Your stay — Penguin Village
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The Property — Penguin Village
Penguin Village feels like a low-key Egyptian beach camp that's aged into a budget-friendly dive lodge. The lobby is a sandy-floored chill-out zone with cushions on the floor, frayed sofas, and a big fridge of cold drinks. It suits backpackers and windsurfers who prioritise a sea view and a sociable terrace over polish. The whole place is a bit tired but honest, with direct Red Sea access and basic rooms that are clean enough.
Chronicles of Dahab
Dahab began as a Bedouin fishing village on the Gulf of Aqaba, with no real development until the 1980s when Israeli occupation left behind a small settlement. After Egypt took back Sinai in 1982, travellers and windsurfers discovered the bay's constant wind and the offshore reef at the famous 'Blue Hole'. By the 1990s, low-budget tourism filled the coast with bamboo huts and dive shops. The town centre, Masbat, still feels like a lazy desert outpost with a dusty promenade of souvenir stalls and shisha cafés. Today Dahab is a semi-chaotic, deeply laid-back alternative to Sharm el-Sheikh, attracting divers, kitesurfers, and anyone fleeing package resorts.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dahab guide →Best months
March-April and October-November: air temperatures 25-30°C, water warm enough for swimming, and the wind is strong but not brutal. Crowds are moderate and accommodation prices sit in the middle.
Peak / festival surge
December-January is the high season for European sun-seekers escaping winter. Hotel rates at Penguin Village can double from low-season rates of around £25–35 to £50–70 a night. Christmas, New Year, and the winter windsurfing festival in January drive demand.
Budget shoulder season
May and September are good budget bets: very hot (35-40°C) but fewer tourists, and rooms often drop 20-30% below peak rates. Wind drops off in late May, which means quieter beaches but less kite action.
Weather & packing
In July, Dahab is furnace-hot: daily highs around 38°C, the sun feels like a hair dryer even in the shade. Pack a rash guard or long-sleeve swim top for snorkelling in the coral reef — the sun will burn you in minutes without it.
Live City Briefing — Dahab
- The new coastal road from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dahab opened in late 2023, cutting drive time to about 90 minutes and bypassing the old mountain road; it's now the standard airport transfer route.
- Several new dive centres have opened along the Lighthouse reef area, increasing competition and driving down the price of a guided boat dive to around £30-35.
- In summer 2025, Dahab's main beach strip saw a crackdown on unauthorised sunbed rentals, but Penguin Village's private jetty remains unaffected.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Penguin Village, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 1st floor overlooking the courtyard or side street — these rooms have the best balance of light and quiet, away from the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the entrance or reception — they have limited privacy and can pick up noise from guests coming and going.
Best views
Rooms on the 1st floor facing away from the main street offer views over the courtyard or neighbouring rooftops — you might catch a glimpse of the Red Sea in the distance.
Quietest floors
1st floor — highest available here, with less foot traffic and better sound insulation from street level.
🔊 Noise notes
Dahab's main street runs by the hotel — expect some traffic and pedestrian noise during the day, especially from scooters and tour groups. Side-street rooms help.
Insider tips
1. If you arrive by car, request a room near the back — closer to any available parking on the side streets. 2. Ask at check-in for a room on the 1st floor facing the courtyard; there's no lift, so it's quieter but means stairs.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Penguin Village
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and restaurant; signal reaches most ground-floor rooms; 1–2 Mbps, may drop during peak evening hours. No paid upgrade.
No lift; all rooms accessed via stairs (two floors, no basement)
No physical newspapers; a tablet in the lobby offers a basic news aggregator (no press reader). No notable heritage quirks – the building is a modern beach-side construction from the 1990s.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop from 08:00 with no fee; late check-out until 18:00 subject to availability for EGP 350
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals/departures; no formal left-luggage room
No step-free access – entry has a single step; no wheelchair ramps or adapted rooms. Not suitable for guests with mobility impairments.
On-site unmarked parking for about 6 cars, free. Nearest public car park is 200 m north (EGP 50 per overnight). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: EGP 15 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required for reservation; EGP 500 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: مسجد الهدى (592 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: مسجد الهدى (601 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
New Ramses Dahab Mall — 400 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 96 m · ~1 min walk
Dr. Mustafa — 113 m · ~1 min walk
Al Reda Market — 125 m · ~2 min walk
Go Bus — 743 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Egyptian Pound, EGP
Use ATMs in Dahab for the best rates; avoid the airport change desks in Sharm el-Sheikh as they give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in most hotels, dive centres and mid-range restaurants; smaller cafes and taxis are cash-only.
