Sightseeing in Dahab - what to see. Complete travel guide

Are you dreaming of a peaceful vacation at the seaside? Make your choice in favor of the gorgeous resort town of Dahab. This is truly an oasis of calmness, harmony, and serenity. The resort is conventionally divided into two main parts: the tourist part that has a choice of comfortable hotels and a Bedouin village. The latter part of the town is particularly popular with foreign guests who are on a tight budget. There are many cozy restaurants with a range of national delicacies here.

Two-three thousand years ago, Dahab was a group of oases situated close to the seaside. During the period from the 2nd to 1st century BC, Nabatean seamen built a vanguard on the site of modern Dahab. Archaeological excavations prove this – scientists discovered fragments of the lighthouse and port. Thanks to the fact that this area was at the crossing of important trading routes, the settlement started developing and getting richer. Dahab became an important market for selling precious stones, jewelry, and, of course, gold. When the Nabatean Kingdom disappeared, Bedouins settled in the area.

The valley, in which Dahab is situated, has a “golden sand” surface. According to local legends, this fact gave the town its current name (“dahab” means “gold” in Arabian). Although, nature itself made it easy to select the name for the town because geological studies proved that there are gold deposits in the region. Dahab remained an important “gold oasis” for many years until 1980. After that, tourists from all over the world started visiting this “gold” town, changing the main sphere of interest for Dahab. The town became a popular resort in Egypt and started developing in this direction. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The resort town of Dahab has its own waterfront that is the center of cultural life and a favorite destination for not only foreign guests but also locals. Young people also enjoy gathering at the waterfront because this part of the town only gets better every year. The town’s authorities do their best to make the area comfortable for visitors.

While taking a stroll along the waterfront, you will surely notice numerous souvenir shops selling many lovely items that remind of the “gold town”. However, these shops are not the main attraction for numerous tourists. The resort’s beach with soft and warm sand is like a magnet for all guests. This coastal area is perfect for not only sunbathing and swimming in the sea but also diving. If you enjoy riding waves, then you will fall in love with Dahab just like many other surfers. High waves are not rare in the region because of frequent winds, so you can compete with other surfers in catching the highest wave.

Have you come to Dahab in order to try diving? Local lagoons are ideal for this water activity. There are three lagoons situated approximately 15 kilometers to the south of the town. They are the most popular with divers. These three bays have an interesting peculiarity – even if they are situated not far from each other, the lagoons have a different temperature of the water, and their underwater world is also drastically different. Every bay has a marvelous coral garden with spiked tops.

Don’t be surprised if a friendly marine creature, dolphin, decides to accompany you when you are exploring the underwater world of the region. It is not rare to see these charming creatures in the waters of the Red Sea near Dahab. Besides that, if you are lucky enough, you can see the octopus, muraena, and barracuda that appear in the lagoons from time to time. That is why it is important to stay alert while diving. The three lagoons are suitable for beginners who only learn scuba diving, and so parents can take their children and teach them to dive here. The only condition is not to swim outside the lagoon.

Consider visiting a bay with a poetic name “the Bath of Youth”. According to local legends, everyone, who swims here at least once, becomes younger. Young people can preserve their beauty and young body. Water in this bay has perfect blue color as if it was filtered a thousand times. As water is this area is rich in white crystal salt, it creates an unforgettable view together with sunrays reflecting from its surface. Even a short swim in this water is enough to feel rejuvenated and full of energy. You will feel refreshed and ready for new discoveries.

It is easy to get to Dahab from Sharm el-Sheikh that accommodates flights from all over the world. Upon arrival in this city, take a bus that takes off from the nearest bus station. You will reach Dahab in one or one and a half hours. Tourists need to keep in mind that they will have to walk to the bus station but that is not comfortable because the distance to the station is roughly fifteen kilometers. At the same time, there are always taxis at the service of passengers. There is no public transport in Sharm el-Sheikh. It is also possible to book transfer services in advance, so you will be taken to Dahab directly from the airport in just half an hour.