Egypt is a country of history and ancient culture, but is also the location of stunning coral reefs and
beautiful coastlines: this mix is clearly evident in the Sinai Peninsula, an area of about 61,000 square
kilometres, separated from the motherland by the Suez Canal.
Sinai has famous towns and resorts which attract every year thousands of tourists to discover all the
beauties this area has to offer, during unforgettable holidays in Egypt:
- Taba is an international border settlement, in the middle of the charming wilderness of the Sinai, only
one hour from the Eilat. In 2000, the airport of Taba opened to the charter flights and this started to draw
to the region even more tourists. The internal connections from Taba to the others cities are easier by taxi,
car rental or bus: Taba is reachable from Cairo with only a 5 hours drive.
Since the end of 2005, Taba Heights is a pretty resort perfectly located in one of the most stunning spots
on the Sinai Peninsula: village, five stars hotels, a marina, various facilities are inserted here into the
breathtaking natural background of wild desert, cinnamon mountains, and exciting sea.
- Nuweiba is 70 km south of Taba and it is a tourist resort on the coast of South Sinai. Until few years ago,
Nuweiba was the preferred destination for autonomous travellers because of its ideal central location
and its natural beauty. Recently, the investors discovered the business importance of the virgin beaches
between Nuweiba and Taba and finally opened luxurious hotels to mass tourism: the owners of camps and
family hotels unexpectedly found themselves in competition with famous chain hotels offering flight and
holiday packages to unbeatable prices.
Nuweiba is chosen as holiday destination mainly from tourists and travellers which prefer to be far away
from the crowded beaches: here, it is possible to live a very personal experience, an adventure that gives
the chance to try the art of hospitality and to meet friendly local people.
Nuweiba can approximately be divided into 3 main parts: Nuweiba Tarabin, the Town and The Dunes. At
the North, there is Nuweiba Tarabin, with its special oriental atmosphere, featured by a wide grove of
palms, a beautiful bay and the ruins of a Turkish fort, with a well been for centuries a fresh water source
for the Bedouins. Various lively outdoors restaurants have been opened along the beach and they are
furnished in typical Bedouin style with carpets and cushions, inviting to relax and let the time pass by.
The Moshav Neviot has been established during Israeli occupation in 1971, as a border between the
Tarabin tribe in the north and the Muzeina tribe in the south: around it, the Town has been built.
The old part of the town is featured by numerous bazaars, supermarkets, internet cafes and restaurants.
The Dunes represent the extension and the link between Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Muzeina. The camps
and family owned hotels are located on the wonderful sandy beaches with amazing coral reefs. There are 2
parts: one is called "Duna" and the other is "Small Duna". The majority of the campsites and hotels are built
in the southern "Small Duna", while "Duna" is still a dreamy virgin place with simple bungalows, just a few
small hotels and some local restaurants.
- Dahab is situated nearly half way between Nuweiba and Sharm El Sheikh, and it is one of the most
appealing beach resorts in South Sinai. The name of this town in Arabic means “gold†and it could be
derived by the tiny golden sand which covers the coasts of this area.
Two bays form Dahab: one is El Qura Bay and the other is Ghazala Bay, where there is the Bedouin village El
Assalah.
In the last years, this area expanded and became a tourist centre with numerous camps, restaurants,
motels and bazaars. A beach promenade has been recently built and is now the hub of Dahab’s activities,
with local and international restaurants.
The centre of the town is in the bay of El Qura, where also the main hotels are. Near the entrance of the
Nature Protectorate of Nabq, luxury hotels have been built in the most spectacular location directly in the
front of the crystal clear waters and the amazing coral reefs.
A great way to spend a vacation in Sinai Peninsula is to rent a self-catering apartment and explore this
region.
- Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most famous luxury holiday resorts, drawing endless number of divers and
sun-lovers every year.
Scuba diving, dive safaris, water sports, jeep and quad safaris, desert parties and daily excursions are the
main features offered here by local and international tour operators to satisfy the needs of every target of
tourists.
The National Park of Ras Muhammad has been established in 1983 to protect coral reefs and the delicate
environment: this area is one of the world’s most famous dive sites.
Sharm offers also a lively nightlife either inside or outside the hotels with a wide range of discos, shows,
coffee shops, pub and much more.
From Sharm, it is easy to reach the suggestive and holy spot of St. Catherine.
St. Catherine Monastery is located at the foot of the mountain where it is said Moses received the Ten
Commandments. Since the early time of Christendom, some hermits were living in the area of this
mountain. Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, visited the place and in 330 AD decided to build a
chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary. In 527 AD, Emperor Justinian constructed a fortress to protect the monks.
St. Catherine is one of the oldest Christian monasteries and it is the smallest diocese in the world. Today,
the monastery has branches in Cairo, Cyprus and Crete; the Monks are Greek Orthodox and of different
nationalities.
A legend says that Catherine was the daughter of a noble family in Alexandria; she was beautiful and clever.
Emperor Maximanus has been astonished by her knowledge, her rhetoric and logic, while she tried to
convert him. But he sentenced her to death: firstly, Catherine was attached to four wooden wheels rotating
into opposite directions, but she survived; then she was decapitated.
A monk, five centuries later, had the vision of angels transporting the body of St. Catherine upon the
highest mountain: there the intact body of St. Catherine was found, emanating sweet smell of myrrh.
Author Resource:
If you are looking for luxury villas in Egypt , visit the authors web site for great holiday rentals.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")