Enjoy the Sun, Sea and Surf in Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh is a city in the Red Sea area of Egypt that has something for everyone. It's a city's that has embraced tourism since the early 1980s, and the amount of resorts soared from just three in 1982 to over 90 less than 20 years ago. You can soak up the sun in Sharm el Sheikh on the long stretches of beaches, with both sandy and pebble beaches available.
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Historical Sites
Mount Sinai is one of the most famous mountains in the world, and it's fame dates back to the earliest period of human civilization. Climbing Mount Sinai will be a particularly magical experience, especially when the Sun sets. St. Catherine's Monastery is situated at the bottom of Mount Sinai and has both Christian and Islamic religious significance. One of the oldest still active Christian monasteries in the world, it was visited by the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th Century AD.
Hotels and Restaurants
For a city of its size, a population of 35,000, Sharm el Sheikh is well equipped with hotels and restaurants. Naama Bay is a hub for high quality restaurants and hotels, and is situated in the centre of the city. There's a wide choice of food available in Sharm el Sheikh and local dishes to try include kushari, which is a macaroni pasta dish in tomato sauce, and includes lentils, chickpeas, rice and fried onions. Another local dish is falafel, which is a fried ball of dough, and consists of fava beans and/or chickpeas.
Natural Beauty
Two superb areas to snorkel and dive in are the Ras Mohamed National Park and Tiran Island. The Ras Mohamed National Park has an abundance of coral and beautiful fish, and Tiran Island is inhabited with turtles and dolphins. The amount of coral reefs and species of fish also makes Sharm el Sheikh an important area of natural beauty.
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Festivals
Sharm el Sheikh is a city known for its unique festivals. One such festival is the Shopping and Tourism Festival, which is held every year in July. In April there's the annual International Camel Competition, which includes camel racing. October in Sharm el Sheikh sees an International Diving Festival.
Nightlife and Shopping
The city of Sharm el Sheikh has a modern nightlife scene, which lives side by side with the ancient Bedouin culture. The city has a shopping mall that includes shops selling both international and local products, and the wares of local Bedouins are also popular.
Whether it's a desire to soak up the sun in Sharm el Sheikh, enjoy the rich wildlife, or the area's long history, Sharm el Sheikh is a city of amazing diversity.