The Red Sea Riviera refers to a string of luxury towns along the northern coast of the Red Sea, in both Egypt and Israel. This area has worked hard in the past few decades to increase its appeal to tourists?and now there?s so much to do and see there, you won?t want to come home. Following are just a few activities and features you can find during a Red Sea Riviera holiday.

Diving on coral reefs. There are beautiful coral reefs in the Red Sea that rival anything you can find in Australia. The Red Sea Riviera has always been a popular destination for serious divers. Now that the area is welcoming more tourists, there are many opportunities for even beginner divers to get in on the action, with diving schools, tours, snorkeling, and boating trips available at tourist resorts all along the Red Sea.

Beaches. No winter holiday is complete without a warm, sunny beach full of sparkling sand. There?s nothing like digging your toes into sun-warmed sand, feeling a cool sea breeze on your face, settling down with a good book and a drink beneath a palm tree and letting your worries float away. The Red Sea area boasts some of the world?s most beautiful beaches.

Water sports. If you?re looking for adventure on the water, there?s no better place to go than the Red Sea Riviera. Local tourist destinations offer parasailing, waterskiing, motorboat rides, sailing, windsurfing, and more. Whether you?re experienced at water sports or just getting your feet wet, you?re sure to have a wonderful time on the water.

Ancient ruins. This area is rich in ancient history?and you can see it all along the Red Sea. The most famous ruins of Egypt are only a day?s travel away from Soma Bay, well within reach of a Red Sea Riviera excursion. There are also Roman ruins and mines from the time of the Roman occupation of Egypt; ancient temples, monasteries, churches, and mosques; and ruined cities from the dawn of civilization. Each town along the Red Sea Riviera boasts a rich and varied past?and more fascinating destinations for history buffs than can be counted.

Hiking. The Red Sea Riviera is truly the place where sea and mountains meet. The area borders several noted national parks, including the Wadi el Gemal National Park near Marsa Alam; the Giftun Island National Park in Hurghada; the Ras Mohammad National Park at the Gulf of Aqaba; and more. Bird-watch for herons, ospreys, and exotic desert birds; experience hiking on Mt. Sinai and trekking through Bedouin land; walk along pristine and uninhabited coastline in a marine preserve; rappel down sheer red cliffs that soar up from the dunes. If you?re looking for outdoor adventure, the Red Sea Riviera has something for everyone.

Desert safaris. Ever ridden a camel through the desert? Many resort towns along the Red Sea Riviera offer excursions through the stunning desert landscape. There?s nothing more beautiful than a vast desert sky full of stars. A desert safari is sure to be an experience you?ll never forget.

Fascinating culture. Bedouin culture places great emphasis on hospitality?you?ll see when you get to the Red Sea Riviera, and discover how welcoming the people are. It?s a relaxed, down-to-earth culture that?s sure to have you forgetting your day-to-day worries in no time. The Bedouin culture also has a rich tradition of art, poetry and music that?s sure to fascinate and inspire.

Unforgettable cuisine. Don?t be afraid to try the local cuisine. Middle-eastern cooking is bold and flavorful. No visitor should miss the ?Iftar,? the traditional meal that breaks a Muslim fast?with its rich and varied choice of traditional dishes, it?s a feast like no other. Vegetarians are well provided for in the Middle East, with lots of traditional vegetable dishes; however, vegetarians should be aware that chicken stock is often used in these recipes.

The Red Sea Riviera offers an astonishing variety of things to do, places to see, and new and exciting people to meet. With its ancient history, fascinating culture, stunning landscape, luxurious hotels and unforgettable cuisine, you?re sure to want to come back next year. If you?re looking for a holiday that?s out of the ordinary, there?s no better place to go.

Darren Panto works fro www.peltours.com Established in 1920 Peltours is the UK?s longest established tour operator to Egypt. For more information on Egypt and a wide range of Red Sea holidays visit www.peltours.com/resorts

The border town between Israel and Egypt, this Egyptian Riviera was once a rest town for traders using the caravan route to the fort of Aqaba at the northern-most edge of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Recently, Taba has experienced a growth spurt on its coastline and is now home to a number of leading hotel chains that have built luxurious resort hotels around a new luxurious resort called Taba Heights, which is 15 km south of the border.

