Holidays to the Red Sea
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Red Sea holidays are famous for several things - near perfect year round climate, warm waters, amazing underwater wildlife and luxurious hotels. But there's much more to the Red Sea than that, and that's where booking through a specialist can make all the difference.
We offer fourteen Red Sea resorts across Egypt, Jordan and Israel - and we know what makes each resort special, so we can help you select the perfect resort for your next holiday. We also feature golf and a comprehensive Red Sea diving programme, and can offer options for beginners as well as keen golfers and qualified divers.
Sharm el Sheikh is the best known and most popular of Red Sea resorts, and is easily the biggest. It has well established facilities and numerous shops but is probably best known for its nightlife. If you want nightlife but at a more relaxed pace, Hurghada, home to Buddha Bar, Ministry of Sound and Pasha, is a good option. Eilat is also home to several bars and pubs, but is probably better known for the quality of its restaurants and eateries, ranging from delicious falafels to gourmet cuisine. A range of dining options are also on offer in El Gouna's downtown and also in its marina area, which enjoys a great family atmosphere.
If it's rest and relaxation you're after, choose from one of the newer or more isolated resorts. Port Ghalib, one of the Red Sea's most exciting new developments, is set to develop into a lively resort with a mile long corniche of shops and restaurants, a bazaar and a marina - but go now and you'll find it's a tranquil haven, ideal for lazing on the beach. The surrounding Marsa Alam area, Soma Bay and El Quseir are also perfect places to get away from the rush and bustle of daily life.
Likewise the Taba region. Taba Heights is the centre of the area, and home to the golf course, marina and a small shopping complex - but the resort itself is very peaceful, with a magical, romantic atmosphere. The Northern Sinai region is an area of great natural beauty, with the awe-inspiring Sinai mountain range providing a stunning backdrop. It's location that's also one of Taba and Taba Heights' great selling points. Located at the very northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, these resorts enjoy views over four countries, and make a perfect base if you plan to visit the sights of Israel and Jordan - such as Petra, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. St Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai are also near by and well worth a visit.
Most of the Red Sea is characterised by purpose built resorts, many of which have sprung up in the last few years. As a result, holidays in the region focus on relaxation and the natural wonders at hand. If you want a taste of traditional culture, try Eilat in Israel or Aqaba in Jordan, both of which are cities as well as holiday destinations. In Egypt, Hurghada is probably the closest equivalent, though you can also catch a glimpse of local life in El Quseir old town, and Nuweiba's port area. You can also learn about the Bedouin way of life on a desert excursion or Bedouin dinner (on offer in some hotels). If you want to see the ancient sites that Egypt is renowned for, it's best to visit Luxor or Cairo on a day trip, or twin your Red Sea break with a stay in either of these cities, or a Nile Cruise. The most convenient places to stay on the Red Sea if you do want to visit Luxor are located on the south coast of the mainland - El Gouna, Hurghada, El Quseir and Soma Bay.
A range of activities are on offer in each resort. Desert activities such as camel trekking, jeep safaris and quad biking are available in most resorts, as are snorkelling and diving - but the experiences themselves differ significantly. Golf is available in Taba Heights, Soma Bay, El Gouna and Sharm el Sheikh. Watersports are available throughout the Red Sea, but if you're planning on windsurfing, kitesurfing or parasailing on your holiday, you'll find the fairly constant breeze in Dahab, Hurghada and El Gouna ideal. In most resorts use of powerboats is restricted, to preserve the reefs.
Experienced divers flock to Sharm el Sheikh, thanks to the large amount and range of dive sites on offer, including diving in Ras Mohamed National Park. Other favourites include Hurghada and El Gouna, well-located for visit to Abu Nuhas, the ship graveyard, Dahab, home to the famous Blue Hole dive site, and Marsa Alam, where the reefs are virtually untouched and dolphins and dugongs are not uncommon sights.
If you want to learn to dive on your Red Sea holiday, you can do so in any of our featured resorts. If you can't find anyone to learn with, try a solo travellers diving week in the laid back atmosphere of Dahab (also available for qualified divers).
Seeing the amazing underwater life of the Red Sea is a must, and if you don't want to dive, snorkelling is also widely available. Some hotels feature house reefs and these vary in size and quality; information specific to each hotel can be found on the hotel pages. You can also go on a snorkelling excursions, by boat. If you'd rather not get wet at all, glass bottom boats and semi-submersibles are available in many resorts.