Al Pasha Bay is located in a quiet area of Sharm el Sheikh. Popular with couples and families looking for luxury holidays, the area offers top class four and five star rated hotels and quiet private beaches. Most of the all-inclusive hotels have multiple swimming pools, private beaches, spa and health centres, various dining options, bars and nightclubs. There are cheaper hotels in Al Pasha Bay which offer great value for money holidays for families and young water sports fans. Just off the beach area of Al Pasha Bay are lots of narrow streets where you will find cafes, small spice markets and street stalls. For lively nightlife and restaurants a short ride will take you to the livelier Naama Bay.

The sandy stretches of beach here offer warm crystal clear waters and are great for relaxing in the sun, taking a swim and enjoying water sports like water-skiing, windsurfing and kite-surfing. For snorkelling fans the beautiful clear warm waters and easily accessible reefs are just perfect. Just meters from the shore-line you can see an amazing array of marine life. Boat trips enable visitors to see the more inaccessible areas of the reef. Al Pasha Bay makes an excellent base for a diving holiday in Egypt with access to the stunning Red Sea reefs. Visitors can enjoy some of Egypt’s famous dive sites including Shark’s Bay, Turtle Bay, Yolanda Reef and the spectacular Ras Mohamed Marine Park. The Al Pasha dive schools offer courses for all divers from beginners to the more experienced. For non-divers there are glass-bottomed boat trips which explore the waters to see

Red Sea Reef

 the beautiful coral gardens which are home to brightly coloured fish and marine life.

When you need a break from the beach you can try a spot of shopping at the little shops and bazaars in Al Pasha Bay or take a walk around the Sharm el Sheikh souks. The souks are great place to buy gifts and souvenirs like jewellery, gold, glassware, rugs spices and tea whilst on your direct holidays to Egypt. Sample local culture on a trip out into the desert and experience life in a traditional Bedouin village or go on a camel or jeep safari through the amazing desert sand dunes. Visits to Cairo, the

Monastery of St Catherine at Mount Sinai

ancient sites at Luxor and to the Monastery of St Catherine at Mount Sinai are three places not to be missed on your holiday to Al Pasha Bay.

Whether you visit Al Pasha during the winter or the summer you can expect long sunny days with clear blue skies and perfect warm clear waters. You are unlikely to see any rain in Al Pasha at any time of the year. Night-time temperatures in the desert are always cooler at any time of the year but are still totally enjoyable. July and August are the hottest months with 10 hours of sunshine a day with June and September being cooler and more bearable for many people. April and May are probably the best months to visit as temperatures are around 30C and there are always plenty of last minute holiday deals to be found on-line.

The Luxor region has a larger concentration of awe inspiring tombs and monuments than any other region in Egypt. Located in the Nile Valley, Luxor is a unique holiday destination full of ancient Egyptian treasures and timeless romance. Luxor is like a huge open-air museum where you can step back in time with an insight into ancient Egyptian civilization.

The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank at Luxor and was the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs. It is here that the pharaoh’s were buried and hoped to meet their gods in the afterlife. The tombs here cover a whole range from simple pits to a tomb with more than 120 chambers and corridors. There are two main parts to the Valley of the Kings, west and east. Most people associate the Valley of the Kings with Tutankhamun’s Tomb but he was a minor king and there are much more impressive tombs and monuments in the valley than his.
The Valley of the Queens is found at the southern end of the valley. This is where the queens and their children were buried. Only four of the tombs are open to the public, the most famous being that of Queen Nefertari.

Queen Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple

Located at the head of the Valley of the Kings, this is One of the most beautiful temples of ancient Egypt. Sitting beneath the peak of the mountain, the temple sits directly against the rock which forms a natural amphitheatre around it. Designed by the architect Senemut, this amazing temple gives the impression that it has grown out of the rock. Hatshepsut ruled as regent for her step-son Thuthmosis III but took the role of pharaoh instead of passing power to him when he came of age. Dedicated to the sun god Amon-Ra, the temple had a garden for Hatshepsut’s father with exotic trees and plants in the lower courtyard but after her death the temple was deliberately damaged by her step-son who replaced her image with his own and obliterated any references to her.

Colossi of Memnon

Situated on the west bank at Luxor are the famous ‘Colossi of Memnon’. These massive quartzose sandstone statues once flanked the entrance to Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. The statues now stand on their own in a field on the road to the Valley of the Kings. Although the statues are in poor condition they are still worthy of a visit. The Legend of Memnon is all about one of the statues that had a crack running through it. When the early morning rays of the sun warmed the statue it gave an eerie moan. The ancient Greeks believed that the statue represented King Memnon and that the eerie sound was him greeting his mother Eos. However since the Romans tried to repair the statue it has remained silent.

