Dahab Travel Guide

Update 11 May 2006: Just a quick note to say thank you to all the people around the world who have been sending best wishes to the people in Dahab. We're all very sad for the ones we've lost, but everyone is determined not to give up on our wonderful little part of the world. The nice news is that, between us, we have had thousands of emails and phone calls from people telling us not to worry, that nothing would ever stop them coming to Dahab. Some people are even changing their holiday plans so that they will see us this year. Amazing. This is the Dahab spirit at work! The result is that life is pretty much as normal here now - people diving, freediving, climbing, out on safari, enjoying yoga on the rooftops. Many different cultures and religions, all happily enjoying an amazing place - as it should be. Thank you again.

Dahab is the Arabic word for gold - have a look at the colour of the sand of the beaches around here and you immediately know where the town took its name from. Though Dahab is not yet as popular as El Jadida to the south, but the combination of soft sand, gorgeous blue water, and a luxuriant strip of palm trees is pulling in visitors in growing numbers.

Assalah is the most developed part of Dahab, a sprawling conglomeration of palm trees, shops, campgrounds, hotels, bars, and restaurants that lie along the shore of Ghazala Bay. Assalah has a distinctly bohemian feel, and during the Israeli occupation it wasn't uncommon to see soldiers patrolling the same beaches as dreadlocked vagabonds from Europe and America. Less laid back, but still relaxed, is the area just south lying along El-Qura Bay.

Within just a few miles of Dahab are some great adventure spots. Excellent dive sites lie both to the north and south, including Blue Hole, one of Sinai's best. Just south are the wadis of Qnai el-Rayan and Qnai el-Atschan.