Sharm El Sheikh is Egypt\'s most popular holiday destination. Located on the southermost tip of the Sinai Peninsula, this once sleepy fishing village stretches from Nabq Bay in the north to Maya Bay in the south, and is sandwiched between the Sinai Dessert and the Red Sea. A popular diving destination, the warm waters provide incredible coral reefs and marine life. But that isn\'t the only attraction, luxury hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and a great nightlife all provide for the perfect holiday.
Beaches and Sharm El Sheikh are really one and the same thing. You can’t separate them. Nearly everyone who holidays here comes for the beach scene. Sharm’s sands unfurl for 60 kilometres along the coast in dazzling ribbons, bays and coves of gold and white. The busiest stretch is at Naama Bay, where you’ll find Sharm’s main promenade and tourist hub. Here, you’ll find shimmering sands and gentle waters perfect for snorkelling, diving lessons and other watersports. Smaller beaches, like those at White Knights, Nabq and Sharks Bay, lie to the north, while you’ve got the rocky headland of Ras Um Sidd to the south. Of course, Sharm’s beaches aren’t just about sun-drenched sands. They melt into some of the world’s most phenomenal diving and snorkelling sites. From Nabq Bay to Ras Um Sidd, flipper fanatics can wow at glorious coral reefs teeming with over 1000 species of tropical fish. And of course, for experienced divers, Sharm is heaven itself. Don your wetsuit and join an organised dive to the waters of Ras Mohammed National Park or the Tiran Straits. The seas here play host to exciting sheer drop-offs, deep blue canyons and haunting shipwrecks alive with Nemo lookalikes.
Shopping
The shopping’s great in Sharm. If you’re after the usual holiday stuff like beachwear and postcards, the centre of Naama Bay will come up trumps. This is where you’ll find El Sharm Mall – a cobbled avenue crammed with tourist stores, restaurants, bars and beach shops. Around it lies a grid of smaller shopping streets and a main road dotted with glitzy indoor malls selling designer, duty-free and big brand goods. If you’re on the lookout for authentic mementoes however, head to the souk in Old Sharm. It’s superb souvenir-hunting territory – even though it’s actually a modern recreation of an old Arabian souk. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by maze-like lanes of stalls stuffed with aromatic spices, shishas, rugs, silver and gold. As well as Bedouin handicrafts, pottery, perfumes, mother of pearl ornaments and crisp Egyptian cotton. There’s even a roaring trade in belly-dancing gear. A word of advice though. Don’t forget to haggle. And haggle hard. Sharm’s touristy credentials mean that prices can be high, so it’s up to you to negotiate. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 20-30% off the original price. Do that and you’ve probably clinched yourself a decent deal.
The resort is a great base from which you can explore the local area. You can enjoy the multiple water activities, including diving, snorkelling, boating and the fabulous coral reefs from a glass boat. The nearby area has a marina diving centre, and also boating and safari trips.