Table of Contents
Introduction
Sharm El Sheikh, is an Egyptian resort town located at the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula on the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea. With the beautiful sandy beaches, clear sea with fishes and corals, and hot weather all throughout the year; Sharm El Sheikh has turned itself into one of the most visited places in Egypt.
Given the possibilities it presents, one hardly wonders why so many tourists throng the coastal city annually. Dream of the sunbathing on the seashore, swim among fish in blue waters, snorkeling or diving around the beautiful coral reefs, bartering in the oriental bazaars or riding a camel in the sand dunes – you will get all this and a lot more in Sharm El Sheikh.
Beaches
Another problem about Sharm El Sheikh is its role as a beach tourism area; the area really deserves beautiful sunny beaches. The main bay consists of the public and private sandy beaches accompanied by beach resorts and hotels.
Naama Bay is one of the most important beaches in Sharm El Sheikh, it is located a little south of the main downtown. It is a natural buoyant beach; the sandy strip gently inclined towards the blue and crystalical water of the bay area, suitable for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. Naama Bay also boasts a well lit pedestrian walkway that contains shops , restaurants , bars and cafes. The promenade is also seen active and lively at night because of music and lit up lights.
Nabq Bay is located to the north of Naama Bay and features palm lined shores that run for several kilometers. Its more secluded area within it is especially calm waters and ideal to do leisure. This area is also within the Nabq Protected Area and you can dive and snorkel over some of the most sensitive coral reefs.
Ras Um Sid is a striking location that consists of a long and slim beach where a coral reef bottom simply lies directly off the coast – certainly one of the most popular shore dive and snorkel destinations in the area. The one mentioned beach has a view of Tiran Island and is bordered by resorts and restaurants. It is normally not as busy as Naama and Nabq Bay beaches.
Dahab is actually only an hour’s drive north of Sharm El Sheikh. This relaxed hippie town is a favorite with backpackers and divers. Mashraba and Eel Garden deliver excellent snorkeling and shore diving from the beach, some of its beaches.
Desert Landscapes
On the other extreme is the descritized near absolute desert environment of the mountainous and valley regions of the interior of the Sinai peninsula a few kilometers away. Some Bedouin camps and monasteries are found across the desert and slopes of the region.
Colored Canyon is one more beautiful sightseeing attraction point which is to be seen in the desert region. A Red Canyon also referred to as the Red Canyon, is made of its red and other colors rock formations on which tourists can walk through narrow passages.
Some enjoy camel riding, jeep Safari, stargazing, mountain climbing, etc . One may wish, after the Exodus story, to go to St. Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sine or other sites related to it.
Diving and Snorkeling
This is one of the leading diving destinations in the world and it provides professional scuba diving and snorkeling in the Red sea. The area is well known for the clear water visibility, the presence of several colors of coral reefs and dozens of species of marine life.
Some of the most prominent sites you’ll find off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh are found around the Straits of Tiran. Things to see while diving in Jackson Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef and Yolanda Reef are underwater walls, tunnels and a shipwreck.
The Ras Mohammed National Park is on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, another famous diving area. Offshore reef wall structure reaches down some 1640 feet and boasts of reef fish, sharks, turtles and others.
Those guests who do not want to dive deep, can swim with a guide and mask in shallow areas with coral gardens and rocks near Sharm El Sheikh coast, and be surrounded by fishes, corals, sea stars, urchins and rays. Meanwhile, the best snorkeling sites are Shark’s Bay, Ras Um Sid and the mangrove systems of Nabq.
Shopping and Dining
But if you want to take a break from the shores and activities, there are a lot of restaurants, cultural, and shopping places in Sharm El Sheikh.
The Naama Bay promenade is the right place where one can see concentrations of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs in terms of availability and posed as the best area for their concentrations. Dining is available from a wide variety of interests with fresh seafood, Italian, Indian, Chinese or any you find most appetizing. The Old Market (Souk) in Sharm El Sheikh town for market shopping and all local culture, spices, fabrics, Egyptian souvenirs, jewelry and handicrafts are available for sale.
Il Mercato mall is the newest brand and boutiques with Western flair located under a huge roof with air conditioning. And the newly opened SOHO Square in Naama Bay presents an open-shopper Mall as well as an open-styled restaurant inside the beach-front. Everything from stylish apparel and accessories to home wares, sushi and frozen yogurt can all be found here.
