Home to approximately 60,000 people, Sharm El Sheik is located on the southern coastal tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Bordered by the Mediterranean in the north and the Red Sea in the south, the Sinai Peninsula forms a land bridge between Africa and Southwest Asia.

Sharm El Sheik is a water sports paradise with a practically limitless number of aqua-related activities on offer. The Red Sea enjoys a worldwide reputation for its superior scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing. With its pulsating nightlife, fabulous shopping and numerous restaurants, Sharm El Sheik is the region's biggest and noblest seaside resort. The peninsula's cultural highlights and best sightseeing spots can be experienced when partaking in half day and full day trips.

Sightseeing:

• Ras Muhammad
  The east coast has a number of beautiful nature reserves and one of the most magnificent of these is located only 20 km away: the Ras Muhammad National Park. Among other features, the area is home to over 150 types of coral and one of the world's largest oceanic reserves.
• The Coloured Canyon
  As the name suggests, the Coloured Canyon is a natural trench of various hues. Depending on the time of day, the shimmering, multicoloured sandstone walls show off their numerous tones including white, yellows, browns and amazing variations of red.
• St. Catherine's Monastery
  Visiting the centre of Sinai can be a biblical experience - as Moses can attest. According to the Old Testament, it was here on Mount Sinai that God gave him the Ten Commandments. At the base of the mountain lies the world's smallest diocese: the Greek Orthodox St. Catherine's Monastery. The labyrinth-like fortress and the icon collection within are well worth the trip.
• The Suez region and north Sinai
  Those wishing to drive along the Suez Canal right up to the peninsula's northern coast to Port Said can hire a car to do so. The Great Bitter Lake is the widest section of the canal and a great place to take in the scenery. Many also make a stop at Ismaïlia which is named after its founder: Ismail the Magnificent. Many of the container ships along the waterway are awe-inspiring in size and some might even be carrying product destined for the numerous shops and boutiques in Port Said itself.

Recommendations:

• Flight to Cairo
  Those who feel no trip to Egypt is complete without seeing the pyramids can be there in just 45 minutes. The fascinating atmosphere of the nation's capital and the thrill that comes with visiting such unforgettable places as the Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo and nearby Giza is only a short flight away.
• Nile river cruises from Luxor
  Cruising along the Nile from Luxor is a great way to complement a holiday at the beach. Flights to the ‘world's greatest open air museum' operate daily and seeing the magnificent remnants from the time of the Pharaohs firsthand is truly unforgettable.