Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. Ships dock at the port, and the resort areas (Naama Bay, Shark's Bay) are about 10-20 minutes by taxi. The surrounding desert landscape is stark, with rocky mountains dropping to the coastline. The diving and snorkelling are the main reasons to visit. Ras Mohammed National Park, about 20km south, has some of the best coral reef diving in the world. The Shark and Yolanda Reefs are famous sites. Closer to the resorts, Tiran Island has reef walls and strong currents for experienced divers. For non-divers, glass-bottom boat tours show the reef. A day trip to St. Catherine's Monastery (one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world) and Mount Sinai is possible, though it's about 3 hours each way. The Egyptian Pound is the currency.