Egypt is a great place to see, its culture and customs are quite different to those found in the western world, and it is a very friendly place. For those looking to holiday here, a great starting place is Sharm el Sheikh. Lying at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula it is close to the Red Sea. The area was developed in the 1980’s as a tourist centre and before this Sharm el Sheikh was a fishing village.

There are three main regions to Sharm el Sheikh – Na’ama Bay, Sharm el Maya and Ras Um Sid cliff. Na’ama Bay is the main tourist development and the most modern part of the city. It is laid out mostly along a wide paved walkway which is lined with sweet smelling bougainvillea and oleander. There are shops, restaurants, cafes and bars here, and all look across the walkway to the beaches and sea beyond. Sharm el Maya is the other bay area. Here the harbour has grown from one where fishing boats were once the primary craft seen, to something that’s now filled more with elegant yachts and glass bottomed boats which you can take trips on. Inland from the harbour is the oldest part of the town. Ras Um Sid cliff lies between the two bays. As well as excellent views out over the sea, there are many hotels and guesthouses located here.
Sharm el Sheikh is a great place to visit all year round because it has a climate that is warm and sunny with little rain. Summer temperatures are usually between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius and winter ones between 15 and 30.

The local climate here affects not just land, but sea as well, and the Red Sea is the northern most tropical sea in the world. One of the biggest tourist attractions here is the wealth of sea life that lives here, and with over 1200 species of fish (10% of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world) and more than 200 types of coral, it’s not surprising that snorkelling and diving are very popular pursuits here. A few of the brightly coloured fish you’re likely to see include threadfins, coral grouper, parrot fish and butterfly fish.

Inland there is much to do and see as well from safaris out into the desert to camel rides and traditional Bedouin meals eaten under the stars the desert is very much a part of reality here. There is also the Cleo water park at Na’ama bay which has plenty of thrilling rides all themed around the Pharaohs, and the local Bedouin markets make great places to shop. In the evening there are discos and casinos open to those who seek them, and plenty of family oriented entertainment in the various hotels locally as well.