The Mysterious & Wonderfull Egyptian Red Sea Riviera

The Red Sea Riviera is a geographical area on both sides of the Gulf of Aqaba, comprising of Egyptian, Jordanian, Israeli and Saudi Arabian territory. Within Egypt the Red sea Riviera has two distinct areas, the Sinai Peninsula, and the East Coast of Egypt. As we have read the Nile flows through many countries, and Egypt offers far more than Nile cruises. The Sinai is a mountainous desert peninsula, sweeping down to white coral sands. It contains the highest peak in Egypt, which is Mount Catherine, which at 2,629 metres offers a panoramic view of the whole of the peninsula.

The Sinai Peninsula is Egypt cut off from the mainland by the Suez Canal. It incorporates the past the present and the future, known correctly as South West Asia, it has always been the pathway between Africa and Asia. In the ancient past precious metals were mined here Alexander the Great fought for the land, the Book of Exodus tells the tale of the wanderings of the Israelites in Exodus, and the ten commandments were revealed on Mount Sinai.

"It has been touched, in one way or another by most of Western and Near Eastern history, both actual and mythic". Sinai, The Great and Terrible Wilderness. Burton Bernstein

The Northern Sinai Peninsula does not have a coastal region on the Gulf of Aqaba, but south offers a hundred and twenty miles of pure joy! The Egyptian Red Sea Riviera on the Easterly Sinai Peninsula has the towns of Taba, Taba Heights, Nuweiba, Dahab, and the Southerly towns of Sharm el Sheikh. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and superb water sports facilities. It offers a distinctive contrasting character to the Nile resorts of Luxor, Cairo and Aswan.

However in common with the rest of Egypt, there is more than meets the eye to the Egyptian Riviera it has another area in the Upper and Lower kingdom. The resorts of El Gouna, Hurghada, Sahl Hashish, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and Safaga are to be found. To the South there are the resorts El Quseir and Mersa Alam, which are East of the Nile resort Luxor.

The Sinai Peninsula is an area closely associated with the Old and New Testaments. The Northern area is the Sinai desert whilst the Southern points is mountainous and contains the famous Mount Sinai. It was occupied by Israel from 1967 until 1982.

Taba is the most Northerly town of the Egyptian Red Sea Riviera resorts; it borders Israel, and is a spit across from Jordan. Because of its geographical location it has had a chequered history, it is a very tiny town, populated by of Bedouins, its mass is little more than a thriving bus station and a luxury hotel complex of five star hotels and casinos. (Taba Heights). It was important because it was the last area of the Sinai to be returned to Egypt under the 1979 Israeli Egyptian Peace Treaty.

In 1949 it belonged to Egypt, but was captured by the Israeli's in the 1967 six-day war. The Israelis built a luxury hotel and it became a popular luxury Israeli getaway resort. Whilst the 1979 peace treaty was being discussed the territory was argued over by both sides. Finally in 1988 after interminable wrangling had got nowhere it was sent for review to a five man commission comprising of three neutral entities, and the territory became Egyptian.

However as a concession to the Israeli's they were given leave to visit the area for up to forty-eight hours without the aggravation of getting a visa. It is still a popular weekend resort, hence the importance of the bus station.

The Egyptian Riviera stretches from Taba in the North to the Ras Mohamed National Park nestling where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba at Sinai's southern point. Unlike the ancient cities the area of the South Sinai, where the desert meets the sea, inspire recreation, rather than culture. The dramatic desert mountains flank the pristine golden beaches with crystal clear aquamarine water. Some of the Red Sea ports dates back to the Phoenician's, Geziret Faroun, or Pharaohs Island lies just five miles from Taba and you can swim to it from the Gulf of Aqaba. In the twelfth century the crusaders built a base from which to disrupt Arab trade, as well as being a safe haven for pilgrims travelling from Jerusalem to the monastery of St Catherine's. This castle was later fortified by the Mamelukes and reputed to be a refuge for T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia; he made several journeys to the island in June 1914.

In ancient times the Sinai was known as Mafkat or the land of Turquoise. Bronze age settlers found and mined the metal at Wadi Maghareh and Serabit el-Khadim, and these would have been amongst the earliest known mines in the world. Eventually the precious metal came to the notice of the pharaohs and it was often used in ancient pieces of jewellery. There is a temple ruin at Serabit dedicated to Hathor, the ancient God of miners.

St Catherine's, a Greek Orthodox monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in the world; it houses the remains of St Catherine who was beheaded for her beliefs. The monastery's Byzantium basilica dates back to 527BC. It is famed for its library, which houses the largest collection of Christian manuscripts outside of the Vatican.

The resort of Nuweiba was once the resting place for the Islamic pilgrim's undertaking the hajj the once in a life-time pilgrimage to Mecca. Nowadays it is a beautiful beach resort between the Gulf of Aqaba and the high desert mountains. The area is still populated by the Bedouin tribe and it is possible to visit their villages by the traditional, but somewhat painful route, on the back of a camel. For those who prefer a little more comfort then jeep safaris are very popular.

The coral and marine life in the Red Sea are magnificent and diverse, it is of course like any other ocean coloured blue, but the backdrop of the mineral rich red mountains was thought to inspire the name Mare Rostrum, or the Red Sea. The Sinai Peninsula offers some of the most spectacular diving and snorkelling opportunities in the world. The beach resorts cater to every taste and budget from the back packer to five-star sartorial elegance. However whilst the diving on the whole of the peninsula is truly spectacular, the Gulf of Aqaba has a lush range of both hard and soft coral. The North Sinai is quieter for the diver it has less of the hustle and bustle of the South. The Northern beaches offering lagoons, fjords, and an island as well as stunning coves are unrivalled in most of the world.

The road between Taba and Nuweiba offers some of the most stunning scenery on the peninsula renowned for its picturesque aspect. Nuweiba lies on either side of the Wadi Watir delta which is nearly sixty miles north of Sharm el-Sheikh, and consists of two Bedouin villages, separated by an eighteenth Century Citadel.

Dahab, meaning gold in Arabic, was historically a Bedouin fishing village, it became a backpacker's paradise, but now it offers excellent five star hotels. It is especially famous for it's windsurfing, as it has flat beaches and a reliable source of wind.

Sharm El Sheikh is the most accessible and developed of the resorts on the Egyptian Riviera, for the tourist it offers a spectacular array of local and foreign merchandise. Wherever you stay on the Egyptian Riviera the amenities of diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and other water sports are available. The other attractions are desert safaris either by jeep or camel, or riding some of the magnificent Arabian horses. Other available activities are golf, or exploring the antiquities.

The Red Sea has always produced spectacular storms and the proof if this lies on its ocean floor. There are nearly twenty ship wrecks in the Red Sea, so the area is also famous for its wreck diving. If you have to take your diving to another level than the range of wreck diving is also spectacular. Night diving on a wreck is a experience even experienced divers' tend not to forget in a hurry. There is something eerie about going in the sea in the pitch black, but it offers a completely different scenario to day diving, watching the fish feed is a magical experience. Many of the wrecks can be seen by boat and snorkelling.

In short whatever your preference on holiday the Egyptian Riviera offers something for everyone, whether it is a romantic weekend away, or a family holiday to Egypt. Whether you want to wander and drift or explore, the antiquities of Egypt the Red Sea is a perfect destination.