Sharm El Maya. Windless bays of sharm el sheikh and the best hotels for a comfortable stay in egypt in winter

Sharm el Maya is an Egyptian resort located on the shores of the bay of the same name. This is not a separate city, but the southwestern region of the famous Sharm el-Sheikh. Why is it interesting and why do tour operators often distinguish this direction separately from Sharm el-Sheikh !? Prices, entertainment, leisure attractions in Sharm El Maya - what you will learn from this article.

Sharm el Maya, as a district of Sharm el Sheikh, is adjacent to Khataba, and about 7 kilometers separate it from Naama Bay. From the airport of the resort to the place of rest will have to overcome a little more than 20 kilometers.

Resort on the map:

Resort climate

Sharm El Maya, like most Egyptian tourist destinations, allows you to enjoy beach holiday all year round. At the same time, for those who prefer cooler temperatures, it is worth paying attention to winter period holidays: from December to March. Daytime temperatures range from 23 to 25 degrees, and at night the thermometer drops to +17⁰С. At the same time, the water temperature in the sea differs from the air temperature by only one degree. The absence of a drop makes swimming comfortable.

It is worth considering that in 2019, flights from the capital will only depart to Cairo, from where Egyptian Airlines will deliver travelers to Sharm el-Sheikh airport. The flight lasts only 1 hour, the price differs depending on the selected season and fare, the minimum is $42.

You can get to the resort by taxi or minibus. Both types of transport can be found by leaving the building of the first airport terminal. There are parking lots directly opposite the exit.

It doesn’t matter what the choice fell on, a minibus or a taxi, the price should be discussed with the driver before boarding the salon.

The cost of taxi services directly depends on the mileage. The fare is usually calculated from double the distance (round trip) multiplied by 1 Egyptian pound. Keep this in mind if you have to bring down the price.

Resort transport

In the Sharm el Maya area, as well as throughout the resort, you can travel by minibuses. You can stop the mini-bus directly on the road, there are no special parking lots, transport stops on demand. There is no schedule as such, usually cars follow each other with an interval of 5 minutes. The price for locals is 2 Egyptian pounds, but a foreigner should check the fare in advance.

There are also more comfortable buses at the resort, departing from specific hotels, travel here will cost more - within 5 Egyptian pounds.

And, of course, a taxi. It can be ordered through the hotel reception or simply "caught" on the street.

Car rent

At the airport of Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as directly in all areas of the resort, including Sharm el-Maya, there is a sufficient number of rental salons. These are Arab offices, as well as offices of eminent agencies.

The first can offer a car a little cheaper and will not require an international driver's license. It is enough that the applicant for transport will have driver license and a copy of the foreign passport.

European salons without fail require international standard driver's license.

Regardless of which distributor is chosen, it is important to know the following:

The car is issued to a person at least 25 years old with a driving experience of at least 1 year;
The car will need to be returned at the place where it was received, while it must be refueled full tank. Otherwise, a fine will be applied;
In almost any salon, a daily mileage limit is applied, the excess is paid additionally;
Upon receipt of the car, it is necessary to fix all existing external defects, as well as clarify the conditions of insurance.

The cost of a day of rental starts from $50 for an economy class car. For long-term rentals, a discount is provided.

Where to stay

So a 20-meter double room in the 4-star Xperience Golden Sandy Beach complex will cost from 24 euros per day. Here, all rooms are located on the ground floor and have access to the garden. For children there is a very modest playground, sheltered from the sun.

A more popular and expensive option is the 5-star Iberotel Palace. There is different types rooms, the most economical one will cost 61 euros per night. At the same time, guests call good sound insulation the advantage of all hotel rooms. A large swimming pool, sun loungers securely sheltered from the sun and its own spa are just a few of the attractive features of this complex.

Hall of the Iberotel Palace

Beach holidays in Sharm El Maya

The quality of the beaches is the main reason why you should choose a vacation in 2019 in this area.

