Egypt Holidays

Almost everything in Egypt is world-renowned – whether it’s the Great Pyramid of Giza, crazy cities like Cairo, Nile cruises, or the world’s most famous canal. What’s more, there are the beaches along the Red Sea Coast and Sinai Peninsula, where sun-worshipping tourists decamp for some R&R.

Hurghada’s the head honcho beach resort on Egypt’s Red Sea stretch. Once a teeny Bedouin village, this place has moulded itself into a family holiday hotspot. Its long, golden-sand beach is split between swanky hotels – most patches come with the essentials like sunbeds, umbrellas and a hut for watersports. If banana boats and jet-skis aren’t your bag, the scuba diving’s first-rate, too.

When it comes to holiday destinations, Marsa Alam is about as far south as you can go. This itsy-bitsy resort is best at peace-and-quiet beach holidays. Head to Abu Dabbah Bay and you can walk out to coral reefs just metres from the shore. With a bit of luck, you’ll see turtles and dugongs in its incredibly clear waters. You can also book boat trips that’ll drop you off at Fury Shoals to dive in waters lived in by barracudas, dolphins and whitetip reef sharks.

There’s a good deal to do on dry land, too. Hurghada and Marsa Alam are both backed by desert, which is best explored on quad bikes, Jeep tours and dune buggies. You’re also no more than five hours’ drive from the ancient Egyptian tombs and temples in the Luxor region. The Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Karnak are at the top of most to-do lists.