If you love the heady combination of Arabian Desert bordered by palm-fringed, glittering beaches, then holidays on the Red Sea are for you.

"The jewel in the Red Sea's crown, Sharm El Sheikh has everything from magnificent beaches to vibrant nightlife and much, much more besides".

Think Red Sea Riviera and you'll probably picture a place like Sharm El Sheikh. Spread along glittering beaches on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, it's the most developed haunt on the Riviera, with all the showiness and amenities to match. Now spread over two areas, Old Sharm and Naama Bay, a walk from end to end presents a cavalcade of extravagant hotels, atmospheric bazaars, glitzy malls, smart restaurants and countless water sports facilities and schools. So whatever you fancy – enjoying the coral-reefed waters, lounging on the sands with cocktail in hand or haggling in an outdoor market – it's all on tap.

Whether you're a beginner or old hand at scuba, Sharm's fusion of excellent diving instruction, warm transparent waters and magical sub-aquatic world will automatically cater for your every need. At Naama Bay, the gently shelving sands are heaven for learner divers, whilst further out some of the world's best marine sites wait under the waves.

Plunge into the waters of Ras Mohammed Park to descend sheer sandstone walls to exquisite coral reefs. View giant manta rays and shoals of fluorescent fish as they fly through sun beamed waters. And when you're done, peel off your wetsuit and let the Egyptian sun gently dry your skin. Later, you'll find plenty of entertainment in the shape of starlit dinners and live music shows. Or immerse yourself in the bars and casinos of Naama Bay and party hard. Make also time to uncover the Egypt behind Sharm's glitzy display.
Visit St. Catherine's Monastery, where Moses reputedly received the Ten Commandments, or seize the chance to experience Cairo, Petra or Luxor – they're all accessible from here.

Not far from the resort, you can visit the Ras Mohammed National Park. It's made up of two contrasting examples of natural beauty - one on land and the other beneath the waves of the Red Sea. The park features immense sandstone mountains that spill down to stunning coral reefs.