Sinai
However, it was also the path by which Amr swept down into Egypt in 640 AD, bringing Islam in his wake. Even after the muslim conquest, the monks of St. Catherine Monastery (founded in 547 AD) continued to greet pilgrims to the site of the Burning Bush. Many of the most memorable conquerors have passed through Sinai as well. Alexander the Great crossed at the head of a great army, as did Ramses II, Napoleon Bonaparte, and (in the opposite direction) Salah el-Din. The Arab-Israeli conflicts of this century raged across the Sinai as well, their passage still evident in the ghostly wreckage that marks certain parts of the Suez coast. In recent years, and for the first time, the history of Sinai seems to be emerging as a story about the land itself--its artifacts, its people, and its extraordinary natural beauty--rather than the story of those who pass through that land. Today, it is the Sinai's brilliant coral reefs, its striking mountains and deserts, and its enormous cultural heritage that hold the future--once again, though in a very different way, the history of Sinai seems to be written in the land itself.
Sharm el Sheikh
Located
at the southern tip of the Sinai, Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the
most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the
Sinai peninsula. Sharm El Sheikh is divided into two separate
area's. There is the town itself commonly referred to as 'Sharm'
and about 6 km north is Na'ama Bay. Sharm El Sheikh is a divers
paradise with crystal clear waters, lovely reefs and a variety of
exotic fish where people can enjoy diving, snorkeling, fishing or
any other water sports. Na'ama Bay is where most people stay and
has both small intimate hotels, as well as larger resort complexes,
many with there own private beaches with sun loungers, shades and
bars. Sharm El-Sheikh mall provides shops with both foreign and
local products, including jewelry, leather goods, clothing, pottery
and books. Great night life. Activities and places to visit Ras
Mohamed national park A trip to Ras Mohamed can be arranged from
Sharm el Sheikh , It is the best place for diving as well as it is
declared recently as a National Park . The 480 square kilometer
protected area lies where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba
at Sinai's southern extremity. The arid desert terrain of sand
dunes, gravel plains, fossilized corals and granite mountains is
home to a number of rare mammal species: Dorcas gazelle, Nubian
ibex and red fox. Easier to spot are the resident birds like terns,
herons, gulls and ospreys. Thousands of white storks pass through
Ras Mohammed each year, heading south during September/October and
back north during April/May. About 85 flora species live in the
park, including mangroves. In glaring contrast to the seemingly
desolate landscape above, the ecosystem underwater is a magnificent
eruption of life: 200 coral species (125 of which are soft corals),
1000 fish species, 40 starfish species, 25 sea urchin species, 100
mollusk species, 150 crustacean species, and 2 turtle species: the
Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle.
Dahab
Dahab
(meaning 'gold' in Arabic) is located about 85km north of Sharm El
Sheikh. There are activities and accommodation here to suit every
budget. Dahab is a favorite for divers and those who enjoy the
backdrop of Bedouin culture in a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere.
Bedouin-style restaurants line the shore, along with dive centers
and beaches, where a wide variety of water and land activities are
available Places to visit: One of the natural wonders of the Sinai,
Color Canyon is awe-inspiring. Take a walk in between dramatic
sandstone canyon walls streaked with melting yellows, purples,
reds, magentas and gold. In certain places the canyon walls reach
up to 40 meters. You feel as if you are enclosed in a spectacular
coloring book. Formed by the natural elements over time, the walls
of Color Canyon cascade with colors as a result of ferrous oxide
and manganese. Consequently, a natural maze has been formed that is
excellent for exploring and taking photographs. A haven of
tranquility, Color Canyon promises it's visitors peaceful moments
and silence. The blue Desert, Located between Dahab and St
Katherine, you can easily see this site in one day. The most
amazing thing about the Blue Desert isn't the blue paint on the
rocks, it is the wadi itself - against the backdrop of the
legendary blue Sinai sky. Massive granite sculptures and golden
boulders cover the desert floor along with beautiful pink flowers
dotting the plains. The Blue Desert is a great place for climbing,
taking pictures or just getting away from it all.
Newibaa
The port
and town of Nuweiba are located on the eastern coast of Sinai,
between Taba, 65 km to the north, and Dahab, 70 km to the south. It
offers a beautiful scenery of colorful high mountains, deep blue
sea and superb sandy beaches, lined with palm trees. Tarabin is the
beautiful, palm tree shaded beach of northern Nuweiba Bay. It is
ideal for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling and other water sports.
