The Red Sea is probably the main attraction for thousands of tourists visiting the place every month. No wonder: the sea is rich with minerals vital for our organisms. Add to this the fact that the temperature of the sea reaches 24-25 degrees in summer; the unique marine life, pleasant breeze; gorgeous sand beaches; proud mountains surrounding the place; clean environment - and what you get is an ultimate heaven. So if you are one of sea and sun-lovers you can head to one of the marvelous beaches in town such as Terrazzina, Ultima Spiadga and many others and enjoy the nature.
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You may be wondering what one can possibly do on a beach except sunbathing lazily. Well, it is no longer the case in Sharm. Most of the beaches (be it beaches attached to the hotel or just city beaches) organize different activities on the beach, such as massage, relaxation and yoga - for those who like to balance body and soul; make-up, braids and tattoos - for those who like to try something new; volleyball and tennis - for those who like activities; and parties - for those who like to dance till the late hours. No matter what your interests are, we are sure that Sharm beaches will not let you down.
While best known for its history, Egypt has developed into a major beach destination in the last two decades, its resorts on the Red Sea proving hugely popular with foreign tourists. Chief among them is Sharm El Sheikh, a lively outpost perched at the base of the Sinai peninsula (which separates the two outstretched arms of the upper Red Sea). Sinai Peninsula boasts of having many colorful fish and coral reefs many of whom are less than ten meters off shore. The waters are crystal clear and home to some amazing flora and fauna. These provide an ideal place for snorkeling and other water activities.
The Sinai Peninsula and its luxury hotel resort areas are collectively called the Red Sea. It is a coast dotted with oases, mangrove forests, and habitat to many species of terrestrial and marine wildlife. In the south, Sharm el-Sheikh witnessed an explosion in urban development geared toward attracting tourists, while Dahab become a destination for scuba divers, and St. Catherine retained its status as hub for eco-tourism and religious tourism. Nuweiba and Taba, meanwhile became attractions for bohemian backpackers who want nothing more from a holiday than a bamboo hut facing the wide open Red Sea.
Egypt's greatest gifts to holidaymakers - after some rather splendid ancient monuments, of course - are fantastic beaches, year-round sunshine and beautiful clear blue waters that teem with Technicolor fish and coral reefs. The Red Sea resorts lie mainly on the east coastline of the mainland, north and south of Hurghada, and on the eastern side of the Sinai peninsula, around Sharm El Sheikh.
In the south, Sharm el-Sheikh witnessed an explosion in urban development geared toward attracting tourists, while Dahab become a destination for scuba divers, and St. Catherine retained its status as hub for eco-tourism and religious tourism. Nuweiba and Taba, meanwhile became attractions for bohemian backpackers who want nothing more from a holiday than a bamboo hut facing the wide open Red Sea.
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, the Red Sea resort for scuba diving, snorkeling and family fun. The jewel of the Sinai, with history going back thousands of years, cultural tours and year round sunshine. One of Egypt's top holiday destinations. Southern apex of Sinai is the marine national park of Ras Muhammad, one of the worlds most popular and rewarding scuba-diving and snorkeling sites.
Though there are two main seasons, as both of them are desert climates, where the weather is very hot and dry, do make sure to drink plenty of water and take enough protection from dehydration.
But swimming in the sea - is one thing; yet swimming under the water is another. Coral and sea-cows; sharks and barracudas; reefs and exotic fish - can all be approached if you go for diving, which became especially popular in the recent years. Diving clubs can provide you with different offers, one of which is underwater photography. Think about it: not only you dive, but you can actually take pictures, which will remind you later of this great experience. Another way to explore the treasures of the Red Sea is by snorkeling. It is much easier and cheaper, plus it provides the whole family with a fun activity.
A the same time if you feel that you need some entertainment of a different kind, especially needed for those traveling with kids, we recommend you to pay a visit to one of the gorgeous aqua parks in town, including Aqua Park and Cleo Park. Each has a wonderful design, various slides and absolutely amazing scenery. On the territory of each park there are bazaars and shops with souvenirs, making it a perfect solution for parents who let their kids play, while they themselves pass their time shopping. Water parks are also a perfect solution if you are one of those who came here for water sport activities. Let your kids spend a wonderful time in the parks, and enjoy your afternoon windsurfing, kite surfing, wake-boarding or water-skiing.
Nothing can be more enjoyable than spending a wonderful holiday with your family in one of the most natural and wonderful resorts of the world. Enjoy your holiday and enjoy the nature and remember: this is the place where the sun is always shining.
Biblical sites - such as Mount Sinai, where Moses is supposed to have received the Ten Commandments - are close at hand. But for most holidaymakers, the prime draw is the cluster of energetic cafes, eateries and clubs in the Na'ama Bay area of town, or the dive sites of Ras Mohammed, where the reefs host marine wildlife galore.