Although Taba is a man-made holiday resort, it offers a wonderful vantage point for traveling into the Sinai desert, visiting Bedouin camps, and enjoying the still unspoiled coastline.

The views across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan and Saudi are very picturesque, especially at sunset when the mountains appear to turn red.

Taba Attractions

The Monastery of St. Catherine ? One of the most popular excursions from Taba, St. Catherine’s Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Sinai. This monastery was constructed under the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. One of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, it is built around what is thought to be the site of Moses’ Burning Bush.

It is a well-preserved monastery with a spectacular natural setting for priceless works of art, including Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian icons, Western oil paintings, paintings on wax, fine sacerdotal ornaments, enamels, marbles, chalices, and reliquaries, including one donated by Czar Alexander II in the 19th century, and another donated by Empress Catherine of Russia in the 17th century. St. Catherine’s Monastery also holds the world’s second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts.

Mount Sinai (or the Mountain of Moses) – Mount Sinai is considered sacred by the Muslims, Jews and Christians; it is believed that God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses on this mountain.

The 2,285-metre-high summit is easy to scale and most hikers stroll up during the night to avoid the heat and to capture the view of a stunning sunrise. You could also dare yourself to go by camel caravans or up the Steps of Repentance which has 3000 steps carved into rock monks.

Pharaoh’s Island and Salah El Din Citadel – One of Taba’s main attractions, Pharaoh’s Island is quite stunning. This rocky island is surrounded by outstanding blue and turquoise water that was once a Phoenician port.

Pharaoh’s Island is crowned by the ruins of the 12th century crusaders’ fort. This fort was built to protect the pilgrims on their journey from Jerusalem to St Catherine’s Monastery, and to levy taxes on the Arab merchants. If you are interested, you could also go snorkeling in the reefs surrounding the island?s nearby waters.

Diving Sites – Taba offers boat diving as well as shore diving from its several dive centres. The Canyon offers a diving depth of 40 metres and a stunning topography with lots of soft coral and fish, and amazing hard coral formations. The Picasso Reef, 200 metres from the shore, is an underwater mountain that leads down 24 metres to huge table corals. On a level of 12 metres, this reef is full of fish, including Picasso Trigger Fish.

The Coral City has huge Brain and Mountain corals that support many Lion Fish, occasionally Stone Fish and tiny Silver and Glass Fish. The Angel Net is full of huge coral blocks. Taba also offers the most beautiful collection of small Red Sea Banner Fish at the Ben Coral.

Taba Cuisine

Ful is a type of bean that is cooked in several ways, e.g. in ful midamess, whole beans are boiled which can be eaten with vegetables, mashed with onions, tomatoes and spices. This is also eaten with many other food dishes. Molokhiyya, a leafy-green summer vegetable used in soups and salads, is also popular with the Egyptians.

International cuisine is readily available in the hotels. The Egyptian meat-koftas and kebabs are a must-try for everyone. Veggies can sample chickpea balls called falafels, hoummos, and baba ghanoug (aubergine and tahina). Conclude your meal with a dessert treat of lip-smacking sweet honeyed pastries or baklavas!

Taba Heights Beaches

Marriott Beach – This is only a half-kilometre of private sand beach, which has waterfalls, a Jacuzzi, a cave, and a huge outdoor freshwater slide. A favourite with tourists is the swim-up bar, the children’s pool, and the children’s club (for children of 4 to 11 years of age).

You could also indulge in a wide variety of beach sports such as water-skiing, wakeboarding, pedaloes, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving.

Taba Parks & Gardens

National Park of Nabq ? Stretching over 600 square kilometers, this national park is home to a variety of animal life, including herons, ospreys, storks, foxes and gazelles.

National Park of Ras Abu Galum – Further up north is the Abu Galum natural reserve, which has granite coastal mountains. Here you will find an abundance of plant and animal life, which also includes the Nubian ibexes, hyraxes and red foxes.

The Perfect Time to Visit

Summer can be quite hot in the Sinai, with temperatures often touching 40◦C/106◦F ? although the cool ocean breeze provides some respite. Cooler times to visit is during March to May or October to November when the mercury hits a pleasant average high of 28◦C/85◦F.

