Activity holidays to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsular

One of the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula’s newest resort destinations, Taba Heights is making the most of its idyllic location on the spectacular coastline of the Red Sea by providing an extensive selection of activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.

Sited 19km south of Taba at the northernmost tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, Taba Heights can be found nestled between the Sinai Mountains and the azure waters of the Red Sea. Offering dramatic landscape and scenery, the resort offers activities for guests wishing to enjoy the very best of both land and sea environments.

Making the most of 25°C average sea temperatures, Taba Heights is an excellent location to enjoy snorkelling and diving, whether as the main focus or just part of a holiday. At the northern end of Taba Heights, the resort benefits from pristine coral reefs located close to the shore, which guests can access via a jetty near to the Hyatt Regency hotel. Alternatively, the resort’s Waterworld centre operates daily dive boats from the resort’s international marina, which will take divers and snorkellers further afield to explore some of the 20 renowned dive sites located in the surrounding area.

Ranging from drift and shallow dives to coral gardens and pinnacles, the excellent visibility afforded by the clear waters mean the sites can be enjoyed both by experienced and more casual divers alike. Waterworld is also a PADI certified teaching centre, offering courses for the experienced, beginners, adults and children alike, so that anyone can enjoy the fantastic diving for which the Red Sea is renowned.

For those who prefer to stay closer to the water’s surface, Taba Heights offers a variety of alternatives to the diving experience. Still based at the Waterworld Centre, guests can enjoy watersports activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, banana boats and parasailing. As always, equipment is available to hire and instruction is possible for guests of all ages and levels.

Similar fun is also possible as part of a land-based activity programme and one of the most popular excursions offered by the resort is by quad bike into the Sinai Mountains. Such desert safaris are also available on camel and incorporate meeting local bedouins who will host guests by sharing Egyptian bread, tea and traditional sheesha pipes.

Other land based sports for guests at the resort to take advantage of include tennis, squash, beach volleyball, golf (an 18-hole course is due to open later in 2006) and hiking.

If something a little less active is required, however, there are also 5km of secluded and private sandy beachfront, as well as a host of spa facilities, waiting to be enjoyed. Most of the hotels offer their own health and fitness centres, which include facilities such as: fully equipped gyms; saunas; massage, beauty and facial treatments; jacuzzis; steam rooms; jet showers; whirlpools; and aerobics facilities.

Choice is also available in terms of accommodation that guests can select. The resort of Taba Heights currently offers five internationally recognised hotels. The hotels are all four and five star and offer a degree of luxury and service to suit most budgets.

The Three Corners El Wekala is available for those wanting an all inclusive service, while the Sofitel, Marriott, Hyatt Regency and new Intercontinental hotel all operate on a predominantly half board basis. All of the hotels offer a range of other facilities and services, including kids’ clubs, day and evening entertainment, shopping facilities, a casino and a total of 32 bars and restaurants.

In order to make the most of such culinary variety, Taba Heights operates a dine around scheme, whereby guests staying on a half or full board basis can enjoy eating at other restaurants within the scheme, either at the hotels or the resort’s downtown area, for little or no extra charge.

If still more activities are required then Taba Heights also operate a number of excursions, which allow guests to explore some of the region and sites further afield. In just a few hours, visitors can find themselves at the Great Pyramids in Giza, the Treasury at Petra or Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, while trips to Cairo, Mount Sinai and Alexandria are also possible.

For further information and to book, visit Tabaheights.com.