SHARM EL SHEIKH

An Egyptian star

Sharm El Sheikh, on the Sinai Peninsula, is Egypt’s most popular holiday resort. Sharm, as it’s known, pulls in around 9,000 Brit visitors a week, who love it for the miles of white sand and clear water. Some of the world’s best diving sites are dotted just off the coast, and away from the shore there’s designer shopping and lively nightlife in spades. No wonder its star is still rising.

A spooling coastline

Sharm lays claim to 60 kilometres of coastline. Most hotels will have their own stretch of beach, with ice-white sand and gently lapping shores. Of course the main attraction here is the Red Sea, teeming with colourful and richly diverse marine life. It’s enough to get even the most dedicated beach bum to strap on a snorkel for an underwater adventure.

Up-tempo nightlife

Right in the centre of Sharm, there’s a big, brash strip. It’s home to the likes of Pacha and the Hard Rock Café, and it pulls in a throng of lively partygoers. For those who like their nights a bit less neon-lit, there’s a good collection of chilled-out bars on the waterfront. And wherever you go, you’re bound to find some belly dancing.

Daytrips to Cairo

A 3-hour motorway trip gets you to world-famous Cairo. The city’s must-see sights are ready and waiting – the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum, which deals in world-class relics like Tutankhamen’s tomb. Then head into the town centre for gargantuan souks, chaotic traffic and iconic Tahrir Square.