Darren Panto sales & marketing Peltours – the UK?s leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Taba Heights and the major resorts of the area visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights/information.html Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com

More than likely, travelers going to either Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada will have to fly to Cairo before connecting with Egypt Air or taking a bus to their final destination. Many scuba divers turn their Red Sea diving trip into a major extended holiday in order to both dive and see the many wonderful ancient Egyptian sites such as the pyramids. There are many things to see and do in Egypt in addition to the ancient ruins including museums, markets and Nile river cruises. So it is highly recommended to do some research and plan accordingly for any trip to Egypt as one would not want to run into the situation where not enough time was allocated to see everything one wants to see there in addition to scuba diving.

Many of the scuba operators in Sharm El Sheikh are affiliated or close by to a hotel resort. Most of the dive shops are actually owned and staffed by Europeans working in Egypt. This is similar to the situation in the Caribbean where many of the scuba operators there are American owned. The Red Sea has a higher salt content than Caribbean waters so it is recommended to add 4 to 5 more pounds to the amount of weight divers usually use. Like most European diving, the scuba community here in Egypt uses the metric system so weights will be in kilos while air pressure will be in bars. Most dive computers should be able to display both metric and imperial systems.

Many scuba operators in Sharm El Sheikh use a very interesting system for scuba tanks. Rather than using their own tanks, their dive boats go to a common central barge anchored in the harbor. This is where all the scuba tanks are supplied from and the dive boats collect the number of tanks they need for day?s dive trips. At the end of the trips, used tanks are dropped off at the same barge before heading back to port.

The majority of the dives in the Red Sea are semi drift dives where the dive boats drop off divers at the dive sites and then pick them up afterwards. One very different aspect of the Red Sea compared to other dive destinations in the world is that the coral reefs here can extend up to very shallow depths. As a result, the standard safety stops at 15 feet are done drifting among many of these sloping reefs along with the accompanying marine life. Therefore, these are some of the most scenic safety stops scuba divers will ever do. This is certainly different from the usual bland safety stop in the Caribbean. One thing to note is that the maximum allowable depth for recreational scuba divers in Egypt is 30 meters which is about 90 feet.

As expected, the marine life in the Red Sea is spectacular. There are many species of fish, crustaceans and marine plant life here that are not found in the Caribbean. In fact, many of them are indigenous to the Red Sea only. While lionfish can be extremely rare sightings elsewhere, they are quite abundant in the Red Sea which is a real treat for scuba divers. It is also not unusual to jump in the water to be among a large school of tuna or other fish. Many night divers will see coral reefs here to be more spectacular than in the Caribbean.

For many scuba divers, the Red Sea is one of those ?must dive at least once in a lifetime? destinations. It is a very unique place to dive especially with the desert background visible from the dive boats. The excellent diving with the many awesome sights of Egypt make the Red Sea a dream dive trip for any scuba diver.

Clint Leung is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear (http://www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com), an online retailer/designer specializing in premium quality scuba diving activewear. Free Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles on scuba diving as well as free eCards.

Owing to the many peace conferences held there it is also called ?The City of Peace?

Being located at a strategic location sharm as it is popularly known was used by the Egyptian navy as a port and naval base until it was captured by Israeli forces in 1956 but restored to Egypt subsequently in 1967.

In the past it was a small fishing village until it became a naval base and today it is a commercial hub and a stunning and magnificent landscaped beach resort. It is also home to a number of sulphur springs, which have therapeutic value.

The virgin fossilized coral reefs in the red sea put the small fishing village and naval base of Sharm El Sheikh on the world map. Sharm El Sheikh has three protected areas- the Ras Muhammad Natural Protected Park, St. Katherine National Park and Nabq Protected area. To gain access to these areas you have to take permission from the tourism department and respective authorities.

If you are interested in taking a diving course while in sharm el sheikh, there are a number of private companies offering the course along with a PADI- Professional Diving Instructors Certificate at a very cheap price!

Like Nuweiba, sharm is also roughly divided into three parts- Na?ama Bay, Ras Um Sid Cliff and Sharm al Maya.

Na?ama Bay

This is long sandy bay home to one of the first hotels of the area built in the eighties. Today it is fully developed bay with a beautiful paved walkway lined with bougainvillea and oleander along the entire stretch of the bay.

Ras Um Sid Cliff

The cliff links the Na?ama Bay and Sharm El Maya centrally located from both the bay and Sharm El Maya. It has magnificent view from atop overlooking the sea. A lot of hotels, restaurants and resorts dot the cliff.

