Getting from Luxor to Marsa Alam the LOCAL (and Cheap) Way

If you’re anything like us, you are trying to get from Luxor to Marsa Alam while traveling Egypt and have been totally stumped at the lack of options.

Private transfers seem like the only way, unless you want to take a bus to Cairo and then a bus to Marsa Alam afterward, or take a flight and a bus (I’m sorry Rome2Rio, but wtf?!) 

We spoke to a few private transfer companies and were able to get the price down to $120USD, which isn’t awful. Bookaway now has this route for $109 per person (phew). If you are short on time or aren’t a big fan of local transport (that can be dirty, very slow, maybe hot, and simply questionable), then I would opt for the transfer.

But if you are ready to be a full backpacker and take the local way from Luxor to Marsa Alam for MUCH cheaper, keep reading. This information is from early 2022, so may have changed.* Please leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram if I should update anything about this guide. Also, make sure to remain vigilant and take safety precautions as with any travel, especially local travel.

How to Get From Luxor to Marsa Alam The Local Way

Sitting in our hostel after our Nile River Cruise, we had basically decided that we were gonna have to fork out $120-$160 for a private transfer. There were just no other options. Luckily, we asked for the advice of our helpful hosts at Bob Markey House Hostel, and they spilled the beans on the cheap and local way to get to Marsa Alam from Luxor.

Sure, there’s no direct route, but with a simple bus change in Qena, you can get there for a total of about 120 Egyptian pounds ($ 8 USD). 

The secret is that the ‘Upper Egypt Transport & Tourism Co’ bus company (apparently) doesn’t even have a website. This is the company that will take you, and you have to buy the tickets straight from the driver at the bus stop in Luxor.

The bus to Qena leaves at 7am every day, so make sure to be there on time. Take the Upper Egypt line for both legs of your journey to make it easier. As far as I am aware, the schedules are pretty much the same daily.

The Upper Egypt bus station is kindof in a random lot not too far from the train station or Go Bus Station in Luxor. The ticket office looks like the photo below and has a sign mostly in Arabic that says G EGBUS at the top. This is where you can buy your ticket to Qena for 20EGP. 

There’s a tourist police station right next door, so you can always ask them ‘bus to Qena’ and they will direct you. I’ve found that you can get by with little Arabic in transport, because all you really need to remember is the name of your destination, and people will understand that you are trying to go there. But you can also use the translate app on your phone if you have issues.

Once you have your ticket, get ready to board the bus. It should be branded with ‘Upper Egypt Transport & Tourism Co’ on the side with a teal coloring. I think all of their buses are like this, but I can’t be entirely sure. Tip the luggage guy a few pounds and board. 

The bus to Qena should take about two hours, stopping in Qift. You’ll pull into a station in Qena with tons of minibuses, and you’ll notice a ticket counter with the same branding as the last one with the G EGBUS on it. You guessed it – this is where you’ll get your next ticket!

The ticket from Qena to Marsa Alam is 100EGP, getting you from Luxor to Marsa Alam for less than $8 total (100+20). What a deal! WAY better than $120, even if you split it 4 ways.

I think there might have been an earlier bus to Marsa Alam from Qena, but if there was, we missed it. We arrived at 9:17, and the next bus was at 10:30, so we waited over a few coffees in the cafe. We paid 10EGP for each drink; don’t let them overcharge you and confirm the price for ALL drinks beforehand (at the end they tried to say Eliot’s coffee was 20, although they confirmed 10 for tea AND coffee).

Make sure also to charge up any of your devices here, as they have plugs, and the rest of the drive will be long. There’s a bathroom in the back corner of the parking lot, but it’s a shockingly dirty squat toilet. I would a truly avoid hydrating in order to not use this toilet; it was that bad 😛

Our bus pulled up about 10 minutes early to start loading bags. Keep your eye out for the same teal-branded bus, or keep asking the guy at the ticket counter if anything is unclear. They should be able to confirm if you say ‘Marsa Alam?’ And point to the bus. Usually, there’s someone who speaks English, though.

Keep your ticket on you as they will check it a couple times. Once you load your bags and get on the bus, prepare for a long haul – this road to the Sea is thin and bumpy, therefore VERY SLOW. It will take a few hours to stop at Quseer (where you can get simple snacks and drinks, but not much).

After you leave Quseer, they check your ticket again, and you’re rolling proudly on a nice flat new road down to Marsa Alam. Yay! The rest should be smooth sailing, but I can’t guarantee you won’t want to pull your hair out after leaving at 7am and getting there as late as 5pm. Again, private transfers can get there in less than 5 hours if you want to splurge.

When you arrive, there will be lots of locals hoping to get your taxi fare to your hotel. You should also negotiate the prices down for the final leg to your accommodation. Marsa Alam is a bit pricier than other places in Egypt as it’s very remote, but when you see the remote beaches, National Park, and incredible diving, it will be worth it.

We stayed at Deep Ashri Star House Hotel and organized all of our scuba diving trips through them. We also loved their on-site Italian Restaurant, Cacio e Pepe.

BUT, as far as I know, this is the first actual internet knowledge about the cheap and local way from Luxor to Marsa Alam that doesn’t involve Hurghada, Cairo, or private cars. You’re welcome, internet. I hope that many backpackers and budget travelers can see this in the future and save money!

Comment below on how it went for you, and let me know if I should add new routes, prices, or anything else to keep this guide current. Below are some photos from our time exploring Wadi el Gamel National Reserve in Marsa Alam 🙂 Not pictured: AMAZING diving!

I also have TONS of other Egypt content; check it out!

• How to Book a Nile River Cruise Affordably
• Best Places to Visit in Egypt
• Top Travel Tips for Egypt
• Cairo Travel Guide
• and more!