Dahab
Dahab is a small village situated on the south eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, most visitors have been backpackers traveling independently and staying in hostels in the Masbet area. In recent years, new international chain-hotels in the Medina area and the construction of other facilities have made it a popular tourist destination. The nearest international airport is located at Sharm el-Sheikh.
The word Dahab is Arabic for gold and is possibly
a reference to the geographic locality. Gold washed down from the
desert mountains may have accumulated on the alluvial flood plain
where the town was built. The name may also be a reference to the
color of the sands to the south of the town itself.
TOUR ATTRACTIONS:
Dahab itself has practically nothing in the way of sights, but you
can easily arrange tours to some nearby points of interest.
• Ein Khudra - a Bedouin oasis.
• Coloured Canyon
• Three pools - a bedouin oasis and lovely area for snorkeling, diving
or just relaxing.
• The Lagoona - a long sandy stretch close to Dahab City is the place
for wind surfing, kite surfing or to admire the view.
GETTING
AROUND: Dahab itself is quite simple on foot, the promenade
runs right along the seafront, with all the amenities appearing
along it. Shared taxis, in essence mini-buses, are a cheap way to
travel locally. These do not tend to conform to a timetable. If
you don't have a car to get to Dahab from Eilat, take a taxi to
the border, walk across, and grab a shared taxi on the other side.
TO DO: Dahab's activities can be divided in
two: there's diving,
and then there's everything else. Diving is extremely popular in
Dahab and the reefs here are still in relatively good shape. Known
dive sites includes Abu Helal, Blue Hole, The Bells, Canyon, Coral
Garden, Eel Garden, Lighthouse, Moray Garden, Islands, Three Pools,
Gabr El Bint, Ras Abu Gallum.
• Bedouin Divers - Very familiar dive center directly at the coast of
the Red Sea in the Mashraba area of Dahab. Bedouin Divers is located in the
Bedouin Lodge Hotel, which acts very individual and can arrange for you everything:
Daily Diving, PADI Courses, Camel Dive Safaris and Boat Dives, but further desert
safaris and anything else giving you a good insight into the Bedouin's life.
• Big Blue Dahab - (Tel. +20 (0)69 3640 045) is a fully equipped 5 Star
Gold Palm Padi resort only meters from the reef, a relaxed and welcoming environment
ideal for both snorkeling and diving. Emphasis on safety and fun with an environmental
awareness. Small dive groups with our highly qualified instructors and divemasters
can enjoy a full range of Padi courses and guided dives at affordable prices.
Their team will make every effort to ensure your holiday exceeds expectation
and is truly unforgettable.
• Blue Realm - (Tel. +20 69 364 1413; mobile +20 12 744 4873; e-mail
info@bluerealmdiving.com; web site http://www.bluerealmdiving.com) Great native-run
diving center (English, Dutch, German, French and Arabic available: the owner's
wife is actually Dutch and has been living there for 6 years now). They charge
for two dives ¤45 (plus extra for gear rental, see the web site). Package discounts
are available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course here is ¤260, incl. equipment
(see also Special Offers page on web site). In addition to Dahab, Blue Realm
arranges custom diving holidays throughout the Egyptian Red Sea.
• Desert Divers - For anyone up for a taste of the Bedouin life, this
is the home of the Camel Diving Safari and has become Dahab's center for diving
& desert adventure in the Sinai. Their story began 15 years ago when the owner,
Said, became Dahab's first Bedouin to learn to dive. The place is right on the
beach in the main bay (Masbat Bay, inbetween the bridge & Lighthouse Reef).
Excellent for diving (PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resort), plus unique specialities
including Freediving & Freediving Safaris, Deep Desert Safaris, Rock Climbing
and Yoga Safaris. Plus their famous Camel Diving Safaris, from 1-5 days with
the Sinai's most experienced guides.
• Nesima Diving Center - (Tel. 069 3640320) French-run diving center
generally judged to be the best in town. They charge a premium pricewise though,
as two dives will cost you ¤47 (plus ¤20/day for gear rental). Package discounts
available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course here is ¤302.
• Poseidon Divers - Certainly the best and most professional dive center
in Dahab if you plan to embrace a professional career, get into technical diving
or simply do fun dive or courses in a safe and professional way. It is the only
PADI Career Development Centre in town as well as a PSA and TDI Instructor facility
(the only one in Egypt), you will get no shortage of divers if you do your PADI
DiveMaster or Instructor course here which is a definite plus for the quality
of your course. Poseidon Divers is also home to the top of the crop of technical
diving with World Record Depth diver Mark Andrews as a manager and instructor.
• Red Sea Relax Diving Resort - (Tel. +20 (0)69 3641 309 http://www.red-sea-relax.com)
New British run diving operation enjoying a prime beach side location in central
Dahab, meters from the teeming reefs but also convenient for Dahab's famous
bizaars, lively nightlife and modern amenities. As a PADI Diving Resort on site
accommodation is available with a choice of either discounted standard en-suite
rooms or a bed in the dormitory complex- offered totally free for divers! A
beachside restaurant (with internet terminals free to guests)and a safari office
complete the all-in-one facilities. Red Sea Relax Diving Resort and its team
of professional instructors offer a host of diving activities. PADI diving courses
range from beginner through to Assistant Instructor, or for those already qualified
daily diving takes place to any of the 20 specatacular local reefs. For those
more adventurous Boat excursions and Camel Dive Safaris are easily arranged.
• Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine's Monastery - 2 hours away by car,
is a popular overnight trip from Dahab. Any guesthouse can arrange return transportation
for around LE 30. Alternatively, gather a group of people, charter a taxi and
beat the crowds by climbing during the day and seeing the sunset instead. It
gets cold, so bring a jacket! If going to the summit during nighttime, make
sure to bring flashlight, preferably worn on your head. There are some shops
and teahouses along the way, so don't worry about the provisions.
Camel, horse, jeep and quad-bike safaris - These are either parallel to the shoreline, up one of the several valleys or around the township.
Desert Safaris are organized by loads of small safari shops all along Dahab's Masbat Bay. In addition to day tours, you can arrange to get deep into the desert with the Bedouin, who'll take you for up to 2 weeks!• Bedouin Safari Dahab - Here, Bedouins from the South Sinai can arrange for you the individual desert trip you are looking for.
Yoga - Wether ashtanga, hatha or kundalini, yoga classes are becoming increasingly popular. Also Full-moon retreats in the nearby wadis (desert), nice!
Wind surfing - Dahab has about 270 days a year of wind, so wind surfing here is becoming as popular as diving. There are a few wind surfing schools around Lagoona area offering all levels of courses.
Kite surfing - also becoming popular in Dahab but can only be done around the lagoona area.
SCUBA diving and snorkeling - very good, with many reefs immediately adjacent to waterfront hotels. The nearby Blue Hole and Canyon are internationally famous dive spots.
STAY: Dahab has a plethora of cheap accommodation.
All are rather the same, generally offering bungalow/chalet type
accommodation at very reasonable prices. For the those on an extreme
budget, most have areas where you can sleep on mattresses in the
open air, usually for under a dollar a night, including a blanket
and pillow.
• Dolphin Camp (Tel 0020 69 3640081) - Offers very good, clean and cheap
rooms right on the beach in Dahab. The rooms are from 20LE-70LE some with bathroom
and AC. The camp is well run and the staff are really helpful and laidback.
They can arrange excellent desert trips and excursions to St Katherines monestery
and Mt Sinai almongst others.
• Star of Dahab (Tel. 069 3640130, e-mail: starofdahab@hotmail.com) -
A pleasant family-run guesthouse at the southern end of Assalah, offers basic
lodgings at basic prices. Excellent beachside location, but it's a bit of a
hike to the center of Assalah.
• Ali Baba Hotel (Tel. 069 3640876) - Egyptian-run hotel in a mixed European/Oriental
style. Minibar, sea view, balcony, and air-con for around 25¤/room/night, there
is also a "suite" (double size with bathtub) for 33¤.
• Bedouin Lodge Hotel (Tel. 069 3641 125) - Bedouin owned hotel directly
at the coast of the Red Sea in the heart of Dahab (El Mashraba). Simple rooms
equipped with bathroom, AC or fan. Small beach, sun roof, restaurant, dive shop.
Unfortunately, management is not very friendly and efficient, and the rooms
will be cleaned only if you strongly insist on doing so.
• Blue Beach Club - located between Eel Garden and Lighthouse. Clean
ensuite, air conditoned rooms at reasonable prices and a fresh water swimming
pool are available. www.bluebeachclub.com
• Dahab Divers - a clean and obviously newer hotel and dive centre. Rooms
are air conditioned, and there are excellent showers. Official price is ¤37
per night, but is negotiable. We were particularly impressed with how helpful
they were in arranging to get us out of Dahab after the bombing, given that
it was in their financial interests to get us to stay as long as we'd planned.
• Neptune Beach Hotel (Tel. +20 (0)69 3641 308) - part of the Red Sea
Relax Resort, Neptune Beach offers comfortable accommodation directly on the
beach in Central Dahab. Choose from a Twin or Triple ensuite, air con or fan
from around 24 Euro per night. All rooms equipped with minibar and free coffee
and tea making facilities. Alternatively take a budget bed in the Dormitory
complex- free if you're diving at the Dive Shop. A Terrace Restaurant, Internet
Cafe, Safari Office, PADI Dive School and Post Shop complete the facilities.
• Penguin Village and Diving - a clean, well-run 30-room hotel right
on the water, which has a good restaurant and a dive shop. It's popular with
travellers in their 20s and 30s who are looking for a reasonably priced place,
but who aren't on a really tight budget. Rooms are around E25 for a double.
Also at off-season double rooms with shared bathroom are available for only
20EGP.
• Self catering villas - great value at E50 per villa per day, sleeps
four people. 30 seconds from the sea and run by europeans. Clean and well looked
after. www.dahabholidayrentals.com or email info@dahabholidayrentals.com
• Sheikh Salem House (Tel (002)069 3641820) - a new Guest House featuring
budget and mid range rooms and suites in a beautiful house owned by a Sheikh
of Dahab and his familiy and managed by an english, egyptian and bedouin team.
Set in a quiet spot at the northern end of the promanade with a real sandy beach.
Budget rooms with amazing views and shared bathrooms from 50egp, deluxe suites
with air conditioning, tv and satalite, kitchen from 150egp or 23 euros per
suite per night. This is a great place for those wanting to stay in unique accommodation
with a home like feel.
SAFETY: Drugs, particularly marijuana, are widely available in Dahab and famously cheap. This does not make them legal, so consider very carefully if you want to risk at best large fines and at worst lengthy prison terms in Egypt's notoriously squalid prisons before indulging.
Women travelers are pretty safe in Dahab. As a matter of courtesy to the local customs, even though you will see quite a few girls with short skirts and tight t-shirts, please respect the fact that you are in a moslem country, and dress appropriately in the city (at the beach, bikini is no problem).
Source:
Wikitravel
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