Sinai, Egypt

Sinia is a triangular peninsula in Egypt. It lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, forming a land bridge between Africa and Southwest Asia. The western and northern coasts are practically uninhabited, but several Bedouin settlements-cum-tourist attractions dot the eastern coast. The ground is a harsh, forbidding and (in summer) brutally hot desert of parched rock.

Sinai has become a tourist destination due to its natural setting, rich coral reefs, biblical history, and proximity to Israel. In fact the Sinai coast offers some of the best diving in the world.


Things to see and do

* St Catherine’s Monastery
* Sharm el-Sheikh
* Coloured Canyon
* Mount Sinai
* Sinai desert landscapes and sunsets/sunrises

Cruise Season – Oct - April
Currency – Egyptian pound (LE) (EGP)
Language – Arabic
Land Area – 60,000 km²
Population – 1,300,000 approx
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time – GMT plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code – +20

Port Location – There are ports located at Sharm el-Sheikh, Nuweiba and Dahab.

Transport Links – No Egyptian visa is required, as special 14-day Sinai permits are granted on arrival at the Taba border, Taba Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh's airport. Note that this permit allows travel only on the eastern Sinai coast and the Mount Sinai with St. Catherine's Monastery.

Two ferries run between Nuweiba and Aqaba, Jordan. One is a standard speed ferry, the other a so-called 'Fast Ferry'. For travelers interested in bypassing Israel by crossing the Gulf of Aqaba from Egypt to Jordan directly, these ferries offer some degree of convenience. Patronized mainly by Arab nationals prohibited from entering Israel, the ferries will save other travelers little time and hassle over the land route from Taba through Eilat to Aqaba.

There are trains from Cairo to Port Said at the northwestern edge of the Sinai, but no further