Located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh is a popular holiday destination, especially for old-fashioned beach lounging and scuba diving. On any given day, you'll find close to 10,000 British tourists in Sharm el Sheikh, a testament to its popularity and the ease with which this Egyptian town has learned to cater to foreign tourists.

From Obscurity to International Fame

In the Arab world, there are few more popular holiday destinations than Sharm el Sheikh, but it wasn't always so. Only forty years ago, Sharm el Sheikh was just a little fishing village with a handful of Bedouin residents. When the Israelis occupied the Sinai Peninsula, they saw the potential and natural beauty of Sharm el Sheikh, and it gradually began to evolve into a holiday destination. Since the 1980s, the Egyptians have continued to build up Sharm el Sheikh's ability to draw visitors, adding such features as a modern promenade, a first-rate hospital, and a Hard Rock Cafe.

Diving in Sharm el Sheikh

Without a doubt, the single biggest draw to Sharm el Sheikh is scuba diving in the warm waters of the Red Sea. Compared to the barren, dusty world of the surrounding desert, the underwater world off Sharm el Sheikh's coast is a world alive with colour, biodiversity, and adventure.

In particular, Tiran and Ras Mohammed reefs, two hours from Sharm el Sheikh, are considered two of the very best diving locations in the world. Every day at these two reefs, it's not unusual to see large schools of barracudas, along with sharks, murrays, and plenty of other fish.

The downside of being such a popular diving locale is that the best diving spots tend to be very crowded. The casual diver should be prepared to spend their dive with another thirty to fifty divers swimming about in the same area. If you want to avoid such crowding, take a diving safari, where you'll go further into the ocean and see incredible sites the day trip divers don't often get to see. The good news is, a diving safari rarely costs much more than a diving day trip.

Other Things to Do in and Around Sharm el Sheikh

<b>Beaches:</b> Of course, Sharm el Sheikh is famous for its beaches. The Hilton Waterfalls Shish Beach is one that's very popular with tourists, and offers a terrific view of the Red Sea. Terrazzina Beach is another popular beach for a relaxing, quiet vacation.

<b>Camels:</b> Now here's something you can't do in Hawaii, Thailand, or Cuba: a camel trek! A camel trek into the Sinai desert is a unique tour that you won't get to try in virtually any other holiday destination in the world.

<b>Naama Bay:</b> Naama Bay is the region's hippest nightspot, featuring the aforementioned promenade lined with classy restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs. Most of the hotels that cater to tourists are also located in the Naama Bay area.

In summary, Sharm el Sheikh is a great place for a traditional beach holiday, complete with sun, clear blue waters, and boat tours. Divers will find Sharm el Sheikh to be a wonderland, and novice divers can find many reputable dive schools offering lessons. When you tire of the beach and the water, trek out into the rugged Sinai desert for a change of pace, and if you're particularly adventurous, try trekking on the back of a desert. Accommodations in Sharm el Sheikh are first-rate, as is the fun.