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Dahab

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Dahab (دهب) is a town in Egypt, located some 85 km (53 miles) north of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Gulf of Aqaba, near the southern tip of Sinai.

Culture and History

Dahab was once an isolated coastal village which first turned into a hippie hangout in the 1980's. During the 1990's the town became something of an "alternative resort", mixing cheap accomodation, laid back lifestyle and "informal" tourism with certain commercial structures, turning into the "Ko Samui" of the Middle East.

Cheap accommodation positioned right by the beach, inexpensive food and drink and a relaxed atmosphere combine with the natural wonders of the Red Sea (swimming, snorkeling, scuba- and freediving) to make it a heady enticement for the young and young at heart.

Since about a decade Dahab suffers from attemps to turn it into a "real" resort place. Note the grotesque, forever unfinished concrete structures all over. Of course, resort tourists and families will be way better off in Sharm el Sheik.

Orientation

Dahab has two distinct parts. To the north is the former Bedouin village of Assalah on a kilometer-long beach, full of backpackers and cheap accommodation this area is similar to many other diving resorts that cater for backpackers. To the south lies Laguna or Dahab City/Medina, the modern town of Dahab, where the resort hotels, banks and other amenities can be found. Here you will also find Dahab's telephone office and post office; the latter unfriendly at first, with its standard advice a barked "Go to Sharm for that!", but more mellow if customers are politely persistent.

Travel to Dahab & Visa Requirements

If you arrive at Sharm el-Sheikh airport heading to Dahab, the hardest part is to get from the airport to the Sharm bus station. Taxis tend to charge a fancy 80 to 100 LE for this 10 km ride. Try heading towards the airport site exit and say you'll pick up a taxi (or microbus) outside. They'll tell you it's impossible and that there is no bus to Dahab anymore - just go on. Many taxis don't get an airport permission. If you can talk them down to 30 LE for the ride to the bus station you're good!

Bus schedule Sharm to Dahab is 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 14:30, 17:00, 20:30, 22:00, 00:30

Dahab Bus Office:+20-69-3641-808

To avoid the hassle you can take a taxi the whole way up to Dahab (though that is WHY they hassle you), don't pay more than 150 - 180 LE for the whole cab (they'll start at 300 - 400 or higher)! Exchange money before you pass the airport customs, having only Euros or Dollars will weaken your position. Most accommodation will also arrange a pick-up on request, but prices can vary.

Buses connect Dahab with Sharm el-Sheikh (11EGP - 1h), Cairo (65/75EGP - 9h) and Suez daily. Alternatively, Eilat and the Israeli border at Taba are only around 2 hours away by taxi (300-400EGP) or 3 hours by bus (21EGP). You can book bus tickets from most of the hotels and hostels, or simply turn up at the last minute. Hotels will also arrange a taxi (5EGP) to the bus station, a short drive out of the tourist strip, about 2km.

Often, on arrival at the Dahab bus station, you will be basically pushed into the back of a jeep that will "volunteer" to take you to your hotel. These are not free - they will demand a ridiculous amount of money for the privilege. Dissociate yourself from the strange situation and seek out a real taxi instead. You can walk, too. Despite what you will be told: it's only a 10 minute / 1 km walk to Assalah. Standing in front of the bus station (buses arrive in the back) facing the entrance, looking at the "East Delta Travel" sign: turn right, go a few metres, turn left into "Dr. Ahmed Zwel St.", walk about 200 metres. Turn right into "El Nasr Road". After about 300 m turn left at the pharao statue into "El Mashraba St.". Follow the road. After 400 metres you'll pass a two dolphin statue, go straight on, you're almost done. Soon the road makes a 90 degree left turn, you will see construction sites and the beach. Turn left, following the road and walk into Assalah.

Also if you take the bus to Taba, the bus conductor has been known to demand an extra 5 EGP to take you to the border, from the bus station. Again avoid the rip-off and walk the all of 600m on foot.

Tours & Getting around Dahab

Shared taxis, in essence mini-buses, are a cheap way to travel locally. Shared taxis tend to conform to a timetable, so they become useful if you have missed the day's bus to the nearby spots like Sharm el-Sheikh, or if you need to get into Dahab when arriving from the Aqaba ferry. To get to Dahab from Eilat, if you don't have a car, take a taxi to the border, walk across, and grab a shared taxi on the other side.

Getting around Dahab itself on foot is quite simple, the promenade runs right along the seafront and all the usual amenities are located along it. Bicycles would be an excellent way of getting around, but most rental bicycles are poorly maintained and as such are in terrible shape. Many businesses are distinctly unenthusiastic about the bicycle-rental aspect of their commercial operation, quoting inflated prices and creative time definitions ("1 day" = 6 hours). Even large and supposedly reputable operators are not immune from deficiencies in this area.

Dahab attractions and sightseeing

Dahab itself has practically nothing in the way of sights, but you can easily arrange tours to some nearby points of interest.

  • Ein Khudra, a Bedouin oasis.
  • Coloured Canyon
  • Three pools, a bedouin oasis and lovely area for snorkeling, diving or just relaxing
  • The lagoona, a long sandy stretch close to Dahab City is the place for wind surfing, kite surfing or to admire the view. Take drinks and snacks with you as there are no cafes on the lagoona point. This is a great spot to spend a day away from the town centre.
  • The boat out of water, becoming one of Dahabs most photographed sights, the boat out of water is what remains of a big flood that happened in 2002.
  • Petra in Jordan is easily organised from Dahab
  • Jerusalem (Israel) day-trips are also organised from Dahab
  • St Catherines and Mount Sinai Day trips or night trips are very popular and organised by most hotels, but prices vary.
  • The Old Port Dahab has some interesting history. There are ruins of an old Nabatean Port along the coast in Mashraba. It shows there was a community here dating back about 1600 years.

