Sharm el Sheikh is located on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. Separated from the mainland, Sharm el Sheikh (typically simply referred to as “Sharm”) is a beautiful, bustling city that offers many different attractions to tourists and locals alike. It is, in fact, one of the most popular destinations in the Arab world. There are two main attractions to this wonderful city – the Red Sea and the Western Desert. Both are of value to any intrepid explorer looking to visit beyond the white, sandy beaches.
The Red Sea is an especially diverse body of water, thanks to its prolific and relatively pristine coral reef habitats. Few people would expect that below the line of desolate, scorching hot desert, there lies a watery world of wonder, full of colourful reef fish, sea turtles, and exotic corals. This is what attracts so many people to the city of Sharm – the incredible scuba diving opportunities. Many people specifically come to Sharm el Sheikh to gain their scuba diving certification, most often offered in a week long course that many hotels offer. This is an excellent way to spend Sharm el Sheikh holidays – you can gain your PADI Open Water Scuba Diving certification (or higher levels if you want to continue) while diving in some of the clearest, warmest, most pristine coral reef waters on the planet. Many professional scuba divers say that even the Great Barrier Reef of Australian fame cannot compare to the Red Sea coral reefs. Many hotels and resorts in Sharm el Sheikh contain a certified scuba diving centre on their property, so really there is no excuse not to become certified and visit the beautiful underwater world.
Beyond the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea lies the vast sandy expanse of the Western Desert. The desert is not unoccupied; here you can take a Jeep safari through the desert and visit the Egyptian Bedouins who call the desert their home. Most safaris include a stop at a Bedouin village, or site of cultural importance. These stops often include some authentic Bedouin mint tea, with herds of camels making up the backdrop.
Whatever your reason for visiting Sharm, you are sure to be constantly engaged by the beautiful landscapes and friendly people. Sharm will create unforgettable memories for you and you will always long to go back.
The passion of Sharm el Sheikh
January 24th, 2012 by maureen
Posted in General 
