Sinai Peninsula

Sharm el-Sheikh (short: Sharm) is the tourist capital of the Sinai — a luxury resort town at the southern tip of the peninsula, surrounded by some of the world's best dive sites. The city essentially consists of resorts, restaurants, and dive bases that stretch along the coast.

Districts

• Naama Bay: The main tourist street with a promenade, shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Most hotels and dive bases are concentrated here. Lively in the evenings.
• Old Market (Sharm el-Luli): The only place with authentic flair — a small bazaar with spice shops, textile merchants, and local restaurants. Egyptians also dine here. Dinner on the terrace with a view of the mountains.
• Sharks Bay: Upscale resorts on a peninsula with a fantastic house reef. Quieter than Naama Bay, ideal for families and divers.
• Ras Um Sid: The cliffs south of Naama Bay with the best corals directly from the shore. Smaller hotels, quiet atmosphere, spectacular snorkeling.

Diving from Sharm

Sharm el-Sheikh is the starting point for some of the most legendary dive sites in the world:

The Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of the Sinai is one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world. Over 220 coral species and 1,000 fish species inhabit the park's waters. The reefs are in remarkably good condition — strictly protected and spared from mass tourism.

Highlights

• Shark & Yolanda Reef: Egypt's most famous reef. An 800 m deep wall meets a shallow reef top full of corals. At the base of the wall lie the remains of the Yolanda (sunk in 1980) — including a surreal collection of toilets and bathtubs that have become part of the coral reef.
• Mangroves: Unique mangrove ecosystems inland in the park — one of the few places on the Red Sea where you can see mangroves.
• Magic Bay: A natural pool with crystal-clear water and a salt content so high that you float like in the Dead Sea.

The park is accessible by day trip from Sharm (day ticket 200 LE for non-divers, 350 LE with diving). Arrive early — it gets crowded after 10 a.m.

Dahab is the exact opposite of Sharm el-Sheikh — and that's exactly why so many travelers love it. The small town on the east coast of the Sinai was a hippie paradise in the 1980s and has retained this relaxed spirit: backpacker cafés with cushions by the sea, yoga retreats, freediving schools, and an international community ranging from long-term travelers to digital nomads to kite surfers.

Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is Dahab's most famous dive spot — and one of the most renowned in the world. A circular sinkhole in the coral reef, 130 m deep, accessible directly from the shore. For divers, the "Arch" (the natural tunnel at 52 m depth leading to the open sea) is legendary — but also dangerous (over 200 documented fatalities). For snorkelers, the Blue Hole is safe and spectacular: the reef at the edge is full of life, and the view into the blue depths is fascinating.

Dahab is also one of the world's best freediving centers — world records have been set here. Freediving courses from €200–300.

Other Highlights

• Lighthouse: The reef directly on the promenade — entry from the beach, fantastic corals at 3–20 m depth, seahorses, octopuses. Dahab's best snorkeling reef.
• The Canyon: A narrow underwater canyon that drops from 10 to 30 m. Spectacular diving and snorkeling experience. Accessible by jeep or taxi (20 min).
• Three Pools: Quiet bay with three natural pools, perfect for snorkeling and relaxing. Family tip.
• Laguna: Shallow water, constant wind — one of the best kitesurfing spots in Egypt.

Dahab Atmosphere

The Masbat promenade (the main district) is Dahab's living room: cafés with cushions and carpets right by the sea, restaurants with fresh fish, juice bars, shisha corners. In the evening, you sit by the water at sunset, drink fresh mango juice (15–25 LE), and exchange travel stories. Dahab is one of those places where you plan to stay for three days and end up staying for three weeks.

Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa, 2,285 m) is one of the holiest places in the world — it is said that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God here. Equally significant for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the ascent to the summit at sunrise is a spiritual and unforgettable experience.

The Ascent

There are two routes:

• Camel Path (Siket el-Bashait): The easier, longer route (7 km). A wide path where you can ride a camel up to just before the summit (150–250 LE). The last 750 steps must be done on foot. Duration: 2.5–3 hours up.
• Steps of Repentance (Siket Sayidna Musa): 3,750 steep steps carved into the rock — the direct, strenuous route, built by monks of St. Catherine's Monastery. Duration: 2 hours. Only for the fit, and only in daylight (too dark and steep for a night ascent).