Sharm El Maya

This is the bay area of the old town of Sharm El Sheikh, developed recently for tourism. The magnificent bay is a natural harbor and home to many boats local and tourist. Palm trees line the lovely endearing sandy beaches making it a perfect place to laze around and sun bathe!

Go scuba diving and snorkeling:

There are a number of reliable diving and snorkeling operators in the area. The Tiran strait and the Red Sea have a diverse marine life, and its turquoise clear waters make it even more enchanting for diving.

Some famous dive centers are Anemone Diving Center at Na?ama Bay, African Divers at Sharm el Maya; Aqua active Dive center at Nabq Bay, Aquamarine and Aquanaute are other dive centers. Some virgin untouched diving sites are the Ras Mamla and Ras Abu Gallum; to go there you have to take permission from the Tourist Police and Protect the Reefs Office because these sites are under the Ras Muhammad National Park.

Colored canyon excursion:

This is in the middle of the desert. It is a gorge formed by water passing through the mountain for hundreds of years revealing the different colored layers of rock. The sheer size of the canyon leaves awed.

There are no facilities at all here. You have to take all that you need with you and as for natures call you will have to make do with going behind the rocks! Tour operators arrange tours in four-wheel drives to the canyon.

Go back into the past:

You can also visit the famous St. Catherine monastery between Nuweiba and Taba. The route via Nuweiba is a picturesque one along the flat plains. St. Catherine’s monastery was built around the 4th century, which is believed to be the site of the burning bush. The fortress that surrounds it was built around the 6th century and is still an operating monastery.

Have a Bedouin dinner:

If you are a foodie and love to try different cuisine you can go for a special Bedouin dinner at one of the Bedouin villages.

The Night Life:

Being a beach resort Sharm El Sheikh has an active nightlife. Most hotels have a pub, disco, and arrange beach parties. As for drinks, you can opt for the local brand-Stella, which is cheaper, or an imported one such as Heineken obviously more expensive.

Darren Panto sales & marketing manager for Peltours – a leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Red Sea holiday excursions visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com

More than likely, travelers going to either Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada will have to fly to Cairo before connecting with Egypt Air or taking a bus to their final destination. Many scuba divers turn their Red Sea diving trip into a major extended holiday in order to both dive and see the many wonderful ancient Egyptian sites such as the pyramids. There are many things to see and do in Egypt in addition to the ancient ruins including museums, markets and Nile river cruises. So it is highly recommended to do some research and plan accordingly for any trip to Egypt as one would not want to run into the situation where not enough time was allocated to see everything one wants to see there in addition to scuba diving.

Many of the scuba operators in Sharm El Sheikh are affiliated or close by to a hotel resort. Most of the dive shops are actually owned and staffed by Europeans working in Egypt. This is similar to the situation in the Caribbean where many of the scuba operators there are American owned. The Red Sea has a higher salt content than Caribbean waters so it is recommended to add 4 to 5 more pounds to the amount of weight divers usually use. Like most European diving, the scuba community here in Egypt uses the metric system so weights will be in kilos while air pressure will be in bars. Most dive computers should be able to display both metric and imperial systems.

Many scuba operators in Sharm El Sheikh use a very interesting system for scuba tanks. Rather than using their own tanks, their dive boats go to a common central barge anchored in the harbor. This is where all the scuba tanks are supplied from and the dive boats collect the number of tanks they need for day?s dive trips. At the end of the trips, used tanks are dropped off at the same barge before heading back to port.

The majority of the dives in the Red Sea are semi drift dives where the dive boats drop off divers at the dive sites and then pick them up afterwards. One very different aspect of the Red Sea compared to other dive destinations in the world is that the coral reefs here can extend up to very shallow depths. As a result, the standard safety stops at 15 feet are done drifting among many of these sloping reefs along with the accompanying marine life. Therefore, these are some of the most scenic safety stops scuba divers will ever do. This is certainly different from the usual bland safety stop in the Caribbean. One thing to note is that the maximum allowable depth for recreational scuba divers in Egypt is 30 meters which is about 90 feet.

