DAHAB

Dahab is a small town in the South Sinai nestled between the mountains and the sea. Surrounded by fringing reef and the Red Sea, Dahab has always been a popular place for people who love the ocean and nature. For those who prefer land-based activities, Dahab offers a wealth of outdoor experiences such as hiking, trekking, and desert safaris.

Traditionally, Dahab is home to the Muzeina Bedouin. But these days, the town boasts a vibrant and diverse community made up of local Bedouin, Egyptians from mainland Egypt, and a large number of expats from all over the world.With such a multicultural mix, Dahab has a culture that is truly its own!The first backpackers started travelling to Dahab in the 70s, from then, many more have followed in their footsteps. All were drawn here by the natural beauty of the town, the surrounding landscape, and the chance to live a simple, uncomplicated life. Dahab still has the laid-back, hippy vibe that those first backpackers helped create.For many, Dahab offers a place to reconnect with nature, a place where the pressures of city living fall away. Because of this, our town is a popular place for spiritual retreats, and those who follow an alternative lifestyle. Yoga, meditation, permaculture, and the like, are an integral part of Dahab life.Marine Garden Camp is one of only two traditional Bedouin Camps left in Dahab.

DIVING

The Red Sea has been a bucket-list destination for scuba divers ever since Jacques Cousteau took his first intrepid, underwater breaths here. And with good reason, the Red Sea boasts a level of bio-diversity that is hard to find anywhere else.Couple this with our permanently sunny weather, and you have diving that can be enjoyed all year – the water temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees Celsius in winter, and in the Summer months, it’s a balmy 28 degrees!Many divers love the fringing reef that surrounds Dahab. We don’t have to line up at 5am to get aboard dive boats, instead we can walk right into our dive sites or take a short taxi ride in a pick-up. And with 20 dive sites within a short distance away, you’ll be spoilt for choice.Dahab is also home to the world famous Blue Hole, a natural sinkhole directly offshore which has been a must-dive for many divers since the advent of the sport. In addition to this, Dahab is home to underwater canyons, coral mazes, and deep wall dives.

Uniquely, Dahab’s water have little current and excellent visibility. It’s the perfect place to learn to dive, expand your experience, or explore if you’ve got a bit more experience under your weight belt! Our on-site dive center, ’Marine Garden Divers, teaches a range of PADI courses from Open Water right up to the professional-level Divemaster course. Guided dive packages and experience programs for non-divers are also on offer.

ST. CATHERINE & THE MONASTERY

Just a short drive from Dahab, up in the mountains, lies St. Catherine. This desert town is mostly known for being home to one of the world’s oldest operational monasteries. The Greek Orthodox St. Catherine Monastery is close to Mount Sinai, the biblical site of Moses’s 10 commandments, and the famous burning bush is inside its walls. It takes its name from the ancient relics of the saint it contains.
The town itself is home to the Jebeleya Bedouin tribe. This tribe has a rich history with the monastery, and the mountain. In fact, the name of the tribe even means ‘of the mountain’. St. Catherine is renowned for the produce the locals grow and for the gardens they maintain. Olives and olive oil made here is of spectacular quality and flavour.
Accommodation in St. Catherine is simple and affordable. Many travellers choose to stay one or two nights and combine a visit here with a hike up Mount Sinai and a tour of the monastery. We can help you arrange a trip here. You can also combine a visit to the town with some of our