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Red Sea Riviera
The Red Sea Riviera is two-faced for all the right reasons above the water, smart resorts bathe in year-round sunshine while below, an underwater paradise teams with shoals of tropical fish.
Thomson Destinations
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When you picture Egypt what springs to mind? Rippling desert sands? Majestic pyramids? The River Nile? Well think again, because these days its all about the beaches. A relaxing alternative to the fabled treasures of ancient Egypt, the fashionable resorts that make up the Red Sea Riviera are now considered to be the place to holiday. Youre talking luxurious hotel complexes, golden sandy beaches, and, of course, diving centres. Most of the resorts are renowned for their living coral reefs, and scuba diving aficionados from around the globe come to explore the underwater paradise. Above water, the soft stretches of sandy beach are perfect for long, lazy days unwinding in the hot sun. But dont think its just about sunshine and diving. Theres lots more going on. See the coast from another angle as you whiz past on a banana boat. Explore the narrow back streets and bazaars of the old quarters. Or venture farther afield and visit some of Egypts ancient sites. Whatever you want from your beach break, the Red Sea Riviera is bound to hit the spot. Things to see and do St Catherines Monastery Take a trip out through rugged, rocky scenery and visit St Catherines Monastery located at the foot of Mount Sinai. You can enjoy a guided tour of this famous sanctuary and see the legendary Burning Bush where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. There is also a walk via a different route where you can wander around the well of Moses and admire the beautiful decorations of the Basilica. PADI Open Water Dive Check out the local diving schools where you can normally choose from either 2 days or 4/5 days tuition. The certificate you will earn at the end is your key to the underwater world and will enable you to dive with a buddy without an accompanying professional. The course teaches all the foundations of diving including general techniques, managing your equipment, recognition of marine life and how to cope in an emergency. For the full PADI certificate, the 4/5 days course must be completed. Being awarded the certificate depends on completing five dives in the pool, four dives in open water and theory work. Bedouin Safari Bedouins are tribal people who have roamed the desert lands for thousands of years. Close to Hurghada you can take a peek into their world and see how they live. Venture out on a safari, into the Eastern Desert and discover a fascinating unchanged way of life. Cairo No visit to Egypt is complete without a visit to this fascinating and bustling capital and the largest city in Africa. Head for the Cairo Museum with its many wonderful treasures, the most famous of which are artefacts of Tutankhamun - the boy king. And of course, be amazed by the Pyramids and the Sphinx, which is a colossal representation of a human face, identified as that of Khafre, guarding over the Pharaohs resting place. Eating Out In the smaller resorts eating out tends to be mainly hotel based - not that this limits your choices in any way. With a string of upmarket hotels dotted along the coastline, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in some traditional Egyptian cuisine, as well as international fodder. For a wider selection, Marsa Alams got plenty of eateries to choose from. Sample specialities such as kashari, pasta, rice and chickpeas in a chunky tomato stew. Or in the restaurants of Hurghada, feast on dishes of figs and oranges, heavily influenced by Turkish cuisine. But the feather in the culinary cap has to be Sharm El Sheikh. In the quarter of Sharm-el-Maya, coffee bars and small restaurants pepper the streets with enticing aromas.
Mediterranean Sea
Nile
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Delta
Suez Canal
ISRAEL JORDAN Sinai
CAIRO
Taba
o Gulf
Nile
2637 Mount Dahab Catherine
fS
z ue
Eas
t ser De tern
SAUDI ARABIA
LIBYA
Sharm El Sheikh El Gouna Hurghada Makadi Bay Soma Bay
Re d Se a
RED SEA RIVIERA
170 km
Luxor
Marsa Alam
1505 Jabal Nuqrus 1977 Jabal Hamatah
Lake Nasser
SUDAN
© TUI 2006
Beaches
The Red Sea has some of the finest diving and snorkelling in the world. The warm, tranquil waters and coral reefs shimmer with marine life and colourful plants, creating a magical underwater Eden. The most popular dive sites, with wrecks and sheer drops, are Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. But more experienced divers might prefer the comparatively unexplored waters Average daily maximum temperature of Taba or Makadi Bay. In these quieter 30 areas you might even be able to spot 80 turtles or reef sharks. Back on dry land, 25 white sands stretch as far as the eye can 70 20 60 see. Dotted with sunbeds, parasols and 15 palm trees youll always be able to find a 50 10 shady spot away from the sun. On the 5 40 edge of the beaches, cosy beach cafés °F °C mingle with hotel restaurants, so whether J F M A M J J A S O N D Average daily hours of sunshine you want a leisurely lunch or a quick 7 8 9 11 12 12 12 12 11 10 8 6 snack, youll find something to whet your 2 4 5 6 7 6 6 5 3 2 1 1 appetite.
Egypt London
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