As expected, the marine life in the Red Sea is spectacular. There are many species of fish, crustaceans and marine plant life here that are not found in the Caribbean. In fact, many of them are indigenous to the Red Sea only. While lionfish can be extremely rare sightings elsewhere, they are quite abundant in the Red Sea which is a real treat for scuba divers. It is also not unusual to jump in the water to be among a large school of tuna or other fish. Many night divers will see coral reefs here to be more spectacular than in the Caribbean.

For many scuba divers, the Red Sea is one of those ?must dive at least once in a lifetime? destinations. It is a very unique place to dive especially with the desert background visible from the dive boats. The excellent diving with the many awesome sights of Egypt make the Red Sea a dream dive trip for any scuba diver.

Clint Leung is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear (http://www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com), an online retailer/designer specializing in premium quality scuba diving activewear. Free Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles on scuba diving as well as free eCards.

Owing to the many peace conferences held there it is also called ?The City of Peace?

Being located at a strategic location sharm as it is popularly known was used by the Egyptian navy as a port and naval base until it was captured by Israeli forces in 1956 but restored to Egypt subsequently in 1967.

In the past it was a small fishing village until it became a naval base and today it is a commercial hub and a stunning and magnificent landscaped beach resort. It is also home to a number of sulphur springs, which have therapeutic value.

The virgin fossilized coral reefs in the red sea put the small fishing village and naval base of Sharm El Sheikh on the world map. Sharm El Sheikh has three protected areas- the Ras Muhammad Natural Protected Park, St. Katherine National Park and Nabq Protected area. To gain access to these areas you have to take permission from the tourism department and respective authorities.

If you are interested in taking a diving course while in sharm el sheikh, there are a number of private companies offering the course along with a PADI- Professional Diving Instructors Certificate at a very cheap price!

Like Nuweiba, sharm is also roughly divided into three parts- Na?ama Bay, Ras Um Sid Cliff and Sharm al Maya.

Na?ama Bay

This is long sandy bay home to one of the first hotels of the area built in the eighties. Today it is fully developed bay with a beautiful paved walkway lined with bougainvillea and oleander along the entire stretch of the bay.

Ras Um Sid Cliff

The cliff links the Na?ama Bay and Sharm El Maya centrally located from both the bay and Sharm El Maya. It has magnificent view from atop overlooking the sea. A lot of hotels, restaurants and resorts dot the cliff.

Sharm El Maya

This is the bay area of the old town of Sharm El Sheikh, developed recently for tourism. The magnificent bay is a natural harbor and home to many boats local and tourist. Palm trees line the lovely endearing sandy beaches making it a perfect place to laze around and sun bathe!

Go scuba diving and snorkeling:

There are a number of reliable diving and snorkeling operators in the area. The Tiran strait and the Red Sea have a diverse marine life, and its turquoise clear waters make it even more enchanting for diving.

Some famous dive centers are Anemone Diving Center at Na?ama Bay, African Divers at Sharm el Maya; Aqua active Dive center at Nabq Bay, Aquamarine and Aquanaute are other dive centers. Some virgin untouched diving sites are the Ras Mamla and Ras Abu Gallum; to go there you have to take permission from the Tourist Police and Protect the Reefs Office because these sites are under the Ras Muhammad National Park.

Colored canyon excursion:

This is in the middle of the desert. It is a gorge formed by water passing through the mountain for hundreds of years revealing the different colored layers of rock. The sheer size of the canyon leaves awed.

There are no facilities at all here. You have to take all that you need with you and as for natures call you will have to make do with going behind the rocks! Tour operators arrange tours in four-wheel drives to the canyon.

Go back into the past:

You can also visit the famous St. Catherine monastery between Nuweiba and Taba. The route via Nuweiba is a picturesque one along the flat plains. St. Catherine’s monastery was built around the 4th century, which is believed to be the site of the burning bush. The fortress that surrounds it was built around the 6th century and is still an operating monastery.

Have a Bedouin dinner:

If you are a foodie and love to try different cuisine you can go for a special Bedouin dinner at one of the Bedouin villages.

The Night Life:

Being a beach resort Sharm El Sheikh has an active nightlife. Most hotels have a pub, disco, and arrange beach parties. As for drinks, you can opt for the local brand-Stella, which is cheaper, or an imported one such as Heineken obviously more expensive.

