EGYPT’S UNDERATED BEACH SCENE

EGYPT BEACH BLOG 

When I planned my trip to Egypt I was imagining sand dunes and pyramids, not clear ocean waters and vibrant fish. Egypt has one of the most underrated beach scenes with some of the best snorkeling I have ever experienced. We flew in Sharm El Sheikh airport which is at the Southern Tip of the Sinai peninsula, this is a very touristy area and we felt super safe as female travelers. Sharm El Sheikh is definitely the kind of place where you want to stay at a resort as many of them here are all inclusive and don’t allow any outside guests to use any amenities (we learned this the hard way). Sharm El Sheikh was a bit too touristy for me and I ended up loving the nearby town of Dehab much more. 

A Culture Shift 

Sharm el Sheikh and Dehab both were a bit of a culture shock after being in the rest of Egypt as people were walking around in western beach apparel and swimsuits. We were not harassed by men the way we were in other parts of Egypt here and overall I would say it’s extremely tourist friendly. 

Farsha Cafe 

Sharm El Sheikh is worth going just to experience the magic that is Farsha Cafe. This beach club is built into the side of the mountain and has decorations that feel as though you are walking around a magic ride for lack of a better description. Make sure you go at night so you can take in the mesmerizing lighting and incredible atmosphere they create. We messaged them on instagram in advance for a reservation and had no problems getting in. The prices are amazing for what you experience, we felt very safe going out here at night. 

How To Get To Dahab

You can pay for a private taxi to Dehab, but the prices can be a lot, especially because they will upcharge tourists as much as they can. I suggest heading to the local Sharm El Sheikh bus station in the morning (you can look up times in advance) and purchasing a ticket to take the bus. The bus ride is just over an hour and extremely easy at a fraction of the cost of a taxi. Note there are many security checkpoints during this bus ride where they will continuously ask for your passport, this is due to the close proximity to bordering nations. 

Why I preferred Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh 

Dehab is not only a fraction of the cost of Sharm El Sheikh but overall a way less touristy vibe. Most of Dehab is walkable and we stayed in an airbnb along the beach for less than $20 USD per night. Dehab has a huge expat community and we found it really easy to access yoga classes, kite surfing, and a variety of other activities you typically have to plan through an agency. We rented snorkels for less than $3 USD daily and saw some of the most vivid reefs full of life. This beach town truly felt like a special gem and breath of fresh air as a female traveler in the middle east. My only regret is not spending more time there.