Travel Tips

GETTING HERE

Yoga at sunset in Dahab

Easy jet flights from London to Sharm el Sheikh range from £200-400 depending on time of year, school holidays etc., Thomson also fly direct to Sharm el Sheikh. Many more airlines fly into Cairo where you can catch a connecting flight to Sharm. Most of the hotels will arrange your airport transfer, however, if you get a taxi from the airport, a one way transfer to Dahab should not cost much more than 200 le.

VISAS

You do not need to obtain a visa before you leave if you are staying for under two weeks and do not intend to travel outside the Sinai region. On the plane you will be given embarkation cards to fill in and hand in on arrival. If you want to travel outside of the Sinai it is still possible to buy visas once you have landed in Egypt, but you could be subject to a long wait at the airport. If you are staying longer then a month or travelling from outside the UK, please check visa requirements with your embassy.

TRAVEL SAFETY & HEALTH

Yoga and massage in Dahab

Do not drink the tap water under any circumstances; you may also want to use bottled water to brush your teeth. The biggest cause of illness here is dehydration, with the dry, desert heat and the wind, the temperature can sometimes be deceptive, and it is easy not to drink enough water. Diving and other activities can also be very dehydrating so make sure you are drinking at least 3 litres a day, more in summer. Also, if you will be undertaking any sporting activity, ensure that you are covered by your travel insurance.

The Dahab sewer system cannot cope with paper, and all toilets have a separate bin for paper and sanitary products. You get used to it fairly quickly and by the time you get home you’ll be looking for the bin!

Dahab is also a relatively safe town, and apart from some easily eschewed male attention (you may be asked where you are from and if you have a husband!), as a female, it is safe to walk around at night and travel on your own. The local people are generally friendly and helpful and you will usually find someone who speaks a little English (or Russian, or German, or Italian) to help you out.