You can also relax at the comfortably cushioned Bedouin restaurants
and coffee shops along the beach. Beach camps with bamboo huts and
small hotels provide accommodation nearby. You will also find some
tourist shops, supermarkets and an internet cafe in this area. At
night there are plenty of possibilities to party Places to visit:
One of the natural wonders of the Sinai, Color Canyon is
awe-inspiring. Take a walk in between dramatic sandstone canyon
walls streaked with melting yellows, purples, reds, magentas and
gold. In certain places the canyon walls reach up to 40 meters. You
feel as if you are enclosed in a spectacular coloring book. Formed
by the natural elements over time, the walls of Color Canyon
cascade with colors as a result of ferrous oxide and manganese.
Consequently, a natural maze has been formed that is excellent for
exploring and taking photographs. A haven of tranquility, Color
Canyon promises it's visitors peaceful moments and silence. To
ensure your safety, in some areas of the Color Canyon you will need
to be reasonably fit to investigate. Day trips to the Color Canyon
can be arranged from Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba. n
Taba
Taba is a
small town located on the Red Sea coast of north-eastern Sinai,
right by the border to Israel, it serves mainly as a growing resort
settlement and as a border crossing into Israel. The border is open
24 hrs a day, and can be crossed by foot or car. Bus services are
provided at both sides of the border. However, for those who want
to avoid mass tourism, Taba is also popular because of the peaceful
beauty of its Bedouin camps offering simple accommodations with
unbeatable views of the sea. Activities & Places to visit:-
Pharaoh's island , Today you will not only marvel at the rock
drawings of the distant past, but you can also admire the ruins of
the quarries, mines, fortresses, watch towers and wells that lie
scattered along this principal route. Pharaoh's Island, also called
Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, lies eight kilometers south of Taba
and 250 meters off the coast. The Phoenicians were the first to
make use of this island's fine natural harbor during the 10th
century BC to foster trade with Egypt. Much later the small rocky
island came under Byzantine control. One of the natural wonders of
the Sinai, Color Canyon is awe-inspiring. Take a walk in between
dramatic sandstone canyon walls streaked with melting yellows,
purples, reds, magentas and gold. In certain places the canyon
walls reach up to 40 meters. You feel as if you are enclosed in a
spectacular coloring book. Formed by the natural elements over
time, the walls of Color Canyon cascade with colors as a result of
ferrous oxide and manganese. Consequently, a natural maze has been
formed that is excellent for exploring and taking photographs. A
haven of tranquility, Color Canyon promises it's visitors peaceful
moments and silence. Day trips to the Color Canyon can be arranged
from Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba.
Taba protected
area
Inland
from Taba and Nuweiba is the latest addition to Egypt's national
park series. The huge 2800 square kilometer Taba Protected Area is
a complex network of wadis and canyons that navigate through the
park's granite and sedimentary mountains. Here, years of water and
wind erosion have carved out gripping geological monuments. Some of
Sinai's most stunning natural spots, like the color canyon, Ein Umm
Ahmed and Ein Khudra, are located within the protectorate. History
buffs are intrigued as much by the park's ancient rock art of
religious symbols and vanished animals, as by it's presumably stone
age Nawamis tombs
Saint Catherine
The area
of St Catherine always promises something significant. You can take
a hike in the footsteps of Moses or light a candle under a famous
icon in the Monastery of St. Catharine - or perhaps hire a Bedouin
guide and trek around the mountain and look for the smallest
butterfly in the world. There is plenty to discover in this small
but outstanding town. Activities and Places to visit You can climb
Mount Sinai, the mountain just south of the Monastery of St
Catherine, is of great religious importance to Jews, Christians and
Muslims. According to the Old Testament this is where Moses
received the Ten Commandments. Throughout the centuries the
mountain has drawn thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.
You can ascend to the summit (2285 m, 7497 ft) to experience the
ultimate spiritual high; either by climbing some 4000 steps built
by monks or by following an easier but longer path. Both lead to an
open area known as Elija's Basin where you walk up the remaining
750 steps to the top. At the summit you will find the Chapel of the
Holy Trinity that was built in 1934 on the site of a much earlier
chapel built in 363 AD. The climb takes about three hours but the
view from the top is truly breathtaking, especially at
sunrise
What to visit In and from Sinai
- Overday
Cairo
- Overday
Luxor
* Only from Sharm
- Full
Day Aquapark * Only from
Sharm
- Overday
Petra
- Overday
Jerusalem
- Overday
Massada & Dead Sea
- Overday
Eilat
- Full
Day St.Cathrine Monastry
- Canyon
Safari
- Jeep
Safari
- Quad
runners
- Super
Safari
- Semi
Sub-Marine
- Night
Amusement Shows
- Dolphin
House
* Only from Sharm
-
Snorkeling Trip
Copyright © Neptune Tours 2012