The Red Sea Riviera area of Egypt is blessed with year-round sunshine. Although January is the coldest month, it still sees over 8hrs of sunshine so it's a perfect choice for some winter sun too. This area of Egypt boasts desert, red-coloured mountains, golden sand, clear waters and coral reef with 1,000s of multi-coloured tropical fish and other sea life. Flights take a little over 5hrs and are available from major airports throughout the UK.
Best for...
Families, couples and those looking for some beachside relaxation...
The most popular resorts in this area are Sharm El Sheikh with its lively atmosphere, Hurghada, a little quieter but still plenty to do and Taba, a new resort and ideal if you're looking for some peace and quiet.
What to do...
One of the most popular reasons for holidaying in the Red Sea area is the scuba diving. Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most popular diving centres in the world, home to a PADI Centre of Excellence where you can learn to dive - it is a real underwater paradise. Even if you don't fancy the full diving experience, you have to try snorkelling just to get a taste of how beautiful the coral reef and sea life really is.
| Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most popular diving centres in the world... |
However, Sharm El Sheikh isn't all about the diving; it's also a lively holiday resort with a huge choice of hotels along the coast - some even have their own private beaches. There's plenty to do day and night with great restaurants, shopping malls, nightclubs and bars. If you fancy heading out of the resort, think about taking a trip out to St Catherine's Monastery - one of the most famous monasteries in the world.
Diving also brings visitors to Hurghada, a slightly smaller resort close to the sea and the desert so you get the best of both worlds. This resort is perfect for a beach based holiday with its golden sands and lovely hotels. Take a glass bottomed boat trip or a trip out to shop in the famous bazaars to pick up some local souvenirs. In the evenings, choose from a quiet meal in a high quality restaurant or a drink in one of the many bars.
With breathtaking views of the ancient Sinai Mountains and desert along with year round sun and great beaches, the newer resort of Taba becomes more popular year after year. Holidays in Taba are pretty much hotel or beach based (once again, the diving is terrific here too) but some hotels have golf courses. All the restaurants and bars are predominantly hotel based so evenings tend to be low-key whilst you watch the sun go down - the sunsets are to die for. For a day trip, head over to the Israeli resort of Eilat across the border.
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Egypt flights
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