Ports of Call

Hurghada

Hurghada is surrounded by a mountainous backdrop and desert landscape and has developed over the last 20 years into one of the largest Red Sea resorts.

This bustling resort has a wide variety of hotels, shops, bars and restaurants yet still manages to retain an informal and relaxed atmosphere. In downtown Hurghada, you can find souvenir shops, local restaurants serving delicious freshly-caught fish and duty-free shopping arcades in the Sekalla area. But the prime lure of Hurghada are the coral islands and reefs reached off-shore by boat.

Suez

Suez, some 120km from Cairo, was a thriving port even before the Canal was opened.

As Arabic Qulzum, it was a walled city of great importance in the Middle Ages with major links in the spice trade and also as a stop-over point in the pilgrimage to Mecca. Since its grand opening in 1869, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea, still remains an object to admire and at its time of construction was considered to be the greatest engineering feat in the Industrial Revolution. Today, Suez is an interesting town to explore with its bustling seafront, colourful markets and colonial style villas.

Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh lies at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and is the best-known of a series of four bays along the waters edge which are backed by a mountainous desert landscape.

Extraordinary coral reefs can be found off-shore and this is now one of the best-known diving areas in the world. Both Sharm el Sheikh and neighbouring Naama Bay, with their gently shelving beaches, offer a wide range of cafés, bars, shops and restaurants. A beachfront promenade running the length of Naama Bay is ideal for a leisurely stroll.

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Aqaba

Jordan’s well known Red Sea resort, and only port, offers a relaxing, traditional atmosphere and is an ideal location for visiting some of the finest sites in the Middle East.

In ancient times, Aqaba was the main Red Sea port for shipments to the Far East, Africa and Europe. Encircled by rugged, purple mountains, stroll around the modern town where you will find some excellent fish restaurants and many shops selling a variety of duty-free goods. By the port is a 14th century fort, one of the town’s main historical landmarks. In the town centre, the 7th century Islamic walled city of Ayla was discovered in the mid 80’s and has already revealed a gate and city wall along with towers, courtyards and baths. Other places of interest are what archaeologists believe to be the site of the oldest church in the world, the Museum and the Aquarium. With its sandy beaches and famed for its coral reefs, Aqaba is also a paradise for snorkellers and divers alike.

Safaga

This busy trading port has grown into a Red Sea beach resort but is still relatively undiscovered compared to the larger resorts along the coast. Backed by a range of mountains, Safaga has long sandy beaches, a selection of hotels, bars and shops and is renowned for its excellent fish restaurants. Safaga is well-known for its excellent dive sites and is also well situated for a day trip to see the awesome sights of Luxor.

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Climate

Daytime temperatures in May can reach up to 33°C at the ports visited, whilst in Luxor this could rise to 42°C. Remember to drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of dehydration and apply a high factor protective suncream regularly.

	Average Max Temperature	Average Min Temperature
Source: www.worldweather.org	Temperatures are in Degrees Centigrade
Aqaba	35.1	20.7
Cairo	32.0	17.7
Hurghada	32.9	21.9
Sharm el Sheikh	33.9	23.8