Travel Guide

Full Name

Sharm el-Sheikh

Former Name

Area Size

Situated on the North East corner of Africa Egypt has an area of 1,001,450 sq km, of which 6,000 sq km is water. The Libyan and Western desert constitutes a whole 75% of the total area. The triangular Sinai Peninsula links Africa with Asia and occupies an area of 61,000 sq km. It lies between the Gulf of Suez (west) and the Gulf of Aqaba (east), and is enclosed by the Mediterranean Sea on the north and the Red Sea to the south. Sharm el-Sheikh lies at the southern tip of this Peninsula. The Sharm area has three main areas; the old town Sharm el Maya (Moya) and its bay, a number of other bays and El Hadaba. In the greater resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh, the bays include Sharm el Maya, Na'ama Bay, Garden Bay, Tiger Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq Bay.

Climate

Sharm is hot in summer and pleasantly warm in winter. Average temperatures during winter range from 15 to 35°C and during the summer from 20 to 45°C. The temperature of the Red Sea ranges from 21 to 28°C throughout the year. From November to April Egypt experiences a mild winter, and from May to October a hot summer. The major difference between the two seasons is day temperatures and prevailing winds. There’s not a lot of rain in Egypt, but most of what little there is falls along the coast. Alexandria, the wettest area, receives about 200mm per year. Cairo hardly gets any rain, but nevertheless the humidity here in summer can be as high as 77 per cent. The hot spring wind, sirocco (khamsin), usually blows across the country in April, forming in low pressure areas in the Isthmus of Suez, sweeping across the northern coast of Africa. Unobstructed by geographical features the sirocco brings along a lot of sand and dust – sandstorms reaching 140 km/t can cause illness in people and animals and damage crops and occasionally infrastructure.

Geography

The triangular Sinai Peninsula links Africa with Asia. It lies between the Gulf of Suez (west) and the Gulf of Aqaba (east), and is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the north and the Red Sea to the south. The Sinai Peninsula is a 61,000 sq km area similar to the desert but with mountains in the south – a geological extension of the Red Sea Hills. Sharm lies at the southern tip of the peninsula, and has three main areas; the old town Sharm el Maya (Moya) and its bay, a number of other bays and El Hadaba. In the greater resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh, the bays include Sharm el Maya, Na'ama Bay, Garden Bay, Tiger Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq Bay. Egypt’s natural boundaries consist of more than 2,900 kilometers of coastline. Predominantely desert, the Western Desert covers about two thirds of the country, and Egypt’s cultivated and permanently settled area is only 35,000 square kilometers. The Nile Valley and Delta, the most extensive oasis on earth, was created by the world’s second-longest river and its seemingly inexhaustible sources. The Nile River traverses about 1,600 kilometers through Egypt and flows northward from the Egyptian-Sudanese border to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is a combination of three long rivers whose sources are in central Africa: the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Atbarah. At Cairo, the Nile spreads out over what was once a broad estuary that has been filled by silt deposits to form a fertile, fan-shape delta which extends over approximately 22,000 square kilometers.

Languages

Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Culture

Sharm El-Sheikh offers an exotic atmosphere but has kept a European feel to it at the same time. It has first-class facilities and amenities and is reasonable compared to other tourist destination around the world. Egypt’s history covers over five thousand years and includes the origin of civilisation, the rise of the Greeks and Romans and the creation of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions. One can find many trappings of modern life in ancient Egypt, such as mirrors, makeup, ovens and beds. And it’s evident that Egypt’s culture has influenced Europe, Middle East and Africa greatly. Ancient tradition is important to Egyptians, particularly in rural areas. Even though urbanism has developed to a great extent, one can still see people living much like they did thousands of years ago. Moving out of the cities you can spot oxen pulling ancient plows and donkey carts loaded with a variety of agricultural products. Follow the fascinating Bedouin nomads wandering through the deserts in search of water and grazing for their camels, navigating by stars and reading the signs of the desert as they go... Eat like the locals, with aysh (bread baked in clay ovens) rather than knives and forks, sampling the Fattah - a dish with layers of bread, rice and meat seasoned with vinegar and garlic, garnished with yoghurt and nuts. A delightful mixture of wonderful traditions, Egypt and its enticing cities - where one can be in awe of the madness of blaring horns, multicoloured lights and energetic people– will capture your heart from day one.

