Red Sea: Soma Bay and Sahl Hasheesh

A visit to Soma Bay or Sahl Hasheesh, where you can relax beside the pristine deep blue waters of the Red Sea coast, might be the perfect way to conclude your Egyptian holiday. Stretching from the mouth of the Suez Canal all the way south to the border with Sudan, Egypt’s eastern coastline is a year-round destination where you’ll find some of the world’s best snorkelling and scuba diving. Our hand-picked Red Sea resorts on Egypt’s Eastern seaboard are located in the couple and family-friendly Soma Bay and the exclusive Sahl Hasheesh area, a four-hour drive across the eastern desert from Luxor and 30 minutes south from Hurghada.

One of the most beautiful developments on the Red Sea, Soma Bay looks out over turquoise waters and sandy beaches. Whether you want to spend your time relaxing by the pool, treating yourself at the spa or indulging in more active pursuits, the deluxe Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay offers excellent potential for R&R. Children will love the Soma Splash Aqua Park, while water-sports enthusiasts will be drawn to snorkel or dive on the house reef, try their hand at wakeboarding, or learn to kitesurf at one of the world’s top locations. There are also catamaran sailing trips, glass bottom boat hire, horse-riding on the beach, and golf at the 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Gary Player.

The tempo is more relaxed at Sahl Hasheesh where there are long stretches of beach and superb Red Sea snorkeling and diving. At Sahl Hasheesh, choose between the opulent Italianate-style Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh (a good choice for families and couples), and the more adult-orientated all-suite The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh – one of the finest hotels in Egypt. Should you wish to leave your oasis of hospitality on the Red Sea, action-packed desert safaris can be arranged. Cultural enthusiasts might be tempted to visit the Coptic Orthodox monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul, located deep within the Red Sea mountains.