Dahab

Dahab is situated on a beautiful crescent shaped bay against a majestic backdrop of red tinted mountains and sparkling clear turquoise water.

Click on the options below to find out more.

Prev
Next

Go Exploring

Just three kilometres from Dahab is the old village of Masbat or Assalah with a variety of bars, restaurants, markets and bazaars. Here you can’t help but be enchanted by the unique laid back atmosphere, taking time out to relax in a waterfront café and watch the world go by.

Egypt is home to many historical sites. On the Sinai is St Catherine’s Monastery, famous for being built at the site where it is said God appeared to Moses. Must see sights include the tombs and temples of Luxor, the pyramids of Cairo and further afield the ‘lost city’ of Petra in Jordan. Just 1 hour away is Sharm El Sheikh, a cosmopolitan and vibrant resort.

Excursions

Cairo & Luxor

Flight or coach and overnight options are available to visit these two sites of significant historical importance. The awesome Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza or breathtaking Valley of the Kings, in their desert settings are really something to behold. An Egyptologist accompanies the tours to ensure all who visit make the most of their trip. 

• Cairo by coach (1 day) - See the Eqyptian Museum, Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Departing on a Friday at midnight, returning at approx 2am a day later. Includes lunch and transport from Sharm (if less than 6 people book the trip from Dahab there is an additional charge of 500LE for the return taxi to Sharm el Sheikh).

The cost is US$115 / 720LE for adults or US$57.50 / 360LE for children aged 3-11 years.

• Cairo by coach (2 days) - See the Sphinx at Giza, Eqyptian Museum, Pyramids and Step Pyramid at Sakkara plus a sound and light show. Departing on a Thursday or Friday at midnight, returning at approx 2am 2 days later. Includes overnight in a 4 star hotel in Cairo on half board basis and transport from Sharm (if less than 6 people book the trip from Dahab there is an additional charge of 500LE for the return taxi to Sharm el Sheikh).

The cost is US$235 / 1400LE for adults or US$118 / 700LE for children aged 3-11 years.

• Cairo Flight - See the Eqyptian Museum, Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Departing on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday at 3.45am, returning at approx 9.30pm the same day. Includes lunch and transport from Sharm (if less than 6 people book the trip from Dahab there is an additional charge of 500LE for the return taxi to Sharm el Sheikh).

The cost is US$325 / 1920LE for adults or US$300 / 1780LE for children aged 3-11 years.

• Luxor Flight - See the spectacular temples at the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Departing on a Wednesday and Saturday at 3.45am, returning at approx 9.30pm the same day. Includes lunch and transport from Sharm (if less than 6 people book the trip from Dahab there is an additional charge of 500LE for the return taxi to Sharm el Sheikh).

The cost is US$325 / 1920LE for adults or US$300 / 1780LE for children aged 3-11 years.

St Catherine's Monastery

Set beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, St Catherine's Monastery has been one of the world's great centres of religious pilgrimage for over 15 centuries. Within its imposing walls, the citadel hosts a library of ancient manuscripts and icons, second only to the Vatican, and the 6th century church is reputed to lie directly on the site of the Burning Bush

• Half day trip  - Including lunch and all transport departs Dahab at 8am, returning at 2pm and runs on a Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

The cost is US$40 / 250LE for adults or US$21.50 / 135LE for children aged 3-11 years.

Moses Mountain and St Catherine's Monastery

Climb Moses Mountain at midnight to watch the most beautiful sunrise followd by a visit to St Catherine's Monastery (see above for more detail).

• This trip including transport (extra for camel ride) departs Dahab at midnight on a Tuesday or Friday, returning at approx 12 noon the following day.

The cost is US$40 / 250LE for adults or US$21.50 / 135LE for children aged 3-11 years.

Camel Safari & Bedouin Survival

Spend an evening with the Bedouins. Experience the desert from the back of a camel in true Bedouin style. Enjoy an evening under the stars around an open fire and discover the secrets to their survival in some of the most inhospitable landscapes on Earth.

Petra

A UNESCO Word Heritage site and the eight wonder of the ancient world, Petra is a unique city, which was carved into the sheer rock face at the end of a narrow desert gorge over 2000 years ago. Full of mysterious charm and host to a 3000 seat open-air theatre, obelisks, temples, sacrificial alters and colonnaded streets. With an impressive Monastery towering high above the valley, Petra strikes wonder into all who visit.

• Visit Petra in Jordan via ferry and coach - Visit the amazing Rose city of Petra, where the Hollywood film Indiana Jones was filmed. Departing on a Tuesday and Sunday at 5.30am, returning at approx 11.00pm the same day. Includes visa, lunch and all transport.

The cost is US$239 / 1410LE for adults or US$209 / 1240LE for children aged 3-11 years.

Money

Egyptian Pounds (LE) is the local currency, you can check the current exchange rate here. The maximum you are allowed to bring in or out of the country is 5000LE. There is a bank in Dahab that will change currency and Travellers Cheques. Many shops will accept sterling, US dollars or euros and will adjust the price depending on the current rate of exchange.

