known for its ancient history, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and numerous archaeological sites. It offers a rich cultural experience combined with desert landscapes and the Nile River.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Soma Bay, Egypt

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - April, July - Oct., Dec.
Shoulder season:	May - June, Nov.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Kitesurfing and windsurfing best May to September with strong, steady winds

Midday heat June to August makes inland excursions like Luxor very hard going

Christmas and New Year: highest prices, hotels book out early

Don't miss

🏄‍♂️ Go kitesurfing in the turquoise waters of Soma Bay
🐠 Snorkel or dive among the vibrant Red Sea coral reefs
🏖️ Relax on the private beaches of luxurious seaside resorts
⛳ Play a round at the scenic Cascades Golf Course
🌅 Sail at sunset and admire the rugged desert coastline

You've been here?

Why travel to Soma Bay?

Soma Bay offers a refined Red Sea experience that combines world-class water sports with luxury relaxation in a setting that feels more exclusive than its busier neighbor, Hurghada. Its unique peninsula location provides the best of both worlds - thriving coral reefs for diving enthusiasts and protected shallow waters that create perfect conditions for kitesurfing, with the area ranked among the top three kitesurfing spots worldwide. The controlled access through a single entry gate adds to the sense of exclusivity and security. What makes Soma Bay special is how it balances natural beauty with upscale amenities without the hectic atmosphere of larger Egyptian resort towns. The resort area features several luxury hotels with excellent spas (including 65 spa facilities across the area), championship golf courses and pristine beaches spread across 10 million square meters of white sand. It's an ideal destination for those seeking a beach holiday with high-end comforts, water sports opportunities and the option to take day trips to experience Egypt's iconic historical sites while returning to tranquil luxury each evening.

🎡Places for activities

1 Ghobbet Ras Abu Soma
2 Marina Abu Soma
3 Cascades Championship Golf Course
4 Robinson Club Soma Bay
5 Pickalbatros Amwaj Blue Beach Resort & Spa

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Sharm El Naga Resort Bungalows
2 Al Ababda Area

🛍️Shopping

1 Senzo Mall

🎈Events

Kitesurfing Championships
Red Sea Diving Festival
Desert Safari Festival
Egyptian Cultural Celebrations
Golf Tournaments
Soma Bay Music Events
Wellness Retreats
Bedouin Cultural Nights
Water Sports Competitions
New Year's Celebrations

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

It’s a gated resort peninsula; entry is controlled.
Plan transfers via Hurghada Airport; Soma Bay sits about 45 km south.
Bring snorkel gear and water shoes; the house reef is a major highlight.
Walk the long jetty for easy reef access – early morning often brings clearer water and fewer boats.

How to travel to Soma Bay

The most convenient way to reach Soma Bay is through Hurghada International Airport, located approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of the resort. The airport receives direct flights from many European cities and is about a four-hour flight from central Europe. From the airport, it's a 30-minute drive to Soma Bay, with transfers typically arranged through your hotel or resort. Alternatively, taxis are available at the airport, though it's advisable to agree on a price before departing. For those already in Egypt, Soma Bay is accessible by road from major cities, being about 460 kilometers from Cairo.

Access summary

From Hurghada Airport (HRG): Taxi or private transfer, about 40–60 minutes.
From Hurghada city: Taxi or shuttle along Safaga Road, roughly 40–50 minutes.
From Safaga: Short taxi drive south along the coast, around 15–20 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Soma Bay

Soma Bay is known for its luxury accommodations, featuring several high-end resorts spread across different areas of the peninsula including Wadi Jebal, Bay Central, Mesca, Reed Town and Bay West. The resort area hosts internationally recognized hotel brands such as Kempinski, Sheraton and The Westin, all offering premium amenities including private beaches, pools, spas and restaurants. Most properties are designed in a blend of modern and traditional Egyptian architectural styles, with many rooms offering sea views. Budget options are limited as Soma Bay caters primarily to the luxury market, so expect higher prices compared to other Egyptian destinations.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay

9.3

The Cascades Golf Resort, Spa & Thalasso

8.6

JAZ Soma Beach

9.2

Sheraton Soma Bay Resort

8.5

Steigenberger Resort Ras Soma

9.0

Movenpick Waterpark Resort & Spa Soma Bay

7.6

Amwaj Beach Club Abu Soma

8.8

Palm Royale Resort Soma Bay

8.7

Imperial Shams Abu Soma

8.9

Sentido Caribbean World Soma Bay

8.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Soma Bay

Soma Bay is a compact resort area that's easily navigable within its boundaries. Most resorts offer shuttle services between different facilities and beaches. For exploring within the resort area, walking is feasible for shorter distances, though the heat can make this challenging during summer months. Taxis are available for longer journeys and many hotels offer buggy services for guests. The controlled entry gate means that transportation is primarily organized through your resort for excursions outside Soma Bay.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-70 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 70% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-55 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EGP) is 55% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Hurghada, Egypt - 49 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£25	£62	£161
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£10	£23	£67
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£1	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.70
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.20
☕ Cappuccino	£1.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.12
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.24

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£2.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£6
🤧 Cold medication	£0.80
💇 Basic haircut	£1.90

Safety information overview

General safety

Soma Bay is generally very safe due to its controlled access through a single entry gate. The resort area has good security measures in place. As with any tourist destination, take normal precautions with valuables. The main safety concerns relate to sun exposure and water activities rather than crime.

Health & Medical

Luxury resorts in Soma Bay typically have on-site medical facilities for basic care. More serious conditions would require transport to hospitals in Hurghada. Dehydration and sunburn are common health issues for visitors. Bring necessary medications as specific pharmaceuticals may be difficult to find locally.

Accessibility

Soma Bay's newer luxury resorts generally offer good accessibility features including ramps and elevators. However, beach access may be challenging for those with mobility issues and some water sports facilities are not fully adapted. Most resorts can arrange special assistance upon request.

Tap water

Tap water in Soma Bay is not recommended for drinking. All resorts provide bottled water, often complimentary in rooms. Stay well-hydrated, especially during summer months, as the desert climate can cause rapid dehydration even when near water.