Coastline features:

Dense sand, providing a perfectly smooth and gentle entry into the water;
Virtually no danger of hurting your feet on corals, sharp rocks or sea urchins;
Wide beach strip;
Cleanliness and Availability necessary equipment for a comfortable stay;
The presence of towers with attendants monitoring the possible approach of danger in the form of, for example, sharks. Although, this is perhaps excessive sulfur in this resort. It is rather problematic to meet any kind of fish off the coast of Sharm El Maya.

The above characteristics attract families with small children to the beaches of Sharm El Maya.

There are only 26 beaches assigned to hotels in the bay. It should be noted that on some of them, enterprising Egyptians are trying to take money for entry from those who are not guests of the hotel that manages this beach. Usually this amount does not exceed 5 dollars.

For those staying in hotels not on the first line, there is an opportunity to travel to the beaches by bus. The fare and regularity of the route depends primarily on the category of the hotel. However, often a small number of seats or the schedule of such a shuttle is inconvenient, which entails the need to get to the beach by taxi.

Things to Do in Sharm El Maya

The main entertainments of the resort are connected with the sea. Some of them:

As for attractions and excursions, they are offsite and identical in any area of Sharm el-Sheikh. It:

Trip to Cairo or Luxor;
Excursions to the protected lands of Ras Mohammed;
Climbing to the top of Mount Moses;
Journey to the colored canyon and a number of others.

What else you need to know about holidays in Sharm El Maya

shopping

The main interest of vacationers here, as well as in Sharm el-Sheikh, is Old city with the Eastern Market located here. This is a place where everyone can feel the atmosphere of the East, walking among the motley tents and shops and choosing various colorful little things. And almost everything is sold here: from traditional and not only products, ending with papyri and essential oils. Here you can also buy branded clothes and accessories.

Important: Haggle and compare prices. And they are traded everywhere here, no exception - even in supermarkets.

The only place where bargaining is not appropriate is Gazala.

By the way, there is also a duty-free shop here. Shopping here is allowed within 2 days after arrival. You must have your passport with you.

The list of souvenirs is standard for most Egyptian resorts:

Papyri;
Dishes decorated with Egyptian ornaments;
Stone statues of the gods;
Essential oils.

Local kitchen

Throughout the resort area there is no shortage of restaurants. The guest will be offered not only dishes of local cuisine, but also various world gastronomic powers.

Among the things worth trying while relaxing in Sharm El Maya:

Fish and seafood of excellent quality, which are prepared in various ways;
Meat skewers - jacket;
Falafel.

The “pigeon stuffed with rice” also sounds quite exotic; you can taste such a dish in more expensive establishments.

Connection

For those who travel for a long time and do not want to lose touch with their relatives, it is recommended to purchase a local SIM card from any of the three operators.

It is better to make a purchase at the airport, they will connect it there.

If you want to Mobile Internet, although Wi-fi is available almost everywhere in the resort, you will also have to take care of this at the time of purchasing a SIM card.

Beach holidays with an abundance of water activities and original shopping - this is what will delight tourists in Sharm El Maya. Travelers with children will not be disappointed, the coast is the best suited for kids. And if there is a desire to get in touch with the history of Egypt, then in tour agencies you can pick up various routes, starting with visiting the Egyptian pyramids and ending with a trip to Abu Simbel.

A few views of the bay:

Hot tours around the world

Sharm El Maya is one of the areas of the famous Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh. It is located in the southwestern part of the city, on the shore of the bay of the same name. As in all other areas of the resort, along the entire bay in two or three lines there are hotels for every taste and budget. The main advantage of Sharm El Maya is its location. The point is not only that the loop-shaped bay is protected from the wind from all sides (which, by the way, can only fly from one, left side). It is from here that yachts and boats depart for boat trips in national park Ras Mohammed, and in this area is the famous Old Town with its real oriental market.

