One of my favourite childhood stories was Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp. Who wouldn't want their wishes to come true with a simple rub of a lantern? This is how I always felt when I went to South Sinai. It meets all the criteria: sunshine all year round, beautiful beaches, world-class diving, and home to the world's second most expensive hotels. Since Christmas and the holiday seasons are drawing near, it's time to grab your calendar and make some decisions. ACTION MEETS LUXURY: Need a surge of adrenaline? Then Sharm El-Sheikh is the ideal place for you. It is home to an array of activities that cater for all tastes. Whether you are travelling as a family, a couple, a singleton or a group of friends, the fun is endless in this Red Sea coastal resort. A five in one night adventurous jaunt might be ideal for people who want to spend the New Year's under a desert moon. Adventure begins at 6:30pm when you pick your own quad bike and drive to the allocated spot for celebration in the desert. The programme also includes star gazing, camel riding in the desert with a guide, then back to the Bedouin tent set in the desert for dinner, belly dancing and folklore show until after midnight. This package is offered by several companies. For more information log onto www.tripshouse.com or visit their Facebook page Trips house. Regular desert safaris, either by quad bikes or by camels, are also available. These usually last two or three hours depending on the mode of transportation. There are plenty of companies along Neama Bay that organise this voyage to the heart of Sharm El-Sheikh Desert, sometimes to Wateer or Khroom valleys, where visitors sip Bedouin tea while the magic of the desert sunset slowly seeps into their soul. Another option for New Year's is the stylish Soho Square, the latest hub in the Red Sea region and the trendiest place in Sharm. There, you can enjoy the ultimate fine dining experience where you can sample the tastes of India, Thailand, China and Egypt without even changing your table. During Christmas and New Year's Soho Square is lit with special lights celebrating the holiday season. Festivities this year will begin on 12-12-2012 at 10pm to celebrate this unique date and switch on the Soho Christmas lights. Children have the lion's share in these celebrations. There will be a Santa Island Grotto where Father Christmas and his little helpers will be there to greet the wee ones. Still sizzling with energy? There is an ice rink, bowling alley and pool tables in the vicinity of Soho Square. A glamorous New Year's Eve celebration will take place in Egypt Hall with live entertainment and a promise of a memorable extravagant night. The sky of Sharm El-Sheikh never ceases to sparkle with new stars. This time the shining star is Rixos Hotel. Coming directly from Turkey where civilisation and outstanding nature go hand-in-hand, the state-of-the art hotel opened last October in the presence of Egypt's Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou and Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Huseyin Avni Botsali. The hotel planned its first Christmas in its new locale with the intention of distinguishing itself as a proud representative of hospitality through high standards of service. Celebrations will begin at 10am with a Christmas workshop; later Santa is going to distribute gifts to children. The Christmas dinner menu will be prepared by Turkish chef Ender Ceylan, the winner of many international contests and member of Chain de Rotisserie. There will also be live entertainment and a DJ at the party. Whether you are on shore or off shore there is a party waiting for you somewhere in Sharm. Taj Mahal, Space and Pasha are some of the best clubbing venues in Egypt, where world-class DJs are going to rock the night away with strobes and laser shows that will set the dance floor on fire. La Dolce Vita is a theme night that rocks the heart of Sharm El-Sheikh Desert every Wednesday until the wee hours in an unparalleled setting. To stay updated with the upcoming events log onto their pages on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/283441065089993/ https://www.facebook.com/events/394163953989658/ https://www.facebook.com/dvsharm?fref=ts Tiran Island, in the Red Sea, set amidst the stark beauty of the crimson-tinted Sinai Mountains, is another option for celebrating Christmas and New Year's. Sineen Tours is a company that organises a dinner cruise on one of its yachts to the island upon the request of a group. The cruise heads to Tiran Island from 6pm until midnight, at a price of LE340 per person, including dinner, alcoholic beverages, DJ and a belly dancing show. For more information log onto http://www.yellowpages.com.eg/profile/MTI3Mjk0/Sineen-Tours.html
BACK TO BASICS: If you are longing for a calm getaway haven from the chaos of urban life, then head to Dahab. Known as the land of the Nomad, Dahab earned its reputation fair and square. Laidback Egyptians and foreigners alike prefer Dahab to Sharm El-Sheikh because of its easy-going — I can't be bothered to be all dressed up — atmosphere. So, if you are a sun worshipping lounge lizard looking for a low profile holiday, this is definitely the place for you. Dahab is renowned for its wide array of accommodation starting from five-star hotels to camp style. Celebrations in Dahab are very relaxed and cosy; a plethora of restaurants and cafés dot the coast decorated in vibrant lights and relaxing tunes to ensure the ambiance stays pleasantly laid back. Want to have the best of both worlds? Choose one of the two most popular clubbing venues in Dahab, Rush or Tree Bar, for some late night action after mellowing out during the day. https://www.facebook.com/TreeBarDahab https://www.facebook.com/RushDahab
NATURE-LOVERS: Nestled in the lap of history, Saint Catherine has a special status that makes it hard for visitors to leave and for first timers not to return. It is home to the Monastery of Saint Catherine which has spiritual significance to Orthodox Christians worldwide and sits in a magnificent location at the foot of Mount Sinai. Endowed with a unique landscape, trekking and hiking in Saint Catherine is a holistic experience. Sheikh Sina is an initiative to train local Bedouins, with the help of professional Egyptian desert lovers and funds from the European Union, organise “off the beaten path” hikes that weave through to the heart of Saint Catherine. There, nature opens up and embraces its visitors. For more information log onto http://www.sheikhsina.com/english/
