"Sharm el Sheikh - An Oasis in the Desert" Sharm El Sheikh by mtcowgirl

Sharm el Sheikh is probably the best tourist destination on the Red Sea. Luxury 5-star resorts are intermingled in with cheap options to create a diver's paradise in the middle of the desert.

Surrounded by Bedouin lands, Sharm el Sheikh offers a different perspective on Egypt than one would find in Cairo. You can take a jeep, camel, or quad safari into the desert and sit with the Bedouins to drink tea.

Tourism accounts for nearly 50% of the land development in Sharm el Sheikh which includes five sections (Na'ama Bay, Nabq, Ras Nasrani, Umm Sid, and Sharm El Maya). Na'ama Bay is now the center of the tourist action. Old Sharm or Sharm el Maya still holds its charm but most of the modern hotels are now located in Na'ama Bay or beyond towards Ras Nasrani.

Getting around is easy. Most everything within each section is walkable distances but taxis are easily obtained for moving around between sections. Taxis are cheap although drivers will always try to up the price on unsuspecting tourists...yet even their highest prices aren't high when you compare it to what you'd pay in Europe or the US for a taxi :)

Dave, the famous turtle with his patched shell

I first visited Sharm el Sheikh in September 2005 as part of a two-week tour of Jordan and Egypt. I immediately fell in love with the town and the superb diving. I've been back three times already and I just can't get enough of the crystal blue waters, prolific fish life, and the relaxing topside activities (like shopping!)

The gigantic Ras Mohammed National Park offers some of the best diving in the Red Sea. I honestly haven't seen much better reefs or fish life in my other worldy travels. There is something special about the dive community in Sharm el Sheikh as well. The instant you arrive you are part of the family.

The Straits of Tiran also offer some excellent diving opportunities and one can't forget the world famous Thistlegorm wreck!

When speaking to divers who have been to Hurghada, they always say that the reefs are in much better condition in Sharm. It could be that the dive industry in Sharm is newer, just really taking off in the early 1980's...but it could also be to the conservation and care that the dive centers take for their reefs.

• Pros:Beautiful beaches, great diving, cheap shopping, friendly people :)
• Cons:Harassing Shopkeepers & Connecting through Cairo :P
• In a nutshell:An Oasis in the Desert!