Panorama of Taba

Taba

  Taba

Taba is a small Egyptian town near the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. Taba is the location of Egypt's busiest border crossing with neighboring Israel. Little more than a bus depot and a luxury hotel (complete with casino), Taba is a frequent vacation spot for Egyptians and tourists, especially those ...from Israel on their way to others destinations in Egypt or as a weekend getaway. It is the northernmost resort of Egypt's Red Sea Riviera

Taba Egyptian  Flag

Taba was located on the Egyptian side of the armistice line agreed to in 1949. During the Suez Crisis in 1956 it was briefly occupied but returned to Egypt when Israel withdrew in 1957. Israel reoccupied the Sinai Peninsula after the Six-Day War in 1967, and subsequently built a 400-room hotel in Taba. Following the 1973 Yom-Kippur War, when Egypt and Israel were negotiating the exact position of the border in preparation for the 1979 peace treaty, Israel claimed that Taba had been on the Ottoman side of a border agreed between the Ottomans and British Egypt in 1906 and had, therefore, been in error in its two previous agreements. Although most of Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1982, Taba was the last portion to be returned. After a long dispute, the issue was submitted to an international commission composed of one Israeli, one Egyptian, and three outsiders. In 1988, the commission ruled in Egypt's favor, and Israel returned Taba to Egypt in 1989.

 

Taba hotel

As part of this subsequent agreement, travellers are permitted to cross from Israel at the Eilat - Taba border crossing, and visit the "Aqaba Coast Area of Sinai", (stretching from Taba down to Sharm el Sheikh, and including Nuweiba, St Catherine and Dahab), visa-free for up to 14 days, making Taba a popular tourist destination. The resort community of Taba Heights is located some 20 km (12 mi) south of Taba. It features several large hotels, including The Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Sofitel and Intercontinental. It is also a significant diving area where many people come to either free dive, scuba dive or learn to dive via the many PADI

courses on offer. Other recreation facilities include a new desert style golf course
.

Taba / Sinai

Panorama of Sharm El Sheikh

City of Peace

Sharm el Sheikh Hotels

The simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. This is Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains and sea. There are small, intimate hotels with modern designs, as well as larger hotel

 complexes belonging to International chains, plus about all the amenities one could expect of a tourist center, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses and health facilities. In fact, with diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.

Na'ama Bay

Four miles south the southern section of the town stands on a cliff overlooking the port. and is a great view.

Na'ama Beach is one of the center of the tourist activities. Located just north of Sharm, this area is developing into a resort town of its own. Most hotels at Na'ama Bay have their own, private beaches with comfortable amenities such as chairs, shades and even bars.

Shark's Bay is also nearby, and again is a growing resort community with more and more to offer, along with several diving centers.

Dive in Sharm El Sheikh

The small harbor known as Sharm el-Moiya is located next to the civil harbor, has accommodations for boats, and includes a Yacht Club with rooms.

For those who live to shop, the Sharm El-Sheikh mall provides shops with both foreign and local products, including jewelry, leather goods, clothing, pottery and books.

It has been said that this is a must visit for all diving enthusiasts. There are many diving sites along the 10 mile beach between Sharm el-Sheikh and Ras Nusran.

Sharm el-Sheikh is sometimes called the "City of Peace

Sharm El Sheikh underwater

Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for Scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, kite surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.

The Coral

 

Diving Sharm El Sheikh

Red sea-reefRas Mohammed is the national park of South Sinai, located on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Along with Nabq, it has famous dive sites in the Red Sea, with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls, pounding current and coral gardens.

Panorama of Dahab

Dahab underwater

Dahab is the Arabic word for gold - have a look at the colour of the sand around here and you immediately know where the town took its name from. The combination of soft sand, gorgeous blue water, and a luxuriant strip of palm trees is pulling in visitors in growing numbers.

Masbat & Mashraba are the most developed parts of Dahab, a sprawling conglomeration of palm trees, shops, hotels, camps, bars and restaurants that lie along the shore of Masbat Bay. Masbat has a distinctly bohemian feel, and during the Israeli occupation it wasn't uncommon to see soldiers patrolling the same beaches as dreadlocked vagabonds from Europe and America. Less laid back, but still relaxed, is the area just south lying along El-Qura Bay (Laguna).

Dahab dive

Within just a few miles of Dahab are some great adventure spots. Excellent dive sites lie both to the north and south, including Blue Hole, one of Sinai's best. Just south are the wadis of Qnai el-Rayan and Qnai el-Atschan - now home to fantastic rock climbing.

Dahab is served by the Sharm el-Sheikh Airport. There are several air carriers including budget airlines that operate regular flights to Dahab from many parts of Europe. You can also travel by road. If you prefer to take the bus then there are several buses from Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh, Suez, Eilat and Taba that are routed to Dahab. When exploring around Dahab you can either ride in a taxi or the minibuses. Another good idea is to rent a bicycle to explore the place.

Dahab Hotels

Accommodations

Dahab is divided into two major parts; the Bedouin village of Assalah and Laguna or Dahab City/Medina. If you are looking for affordable accommodations that are located along the beachfront then Assalah is the place to go. Here you can find campsites, dormitories and simple lodging like Bish Bishi, Dahab Dorms, Dolphin Camp, Bedouin Moon Hotel and Blue Beach Club. If you want luxury accommodations that are within the city and other tourist hot spots, then head over to Laguna. Here you can choose to stay at hotels like Le Meridien Dahab Resort, Iberotel Dahabeya and the Swiss Inn Resort