Luxor Temple

Built by the New Kingdom Pharoah Amenophis III, this small but interesting temple is found in the centre of the town.

Temples of Karnak

Just north of Luxor city are the fascinating Temples of Karnak. This temple complex was built over a period of 1500 years and was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. Thought to be the largest surviving religious complex in the world, this huge site is a mass of sanctuaries, obelisks, pylons and kiosks dedicated to the Theban gods.

Luxor enjoys long hot sunny days and clear blue skies all year round making it an ideal destination for a romantic get-away and family holidays alike. Summers can be exceptionally hot, making the winter a better time to book one of the many sightseeing holiday packages available to Egypt.

Recent civil unrest in Egypt caused a slump in tourists visiting the country but as news emerges that archaelogists have discovered evidence of new pyramids that is all about to change.

US Egyptologist Dr Sarah Parcak from the University of Alabama used infra-red satellite images taken of the desert in Egypt to find a mass of hidden treasures. Evidence of 17 underground pyramids, more than 1000 undiscovered tombs and 3000 settlements has been unearthed. The NASA satellites, orbiting 435 miles above Earth, were equipped with cameras which are able to pinpoint objects smaller than three feet in diameter on the earth’s surface. The infra-red images were used to highlight different materials under the surface. The Egyptians used mud bricks which are much denser than the surrounding sand, therefore researchers were able to locate the buried buildings and tombs. It is believed that only about one percent of the wonders of Ancient Egypt have been discovered, but now, thanks to Dr Parcak’s pioneering approach it is hoped that more and more ancient wonders will be unearthed.

Dr Parcak believes these underground pyramids were covered by Nile silt and that there could be a lot more sites waiting to be discovered.

Saqqara

Excavations have started in Saqqara where the new the new pyramids were discovered and have already confirmed that two of the buried structures are pyramids.

The BBC are to screen ‘Egypt’s Lost Cities’ on May 30th which follows Dr Parcak as she makes her ground breaking discovery.

There are more than a hundred pyramids known in Egypt, many of which are in a state of disrepair. These ancient pyramids were built as burial places for kings and queens and it is believed that they represented a stairway for the king to ascend to the heavens. The earliest pyramid was the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, built over 4,600 years ago at Saqqara, overlooking the ancient capital of Memphis. The largest pyramid ever built was the Great Pyramid at Giza which was built for King Khufu. The Giza Plateau is also home to two

Sphinx

 other large pyramids which, as with the Great Pyramid, have valley temples and mortuary temples connected by causeways. Also found at Giza is the famous 73 metre long Sphinx. The pyramids and the Sphinx are a major attraction for visitors on their cheap package holidays to Egypt.

There are many travel deals to Egypt available throughout the internet, not only for discovery the country’s ancient history but also for the amazing beach resorts and diving opportunities in the beautiful Red Sea.

A great way to explore and see parts of Egypt you wouldn’t normally see whilst on holiday is a Desert Safari or Excursion.  It allows you to experience the real Egypt and visit areas you might not normally encounter whilst on holiday.  There are many different tours and excursions you can take, from a day trip riding a camel in the desert to camping and sleeping under the stars.

Six Types of Egypt Desert Excursions & Safari’s

1) Jeep Safari
Book an off-road jeep safari and experience the thrill and adventure of

Jeep Safari Egypt

 driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle across uneven terrain through desert hills and slopes.  Stop at a bedouin camp for dinner and to watch the sunset go down across the magnificent desert.  Jeep Safari tours can be arranged as day trips from many places but Hurghada is particularly popular for a day long safari trip including a visit to our bedouin camp and a climb up the mountain to view the sunset going down.  These day excursions usually include food normally in the form of a barbeque at the camp.

2) Safari Tours
Some holiday companies offer Safari tours whereby you spend a week or more travelling by Jeep across the Egyptian desert and off-road terrain to different attractions and ancient ruins.  This gives the holidaymaker an ‘off the beaten track’ experience for their Egypt holiday.