Shopping and shops

Many people come to the Old City from other parts of the city, just to visit the Old Market. This is a colorful cluster of shops, tents, stalls and street vendors selling a variety of things: food, papyri, perfumes and essential oils, painted sand paintings, rugs, clothes, bags and belts (of course, everything is exclusively from Versacci). Noisy, not too clean, everything is bargaining. And everywhere: even in the supermarkets located right there. The only exception is the Gazala store, there are fixed prices indicated next to each product.

An interesting detail: there is a Duty Free shop in the city, where you can shop for two days after arrival. For control, your passport will be checked.

Popular hotels in Sharm El Maya

The beaches of Sharm El Maya

Another feature that attracts tourists to Sharm el Maya are sandy beaches. The sand is dense, entry into the water in most cases is just perfect. It is difficult to get hurt on stones or corals, to step on sea urchin. Of course, when entering the water for the first time on any beach, you need to be careful, but in the bay of Sharm El Maya, the dangers are minimized.

There are 26 beaches in total, each of which is run by a hotel. Some of them are trying to make a paid (4-5 USD) entrance for those who do not live in a hotel that monitors the territory. Buses run from non-first line hotels to the beaches. Their schedule and price depends on the class of the hotel and the type of tour chosen. Somewhere they are free for hotel guests, but you have to take a taxi, as the schedule is very inconvenient or the buses are too small.

In general, the beaches are very good, wide, clean, equipped with everything you need. After the shark incidents, many hotels added a watchtower to the list of “needs” with an attendant vigilantly looking out through binoculars for danger from the sea. Usually this precautionary measure turns out to be unnecessary, since there are very few fish near the beaches of Sharm El Maya. Swimming here is very good for families with children: it is calm, the sea is warm, you can run into the water with a screech, raising a cloud of spray.

If you really want to admire the marine life, this can be done from the pontoons that are available on several beaches. In addition, adults and active people often go for this spectacle on wild beach, to the left, towards Ras Mohammed. There, for comfortable swimming, you will need rubber slippers so as not to cut yourself on corals. It is better to come there in the afternoon, after 15:00, so that sightseers have time to leave those places.

Entertainment and attractions of Sharm El Maya

Hotel animators try not to let anyone get bored on the beach and in the hotel and constantly arrange contests and events for children and adults. On the beaches, traditional entertainment is added to their efforts: banana riding (30 USD), kite surfing (35 USD), water skiing (55 USD), swimming in a glass-bottomed boat (from 30 USD), etc. At the hotel you can play tennis, work out on sports equipment or visit a massage session (hour 40-60 USD). If you find it boring to spend your evenings at the hotel, blue and white taxis will take you from here to anywhere in Sharm el-Sheikh. Many vacationers in the evenings go to rest in Naama Bay, the road to which costs about 3-5 USD. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

The magnificent beach of El Kheim is located in Egypt in the resort of Sharm El Sheikh. Its length is 5 kilometers and its width is 20 meters. Vacationers are brought here from different hotels, as the place is very popular. It is ideal for swimming, bathing, relaxing with children, as well as water sports.

Note that, like many beaches in Sharm El Sheikh, the sea here is very shallow, and to get to the depth, you have to walk a decent distance on the pontoon. On the beach you will find good uniform sand and easy entry into the sea, as there are no corals and reefs in the vicinity.

It takes 20 minutes to drive from the center to El Kheim, the entrance is 15-20 dollars. Perfect cleanliness always reigns here, you can walk and swim without special shoes. In addition to the local charms, the beach has a wonderful undersea world. Snorkeling and diving on this beach in Egypt will let you see rare species fish that were listed in the Red Book!

Sharm El Maya City Beach

The peculiarity of Sharm el-Maya beach is that it is the only sandy beach in Sharm el-Sheikh, all the rest are coral, you can’t walk on them without special shoes. Since the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh are in a specially protected natural area, it is forbidden to clean the bottom of corals. This is a paradise for divers, but swimming on such beaches is very difficult and even dangerous - corals begin almost at the very shore.

