Page Text Content
INTRODUCTION
RED SEA RESORTS
see & do
WATERSPORTS It goes without saying that the diving in and around the Red Sea is spectacular. There are many operators based in the resorts and many of the more secluded hotels away from the towns have their own dive centres for convenience. For those in search of avoiding the crowds then hotels such as the Four Seasons in Sharm El Sheikh can arrange diving in smaller boats that allow access to the hard to reach reefs. The national park that surrounds the island of Tiran and the incredibly beautiful islands of the shore of Hurghada provide spectacular diving opportunities. For the more intrepid Sharks Bay, near Naama Bay, provides the seasonal opportunity of diving with many hammer head sharks. Benefitting the constant winds that rise through the Red Sea the eastern shores of the sea at Hurghada, El Gouna and Soma Bay also provide the perfect venues for sailing, wind and kite surfing. The latter, the latest exciting water based craze, can be seen up and down the coast.
EGYPTS ANTIQUITIES If basing yourself at the Red Seas beach hotels why not consider combining your one or two week holiday with an ancient Egypt experience. From most of the Red Sea Resorts its possible to travel to Cairo to witness the pyramids and the museum of antiquities or travel to Luxor to explore the Nile, the West Bank and the temples. Each can be done as a rather exhausting day trip or a one or two night stay, which come highly recommended. Even if touring or sightseeing isnt the main purpose of your holiday to the Red Sea, at least the spectacular sites of Egypt wont be missed. GOLF Egypt, due to its proximity to the UK, is quickly becoming a recognised golfing destination, and with some of the Red Sea destinations capitalising on this heightened demand by offering cheaper green fees than in Spain and Portugal, it wont be long before these shores become internationally recognised. There are four excellent courses on the Red Sea, Stella Di Mare in Ain Soukhna, Sharm El Sheikh, El Gouna and the Gary Player designed course at Soma Bay.
SIGHTS OF THE SINAI & BEYOND Saint Catherine's Monastery is located at the mouth of an inaccessible gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai and is one of the oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is sacred to three major world religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Whilst many come to see the Monastery, for some the greatest spectacle is climbing the remaining tracks to the summit of Mt Sinai to watch the sun rise over the peninsula and Saudi Arabia. Still inhabited by the bedouin, exploring the deserts and valleys of the Sinai by camel or quad bike reveals the breathtaking scenery of this area of jagged peaks, lone acacias and the bedouin. From the Sinai, a hydrofoil trip to Aqaba in Jordan, allows an easy journey to the ancient city of Petra. Providing a holiday of breathtaking contrasts in two different countries, a two night stay here is highly rewarding. Alternatively it is possible to stay longer on your own bespoke itinerary exploring Jordan from Petra to Amman.
1 Windsurfing, just one of the many watersports in the Red Sea 2 Colourful fish to see diving 3 Dahab, Red Sea 4 A Bazaar in Dahab 5 Beautiful beaches 6 St. Catherine's Monastery 7 Transportation over the barren desert
1 2
3
4
5
6 7
RED SEA RESORTS REGIONAL MAP
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
INFORMATION Language: Arabic with an Egyptian dialect, though a significant percentage of the educated population are capable in English, French and/or Italian. Currency: Egyptian pound (LE Livre Egyptienne). Time Difference: GMT +2. Electricity: 220 volts AC, round two-pin plugs are used. Souvenirs: Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh have good markets for Bedouin products.
Port Said Alexandria Giza Cairo
LOWER EGYPT
Suez
Abydos
Monastery of St Catherine Dahab Sharm El Sheikh El Gouna Hurghada El Quseir
Luxor Marsa Alam
R E
UPPER EGYPT
Aswan
D S E
L N a
a s
k s
e
A
e
r
Abu Simbel
call 01306 743000 I www.kuoni.co.uk I see your travel agent
37
|
inbro