3) Camel Safari
A visit to Egypt is not possible without the obligatory Camel ride! Most

Camel Safari

tourist areas in Egypt offer Camel rides so you can experience what it is like. Day trips from Sharm el Sheikh offer a camel trek, dinner under the stars at a bedouin camp and then drop you back off at your hotel.  For the more adventurous, camel safaris can be booked for 9 days, starting at Sharm el Sheikh and visiting and trekking through attractions/areas of interest such as Gebel Gunna, St. Catherine’s Monastery, Arada Canyon, Bir Safra, Gabel Barqua and Wadi Gibi.  The focus is on exploring Egypt via camel, experiencing the traditional ways of life and hospitality of the Bedouins.  As you’ll be riding a camel every day this is not for the faint hearted! Direct holidays to Sharm el Sheikh can be booked from many UK airports meaning you can arive and start your safari straight away.

4) Quad bike Safari
Quad bike safaris can be arranged daily from many of the main tourist areas such as Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Safaga amongst others.  They generally last a few hours and include riding through the sandy desert, possibly passing mountains and stopping at a Bedouin village/camp.  Sunset’s are a big draw for tourists and safaris usually incorporate a stop to watch the sunset go down over the desert land.

5) Off Road Kart Safari
If you don’t fancy a quad bike or camel, and off-road Kart may be an option.  They’re basically a large buggy with an engine that you can drive across the desert.

6) Desert Horse Safari
Horse riding is available throughout Egypt as a day trip but if you can ride well it’s worth booking a safari starting perhaps starting from the Egyptian Pyramids and exploring out across the desert.  Galloping across the desert terrain is sure to give you vivid memories of Egypt. 

Many operators and holiday companies offering package holidays to Egypt combine horse safari’s with other elements such as nile cruises, camel rides and red sea diving depending on your preference.  Choose from a day excursion to a week long safari and enjoy and experience the real way of life in Egypt.

Located just 10 minutes from Naama Bay, on the quiet outskirts of Sharm el Sheikh, Om El Sid Hill is the perfect base for exploring the Red Sea area. Popular with families and couples, Om El Sid Hill is becoming more and more popular as a honeymoon destination. Located on a plateau above the coast,

Om El Sid Hill

 the resort offers amazing views across the Red Sea and sunsets which other resorts just can’t compete with.

The beaches here are some of the best in the region, especially the stunning Diamond Beach. Red Sea holidays are popular with divers looking for perfect conditions and crystal clear water. There is a wide choice of dive schools in the area offering divers of all standards the chance to experience the many sites and marine life. There are shallow dives for beginners and amazing reef dives for the more experienced. Non divers can also enjoy the fascinating marine life by snorkelling from the shore where there jetties going out to sea, enabling snorkellers direct access to the

Diving

unspoilt coral reef. You will be absolutely amazed by the colourful marine life and stunning underwater scenery. Apart from providing excellent diving opportunities, Om El Sid Hill offers some great watersports including windsurfing, water-skiing and fishing.

When you want a break from the beach there are plenty of day trips to choose from. Sharm el-Maya is the original old town area of Sharm el Sheikh and offers a traditonal Egyptian market, restaurants, cafes and shops. Trips to St Catherine’s Monastery, Ras Mohammed Marine Park and the Coloured Canyon are all a great day out for the whole family. Be amazed

Coloured Canyon

 at Egypt’s ancient attractions at Luxor, Cairo and Aswan or if you are looking for something a bit livelier visit Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq Bay and Al Pasha Bay. A holiday in Egypt would not be complete without a trip into the Sinai Desert either by camel, horse, jeep or quad bike. You will be blown away by the amazing sunrise and sunset out in the desert.

Om El Sid Hill enjoys amazing sunny weather which means that there are always great late deals to the resort at any time of the year.

With luxury hotels and bargain hotels there is accommodation to suit everyone here. Most hotels are set in landscaped gardens with high standard rooms, top quality restaurants, multiple swimming pools, spas and evening entertainment including shows and dancing. Family holidays to Om El Sid Hill offer excellent value for money with many of the hotels providing children’s clubs and entertainment for the everyone.

Ras Um Sid is situated in a quiet part of Sharm el Sheikh. Located at the tip of a small headland overlooking Red Sea beaches, Ras Um Sid is the ideal location for families and couples looking for a relaxing holiday atmosphere.

Beach

When the time comes for a bit more excitement then you can head off to nearby Naama Bay where you will find plenty of nightlife and great places to eat. Naama Bay is just a 10 minute ride from Ras Um Sid where many of the hotels provide shuttle buses for the journey.

There are many excellent hotels in the area, some of which are built on beautiful hillside terraces with lifts and cable cars which take guests to the glorious sandy beaches below.