Dahab city tours

The most "traditional" thing to do in Dahab is not to do anything. It's one of the best places in the world to indulge this most exquisite passion and a lot of Dahab's reputation among travellers roots in it. Anyway, if "doing" something to you means "activity" there's also a great variety of options which can be classified in two categories:

Diving and Anything Else

Diving

  • Diving is extremely popular in Dahab and the reefs here are still in relatively good shape. Known dive sites includes Abu Helal, Blue Hole, The Bells, Canyon, Coral Garden, Eel Garden, Lighthouse, Moray Garden, Islands, Three Pools, Gabr El Bint, Ras Abu Gallum.
  • Bedouin Divers, [1]. Very familiar dive center directly at the coast of the Red Sea in the Mashraba area of Dahab. Bedouin Divers is located in the Bedouin Lodge Hotel, which acts very individual and can arrange for you everything: Daily Diving, PADI Courses, Camel Dive Safaris and Boat Dives ... but further desert safaris and anything else giving you a good insight into the Bedouin's life.
  • Big Blue Dahab, +20 (0)69 3640 045, [2] is a fully equipped 5 Star Gold Palm Padi resort only meters from the reef, a relaxed and welcoming environment ideal for both snorkeling and diving. Emphasis on safety and fun with an environmental awareness. Small dive groups with highly qualified instructors and divemasters can enjoy a full range of Padi courses and guided dives at affordable prices.
  • Blue Realm. Tel. +20 69 364 1413; mobile +20 12 744 4873; e-mail info@bluerealmdiving.com; [3]. Great native-run diving center (English, Dutch, German, French and Arabic available: the owner's wife is actually Dutch and has been living there for 6 years now). They charge for two dives €45 (plus extra for gear rental, see the web site). Package discounts are available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course here is €260, incl. equipment (see also Special Offers page on web site). In addition to Dahab, Blue Realm arranges custom diving holidays throughout the Egyptian Red Sea.
  • Desert Divers, [4]. For anyone up for a taste of the Bedouin life, this is the home of the Camel Diving Safari and has become Dahab's center for diving & desert adventure in the Sinai. Their story began 15 years ago when the owner, Said, became Dahab's first Bedouin to learn to dive. The place is right on the beach in the main bay (Masbat Bay, inbetween the bridge & Lighthouse Reef). Excellent for diving (PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resort), plus unique specialties including Freediving & Freediving Safaris, Deep Desert Safaris, Rock Climbing and Yoga Safaris. Plus their famous Camel Diving Safaris, from 1-5 days with the Sinai's most experienced guides.
  • Dive Pro Dahab, [5] is a company established by divers for divers to help them get the best out of their dive vacation.located all over the red sea enables it to supply divers with services wherever they go.
  • Marine Garden Divers, [6]. Friendly and clean Divecenter and Bedouin Camp under Dutch management. Just 75 meters north from the Light House Reef and Masbath Bay. All rooms, all with fans and some with own shower and toilet, have seaview. Prices from 3 to 10 euro a night for the room. Offers all diving activities and organize dessert- and shoresafari's off-the-beaten-track. Will also pick you up from Sharm airport or harbour and from Cairo-airport for a nice price.
  • Nesima Diving Center, Tel. 069 3640320, [7]. French-run diving center generally judged to be the best in town. They charge a premium pricewise though, as two dives will cost you €47 (plus €20/day for gear rental). Package discounts available. A 5-day PADI Open Water course here is €302.
  • Poseidon Divers, [8]. Certainly the best and most professional dive center in Dahab if you plan to embrace a professional career, get into technical diving or simply do fun dive or courses in a safe and professional way. It is the only PADI Career Development Centre in town as well as a PSA and TDI Instructor facility (the only one in Egypt), you will get no shortage of divers if you do your PADI DiveMaster or Instructor course here which is a definite plus for the quality of your course.
  • Red Sea Relax PADI Gold Palm Diving School, +20 (0)69 3641 308, [9]. New British run diving operation enjoying a prime beach side location in central Dahab, meters from the teeming reefs but also convenient for Dahab's famous bazaars, lively nightlife and modern amenities. As a PADI Diving Resort, on site accommodation is available with a choice of either discounted en-suite rooms, or a bed in the dormitory complex- offered totally free for divers! Professional instructors offer a host of diving activities. PADI diving courses range from beginner through to Assistant Instructor, or for those already qualified daily diving takes place to any of the 20 spectacular local reefs. For those more adventurous Boat excursions and Camel Dive Safaris are easily arranged.

  • Free-diving is the new kid on the block in Dahab thanks to the very convenient Blue Hole site and an ever increasing range of world top freedivers coming for training such as Lotta Ericson, Natalia Molchanova, Sebastien Murat, Sam Still, Andreas Guldner...
  • Lotta Ericson, [10]. Swedish champion, world top freediver and official 2** AIDA trainer lives in Dahab and offers freediving courses. She also organizes the Dahab Challenge Triple Depth competition.
  • BlueSkunk Freedivers, [11]. Offers a very complete and progressive range of course: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Deep, ... It is not the goal of the course to push towards a new personal best as they emphasize technique development and depth adaptation before increasing depth! Safety first!