Taba

Egypt's newest Red Sea resort lies at the northern edge of the east Sinai coastline. The larger hotels on Taba are cosseted within the purpose-built tourism village of Taba Heights. The Sofitel Taba Heights (Taba-Nuweiba Road) and Intercontinental Resort (Taba-Nuweiba Road) are the top luxury picks in the area with gourmet restaurants and bags of facilities. Tobya Boutique Hotel (Taba Road) offers a more intimate stay with charming and eclectic local character. On a budget, head south down the coast from town, where a line of traditional Bedouin beach camps straddle the secluded stretch of white-sand shore, and guests sleep in thatch huts just metres from the sea.

Taba is too peaceful to be a shopper's paradise. The only shopping area of note is in Taba Heights Uptown area. The shops here sell traditional textile handicrafts made by the local Bedouin of Sinai as well as Egyptian handicrafts from across the country. If you're seeking out engraved Arabic metalwork, jewellery or colourful embroidered cushions, there's enough to browse through. Prices are usually fixed so there's no need to put your haggling hat on. In the centre of Taba village, there are also a few cheap souvenir stores but the quality of products can be poor.

Taba Heights is the lynchpin of the local dining scene. There may not be masses of choice but standards are typically high and seafood plays a starring role on most menus. In the Uptown shopping area, Flying Carpet has dining on an outside terrace with sprawling panoramas across the Red Sea, El Fuego features Mexican cuisine, and romantic Chez Pascal specialises in European favourites. Check out dinky Orangina Cafe for cheap, quick bites and a leisurely coffee. For special occasion dining, Castle Zaman (Taba-Nuweiba Road) serves up a slow food-inspired feast on top of a cliff just south of town.

El Wekala Street Festival

Year-round

Every Thursday night, Taba Heights hosts a street festival in the Uptown shopping area. It's filled with tons of family-friendly action, including live music performances and children's activities.

Sham al-Nissem

April

Marking the beginning of spring, this national public holiday sees Egyptians flock to the beaches for family picnics. It's a great time to forgo the private sands of the resorts and take a wander on the public beaches to experience local celebrations.

Dahab Bedouin Festival

April

Well worth making the trip out of town for, the Dahab Bedouin Festival (142km south of Taba) is a week of celebrating Sinai's Bedouin culture. It's the perfect opportunity to sample Bedouin food and browse locally made handicrafts. Live music performances take place every evening, and there are daily kid-friendly activities.

Ramadan

July-August

The holy month of Ramadan is Islam's biggest religious festival. Many Taba Heights' restaurants put on special Iftar (the daily evening meal that breaks the day-long fast) menus and provide entertainment late into the night.

Taba Heights International Pro-Am

November

This four-day golfing tournament attracts a mix of PGA professionals and amateur golfing aficionados. All the action takes place at the Taba Heights golf course.