Sharm El Sheikh has a wide range of accommodation from hostels to five-star hotels, diving for all levels and enough competition to keep prices at a reasonable level in bars, restaurants and dive schools. Sharm is ideally placed for diving among the teeming fish of the Ras Mohammed National park and the Straits of Tiran, although the popularity of these areas means that some experienced divers complain that the reefs are too crowded (and in some cases, damaged).
The resort's growing popularity as a winter sun destination has dented its charm in recent years. The Sharm area stretches for several miles north and south of Na'ama Bay, the downtown area and the heart of the resort. Na'ama now has branches of McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut, but families still take their evening stroll here and hawkers sell their wares, while a multinational crowd of visitors gathers each evening to eat at the profusion of restaurants, smoke shisha pipes or simply watch the world go by.
Leisure tourism is also popular in Egypt. In winter, Sharm El-Sheikh and the Red Sea Riviera enjoy perfect weather where one can spend his lazy days on the beaches or around the pools of five star hotels or even diving or golfing.
In addition to Sharm El-Sheikh, the cities of Hurghada, Safaga, Qoseir and Marsa Alam are all equipped with different levels of accommodation and a variety of activities suitable for everyone in the family.
Signifying a landmark on the ancient road connecting St. Catherine’s Monastery with Jerusalem, the castle is located 40km south of Eilat (Israel) and 50km away from Nab airport in Taba. Overlooking four countries: Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, it is definitely the place you want to be in when the sun is going down.
Naama Bay is the main resort area of Sharm El Sheikh, and the centre for shopping, dining, drinking and entertainment - here you'll find a huge number of souvenir shops and bazaars, restaurants, cafés, bars, dive shops, tour operators, casinos, internet cafés - oh, and hotels, of course... ;o)
The beach consists of dispersed plateaus on the cliffs of Ras Umm El Sid (Hadaba) with big sunshades and chaises lounges. Paying only 40 L.E. per day for one person, you enjoy not only the warm water and the soft rays of an Egyptian sun, but also a great atmosphere. On the territory of the beach there is a bar serving all kinds of beverages (a bottle of mineral water you get on your way in is definitely not enough if you plan to spend the entire day there!), snacks and sandwiches and playing pop music, which will take all your worries away. You can get to the coral reef through the small stairs. There’s a shallow water area that spreads all the way to the drop-off where it is as deep as 25 meters. You can see all kinds of fish there while snorkeling, not to mention the beautiful corals.
The Old Market is a bit different from Naama Bay. For a 10LE cab ride you can go there and experience a more “lived in” aspect of Sharm. Lots of souvenir shops, bazaars and restaurants, but you’ll also find many street vendors selling delicious treats like falafel, and other local snacks. You can also have an excellent seafood meal at a much cheaper price than in Naama Bay.
Most hotels in Sharm El Sheikh organize this one, and it’s a definite must-do! The bus trip out to the desert usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes maximum. At some point on the main road, the bus goes off road for a short bumpy ride on a trail.
Once the bus arrives at the destination, you’ll get off to find yourself in the desert surrounded by the mighty Sinai Mountains, local Bedouins with their camels watching you from a distance, a tent built on the side, and a bonfire burning in the middle of an Arabian style setting – cushions to sit on the floor, little fire lamps decorating the contour of the area, casting mesmerizing shadows on the mountains.
Dinner consists of a traditional barbeque, rice and salads, followed with their famous special Habak tea (you’ll get hooked to this stuff), and entertained by Bedouin folk music and dance.
Feel free to join in and dance with the troupe, they love it. You can also try riding a camel, and I tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks, but it’s one hell of a ride.
This is an excellent way to spend an evening; you get to feel the mysterious magic of the desert. While there’s no music playing, you can lay back and enjoy the silence while staring at the unbelievably clear sparkly sky, full of stars shining like diamonds.
Although the whole setup is not exactly genuine primitive Bedouin, but it does give you a pretty good idea about how much fun they can have in the desert.
It is advised that you apply mosquito repellent and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Taking a light jacket with you would also be a good idea, as the breeze can get a little chilly at night.
Built like a Moroccan Palace, Fantasia is the place to go for a delectable meal and an entertaining show. Representing the history of Egypt, complete with pyramids and temples, traditional Egyptian horse dancing show, belly dancers and much more, the performance is truly entertaining. Open from 7pm to 3 am, the show starts at 11pm
You will've all come across aquariums and theme parks featuring dolphins. And much as watching the animal in action is always a real pleasure, there is also an inevitable sadness involved in seeing it in captivity -- and promoting its imprisonment by virtue of having visited in the first place.
Lost in all the variety offered in Sinai? We’ll make it simple for you! Here you will be able to find pieces of advice concerning such issues, as: the choice of hotels, restaurants, sites and much more! We also provide you with Sinai Top Picks as chosen by Travel Channel community members. Need some action? Want to raise adrenaline? Then this section is just for you! Desert safaris, horse riding, go-karting, windsurfing, parasailing… Whatever it is, you’ll find it here!
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