Ras Mohammed Natural Protected Park is a natural reserve situated in Gulf of Aqaba in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. It was created in 1983 for the purpose of protecting marine life. Its boundaries stretch from across the Qad Ibn Haddan lighthouse on the Gulf of Suez to the southern boundary of the Nabq Protectorate on the same Gulf. The reserve is spread over an area of 480 km square.
This natural reserve is a popular tourist attraction today which offers fantastic opportunities for diving and snorkeling in the Red Sea. The area is famous for the wide variety in its beautiful coral formation. In fact, the park boasts more than 220 types of hard coral and 125 types of soft coral. It’s beautiful coral reefs are a nature enthusiast’s delight.
You will also come across a great variety of fishes here, numbering around 1000 species in total. Sea urchins, mollusk and sea turtles can also be seen around this protected park.
A few important places to visit here are the Eel Garden which is famous for garden eels; Main Beach which is well known for its stunning vertical coral walls; Marsa Bareika which has beautiful corals as well as vast beaches and Mangrove Channel from where you can see both resident and migratory birds such as Herons, White Stark, Osprey, etc.
(Image courtesy of mattk1979)
Sharm El Sheikh has a shorter and yet a lot more interesting story than many of its counterparts across Egypt. Its history begins way back with it being the gateway to Jabal Musa, where Moses was handed down the Ten Commandments.
The city was invaded by Israel in 1956 and then again in 1967. It had to be restored to Egypt due to international pressures.
Having started from a remote Bedouin fishing village situated at the banks of the Red Sea Riviera, Sharm-el-Shiekh has now evolved into a full scale tourist destination. The commercialization of this small city situated at the Southern tip of Sinai Peninsula began with the Israeli occupation, who built new towns like Naama Bay and Ofira in addition to other tourist-oriented places around the bay.
When the city was handed back to Egypt in 1982, the government decided to convert it into a full fledged tourist spot to attract Europeans looking for a tropical experience close to home. The city has been nick-named the ‘peace city’ after it hosted a number of Middle Eastern peace conferences including those over Gaza Strip and Arab-Israeli conflict along with many others. It also hosted the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in 2008.
(Image courtesy of WomEOS)
Situated between Old Sharm El Sheikh and Naama Bay in Egypt, Hay el Nour is basically a residential area with many emerging businesses, but it has a lot to offer to tourists.
Hay el Nour has undergone recent expansion to include the largest Church in Sharm El Sheikh adding to its glory. The positioning of this small stretch of land is such that it allows easy access from both the busy cities of Sharm and Naama Bay, while at the same time maintaining its calm.
The major attractions of the area include the Sinai mountain range that is better known as the place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. You can see the well known St. Catherine’s Monastery, which is the second oldest monastery in the world. You can also enjoy water sports and sunbathing at the beach. At the other extreme, there is the option of making a safari trip to the desert. In addition to the natural beauty of the area, you can also spend some time at the water park, diving centers and quad biking centers.
The area also offers you a pleasant night life with a number of clubs and restaurants where you can dine while watching the sun set over the mountain range.
The Bedouin Feast is one of the best things you can do when you visit the resort town of Sharm El Sheik. Dining in the desert has its charm and its is something that you should definitely try out when you visit the place. A number of tours are arranged for tourists to experience what it is like to enjoy the local cuisine with the bedouins in the desert under the star lit sky.
The tour will cost around £30 per person but it is really worth the cash. First you are taken to bedouin tents and you are served hot bedouin tea that tastes way better than ordinary tea. Then the real feast starts, you are served with a number of dishes from the Egyptian cuisine and they are sure to satisfy your palate. The bedouins would then explain to you how they live in the desert and share their experiences. You are then taken to a star gazing tour where one of the bedouin explain to you about the constellations. You definitely will have a great time in the feast and it is something that is not to be missed!
Ras Mohamed, Egypt’s first National park is a marine park with over 130 types of coral reefs and thousands of species of fishes. The trip to Ras Mohamed from Sharm el Sheik would really be a memorable one if you decide to take the boat tour. Ras Mohamed is one of the most beautiful national parks on earth and you definitely will have a great time snorkeling along with all the colorful fishes you’ll find there.
The boat journey starts from the Sharm port and the boat will stop three time during the journey to the NAtional Park. You could have all the fun by swimming and snorkeling at the national park. After that you will be served with delicious lunch. You will bee provided with all the snorkeling equipments and trust me, the boat journey to Ras Mohamed and the time you’ll spend in the national park will definitely be unforgettable.
(Image courtesy of WomEOS)
Mount Sinai, the famous mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments from God is located in the Sinai peninsula of Egypt. It is a three hour drive from the renowned resort town of Sharm El-Sheik in Egypt. Mount Sinai is home to the Burning Bush and the Monastery of St’ Catherine which is known to be the world’s longest running monastery and was founded in the 6th century. Climbing Mount Sinai is an experience by itself.
You could climb the mountain early in the morning or even at sunset. The latter one is more popular among tourists as Mount Sinai offers some spectacular views when the sun sets! You could also climb the mountain on foot or by camel. You should take the Steps of Penitence which consists of more than 3700 steps if you plan to climb the mountain on foot. The camel path is rather gentle and not that steep and you could reach the top in about two and half hours.
(Image courtesy of geraintwn)