With perfect weather conditions, ideal safe shallow warm waters, no strong currents and a fascinating reef close to the beach, Ras Um Sid is one of the most popular Red Sea choices for snorkelling and watersports fans.

Marine Life

Snorkelling in the clear blue waters here gives you the chance to see the wonderful brightly coloured marine life, corals and sponges of the reef. Ras Mohamed Marine Park which is home to the amazing Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, Anemone City and the Straits of Tirin are all close to Ras Um Sid and offer excellent scuba diving opportunities. The area has lots of dive schools which offer lessons for divers of all ages and levels. Water sports include windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.

Apart from the great diving opportunities, there is plenty more to do and see in the area. A trip into the Sinai Desert is a must for the whole family to enjoy together. This can include a quiet camel trek, an exciting jeep safari, a visit to a Bedouin village, an authentic meal under the open skies and much

St Catherine's

 much more. Then there are visits to Naama Bay, Nabq Bay and Sharks Bay which all offer great shopping and restaurants. If you are looking for more culture then there are trips to St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, walks through the wonderful Coloured Canyon and for ancient attractions you can head to Luxor where you can also enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Nile. To sample some local culture then don’t miss the authentic shops at Sharm el Sheikh’s souks. Here you will find everything from souvenirs to locally produced rugs and from spices to jewellery and gold.

A must on your last minute holiday deals to this amazing country is to sample the delicious cuisine. Visit the restaurants and cafes which serve traditional spicy food, including various grilled meats, kebabs and koftas.

Ras Um Sid is popular with families, couples, diving and water sports enthusiasts looking for cheap holidays to Egypt which are always available throughout the internet.

Located on the Sinai Peninsula, Nabq Bay is ideal for quiet relaxing beach holidays. Offering amazing views to Tiran Island and the Sinai Desert mountains, Nabq Bay is situated in a beautiful location close to Sharm el Sheikh and the lively Naama Bay. 

Nabq Bay diving

Blessed with excellent beach facilities, sandy beaches, warm blue waters and soft sea breezes, Nabq Bay is an ideal location for just lazing on the beach or enjoying some snorkelling and scuba diving. There are some amazing wrecks and dive sites for experienced divers to explore while beginners can take advantage of the local diving schools who have a great reputation for teaching beginners. There are some beautiful coral reefs to explore in the beautiful Red Sea around Nabq Bay including those at Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. The undersea wrecks at Thistlegorm and Dunraven are among the most popular with divers in the Red Sea. The wonderful sea life here can still be explored if you are not into diving. There are no end of snorkelling opportunities available here along the coastline of Nabq Bay and at all the adjoining bays along the coastline. The lagoon at Nabq Bay offers a huge range of water sports including windsurfing, kite surfing, parasailing, water skiing, sailing, canoeing and of course pedalos for all the family to enjoy. And for those who don’t want to get wet there are glass-bottom boat trips where you can marvel at the undersea beauty from the comfort of your dry vessel.

Temple at Luxor

Not everyone comes here for the beaches and the diving. There is lots more to do here including exciting jeep safaris, quad biking, mountain biking, horse riding, camel riding and excursions to wonder at the country’s amazing history. Favourite sightseeing tours include Luxor and Aswan and what better way is there to view the fascinating surroundings than on a cruise down the River Nile.

Families and couples alike can take advantage of the last minute holidays that are always on offer to Egypt and enjoy the sun, sand and relaxation that the country has to offer.

If you are looking for an economical diving holiday there are lots of cheap package holidays around where you can use Nabq Bay as your base.

Due to the ever increasing popularity of El Gouna and Taba Heights there is a surge of hotel developments in these Red Sea resorts.

El Gouna

El Gouna has over 6 miles of coastline, complete with hotels, spa and fitness facilities, restaurants, bars, marinas and an 18-hole golf course. The resort is home to the first hotels in Egypt to be awarded the Green Star Hotel Certification.

In El Gouna there are two new Orascom Development boutique hotels due to open in November and a new Four Seasons hotel is due to open in 2014.

Orascom Developments already operate 21 hotels with more than 5,000 rooms in El Gouna and Taba Heights. They already have 14 established hotels in the resort of El Gouna. The two new four star hotels, Fanadir and Mosaique, will be located on the resort’s new marina. Every hotel room will have a private terrace and will overlook either the marina or the hotel swimming pool.

When the new Four Seasons hotel opens in 2014 it will have 150 rooms and will offer guests pure luxury.

Taba Heights

The beautiful Taba Heights overlooks four countries, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia and has over 3 miles of natural beaches. The resort offers excellent diving sites and an 18-hole championship golf course.

