Things to do in Sinai
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Jeep Safaris
All of the camps and shops offer jeep safaris, though prices vary considerably depending on the time of year, your destination and the size of your party - don't be afraid to shop around and bargain hard.
In addition to trips to the popular Coloured Canyon, other popular destinations are Ain al-Furtega, a palm-filled oasis 16km northwest of Nuweiba, and Mayat el-Wishwashi, a large cistern hidden between two boulders in a canyon - it used to be the largest cistern in Sinai, but now has only a trickle of water, except after floods. Nearby is Mayat Malkha, a palm grove fed by the waters of Mayat el-Wishwashi and set amid colourful sandstone.
Wadi Huweiyit is an impressive san…
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Camel Safaris
With the exception of Dahab, Nuweiba is the best place in Sinai to arrange camel safaris into the interior. When planning your trip, keep in mind that camels are a slower and - if budget is a worry - more expensive way of travelling. However, they allow you to reach places that are inaccessible to vehicles, and are the best way to see the area.
Almost every camp and shop in Tarabin offers these trips, but take care that whoever you pick is a local Bedouin - not only are they marginalised by tour operators from the Nile Valley and therefore need the work, but there have been some instances of travellers lost in the desert without water because their so-called guides didn't…
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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…
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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…
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Pharaoh’s Island
About 7km south of Taba and 250m off the Egyptian coast is Pharaoh’s Island, a tiny islet in turquoise waters, dominated by the much-restored Castle of Salah ad-Din. The castle is actually a fortress built by the Crusaders in 1115, but captured and expanded by Saladin in 1170 as a bulwark against feared Crusader penetration south from Palestine. At the height of Crusader successes, it was feared that they might attempt to head for the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Some of the modern restoration is incongruous (concrete was not a prime building material in Saladin’s time), but the island is a pleasant place for a half-day trip, with limpid and enticing waters and cora…
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Moon Beach
One of the most famous places for wind- and kitesurfing, Moon Beach is where the British magazine Boards tests equipment each year. Located on the Gulf of Suez just off the main coastal road, Moon Beach has beachfront bungalows with all the trimmings. Additionally, there’s a professionally staffed and stocked wind- and kitesurfing centre, as well as a fully licensed school for budding surfers of all kinds. Nightly rates and shorter-stay packages are available – check out the website for more detailed information.
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Stone House Reef
Underwater delights are the feature attraction of Nuweiba, and while not as dramatic as at other resorts on the Gulf of Aqaba, the dive sites tend to be less busy, with an impressive variety of marine life. There are shallow reefs offshore that are reasonable places to snorkel, but the best snorkelling is the Stone House Reef just south of town.
Divers sometimes head to nearby Ras Abu Gallum, Ras Mohammed National Park or other offshore destinations - many of which are also fine for snorkellers - though most diving here is shore based.
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Zerenike Protectorate
Stretched along the Mediterranean coast from the eastern edge of Lake Bardawil until about 25km east of Al-Arish is this 220-sq-km protectorate, a haven for migrating birds and a good destination for nature lovers. There are more than 250 avian species here and for most of the year it’s possible to spot flamingos. The entrance to the protectorate, which was established by the Egyptian National Parks Office in 1985, is about 35km east of Al-Arish.
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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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Bedouin Market
Much livelier is the Bedouin market, held at the southern edge of town near the main market – note that it’s signposted in Arabic and in English as the Souq al-Hamis. It’s fascinating to watch as Bedouin come in from the desert in pick-up trucks or occasionally on camels, with the veiled women trading silver, beadwork and embroidered dresses, while the men sell camel saddles.
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Quad Biking in the Egyptian Desert from Sharm el Sheikh
2 hours 30 minutes (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Want to do something different? Take the family quad biking across the Egyptian desert for the ultimate adventure. It's an experience you'll never forget, and t…Not LP reviewed
from USD$36.00 -
Ras Mohamed Red Sea Cruise and Snorkeling
8 hours (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Hit the water at Sinai's famous Ras Mohamed National Park, where an abundance of underwater life is waiting to be discovered. Spend the day snorkeling, swimming…Not LP reviewed
from USD$54.00 -
Tiran Island Cruise and Snorkeling
8 hours (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling - is there any better way to spend a day in the Egyptian sun? Escape the desert for a day of relaxation around the protected wh…Not LP reviewed
from USD$44.00 Advertisement
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Private Tour: Cairo Flight and Tour from Sharm el Sheikh
14 hours (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Fly to Cairo from Sharm el Sheikh on a private tour and make the most of your time in this world-famous city. You'll visit Cairo's most famous sites including t…Not LP reviewed
from USD$408.33 -
Private Tour: Luxor Flight and Tour from Sharm el Sheikh
14 hours (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Maximize your sightseeing in Luxor with a one hour flight to Luxor and spend your valuable vacation time visiting the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Hatshep…Not LP reviewed
from USD$365.17 -
Hammam Musa
About 5km from town are some hot springs known as Hammam Musa, which tradition holds to have been one of the possible stopping points used by Moses and the Israelites on their journey through Sinai. It’s possible to bathe in the springs, and there are some paved walkways, a changing area and a small cafe.
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Sinai Heritage Museum
The small Sinai Heritage Museum, on the outskirts of Al-Arish along the coastal road to Rafah, was established in order to inform visitors to the peninsula about traditional nomadic life in Sinai. Displays include Bedouin tools, handicrafts, clothing and traditional medicines, with the odd English explanation.
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Camel Safari with Optional Bedouin Dinner
3.5 or 5 hours (Departs Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
by Viator
Can you truly say you have been to Egypt if you haven't ridden a camel? Find out for yourself on an afternoon Camel Safari through the desert, and finish the da…Not LP reviewed
from USD$45.00
