Sharm el Sheikh originally shouldered its way to international fame on account of its unrivalled maritime beauty. Perched on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, it’s a city that enjoys all the gems of the Aqaba Gulf: azure waters, golden beaches, sprawling coral reefs, a kaleidoscope of extraordinary sea creatures, and underwater points of interest to boot.
It’s perhaps not surprising that all this has made Sharm el Sheikh the free diving and scuba capital of the world, a place spoken in the same breath as the tropical islands of Indonesia, and one with all the infrastructure to make it a real pull for every type of tourist, from family holidaymakers to intrepid backpacking types.
But Sharm is not all about diving. Desert safaris coupled with Bedouin tented hospitality give it the Middle Eastern allure while Mt Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery, landmarks of Christendom significance are best seen with a well versed tour guide.
In recent decades the city has exploded with adventure travellers looking to explore the exotic maritime terrain of nearby Na’ama Bay and Sharm al-Maya, and has acquired an energetic nightlife scene that’s become legendary as one of North Africa’s best.