Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Egypt is a fascinating place with a culture very different to our own, and if you’re planning to visit this interesting country, Sharm el Sheikh at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula on the shore of the Red Sea is a good choice.
The climate here is dry and temperate, and summertime temperatures are generally between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius, and winter ones between 15 and 35 making this an excellent destination to choose whatever the time of year.
Sharm el Sheikh has three main sections to it, there is Na’ama Bay which sprang up in the 1980’s and is the main tourist development. Here you’ll find lots of shops, sea front restaurants, cafes and bars all set along one side of a wide paved walkway with the beautiful sandy beaches on the other side. The walkway is lined with oleander and Bougainvillea so the scent is amazing when it’s in full bloom. Sharm el Maya is the second bay area of Sharm el Sheikh, this is where the harbour is. The harbour has been revamped and instead of fishing boats you’ll find much more elegant craft moored here now. The oldest part of the town is just in land from here. Ras Um Sid cliff is the clifftop area that links these two bays. It’s not as busy being high up away from the sea, but the views out over the Red Sea are lovely, and there are a number of hotels and other buildings here too.
Red Sea Diving
The sun warms the sea in this region and so the coral reefs and fish here are quite diverse and this has made the marine life here one of the main attractions of the region. Snorkelling, diving and boat trips out into the Red Sea is very popular, and colourful fish such as parrot fish, threadfins, coral grouper, butterfly fish and more abound. Many of the boats are glass bottomed so that travellers can see down through the clear waters to the coral and fish below. In fact because this area is so diverse in its aquatic life, there are a number of national parks locally which protect large regions not just of land but of sea as well such as the Ras Mohammed National Park.
Away from the sea there is plenty to do as well, from desert safari by Jeep or Camel, to shopping in the local Bedouin markets. Cleo Park at Na’ama bay is Sharm el Sheikh’s first theme based water park, and you’ll find lots of thrilling rides all based around the Pharaohs. In the evening taking a trip out into the desert to see the stars as they should be seen away from the bright city lights is a thrill all of it’s own, and there are a number of trips where you can enjoy a traditional Bedouin meal as part of the trip. Other activities on offer include golf, horse riding and wind surfing. The night life on offer here is quite varied, there are discos and casinos but also many family oriented shows on offer in the local hotels and even some restaurants.