Holidays in Red Sea

Red Sea Holidays - Destination Profile

The Red Sea is known the world round for its clear blue waters, pristine beaches and abundance of underwater life. The Red Sea is the habitat of over 1000 invertebrate species and 200 soft and hard corals, of the many vertebrate species there are over 300 types of sharks. It is the second saltiest body of water in the world-second only to the Dead Sea which lies between Israel and Jordan.

To anyone standing on its shore and gazing out across its heavenly waters, the Red Sea may seem to be a mislabelling. Its blueness is eternal and anything less red cannot be fantasised. The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is truly one of the planet's most exotic and fascinating natural seascape environments. The Red Sea is located between Asia and Africa. At its most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over 1000 miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen.

Value Holidays in the Red Sea with Olympic Holidays

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Holidays in Red Sea - Things to see

Bedouin Evening: An evening not to be missed, enjoy a spectacular sunset in the Sinai desert from the back of a camel. Arrive at a traditional Bedouin tent, relax and get ready for a typical dinner including entertainment, aromatic tea and soft drinks. This is a great opportunity to discover the real local life of the Bedouins.

St Catherine's Monastery: Depart for St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. The spectacular setting of this Monastery, built in AD330 around the site of Moses' Burning Bush, has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. Still inhabited by monks, you will have the opportunity to see the library, museum and Chapel of Burning Bush.

Boat Trip to Ras Mohammed National Park: For the joy of those who love uncontaminated nature, Ras Mohammed is without doubt an ideal spot. This is a fabulous boat trip with the opportunity to snorkel in one of the most amazing coral gardens and is always a popular choice.

Cairo Excursion: No visit to Egypt is complete without a visit to Cairo. The pyramids at Giza are the world's oldest tourist attraction and the Great Pyramid is one of the wonders of the ancient world. The day will include a tour of the Giza plateau to visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Also, just as famous the Egyptian Museum and the Tutankhamen treasures will be included. An Egyptologist will be on hand throughout the day to guide you around the museum and explain some of the history and legends behind the famous boy king and the other Egyptian pharaohs. Don't miss the chance to explore the souk area of the Khan el Khalili bazaar in the centre of the Cairo and enjoy lunch overlooking the river Nile.

Mount Sinai: Located just south of the Monastery of St Katherine, is of great religious importance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. According to the Old Testament this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Throughout the centuries the mountain has drawn thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. You can ascend to the summit (2285 m, 7497 ft) to experience the ultimate spiritual high; either by climbing some 4000 steps built by monks or by following an easier but longer path. Both lead to an open area known as Elija's Basin where you walk up the remaining 750 steps to the top. At the summit you will find the Chapel of the Holy Trinity that was built in 1934 on the site of a much earlier chapel built in 363 AD. The climb takes about three hours but the view from the top is truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise.

Things to do on a Holiday in Red Sea

Scuba Diving: Sharm el Sheikh, along with Hurghada, is where it all started. These where the first two destinations of the nearly 20-years-old diving history of the Red Sea. Diving sites in Sharm are world famous. A paradise for a perfect Red Sea diving holiday, Sharm has it all: hard and soft coral, turtles and dolphins, mantas and moray eels, napoleons and tuna, hammerheads, barracudas, reef and pelagic sharks, and much more, including the legendary World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm.

Snorkelling: Snorkelling is the watersport par excellence in the Red Sea. With the wealth of underwater life in all destinations, snorkeling is an easy and very enjoyable way to spend some time and discover the wonders of the marine life. Whether you go out from your resort beach, or you spend a day or half a day on a snorkeling boat, you will collect unforgettable memories.

Watersports: The Red Sea Riviera is not only scuba diving! The sea here is a paradise for a number of watersports, and some destinations are particularly famous because of their perfect conditions for one activity or the other. When you think of board sports, as windsurf and kite surf, you think of five main destinations: Dahab in Sinai, and El Gouna, Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam on the Red Sea coast. Sandy beaches, constant wind and professional centres.

Eating/Drinking During Red Sea Holidays

There are a variety of ways to eat while you are in Egypt: local, either in homes or restaurants; tourist, restaurants that have a local flavour but cater to the tourist market; five-star, where you can choose to eat Western or "Egyptianised" cuisine; or western style takeaway. Popular dishes you can hope to enjoy while you are in Egypt are grilled chicken or pigeon with salad.

Falafel, Shish Kebab and Kofta are almost staples in tourist restaurants as are Hummus, Tahini and Baba Ghannouj. Vegetarians will thrive in Egypt, most restaurants offering good vegetable soups, a variety of fresh salads, and wonderful dishes such as stuffed aubergines and zucchinis.

Egypt is an Islamic country so alcohol is not widely available. The exception to this is Stella beer, which is made in Egypt and is available absolutely everywhere. An ice cold Stella is great after a hard day's sightseeing. Bottled water is available everywhere, as are well known soft drinks. Tea is also available everywhere and no trip to Egypt would be complete without a cup of Kakade (or Hibiscus tea). A deliciously refreshing beverage that can be served hot or cold. Coffee and Turkish coffee are widely available and the fruit juices are a must-try. Stalls in the bazaar or souk will sell you a refreshing glass of sugar cane juice (this has to be the most refreshing drink ever invented).

Red Sea Holidays Great for Vibrant Nightlife

The Red Sea Riviera offers a great variety of destinations, each with its own peculiar atmosphere and character. From the quaint, relaxing and silent Taba, to the bustling party towns of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, through the chilled out new age Dahab and El Gouna.

In the major party towns of Hurghada and Sharm you will find a busy crowded night life, with a big number of pubs, bars, trendy eateries and international clubs, from Hard Rock Cafe to Pacha clubs, Buddha bars and many other local popular ventures which keep everybody rocking until the wee hours of the day. If you are a party night creature these are the places to go without doubt.

El Gouna offers instead a relaxed elegance and has a sophisticated hippyesque flair. Dahab is dubbed the Koh Samui of the Red Sea, with its beach-front promenade packed with Bedouin joints.

Everywhere though, you will find some interesting local hang out, whether it is the local shawerma shop or cafeteria where you can spend some entertaining time watching the locals play backgammon while sipping tea and smoking shisha (the local water-pipe).

Red Sea Holidays Shopping

One of the great delights of holidays in Egypt are the shopping opportunities!However, there are many pitfalls: from learning how to bargain to knowing where the best places are to buy certain goods.

You will be truly amazed at the range of goods, from souvenirs to treasures that you can purchase and package to take on the plane flight home with you. Everything from exotic spices to exquisite jewellery; gorgeously textured shawls and scarves to brilliantly coloured papyri; handcrafted brass and copperware to quality reproductions of antiquities; and delicately glowing alabaster to fabulously designed carpets and rugs.

The souks and markets of Egypt have an excitement and flavour that is all their own and quite unlike anything that you will experience elsewhere. The range of wares on display is mind-boggling and the friendliness and hospitality of the shop owners is unrivalled. The sights, smells and sounds will overwhelm your senses at the same time that the exotic atmosphere created by the place and its people will dazzle your imagination.

Weather and climate information

The summer weather in the Red Sea is hot and dry. However the low humidity makes the high temperatures much more bearable.

The winter months in the Red Sea are between November to March. In this time the day temperature is warm and the night time temperature can drop. In the winter months it can rain for a few seconds and every few years a storm can come through.

5 Day Forecast - Red Sea Holidays, Egypt