Nuweiba Egypt

Nuweiba, Egypt

Nuweiba is a beachside town in the east of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula - a coast known as the the "Red Sea Riviera" and one of the most beautiful shorelines in the world. The combination of the sunny climate, warm seas and thousands of kilometres of sandy beaches have made this stretch of coast a popular destination for international tourists.

Nuweiba is said to be where Moses led the ancient Israelites and crossed the Red Sea to escape the pursuing Egyptians. For many centuries only Bedouin tribes people lived here, but in the 1970s the present town sprang up after the region was occupied by Israel during the Six Day War. Since the Israelis left in the 1980s, the region has been developed with a ferry port and modern hotels into a resort catering to beach lovers, back-packers and scuba divers. The sunrise along this coast, over the Hijaz mountains of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba, is among the region's spectacular sights.

For scuba divers, Nuweiba is among the more adventurous parts of the Red Sea to explore, and some dive sites require a camel ride to get to the shore. Several dive resorts along the coast have excellent "house reefs" near the resort that are perfect for snorkellers, novice divers and underwater photographers. Nuweiba offers experienced divers access to several underwater nature reserves and a number of warship wrecks. Day trips from Nuweiba can also reach the main dive sites near Dahab, including the famous Blue Hole and Canyon sites.

The beach-side camps and hotel resorts along the coast usually run their own restaurants, most serving familiar fare like pasta, pizza, kebabs, coffee, and ice-cream. There are also several good Egyptian restaurants serving authentic local dishes, and fresh catches of seafood from local fisherman. Nuweiba is not a party town, and only the resorts and some camps serve alcohol. For a taste of the local night-life, try some coffee, fruit juice or ice-cream on the terrace of a local coffee shop overlooking the sea.

Visitors looking for a cultural experience may like to spend some time at the nearby Habiba and Tarabin villages, homes to the two local Bedouin tribes. Both offer accommodation in authentic tent camps beside the beach, camel treks to nearby oases and historical sites, and guided tours of the nearby St Katherine national park.

The park covers most of interior of the southern Sinai peninsula, and includes the highest peak in Egypt, Mount St Katherine. This high-altitude ecosystem is among the most fertile regions in all of Egypt, and can be accessed by many hiking trails. Mount Sinai in the middle of the peninsula is said to be where Moses received the 10 Commandments and the nearby St Catherine Monastery is has been a site of pilgrimage since the Sixth Century. The Greek Orthodox monastery was built on the what was said to be the location of the Burning Bush that appeared to Moses.

Tourist who want to leave the beach and explore are usually advised to arrange a car and driver through their resort or hotel. Taxis are expensive here, and using the local minibus network may be too much of an adventure for many visitors.