South Sinai

Here comes our third trip of this journey. All the way to the south of Sinai Peninsula, we visited Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab and Saint Catherine. Make sure to check out the trip to Siwa Oasis and the one to Aswan and Luxor, if you haven’t already. The Sinai Peninsula is the only part of the country located in Asia. It was occupied by Israeli forces during the Six-Day War of June 1967. It was then returned to Egypt in 1982 under the terms of the peace treaty concluded in 1979. Even though the north is not open to tourists for safety reasons, South Sinai is quite a popular touristic destination. I am going to tell you exactly why.

Sharm El-Sheikh – South Sinai’s most popular destination

After an all-nighter bus ride from Cairo, we finally arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh. It is a resort town situated between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea. We went swimming for a few hours and sunbathing on the beach near our hotel. In the evening, we strolled around Naama Bay, a palm tree-lined promenade filled with bars and restaurants. For me personally, the whole town seemed to be kind of a tourist trap, with a lot of cheap looking cafes and low quality souvenir shops. The type of destination more suited for families or elderly looking for an all-inclusive experience.

Best diving spot in South Sinai: Dahab

On the next day, we moved to Dahab, the hidden gem of South Sinai. Its name means ‘gold’ in Arabic and this name was used due to its phenomenal golden, sandy beaches. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, Dahab is now considered to be one of Egypt’s most treasured diving destinations. So, first thing to do after arriving was naturally, diving.

I have never dived in my life before and the thought of a slight possibility to drown scared me to death. After seeing the others come out from the water safe and sound I gathered my courage. I put on my diving equipment, and joined the instructor into the water. I have to admit the experience was indeed quite scary. My ears started to hurt quite badly due to high underwater pressure and I panicked for a moment. The presence of the instructor really helped though and I managed, after a few tries, to enjoy the beautifully colored fish and coral reefs.

3 Pools

After lunch we travelled to the 3 Pools where we went on a beach safari, riding ATVs. This was yet another experience I have never tried before. I love driving so, obviously, I loved it too. Later that day we watched the beautiful sunset overlooking the coast of Saudi Arabia. In the evening we went to a Bedouin party in the mountains. There we listened to live musicians singing traditional Arabic songs and watched an impressive fire show. The day couldn’t have ended in a better way.

Blue Lagoon & Blue Hole

The next day, we woke up early and visited the Blue Lagoon by speed boat. With its flat turquoise waters and constant wind, the Blue Lagoon is a tranquil hideaway for windsurfers and kite surfers. There are only a few bamboo huts here and often only a handful of people, so it almost feels like you’re entering an exclusive beach.

After chilling for a few hours, we headed back to the town. Then we went straight to the Blue Hole, the world’s deadliest diving spot. But its infamous reputation has only boosted the impressive sinkhole’s appeal to brave divers looking for an underwater Everest. We weren’t that brave so we only did snorkeling. It was, in fact, as impressive as the scuba diving, minus the ear ache. In the evening we went shopping for souvenirs in the Dahab market.

Sinai Mountain – Mountain of Moses

The day was far from being over. As we approached midnight, we took a bus that drove us to the Saint Catherine’s Monastery, at the foot of biblical Mount Sinai. It is the place where, according to the Bible and the Quran, Moses received the Ten Commandments. Here we began our 7-kilometer long hike to the highest point in the Middle East – or at least South Sinai.

The trail was quite long and tiring, especially after a day full of activities and a lack of proper sleep. But the view at the top was worth it. As we reached the end of it, the sun started to rise. It was one of the most astonishing views I have ever witnessed in my life. I wasn’t tired anymore and it felt like I am on top of the world. And I was really proud of myself for being able to reach the top. The descend of the route was as challenging as the climb up as the sun was rising higher and it just got hotter and hotter.

Make sure to check out our next to the Black & White Desert!