Egypt hotels · Makadi Bay
Where to Stay in Makadi Bay
Where to stay in Makadi Bay — large beachfront resorts on a sheltered arc of coast south of Hurghada, the reef a short walk from every hotel, and a road to Luxor that cuts straight through the Eastern Desert in four hours.
- Beach
- Sheltered, sandy, calm
- Star range
- 4-star to 5-star
- Nights
- 4–7 typical
- To Hurghada
- 35 km north
- To Luxor
- 4 hours by road
- Airport
- Hurghada (HRG)
The decision
Where to stay in Makadi Bay
Makadi Bay sits on a sheltered arc of coast about 35 kilometres south of Hurghada town. The beach is sandy and the water is calm enough for children — the reef is close to most resorts and walkable before breakfast. The trade for the quiet is distance from the restaurants and nightlife of Hurghada, but most guests here don't miss them.
Makadi Bay proper
Families and all-inclusive guests who want the full resort
The main cluster — large, landscaped properties with private beaches, multiple pools and reef access straight off the beach. Self-contained and quiet by design.
Soma Bay
Divers and guests after a quieter, more exclusive stretch
About 15 kilometres further south than Makadi, on a narrower peninsula. Fewer resorts, less noise, better reef access and a more serious dive operation.
Sahl Hasheesh
Boutique stays and those who want Hurghada within reach
Between Makadi and Hurghada town, with a marina and a mix of boutique hotels and villa rentals. More choice at dinner; more options for an evening out.
Makadi Heights
Longer stays, villa rentals and self-catered breaks
The inland hilltop above the bay — aparthotels and villa compounds with sea views, cooler air and lower rates than the beachfront. A shuttle runs to the beach.
What the stars mean here
Star ratings in Makadi Bay
Makadi Bay skews upmarket. Almost all the inventory is 4-star and above, and all-inclusive is the standard board.
The dependable workhorse on the bay — a large pool, several restaurants, a house reef and a beach club. Reliable for families, reliable on the reef. The most common choice.
The top-end all-inclusives and the Soma Bay properties — better kitchens, a wider choice of restaurants, and rooms worth asking us which ones sit closest to the reef and face east for the morning light.
From your door
What you can do from a Makadi Bay hotel
The beach is the point at Makadi, and the Eastern Desert road puts Luxor four hours away — closer than from Hurghada town.
The reef by boat or snorkel
The house reef at most Makadi resorts is a short walk — or take a glass-bottom boat out to the offshore sites where the coral wall drops off steeply.
Hurghada town
The Old Market, the bazaar, the marine biology museum and the seafront promenade — 35 kilometres north, an easy morning out and back.
Luxor and Karnak by road
The Nile temples four hours inland — Karnak by afternoon light, the Valley of the Kings, and the Luxor Museum if you want to spend the night. A full day's drive that earns its distance.
Desert quad safari
The Eastern Desert behind Makadi — an hour on quad bikes into the sand, a Bedouin camp, and a sky that clears early enough to count the stars.
Before you book
Booking a Makadi Bay hotel, practically
A few things worth knowing before you pick a Makadi Bay hotel.
How many nights
Four to seven for most stays — Makadi is often the beach end of a combined Nile-and-sea holiday, with Luxor, Aswan and a cruise done first and Makadi as the last stop before flying home.
Getting in from the airport
Hurghada Airport (HRG), with direct charters from the UK, is about 50 kilometres from Makadi Bay — roughly 45 minutes by private transfer depending on traffic. Soma Bay adds another 15 minutes. Tell us your arrival time and we'll have a car waiting.
All-inclusive is almost universal
The Makadi Bay resorts are largely built on the all-inclusive model, and with the bay as quiet as it is, it usually pays off. We confirm what the board actually covers before you book.
Reef quality varies by resort
Some resorts have a thriving house reef a two-minute walk from the beach; others have a sand bay and need a boat. Tell us how important the reef is and we'll narrow the list accordingly.
Common questions
Makadi Bay hotels, answered
01 Where is Makadi Bay and how do I get there from Hurghada Airport? +
Makadi Bay is about 35 kilometres south of Hurghada town, roughly 45 minutes from the airport by private transfer. Soma Bay, the quieter peninsula at the southern end, takes about an hour. We arrange the transfer from HRG as standard.
02 Is Makadi Bay good for snorkelling? +
The house reefs at most resorts are accessible from the beach, and some of them are excellent — soft coral, reef fish and the occasional turtle on a morning snorkel. The offshore sites are even better by boat. The quality varies by resort, so tell us how important the reef is and we'll point you to the right one.
03 Can I do a day trip to Luxor from Makadi Bay? +
Yes — the Eastern Desert road runs straight from the coast to Luxor in about four hours. It's a full day, an early start and a late return, but it covers Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Luxor itself in one go. We arrange the car, the guide and the entry to every site.
04 What is the difference between Makadi Bay and Soma Bay? +
Makadi Bay is larger, better known and more family-oriented, with the bigger all-inclusive properties. Soma Bay is on a quieter peninsula 15 kilometres further south — fewer resorts, a better reef overall and a more peaceful atmosphere. Both have direct beach and reef access; the choice is mostly about how much company you want.
05 Do your Makadi Bay hotels include meals and transfers? +
Most are all-inclusive. We confirm exactly what the board covers on the quote — some 'all-inclusive' packages are more generous than others. Airport transfers from HRG are a straightforward add to any booking.
Reservations
Find your room in Makadi Bay
Tell us your dates, whether you want Makadi Bay proper or the quieter Soma Bay peninsula, and how important the reef is — and we'll send hand-picked options at our net rate. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.