Egypt's Red Sea playground — reefs, wreck dives, and all-inclusive resorts
Hurghada transformed from a tiny fishing village in the 1980s into Egypt's biggest Red Sea resort — a 40km strip of hotels, dive centres, and beach clubs facing some of the world's most accessible coral reefs. The SS Thistlegorm, a WWII British supply ship sunk in 1941, is regarded as one of the world's top wreck dives and accessible on day trips. Beyond the package-holiday strip, the old El Dahar quarter retains bazaars and a working fishing harbour.
Hurghada's modern development began after Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel opened the Red Sea coast to mass tourism investment. The government invested heavily in airport infrastructure and hotel incentives through the 1980s and 1990s, creating a resort strip from almost nothing. The town's rapid expansion gave little consideration to environmental impact; reef damage near the main hotels is significant, though offshore and island reefs remain largely pristine.