Hurghada

It seems a long time since Hurghada was nothing more than a small fishing village and modest shipyard ignored by the rest of the world, including the Egyptians. In fact, it is only in the last ten years that Hurghada has grown into a town of 35,000 inhabitants to become the most popular seaside resort in the country.

Hurghada is the undisputed favourite resort among Egyptians and visitors from around the world who love sunshine, sea and diving. At least one hundred tourist developments of varying levels of luxury stretch for twenty kilometres along the coast. The town centre, known as the Ed-Dahar quarter, has preserved a certain traditional character with a small souk and cheap hotels.

Few coral reefs are accessible by swimming from the shore and it is therefore worth paying for a day's excursion out to sea. Various clubs offer this type of trip and among the most prized destinations are the Giftun Islands. The islands are a conservation area and access is restricted. Rubbish and wastewater are collected by specially equipped boats.