Hitting the shops
If climbing Mount Sinai sounds too strenuous, Na‘ama Bay offers an excellent alternative. The city centre is home to restaurants and shops selling a wide range of products, including exotic teas, extravagant jewellery and delightful souvenirs. The famed Egyptian hospitality is displayed at bargaining time, when shopkeepers serve potential buyers tea while negotiating the best price for both parties to the sale. The beachfront is lined with small bars and cafés where nights often stretch into the small hours of the morning.
Taking a dive
The Red Sea is renowned for its truly remarkable diving and snorkelling spots – and Sharm El Sheikh is no exception. Many hotels have their own house reefs that feature a rich and colourful underwater world. The coral reef ecosystems in the Ras Muhammad National Park are particularly fascinating and are where scuba divers have a good chance of seeing large sea dwellers, such as blue-spotted rays or sea turtles. They might even spot a passing whale shark. What a treat to behold!