Between the popular vacation destinations of Taba and Dahab is the town of Nuweiba, a newly discovered region of pristine beaches, popular camping grounds and excellent scuba diving and snorkeling in the waters of the ever-popular “Red Sea Riviera”. Many camping, scuba, snorkeling and hiking enthusiasts plan Nuweiba vacations as a way of enjoying all that the region has to offer while avoiding some of the crowded beach conditions of the more well-known towns or cities.

Nuweiba vacations can be enjoyed at the high-end resorts that have appeared along the shores in the last ten years, or they can occur in the excellent camping grounds visited frequently by international backpackers, Bedouin tribes and Egyptian and Israeli vacationers. The far end of the town provides those on Nuweiba vacations with the largest number of choices, some with small cottages located directly on the beach, and others with full-service accommodations including meals and comprehensive diving services.

The town itself has a developing tourist culture, with the downtown area dedicated to shopping, dining and the sale of locally made goods. In fact many enjoy Nuweiba vacations simply to have access to the wide availability of native handicrafts at significantly lower prices than anywhere else on the Sinai Peninsula.

Another benefit of Nuweiba vacations is the uncrowded diving conditions, and the reefs near the area of town called “Tarabin” are noted for their excellent and perfectly preserved conditions. There are also several other well-known sites in Nuweiba, and these include the “Devils Head” and “South Cove” dive sites.

Many people enjoying Nuweiba vacations will schedule a camel trek into the neighboring desert or canyons, and here they will usually arrange a meal or tea with the Bedouins of the area who tend to inhabit smaller oases scattered throughout the region. The more adventurous people on Nuweiba vacations will plan a hike into the Colored Canyon, which is considered a fairly easy hike, even for those with no climbing or prior trekking experience. Most of the local Bedouins are happy to assist visitors in their trekking needs as well.

Nuweiba vacations provide visitors with the same opportunities as others staying along this stretch of the Red Sea Riviera, but without any of the crowds or commercial development that has taken place elsewhere. While this may mean a limited number of accommodations providers and dining establishments, it is only a very short drive to such busy and developed areas as the famous Sharm el-Sheikh or Taba.

By: Amar Mahallati

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