Things to do in Dahab
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Windsurfing
Windsurfing is a popular pastime, and the Hilton Dahab Resort and Swiss Inn Golden Beach Resort have good windsurfing centres. The centre of the bay boasts the steadiest winds in Dahab, though strong gusts occasionally sweep across the northern end. Kitesurfing is also starting to take off in Dahab, although offshore winds limit the areas where it can be done.
reviewed
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Snorkelling and Diving
Other than just lounging around, snorkelling and diving are the most popular activities in Dahab. The reefs off Assalah are often strewn with litter, but if you can ignore this, the reef at the northern end of Mashraba has table corals and impressive fish life.
Also worthwhile are the reefs off the southern end of Mashraba, just before the lagoon; Lighthouse Reef, a sheltered snorkelling site at the northern tip of Assalah; and the popular Eel Garden, just north of Assalah, where a colony of eels lives on the sandy sea bed.
About 6km further north are the Canyon and Blue Hole dive sites. Despite their intimidating reputation as danger zones for careless divers, the tops of…
reviewed
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Funny Mummy
One of the most popular restaurants on the boardwalk, this palm-fringed and pillow-decked spot offers all of your favourite Western and Asian dishes alongside traditional Egyptian delicacies.
reviewed
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Nirvana Indian Restaurant
Dahab's best Indian food will please vegetarians and carnivores alike, especially if you're a fan of spicy curries, fluffy rice pilaffs and flaky naan.
reviewed
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Crazy House
Housed in a historic two-storey wooden building, the Crazy House serves cheap beer, and there's even a billiard table - what more do you need?
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King Chicken
Half a chicken with rice and all the trimmings can be yours at this local favourite, which lures in penny-pinching backpackers in the know.
reviewed
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Camel Safaris
Dahab is one of the best places in Sinai to arrange camel safaris into the dramatic mountains lining the coast, especially the spectacular Ras Abu Gallum Protectorate. When choosing who to go with, try to find a Bedouin - or at least an operator that works with the Bedouin.
Unfortunately, local communities have been excluded from the tourist industry, which tends to be dominated by migrants from the Nile Valley. A good place to look is the waterfront in the village, where camel drivers tend to congregate. Register with the police before beginning the safari, and don't pay the camel driver until you return to the village. Itineraries - and as a result prices - are generall…
reviewed
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Jeep Safaris
One of the most popular jeep safaris is a trip to Coloured Canyon, between St Katherine and Nuweiba. The canyon derives its name from the layers of bright, multicoloured stones that resemble paintings on its steep, narrow walls, and is magnificently beautiful. As the canyon is sheltered from the wind, the silence - assuming you aren't there with crowds of other visitors - is one of its most impressive features.
Unfortunately, the canyon has become overtouristed in recent years, and many operators have also begun offering trips to other sites, where the rock formations are equally impressive and the sense of wilderness more intact. All of the hotels, dive centres and trave…
reviewed
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Water Sports
If you are into water sports, pedalos, kayaks and jet skis can be rented at the northern end of Masbat and at the holiday villages on the lagoon. Although the golden hills of Saudi Arabia in the distance seem to make for an excellent destination, trust us - you don't want to try to cross. At least one Japanese backpacker we know of managed to touch Saudi soil, only to be rounded up and arrested by some rather unhappy border guards.
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Swiss Inn Golden Beach Resort
This family-friendly four-star resort has well-appointed rooms and a pleasantly unpretentious ambience. Entire days can be spent lounging around the flower-fringed pool and stunning stretch of golden sand, though there’s always the on-site dive and windsurfing centre if you want to get active. The Swiss Inn is home to a number of recommendable restaurants, including a pleasant poolside cafe and a European-inspired bistro.
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Tota Dance Bar
The centre of nightlife in Dahab, this nautically themed drinking spot has free movies from Sunday to Thursday, and turns into an impromptu disco on Friday and Saturday nights – the top deck is a good place to watch the sunset while sipping a cold beer, especially during the 5pm to 7pm happy hour.
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Horse Riding
If you want to go horse riding, just wait on the beach in Mashraba for one of the Bedouin who walk up and down with horses for hire. You can also ask around the camps. Blue Beach Club in Assalah and the Accor Coralia Club Dahab on the Resort Strip can also arrange organised horse-riding excursions.
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Jay’s Restaurant
A Dahab institution serving a mixture of Egyptian and Western fare at very reasonable prices – the menu changes weekly, and dishes such as coconut rice and curried vegetables make a welcome change from the usual offerings.
reviewed
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