Sharm el Maya beach is gentle, it is convenient to enter the water here, and diving enthusiasts can get to the reefs by boat.

On the beach there are sunbeds and umbrellas, conditions for lovers aquatic species sports, discotheques and parties. Sharm El Maya is now one of the few beaches open for swimming and considered as safe as possible after the recent shark attacks.

/ Sharm El Maya Bay

Sharm el Maya bay

(Arabic خليج شرم المايا; English Sharm El Maya Bay)

Opening hours: Shar el Maya Bay can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Old Market is usually open daily from 12.00 to 00.00.

How to get there: The most convenient, but also the most expensive way to get to Sharm El Maya Bay is a taxi that will take you from anywhere in the city. A more economical option is local taxis. In this case, you need to go outside the hotel, to the main road, and catch fixed-route taxi(usually dark blue Toyota brand minibuses). Almost everyone has the final stop - the Old City (Old Market), and you should get off and go to Sharm el Maya Bay.

Many locals they call this area simply Sharm, and to tourists it is better known as the Old Town, Old Market, Old Sharm, or Sharm el Maya ....

Sharm El Maya Bay is the easternmost and most popular bay of the Sinai Peninsula. Numerous yachts and private boats are moored here, ready to sail at any moment. The bay is also known for the fact that the so-called Old Town adjoins it, here is the main shopping mecca Sharm El Sheikh - the famous bazaar - Old Market.

The old city, as the name implies, is the oldest district of Sharm el-Sheikh, and the closest to the seaport of the city is Travco Marina. In fact, the Old City is not so “old”, streets with old buildings, mosques and other similar sights with a turbulent history are not here - Sharm el-Sheikh is a relatively young city.

The main lure of tourists from all over the resort is the Old Market bazaar. Everyone who has visited this resort at least once strives to get to the bazaar, in anticipation of limitless shopping. The thing is that here, quite reasonable prices, and compared to Naama Bay, even very low. However, the low price is the task of the tourist. As in any eastern market, the main thing here is bargaining, you need to be able to bargain, want to bargain, and bargain to the bitter end, reducing the price of any thing several times.

The entrance and exit are large gates, architecturally made in the ancient Egyptian style and marking the boundaries of the market. To the right of the entrance, as usual in all markets, there is a currency exchange office, and then a passage to a cafe near a cliff with waterfalls. Souvenir shops with figurines of Egyptian gods, papyri, oils, spices, camels and hookahs - all this makes your eyes run wide. In addition to souvenir shops, there are also specialized ones where you can buy products made from camel and crocodile skin or high-quality Egyptian cotton.

The old city directly goes to the very bay of Sharm El Maya. The bay is covered on all sides by a high coast, thanks to which there are never high waves and strong wind. Sharm El Maya is certainly the most windless bay of the resort, it is very good to relax here, even in the middle of winter.

Sharm el Maya is famous for its sandy beach. There is a gentle sandy entrance to the sea, as the corals are far from the coast. Swimming here is very good for families with children: it is calm, the sea is warm, you can swim and splash near the shore, raising a cloud of spray. And to see corals and swim with a mask, you need to sail on a boat, or go along the coast to the nearest coral reef.

As in all other areas of the resort, along the entire bay in two or three lines there are hotels for every taste and budget. The beaches of the bay are very good, wide, clean, equipped with everything you need. Tourists who do not live in hotels can get to equipped beaches for a small entrance fee.

There are many traditional water activities on the beaches: banana riding, kite surfing, water skiing, glass-bottom boating, and much more. The purest water The bay is perfect for diving and snorkelling.

Sharm el Maya bay is undoubtedly the most the best choice for families with children in Sharm El Sheikh. Beautiful beaches, the presence of the Old Town nearby and the oriental bazaar perfectly complement exciting vacation by the sea. And the absence of wind and waves makes the weather here comfortable at any time of the year.