David and Julia's Living Book

Why Visit Egypt?

Sharm El Sheikh: Egypt's Red Sea Paradise

The Sinai's sandy desert and rugged mountains

Reaching Sharm El Sheikh from Luxor (our previous Egyptian destination) requires connecting through Cairo. The aerial view rewards travelers with spectacular sights of the Suez Canal and Sinai's Martian-like landscape - a baked, rocky wilderness that appears almost extraterrestrial. Secure a window seat to fully appreciate this dramatic terrain that begs the question: Why would anyone visit such an inhospitable place?

The answer lies beneath the Red Sea's surface. Sharm El Sheikh (locally called "Sharm") is the Middle East's SCUBA diving capital, home to the world-renowned Ras Mohammed Marine Reserve, considered second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef in its underwater splendor.

The Ras Mohammed Marine Reserve

Where the Red Sea meets the desert, luxury resorts like the Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh create an oasis of comfort. Beyond world-class diving and snorkeling opportunities, visitors can indulge in lavish amenities - be sure to book a room with Red Sea views.

While Sharm attracts many Russian tourists (some resembling characters from a mob drama), don't let this deter you - the resort town ranks among Egypt's safest destinations with surprisingly sophisticated dining options.

Saint Catherine's monastery

Sharm offers ideal conditions for learning SCUBA, with numerous English-speaking instructors. For those preferring shallower waters, snorkeling from the beaches reveals stunning marine life. Of course, poolside relaxation and gourmet dining make equally appealing alternatives.

A must-see excursion is Saint Catherine's Monastery, considered the world's oldest continuously operating Christian monastery. This sacred site houses the legendary Burning Bush from biblical tradition. The monastery's library (second only to the Vatican's in ancient texts) was famously plundered when a Victorian-era historian stole a priceless bible, eventually landing in the British Museum after Russian revolutionaries sold it.

The Sinai sandy deserts and craggy mountains

The journey to Saint Catherine's traverses the vast Sinai desert, where rainfall averages less than an inch annually - explaining the region's stark, lifeless appearance from the bus windows.

Supposedly the descendant of the Burning Bush

The monastery's macabre skull room displays robed skeletons of past monks, including one said to have discovered St. Catherine's remains (allegedly dropped by angels after her Roman execution). While her forearm and skull remain enshrined here, other relics were distributed to European churches - a fascinating glimpse into medieval relic veneration practices.

Travel deals: Flights from San Francisco to Cairo ($1,258-$1,532) and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh ($198-$288).

This concludes our Egyptian travel series.