Small tips expected: 5-10 EGP for a meal, 10-20 EGP for a short taxi ride, 50-100 EGP for hotel cleaners per stay.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local Egyptian coffee or tea from a street kiosk, about 15-25 EGP.
Falafel sandwich or koshari from a basic eatery, around 40-60 EGP.
Grilled chicken or fish plate with salad and bread, around 80-120 EGP.
The promenade strip along the sea has stalls selling sandwiches, fresh juice, and grilled corn for 20-50 EGP.
Small local supermarkets like El Hanafi and Metro Market have fair prices on basics.
The tourist market (souq) along the waterfront sells cheap t-shirts, beachwear and cotton scarves.
Minibus taxis around town cost 5-10 EGP per ride; from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, take a shared minibus (about 100-150 EGP) rather than a private taxi.
Eat at local falafel/koshari joints away from the seafront; buy bottled water from supermarkets not hotels; haggle firmly in the souq but not in normal shops.
Emergency Contacts
DahabFor tourists, contact the Dahab Tourist Police on 069 364 1870. For medical emergencies, the Dahab Hyperbaric Medical Centre (for diving incidents) is 069 364 1865. General tourist help: 069 364 1751.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dahab, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Penguin Village
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 96 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Dr. Mustafa — 113 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Anywhere in Dahab town centre → Nirvana Hotel, Dahab
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in; for short trips to Nirvana from the lighthouse area, 10 EGP is fair.
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) → Nirvana Hotel, Dahab
💡 Book online or buy a ticket at the airport counter; the bus drops you at the Dahab bus station, then a quick taxi (20 EGP) to Nirvana.
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) → Nirvana Hotel, Dahab
💡 Pre-book through the hotel or a local driver service to avoid haggling; the airport taxi stand often quotes double.
Dahab Bus Station → Nirvana Hotel, Dahab
💡 Flag one down on the main road; tell the driver 'Nirvana' and they'll stop near the hotel entrance on the coastal strip.
About Dahab
Wikipedia ↗
Dahab (Egyptian Arabic: دهب, romanized: dahab, lit. 'gold', IPA: [ˈdæhæb]) is a small town on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, approximately 80 km (50 mi) northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh. Dahab can be divided into three major parts. Masbat, which includes the Bedouin village of Asal...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Penguin Village?
Request a room on the 1st floor overlooking the courtyard or side street — these rooms have the best balance of light and quiet, away from the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Penguin Village?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the entrance or reception — they have limited privacy and can pick up noise from guests coming and going.
Is Penguin Village noisy?
Dahab's main street runs by the hotel — expect some traffic and pedestrian noise during the day, especially from scooters and tour groups. Side-street rooms help.
Which rooms have the best views at Penguin Village?
Rooms on the 1st floor facing away from the main street offer views over the courtyard or neighbouring rooftops — you might catch a glimpse of the Red Sea in the distance.
What are insider tips for staying at Penguin Village?
1. If you arrive by car, request a room near the back — closer to any available parking on the side streets. 2. Ask at check-in for a room on the 1st floor facing the courtyard; there's no lift, so it's quieter but means stairs.
What time is check-in at Penguin Village?
Check-in at Penguin Village is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Penguin Village have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and restaurant; signal reaches most ground-floor rooms; 1–2 Mbps, may drop during peak evening hours. No paid upgrade.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Penguin Village?
EGP 15 per person per night (mandatory tourist tax collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Penguin Village?
Falafel sandwich or koshari from a basic eatery, around 40-60 EGP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Penguin Village?
Minibus taxis around town cost 5-10 EGP per ride; from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, take a shared minibus (about 100-150 EGP) rather than a private taxi.
When is the best time to visit Dahab?
March-April and October-November: air temperatures 25-30°C, water warm enough for swimming, and the wind is strong but not brutal. Crowds are moderate and accommodation prices sit in the middle.
Top Attractions in Dahab
💡 No one will hassle you, but haggling is expected for souvenirs. For the best prices, walk to the far end—away from the main square—where shops are less touristy. Cash only.
💡 If you want a sunbed, bring your own towel—there are no rentals here. The water stays shallow for about 50 metres, making it great for non-swimmers.
💡 Snorkel here between 9am and 11am when the light is best. Move slowly and you'll see dozens of eels swaying in the current. No tour needed—just walk in from the sand near the Bedouin tents.
💡 Visit at low tide to see the marine life—small fish, crabs, and occasional rays—in the clear water. Don't attempt to walk on the coral itself; stick to the sandy path.
💡 Go early in the morning, around 8am, to beat the wind and have the water glassy calm. Bring water shoes—there are some sharp bits of coral near the shore.