Darren Panto sales & marketing manager for Peltours – a leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Red Sea holiday excursions visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com

The Red Sea Riviera refers to a string of luxury towns along the northern coast of the Red Sea, in both Egypt and Israel. This area has worked hard in the past few decades to increase its appeal to tourists?and now there?s so much to do and see there, you won?t want to come home. Following are just a few activities and features you can find during a Red Sea Riviera holiday.

Diving on coral reefs. There are beautiful coral reefs in the Red Sea that rival anything you can find in Australia. The Red Sea Riviera has always been a popular destination for serious divers. Now that the area is welcoming more tourists, there are many opportunities for even beginner divers to get in on the action, with diving schools, tours, snorkeling, and boating trips available at tourist resorts all along the Red Sea.

Beaches. No winter holiday is complete without a warm, sunny beach full of sparkling sand. There?s nothing like digging your toes into sun-warmed sand, feeling a cool sea breeze on your face, settling down with a good book and a drink beneath a palm tree and letting your worries float away. The Red Sea area boasts some of the world?s most beautiful beaches.

Water sports. If you?re looking for adventure on the water, there?s no better place to go than the Red Sea Riviera. Local tourist destinations offer parasailing, waterskiing, motorboat rides, sailing, windsurfing, and more. Whether you?re experienced at water sports or just getting your feet wet, you?re sure to have a wonderful time on the water.

Ancient ruins. This area is rich in ancient history?and you can see it all along the Red Sea. The most famous ruins of Egypt are only a day?s travel away from Soma Bay, well within reach of a Red Sea Riviera excursion. There are also Roman ruins and mines from the time of the Roman occupation of Egypt; ancient temples, monasteries, churches, and mosques; and ruined cities from the dawn of civilization. Each town along the Red Sea Riviera boasts a rich and varied past?and more fascinating destinations for history buffs than can be counted.

Hiking. The Red Sea Riviera is truly the place where sea and mountains meet. The area borders several noted national parks, including the Wadi el Gemal National Park near Marsa Alam; the Giftun Island National Park in Hurghada; the Ras Mohammad National Park at the Gulf of Aqaba; and more. Bird-watch for herons, ospreys, and exotic desert birds; experience hiking on Mt. Sinai and trekking through Bedouin land; walk along pristine and uninhabited coastline in a marine preserve; rappel down sheer red cliffs that soar up from the dunes. If you?re looking for outdoor adventure, the Red Sea Riviera has something for everyone.

Desert safaris. Ever ridden a camel through the desert? Many resort towns along the Red Sea Riviera offer excursions through the stunning desert landscape. There?s nothing more beautiful than a vast desert sky full of stars. A desert safari is sure to be an experience you?ll never forget.

Fascinating culture. Bedouin culture places great emphasis on hospitality?you?ll see when you get to the Red Sea Riviera, and discover how welcoming the people are. It?s a relaxed, down-to-earth culture that?s sure to have you forgetting your day-to-day worries in no time. The Bedouin culture also has a rich tradition of art, poetry and music that?s sure to fascinate and inspire.

Unforgettable cuisine. Don?t be afraid to try the local cuisine. Middle-eastern cooking is bold and flavorful. No visitor should miss the ?Iftar,? the traditional meal that breaks a Muslim fast?with its rich and varied choice of traditional dishes, it?s a feast like no other. Vegetarians are well provided for in the Middle East, with lots of traditional vegetable dishes; however, vegetarians should be aware that chicken stock is often used in these recipes.

The Red Sea Riviera offers an astonishing variety of things to do, places to see, and new and exciting people to meet. With its ancient history, fascinating culture, stunning landscape, luxurious hotels and unforgettable cuisine, you?re sure to want to come back next year. If you?re looking for a holiday that?s out of the ordinary, there?s no better place to go.

Darren Panto works fro www.peltours.com Established in 1920 Peltours is the UK?s longest established tour operator to Egypt. For more information on Egypt and a wide range of Red Sea holidays visit www.peltours.com/resorts

The border town between Israel and Egypt, this Egyptian Riviera was once a rest town for traders using the caravan route to the fort of Aqaba at the northern-most edge of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Recently, Taba has experienced a growth spurt on its coastline and is now home to a number of leading hotel chains that have built luxurious resort hotels around a new luxurious resort called Taba Heights, which is 15 km south of the border.

Although Taba is a man-made holiday resort, it offers a wonderful vantage point for traveling into the Sinai desert, visiting Bedouin camps, and enjoying the still unspoiled coastline.