A fourth new hotel is due to open in December and will be located in Taba Heights.

The multi-million pound Club Med in Taba Heights is it’s sixth luxury hotel and will come complete with a spa, fitness centre, restaurant and two bars.

Summer temperatures here are always in the 30′s during the summer months, hitting the high 20′s and enjoying 7 to 8 hours of constant sunshine a day during the winter months. Because of it’s great all year round weather package holidays to Egypt can be taken whenever you desire. The Red Sea resorts boast some of the warmest waters and best beaches in Egypt.

For bargain late deals the internet is the place to look, you won’t be disappointed.

Sharks Bay is located on the eastern side of the southern most point of the Sinai Peninsula, just 5 miles from Sharm el Sheikh Airport and a 10 minute bus ride from Naama Bay. Both Sharm el Sheikh and Naama Bay offer great beaches, restaurants, bars and shops and are in easy reach of Sharks Bay.

Sharks Bay

The resort is the ideal location to discover the Red Sea’s fascinating undersea kingdom, including the beautiful coral reefs which are some of the finest in the world. For beginners and more experienced divers the Sharks Bay Diving School offers tuition from friendly professional instructors.
The beaches here also make Sharks Bay an excellent place for a relaxing holiday on the sandy beach or by your hotel pool.

Sharks Bay diving

There are lots of top class hotels in Sharks Bay that offer excellent pools, health spa’s, evening entertainment and cater well for families with children.

Whilst on holiday one may consider a lovely Nile Cruise, taking in the glorious cities of Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria on the Mediterranean. When on a Nile cruise there are lots of excursions on offer, including the Great Pyramid and Sphinx near Cairo, the Valley of the Kings near Luxor and the twin temples of Abu Simbel on the banks of Lake Nasser.
Egypt is steeped in history with pyramids, relics and tombs just waiting to be

Sphinx

 explored.

Sharks Bay enjoys long hot summers and mild winters, with no rain during the summer season and temperatures often reaching 37C during July. The best more comfortable time to explore the ancient sites is during the winter months when the temperature is lower, around 21C.
July and August boast 13 hours of sunshine a day, making this the best time for diving in the crystal clear blue seas.
In November the temperature drops to a pleasant 27C but still with very little rainfall, very often just one day during the whole month.
The winter season lasts from December to February but temperatures still only drop to around 22C.

Due to the pleasant climate all year round Sharks Bay is ideal for family holidays at any time of the year.

For your perfect diving holiday or a relaxing family holiday there are lots of holiday packages available throughout the internet.

Naama Bay is a resort area of Sharm el Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, with Shark’s Bay to it’s north and Hadaba to it’s south. The beach resort of Sharm el Sheikh stretches for 25 miles along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, with Naama Bay situated right in it’s heart.

Naama Bay

Visitors come to Naama Bay mainly for the scuba diving and snorkelling. The resort offers some of the most diverse dive sites in the world. There are lots of wreck dives along this stretch of the Red Sea, with the Ras Mohammed Marine Park which is home to Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef within easy reach of Naama Bay. Dive centres and dive schools are plentiful in the area, along with boat dives and dive jetties which enable divers easy access to the coral reefs and underwater sea life.
Other watersports on offer here include catamarans, canoeing, windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing, banana boats and pedaloes. There are also snorkelling trips available for non-divers. For visitors who wish to see the wonderful marine life but stay dry there are glass bottom boat rides on offer.

Ras Mohammed Marine Park

In Naama Bay you will find dive centres, a lovely pedestrian promenade which runs along the sandy beachfront, hotels (both large and small), restaurants, bars, casinos, discos and shops.

At night some of the larger hotels offer themed nights with belly dancing and local folk music. Most of the hotels in Naama Bay have their own private stretch of the mile long beach here.

Naama Bay offers lots of excursions, including Nile cruises, trips to the Sinai Desert, camel trekking, jeep excursions, horseback excursions, and visits to Luxor, Cairo, Nuweiba, Memphis, Alexandria, The Valley of the Kings and

The Valley of the Kings

the Temples of Abu Simbel. More local places to visit are St Catherines Monastery, Mount Moses, Wadi Ghazala and the Blue Desert.

With temperatures of 23-27C and 10 hours of sunshine a day during November and December, this is the ideal opportunity to grab one of the many winter late deals to Egypt that are on offer.

Enjoy some winter sunshine by booking one of the bargain holidays to this fascinating country which are on offer throughout the internet.