Historically speaking, Egypt is not only one of the oldest civilizations but probably also one of the oldest holiday destinations in the world. The ancient Greeks, Romans and others came here to rest and recuperate. There is much more in Egypt than pyramids and monuments - windsurfing and scuba diving in the Red Sea, for example, vibrant nightspots, luxury hotels and restaurants. Egypt is a rewarding cultural experience. Nowadays, besides the gigantic pyramids from the era of the Pharaohs, we find modern wonders of the world such as the huge Aswan Dam, which has given the Upper Egyptian Nile Valley a new face. Marsa Alam is an unfinished rare diamond, just waiting to be shaped. With the beautiful Wai El-Gemal National Park, Marsa Alam is an unspoilt protected area, appealing to nature orientated people. It is not uncommon to see turtles coming to lay their eggs on the beach!

Diving here, in general, is not demanding though boat dives at Elphinstone and offshore reefs can be very demanding and some experience, around 50 dives, would be advisable for diving these sites. There are still plenty of excellent spots for snorkellers and beginner divers along the miles of fringing reef that dominate this coastline.

During the winter months of November to March, the Red Sea coastal resorts of Egypt offer a very comfortable 22 - 28 degrees Celsius, perfect for a bit of winter sun. As you head into the summer months the temperature rises steeply peaking to around 40 degrees Celsius in August (especially in the south)! However, the high temperatures are made more comfortable with very low humidity and a constant seas breeze. During the winter months we would recommend between 7 and 5 mm wetsuit but then only a 3mm shortie for the mid-summer months. Please note that on some of the deeper dive sites you can encounter colder undercurrents. Egypt can be visited year round with equally good diving.