Eating Out

There is a good variety of restaurants in Masbat, 3km from the Coralia Beachclub but don't be in a hurry as the service can be a little slow. On the whole prices are cheap compared with the UK. A good choice if you're not sure what to have is the 'Meze'. This allows you to have a taster of the many traditional dishes such as Felafel (made from lentils), Foul (traditional Egyptian bean dish), Houmus, Tahini, Kofta (beef or lamb type of sausage), Shawerma (lamb) and Tabboulah (salad). Most of the meat dishes are beef or lamb and being a Muslim country, pork and bacon are uncommon.

Wines, Beer & Spirits.
Alcoholic drinks are not always widely available in Egypt. Not every restaurant is licensed, so don't be surprised if your restaurant of choice is unable to serve you alcohol. When available, the wine in Egypt is palatable and priced around £8-10 a bottle. The local beer is called Stella and is good value for money at £2 for a 500ml bottle. The local spirits are much like 'jet fuel' and strangely all seem to taste the same. If that doesn't bother you then you'll find they are generally also good value for money.


Customer Reviews

Latest reviews (Click here to see all reviews)

StarStarStarStarStar by
I had the best week of my life in Dahab,the Nielson staff are an incredibly talented team. For my week in May I enjoyed really good wind every day even if it didn't always last all day. The tuition was outstanding for all levels, I had Andy for the intermediate non-planing windsurfing group and I couldn't believe how much he taught us in such a short time. As a solo traveller I couldn't have asked for a friendlier or more proficient team to make my week the best ever. I cannot wait to return for two weeks next year. Seb (Skoobs)
StarStarStarStarStar by
Enjoyed my week at Coralia club. Unfortunately my weeks holiday was on 7 of the 65 days of below force 4. To be fair I had 6 hours of force 4. The week I left it went to solid force 4-5. Just bad luck. The staff at Neilson were really great and the instruction and kit were also great. No real shortage of kit but I had assumed that the latest Starboard and Tushingham kit would have been there at the start of the season. The accommodation was ok for a guy on his own but the bathrooms and room needed updating urgently. The guy who cleaned the room did a great job with the tired rooms he had to cope with. Dont be surprised to have your towel sculpted into wonderful shapes and left on your bed. I had a garden room which wasn't the cheapest but not the most expensive either, it was a mid price room. The room two doors up was in the process of being updated so perhaps I just got one that was on the to do list. The gardens are great and lush. Quite a shock after driving in through the dessert. Friends who I met on holiday who knew the hotel had booked premier rooms and after having seen their accommodation I would say the upgrade price was worth it particularly if you are going away as a couple. The food at the hotel was good and the staff were friendly and helpful. I dont recommend the camel safari although the view of Dahab and the coast you get from the place where you get a bedouin meal is really good. Our guide was very helpful and gave us a good insight into Egyptian culture. Watch out for the children who bring your camels as they are persistent in trying to get you to part with cash. When they got some they were not particularly grateful in fact I would say quite bad mannered. You dont need egyptian money in the resort as everything goes on your bill. Some guests were surprised about how quickly this mounts up. Water which is essential is cheaper if bought at the local supermarket. Drink loads! A particular thanks to Kamal and Jamie for their enthusiasm and trying to keep us entertained in relatively light winds. Some of the old hands who have been to Dahab a few times said they always go for 2 weeks as it is quite a long flight and you have more chance of getting good windsurfing conditions. I would go with this advice now. The bay gets quite crowded with all abilities of windsurfer. It is less crowded on the other side of the spit in an area called "speedy " and "baby bay". Not sure these were the correct names for the area but that is what the staff at Neilson used for the area. The centre was well organised and when you came back to the beach the Neilson staff were out to help you put your kit away. I was told the Hilton accommodation was good as well but the Coralias more lay back attitude was good for me. There were a few issues with the allocation of rooms on arrival as the hotel had double booked the premier rooms and they were not available on arrival for our group. Some people had had to wait one or two days to get into the accommodation they had paid for. I would suggest that the Neilson team should check the accommodation allocation before the guests arrive to take that tension out of arrival and room allocation. I did the try dive with Black Rock who are on the complex and they were really friendly. If I wasn't on a windsurfing holiday I would have liked to have gone diving with them. I would recommend taking a snorkell with you and going to the reef on the other side of the spit to see a whole load of fish which are only 1/2-1 mtr below the surface. I read the reviews on Dahab before I went and I could not agree with the people who did not enjoy the place. Neilson are a professional outfit and I would recommend them to anyone. Just an aside they were great when I phoned up with concerns about being able to get out to Dahab because of the first volcanic ash problem. What wasn't so good was the price increase I got on my bill because I did not take up my provisional booking offer in their timescale (I was a day late). I was in Ireland so could not confirm the booking. It was also a shock to see the prices change quite significantly when I tried to alter my booking by a week. This was the only real negative from my point of view. Thanks everyone in Dahab. Had a great holiday. I will definitely see you again.
StarStarStarStarStar by
Enjoyed the week, Hilton was good and instruction was good, the only thing to fault is position of centre, which means a hard slog in if you use correct kit for speedy, all upwind. March winds we got 3 out of 7 days, but temperature was pleasant. Link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYrZyyaIbc if anyone interested

To leave a review of this page you'll need a neilson user account. click here to register for an account.

Help and advice:

Wherever you are in the process you'll find all the info you need here.

Beginners Families Groups Luxury Couples Solo Food & Drink Activities Summer 2010 Offers Gatorade Competition