Activities
Apart from the natural attractions, there are many possibilities on how to fill a daily schedule in Sharm El Sheikh as well.
Sailing, jet ski, parasail, windsurfing, paddle board are some of the water activities tourists are able to enjoy all the way along the shores of Sharm El Sheikh. Most of the dive centers also provide learning for beginners and discover scuba diving for non certified divers.
For those that prefer to enjoy the outdoors and sandy territory, quad biking and buggy riding, camel riding, horseback riding, and desert tours are favorite. This city also provides several international standard golfing centers and driving ranges, which are located near the seaside offering Sea Views.
Some of the fun activities that children can be involved in are in some of the Aqua parks developed at Sharm El Sheikh, such as Aqua Blue Water Park and Amwaj Aqua Park that have provision for water slides and some themed rides. It is also home to the dolphins and there are shows as well as glass bottomed boats for water based trips good for family tourism.
Well, now you know what is a must see when visiting Sharm El Sheikh – an evening submarine ride! Travel deeper than 100 feet down into the bottom of the Red Sea and see the exotic coral reefs and marine life that is active at night. It really is out of this world and put the icing on the cake to a brilliant day in Sharm El Sheikh.
Check Out: Shifen Waterfalls: The Unique Waterfall of Taiwan.
When to Visit
The air temperature doesn’t keep dropping or rising brutally. Mean temperature, however, peaks at about 70 F for the cooler season, and 88F for summer, or even a little more than that.
High season is experienced between June and August because many people from Europe travel to the south in search of warmer climates when school is out. This is because prices for accommodation are usually highest during these months, and the most famous places are always full. Though, the weather conditions are the hottest – ideal for beach and diving.
Touring in the less busy times, which are during March to May and September to November also means experiencing moderate temperatures of between 70F and 80 F with cost effective hotel rates. Occasionally there is wind and rain in winter, specifically in the period from December to February. But as for sightseeing the weather is again mildest especially in regard to such activities like hiking.
Travel Tips
If you’re planning a trip to Sharm El Sheikh, keep these tips in mind:
- Prices are flexible in bazaars, taxis, etc. Most prices can even be discussed.
- The dress code is informal all over Sharm El Sheikh, however, it is mandatory for women to wear something that covers their shoulders and knees when visiting any religious site.
- The best thing and most safe is to drink bottled water. You realize you can easily get dehydrated very fast especially in the desert kind of weather.
- Biodiversity is well protected when one uses the right products during water activities such as; scuba diving and snorkeling, those right products include the reef-safe sunscreen.
- All should avoid wearing costly jewels or other valuables that could attract the criminals. Though violent crimes are rare, emergencies that are associated with violent crimes tend to be uncommon, although there have been a few cases of petty theft that were reported by some students.
- The two most common currencies are the Egyptian pounds and the dollars (US). Bring some pocket change for the tips, Taxi, etc.
Conclusion
Many opportunities for edification or entertainment in Sharm El sheik are inversely proportional to the distance from the sea; it plays in the warm desert encompassing the Red Sea shore that is great to spend time. Its beaches, bazaars, activities and restaurants reveal why this Egyptian resort city is continuing to allure tourists every year. If you want your heartbeat racing until you’re on a rollercoaster or else, you want nothing but absolute relaxation while you are on your vacation, one thing is for sure, Sharm El Sheikh will not disappoint.
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FAQs
Is Sharm El Sheikh safe for tourists?
Yes – Sharm El Sheikh is safer than most other regions of Egypt. Sinai is so geographically positioned that it is fairly far away from politics from the rest of Egypt. All these police check points are on roads and entry points to most of the tourist destinations within the city in order to ensure maximum security. Violent crime is rare. But like in any other place, the common measures of protection against pickpocketing should be taken.
Is it necessary to have a visa when traveling to Sharm El Sheikh?
Most nationalities are able to get a visa on arrival when arriving in Egypt via the Sharm El Sheikh airport. However due to the varying nature of requirements it is advisable to visit the embassy of your home country in Egypt. Most travelers are required at least six months validity of their passport to gain entry to the country as well.
What are the best ways of transport within Sharm El Sheikh other than using a car?
There are publicly operated taxis and mini buses with cheap fares moving round the Sharm El Sheikh area only. Private companies also arrange transfers from the airport. Once in the hotel area movement especially by walking or cycling around other attractions is often easy as well. For farther flung excursions, the simplest choice of transportation can be to sign up for an organized day trip by coach.
