Best of Sharm El Sheikh

On the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el-Sheikh is a resort town with beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters that are ideal for snorkeling and diving. Sharm (as it’s known locally) has evolved from a fishing village to a commercial port to an epicenter for tourism, and you’ll find a wide selection of seaside hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and plenty of nightlife (a rarity in most parts of Egypt). Aside from basking on the sands, you can head off on desert tours, boating trips, and all manner of aquatic activities. 

Biologically rich coral reefs draw divers from across the globe. Dozens of outstanding sites are within a boat ride of Sharm, including Ras Mohammed National Park, home to over 1000 species of fish. You might spy whale sharks, rays, pelagics, hammerhead sharks, gorgonian forests and pinnacles on a day’s outing. The SS Thistlegorm, a British cargo ship sunk in World War II, ranks among the top wreck dives in the world. By land, you can visit Dahab, where you can hike in the mountains, snorkel in the Blue Hole, and get a taste of camel riding.