History

Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative centre of Egypt’s Southern Sinai province and also known as The City of Peace because of the large number of international peace conferences that have been held here. Sharm’s strategic importance led to its transformation from a fishing village into a major port and naval base for the Egyptian Navy. It was captured by Israel during the Sinai conflict of 1956 and restored to Egypt in 1957. gypt in 1957. A United Nations peacekeeping force was subsequently stationed there until the 1967 Six-Day War when it was recaptured by Israel and officially renamed Mifratz Shlomo, Hebrew for "Gulf of Solomon"; but the name "Sharm el Sheikh" or "Sharm" stayed in general use. Sharm el-Sheikh remained under Israeli control until the Sinai peninsula was returned to Egypt in 1982. The Egyptian government embarked then on an initiative to encourage continued development of the city. Foreign investors - some of whom had discovered the potential of the locality during the Israeli occupation - contributed to a spate of building projects. Environmental zoning laws currently limit the height of buildings in Sharm el-Sheikh so as to avoid obscuring the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Travel Information

Egypt is situated on the top right hand corner of Africa, and is easily reachable. There are non-stop flights from most major African, Asian, North American and European cities on Air Egypt, which flies directly in to the international airports. The Sharm el-Sheikh airport is the largest in the Sinai and welcomes lots of charter planes from Europe daily in the winter high season. The only airline for local flights is EgyptAir, which flies to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Alexandria. International Fast Ferries runs fast boats to Hurghada on the mainland Red Sea Coast. Sharm el-Sheikh can also be reached by driving down the eastern coast from Eilat (Israel) via Nuweiba and Dahab, or via the western coast from Cairo. There are daily buses for both routes. All private vehicles entering Egypt must have a triptyque or carnet de passage en douane from an automobile club in the country of registration, or pay customs duty which can be as high as 250 percent.

Accommodation

There are nearly 100 hotels in the Sharm area. The ones located on the beach are of course the most popular, predominantly because they have private beaches with comfortable facilities. Small and personal hotels with modern designs as well as larger hotel complexes belonging to international chains can be found in Sharm, so there’s something for everyone’s preferences and budgets. You can also hire apartments or stay in a B&B. The cheapest option is of course to stay in one of the hostels, but here you must be prepared to share with strangers.

Visa Requirements

If you fly straight to Sinai no Egyptian visa is required, as special 14-day Sinai permits are granted on arrival at the Taba border, Taba Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh's airport. Note that this permit allows travel only on the eastern Sinai coast and the Mount Sinai with St. Catherine's monastery. For Egypt in general, there are three types of visas. The tourist visa is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months, and granted on single (15 GBP) or multiple (18 GBP) entry basis. An entry visa is required for anyone entering for purposes other than tourism, while a transit visa allows you to stay for a short period only. It is possible for most tourists and visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry. Please check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship. Citizens of the following countries are required to be in possession of a pre-arrival visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chechnya, Croatia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri-Lanka, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and all African countries.

Getting Around

There are taxis and buses operating in and around the Sharm area, as well as possibilities to hire a car. Sharm’s marina welcomes private yachts and sailboats, and there are cruise ships and a ferry service to Hurghada and Aquaba. The airport has flights to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Alexandria, as well as frequent charter flights to several European countries.

Health & Safety

There is a large quantity of modern hospitals throughout Egypt, both in governmental and private sectors. Governmental hospitals in general enjoy a high standard of modern equipment and efficient staff members. Numerous private practices are excellent; some of them quite close to Western standards. Hospitalisation in general hospitals, particularly in emergencies, is free of charge. However, a visitor is always advised to seek a private one, which is still strictly supervised by the health authorities. Hospital charges vary according to different standards, but in general the cost is much less than one would expect at home. Be aware that they only accept cash or credit cards, not medical insurance papers from your country of origin. In less severe conditions there are clinics in close proximity to most hotels. And as most international pharmaceutical companies have offices in Egypt, practically every drug is available. It is however advisable to bring any medicine you regularly use. The tap water in Egypt is drinkable, but foreigners are advised to use bottled water. Malaria is not a problem in Egypt, but rabies is widespread. Please note that evidence of Yellow Fever and Cholera immunizations is required from persons who have been in an infected area within six days prior to arrival. Tourist Police wear green armbands and stand guard at major tourist sites and hotels. Traffic Police wear black and white in winter and white in summer and can be found on most major street corners.

National Holidays

Fixed dates: 22 Feb (Unity Day) 25 Apr (Sinai Day) 1 May (Labour Day) 18 Jun (Evacuation Day) 23 Jul (Anniversary of the Revolution) 6 Oct (Armed Forces' Day) 24 Oct (Suez Day) 23 Dec (Victory Day) Variable dates: The Islamic year contains 354 or 355 days, with the result that Muslim feasts advance by 10-12 days against the Gregorian calendar each year. Dates of feasts vary according to the sighting of the new moon.

Currency

Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Electricity

220V AC

Working Hours

As Egypt is a Muslim country Friday is the official day off, and some companies treat Thursday as a half day. Banking hours are Sun-Thu 0830 to 1500, business hours Sat-Thu 0900 to 1700 and government hours Sat-Thu 0900 to 1500. Shops are closed on Fridays, and closed for a few hours in the middle of the day during summer.

Emergency Numbers

Sharm-el-Sheikh International Hospital: 069 3660894, Ambulance: 069 3600554, Fire Department: 069 3600633, Search and Rescue: 012-3134158, Police: 069 3660415, Tourist Police: 069 3660311, Marine Police: 069 3600633