Typical Schedule: Departure at 2:00–2:30 a.m. Camel Path in moonlight (flashlight/headlamp required!), last 750 steps on foot, reaching the top around 5:00 a.m. Sunrise at 5:30–6:30 a.m. (depending on the season). Descent via the Steps of Repentance (in daylight). Arrival at St. Catherine's Monastery around 7:30–8:00 a.m.

It can get extremely cold at the summit — even in summer below 10 °C. Bring a warm jacket, hat, and gloves! Blankets can be rented at the top from Bedouins (20–30 LE).

St. Catherine's Monastery

At the foot of the mountain lies the St. Catherine's Monastery — the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in Christendom (founded in 527 AD by Emperor Justinian). Behind its fortress walls, it houses the Burning Bush (Rubus sanctus, supposedly the bush in which God spoke to Moses), one of the largest collections of ancient icons in the world, and the second most important library of ancient manuscripts after the Vatican (including the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest Bible manuscripts).

The monastery is only open to visitors in the morning (9:00–12:00, not on Fridays and religious holidays). No entrance fee, but appropriate clothing (covered shoulders and knees) is required. About 20 Greek Orthodox monks still live here.

Away from the coast stretches the Sinai Desert — a barren, rugged landscape of red granite, deep canyons, and scattered oases. Here live the Bedouins (Badawiyyin), semi-nomadic desert dwellers whose hospitality and survival wisdom are legendary.

Desert Tours

• Coloured Canyon: A narrow canyon with spectacular color layers in red, yellow, violet, and orange — formed by mineral deposits over millions of years. The hike through the canyon takes 1–2 hours. From Dahab as a half-day trip (€30–40).
• White Canyon: Less known but at least as impressive as the Coloured Canyon. White limestone rocks, narrow passages, absolute silence.
• Bedouin Dinner in the Desert: Many tours include a dinner in a Bedouin camp: sitting on carpets under the starry sky, eating grilled meat and bread from the earth oven, drinking Bedouin tea with sage. The starry sky in the Sinai — far from any light pollution — is overwhelming.
• Camel Treks: Multi-day camel treks through the Sinai Desert are the ultimate desert adventure. 2–5 days, guided by Bedouins, overnight under the open sky. From €50 per day including meals and guide.

The Strait of Tiran — the strait between the Sinai and Saudi Arabia — offers some of the most spectacular dive sites in the Red Sea. Four reefs (Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon) lie like pearls in the strait and are known for strong currents that bring nutrient-rich water — attracting large fish.

• Jackson Reef: Hammerhead sharks (especially October–December), schools of barracuda, wall up to 70 m. On the surface lies the wreck of the Lara (stranded in 1981). Only for experienced divers!
• Gordon Reef: The "easiest" of the four reefs, with beautiful coral gardens and the wreck of the Louilla (1981). Also doable for advanced beginners.

The Tiran Reefs are accessible by day boat from Sharm (approx. 1-hour ride). Day trip including 2 dives and lunch: €50–70. The currents can be very strong — only dive with an experienced dive base!

Arrival

Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH): Direct flights from Germany (Condor, Eurowings). Transfer to the hotel: 100–200 LE by taxi.

Dahab: No own airport. Transfer from Sharm by minibus (1.5 hours, 100–150 LE) or taxi (400–600 LE). Alternatively: bus from Cairo (8–9 hours, Go Bus).

St. Catherine: By bus from Dahab (2 hours) or organized tour. No public transport.

Safety on the Sinai

The southern tip of the Sinai (Sharm, Dahab, Ras Mohammed, St. Catherine) is considered safe for tourists — heavy military presence, checkpoints on all roads. The North Sinai region (towards Gaza, Rafah) is, however, a conflict zone and should NOT be visited. The Foreign Office advises against traveling to North Sinai.

Money

In Sharm, euros and dollars are accepted in many places (often even preferred). In Dahab, you pay in LE — ATMs are available in the town center. Credit cards: Accepted in Sharm hotels and restaurants, only partially in Dahab.

Sinai Permit

For areas outside the tourist zones (Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba), an inland permit may be required. Organized tours (e.g., to Mount Sinai or the desert) handle this automatically. Visitors traveling on their own should inquire in advance.