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The Blue Lagoon is a turquoise, shallow lagoon tucked inside the Ras Abu Galum protected area, on the coast north of Dahab beyond the Blue Hole. With no road in, you arrive by camel, boat or on foot — and that effort is exactly what keeps it calm, clear and uncrowded. It's one of the best day trips from Dahab: snorkeling, kitesurfing, a Bedouin lunch, and desert wilderness meeting the Red Sea.
What Is the Blue Lagoon?
Ras Abu Galum is a protected coastal wilderness of mountains, dunes and fringing reef between Dahab and Nuweiba. The Blue Lagoon is its centrepiece — a sheltered pool of shallow, brilliant-blue water backed by a small cluster of Bedouin camps. There are no hotels, no roads and almost no development: just reef, water, desert and a handful of huts serving tea and fresh fish.
How to Get There
Access is half the adventure. The usual route:
- Drive to the Blue Hole (10km north of Dahab) — the jumping-off point.
- Then continue to the lagoon by camel (≈1.5 hours along the shore with a Bedouin guide), by boat, or on foot for the energetic.
- Or book a day trip from Dahab that bundles transport, guide, snorkeling gear and lunch — the simplest option for most visitors.
There's no entrance road and no taxis at the lagoon, so plan your return (camel/boat times) before you set off, or let an organised trip handle it.
Things to Do at the Blue Lagoon
- Snorkeling: shallow coral and calm water make it relaxed and family-friendly — bring or rent a mask and fins in Dahab.
- Kitesurfing: the lagoon's flat, protected water and steady wind make it a favourite kite spot; a few operators run trips and lessons here.
- Swimming & sunbathing: the namesake blue water is warm, shallow and sheltered.
- Bedouin camps: simple shaded huts serving tea and grilled fish — the place to spend the middle of the day.
- Overnight stays: basic beach huts for those who want the stars, the silence and a Ras Abu Galum sunrise.
What to bring: sun protection, water, cash (small EGP notes), a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and your own snorkel gear if you have it — facilities at the lagoon are deliberately minimal. Combine it with the
Blue Hole on the way for a full day on the coast north of Dahab.
Is It Worth It?
Yes — the Blue Lagoon is one of the most distinctive things to do around Dahab, precisely because it's hard to reach and barely developed. A camel ride along an empty coast to a turquoise lagoon, lunch with a Bedouin family, an afternoon snorkeling or kiting flat water, and the option to stay for the stars — it's the kind of low-key adventure Dahab does better than anywhere on the Red Sea. See where it fits in our things to do in Dahab guide.
Blue Lagoon Dahab — FAQ
Where is the Blue Lagoon in Dahab?
The Blue Lagoon sits inside the Ras Abu Galum protected area on the Red Sea coast, about 15km north of Dahab and just beyond the Blue Hole. There's no road in — you reach it on foot, by camel or by boat, which is part of why it stays so unspoilt.
How do you get to the Blue Lagoon?
Most people drive to the Blue Hole first (10km north of Dahab), then continue to the lagoon by camel (about 1.5 hours along the coast), by boat, or on foot. Organised day trips from Dahab bundle the transport, a Bedouin guide, snorkeling gear and lunch. Going fully independent is possible but you'll still hire a local boat or camel at the Blue Hole.
How much does a Blue Lagoon day trip cost?
A guided day trip from Dahab typically runs about $25–45 per person including transport to the Blue Hole, camel or boat to the lagoon, lunch at a Bedouin camp and snorkeling. Prices vary with group size and whether kitesurfing or an overnight stay is included.
What is there to do at the Blue Lagoon?
Snorkeling over shallow coral, swimming in the calm turquoise water, kitesurfing (the lagoon is a well-known flat-water kite spot), relaxing at the simple Bedouin camps, and walking the desert-meets-sea scenery of Ras Abu Galum. Some visitors stay overnight in a beach hut for the stars and sunrise.
Can you kitesurf at the Blue Lagoon?
Yes — the Blue Lagoon is one of the area's best flat-water kitesurfing spots, with steady wind and shallow, protected water. A few operators run kite trips and lessons there; bring or arrange gear in Dahab, as facilities at the lagoon itself are minimal.
Can you stay overnight at Ras Abu Galum?
Yes. The Bedouin camps at the lagoon offer very basic huts — a mattress, a roof and shared facilities — for an overnight under the stars. It's rustic by design (no electricity to speak of), and one of the most memorable budget experiences around Dahab.
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On-the-ground guides to Dahab, Egypt — written by long-stay residents and divers. Every page is checked against current local pricing, seasonal conditions and personal experience. Last reviewed against live data: Updated 2026.