Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. Its position is what makes the diving extraordinary: the Straits of Tiran and the Ras Mohammed National Park are both within reach, and between them they hold some of the most celebrated dive sites in the world.

Ras Mohammed, at the very tip of the peninsula, is where two seas meet over a vertical reef wall. The current brings big pelagic fish in close, and the visibility is reliably excellent. Further north, the reefs of the Straits of Tiran sit in a channel that funnels marine life through it.

Sinai is also a place of extraordinary desert and religious significance. Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery are inland, and Dahab is an hour and a half up the coast.

What we run from Sharm El Sheikh

Our overnight Mount Sinai sunrise climb and St Catherine's Monastery tour departs from here, with transfers included within Sharm El Sheikh.

Practical notes

• Sharm is on the Sinai Peninsula, not the mainland. Getting here from Hurghada means either a flight or a long drive around the Gulf of Suez.
• Naama Bay is the traditional centre; the newer developments spread north and west along the coast.
• Do not fly within 24 hours of diving — plan your last dive around your departure.