The views across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan and Saudi are very picturesque, especially at sunset when the mountains appear to turn red.

Taba Attractions

The Monastery of St. Catherine ? One of the most popular excursions from Taba, St. Catherine’s Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Sinai. This monastery was constructed under the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. One of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, it is built around what is thought to be the site of Moses’ Burning Bush.

It is a well-preserved monastery with a spectacular natural setting for priceless works of art, including Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian icons, Western oil paintings, paintings on wax, fine sacerdotal ornaments, enamels, marbles, chalices, and reliquaries, including one donated by Czar Alexander II in the 19th century, and another donated by Empress Catherine of Russia in the 17th century. St. Catherine’s Monastery also holds the world’s second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts.

Mount Sinai (or the Mountain of Moses) – Mount Sinai is considered sacred by the Muslims, Jews and Christians; it is believed that God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses on this mountain.

The 2,285-metre-high summit is easy to scale and most hikers stroll up during the night to avoid the heat and to capture the view of a stunning sunrise. You could also dare yourself to go by camel caravans or up the Steps of Repentance which has 3000 steps carved into rock monks.

Pharaoh’s Island and Salah El Din Citadel – One of Taba’s main attractions, Pharaoh’s Island is quite stunning. This rocky island is surrounded by outstanding blue and turquoise water that was once a Phoenician port.

Pharaoh’s Island is crowned by the ruins of the 12th century crusaders’ fort. This fort was built to protect the pilgrims on their journey from Jerusalem to St Catherine’s Monastery, and to levy taxes on the Arab merchants. If you are interested, you could also go snorkeling in the reefs surrounding the island?s nearby waters.

Diving Sites – Taba offers boat diving as well as shore diving from its several dive centres. The Canyon offers a diving depth of 40 metres and a stunning topography with lots of soft coral and fish, and amazing hard coral formations. The Picasso Reef, 200 metres from the shore, is an underwater mountain that leads down 24 metres to huge table corals. On a level of 12 metres, this reef is full of fish, including Picasso Trigger Fish.

The Coral City has huge Brain and Mountain corals that support many Lion Fish, occasionally Stone Fish and tiny Silver and Glass Fish. The Angel Net is full of huge coral blocks. Taba also offers the most beautiful collection of small Red Sea Banner Fish at the Ben Coral.

Taba Cuisine

Ful is a type of bean that is cooked in several ways, e.g. in ful midamess, whole beans are boiled which can be eaten with vegetables, mashed with onions, tomatoes and spices. This is also eaten with many other food dishes. Molokhiyya, a leafy-green summer vegetable used in soups and salads, is also popular with the Egyptians.

International cuisine is readily available in the hotels. The Egyptian meat-koftas and kebabs are a must-try for everyone. Veggies can sample chickpea balls called falafels, hoummos, and baba ghanoug (aubergine and tahina). Conclude your meal with a dessert treat of lip-smacking sweet honeyed pastries or baklavas!

Taba Heights Beaches

Marriott Beach – This is only a half-kilometre of private sand beach, which has waterfalls, a Jacuzzi, a cave, and a huge outdoor freshwater slide. A favourite with tourists is the swim-up bar, the children’s pool, and the children’s club (for children of 4 to 11 years of age).

You could also indulge in a wide variety of beach sports such as water-skiing, wakeboarding, pedaloes, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving.

Taba Parks & Gardens

National Park of Nabq ? Stretching over 600 square kilometers, this national park is home to a variety of animal life, including herons, ospreys, storks, foxes and gazelles.

National Park of Ras Abu Galum – Further up north is the Abu Galum natural reserve, which has granite coastal mountains. Here you will find an abundance of plant and animal life, which also includes the Nubian ibexes, hyraxes and red foxes.

The Perfect Time to Visit

Summer can be quite hot in the Sinai, with temperatures often touching 40◦C/106◦F ? although the cool ocean breeze provides some respite. Cooler times to visit is during March to May or October to November when the mercury hits a pleasant average high of 28◦C/85◦F.

Darren Panto sales & marketing Peltours – the UK?s leading tour operator to Egypt and the Red Sea. For more information on Taba Heights and the major resorts of the area visit http://www.peltours.com/tabaheights/information.html Alternatively, for a full and comprehensive Egypt holiday search visit http://www.peltours.com