Tour Guide, Cairo, Egypt
| 2 mins read
Introduction to Dahab
The Sinai Peninsula is the only part of Egypt located in Asia. It has some of the most beautiful beaches, and they are visited by thousands of tourists every year. The city of Dahab (Gold, in Arabic), owes its name to its golden sand beaches, where hotels, resorts, and campsites have been built. Dahab is located 600 km south-east of Cairo; 80km north of Sharm El Sheikh.
History
Some historians claim that the area where the city is located today was an ancient port, used by the Nabataeans, since the second century AD, because of its excellent location, near the beaches of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Dahab’s popularity began in the 1990s when the Egyptian government began promoting the Sinai Peninsula. The city grew up around a Bedouin village, called El Asslah, located south of Dahab. This part of the city still has cheap hotels and campsites, frequented by young tourists, especially students on a tight budget. In the north, there are a large number of luxury hotels, which accommodate tourists from all over the world, who choose Egypt for their holidays.
In Dahab, everything goes around the sea and beaches. The underwater life is very diverse, with coral reefs and different varieties of fish. Among the most attractive activities, we can mention snorkelling, diving, windsurfing, swimming, Bedouin dinners in the desert, and parties on the beach.
One of the most famous diving spots is the Blue Hole. This site is more than 80 meters deep in some parts and is surrounded by coral reefs. Another interesting destination is Ras Abu Galum, famous for its desert, mountains, plains, and marine life. It was declared a protected area in 1992. Nabq is another protected area because of its coral reefs, sea caves, and vegetation.