Ain El Sukhna

Ain El Sokhna

If exploration is what you are looking for, then Ain El Sokhna should be your destination of choice. The city is a short drive away from Cairo, marking the perfect location from which to enjoy both the Pyramids of Cairo and the glorious beaches.

The name Ain El Sokhna (which translates as ‘hot springs’) refers to the nearby sulfur springs that flow from Gebel Ataqa, the Eastern Desert’s northernmost mountain. Being a year-round sunshine destination with gentle waves of the clear Red Sea that is located barely more than an hour from the capital make Ain El Sokhna the ideal destination to have a break from the congestion of the city.
Its crystal waters and pristine beaches are the reason why Ain El Sokhna is known as a center for deep- sea fishing, while Zaafarana  is among the world's premier diving locations and famous for its wind and kite surfing too. Beaches and water sports aren’t only what this tourist resort has to offer you, as it is also a favorite spot for underwater photography, as well as an ideal one for camping. With a constant breeze, windsurfing is also popular in this city. In land, desert safaris in the nearby oasis and mountain canyons add to the list of attractions.
For those who want to cram in some sightseeing, there are appealing options: One of the world’s greatest feats of engineering, the Suez Canal , is less than an hour’s drive away. Make stops at St. Anthony’s Monastery  and the Monastery of St. Paul . The former, which bears the name of one of the earliest advocates of Christian monasticism, is among the oldest inhabited monasteries in Egypt. With fortress-style architecture built to withstand Bedouin attacks, it encloses gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches, and features a series of unique wall paintings of holy knights and the hermits who founded the monastery. Its library is home to over 1,700 handwritten manuscripts. A picturesque two-kilometer hike from the monastery will bring you to panoramic views of the mountains and the Red Sea at the cave where St. Anthony lived as a hermit.
The spectacular high mountains, glistening sandy beaches, and clear water make Ain El Sokhna the holiday destination where you will discover the true meaning of fishing, diving, skating, and mountain climbing. It also plays a major role in therapeutic tourism as it contains a lot of sulfur and mineral springs that cure various diseases.


Water Sports & Snorkelling in Ain El Sokhna
Being a fairly recent development on the Gulf of Suez, Ain El Sokhna is not a highly developed Scuba diving centre yet, but it does feature some excellent reefs and crystal clear waters that are ideal for snorkelling.  A variety of water sports are available including water skiing and kite surfing.
The resort of Ain El-Sokhna extends along the Red Sea shoreline for about 60 km from the southern borders of Ras El Adebbya in the north to Ras El Zaafarana in the south and is well geared up for deep sea fishing.    Its turquoise waters are rich in marine life and coral reefs, perfect for snorkelers and with a constant breeze, windsurfing too is becoming increasingly popular.
Ain El Sokhna is renowned for the unspoilt and pristine nature of its beaches, which are broad, clean and sandy and less crowded than those of the more southerly resorts of Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. 


Desert Adventures & Excursion from Ain El Sokhna
Desert safaris to the nearby oasis and mountain canyons of the Western Desert add to the list of attractions in Ain El Sokhna.  Trips to the Bahariya Oasis in the Western Desert and the Valley of the Golden Mummies are growing in popularity. 
The site dates to Greco-Roman Egypt, where the ruins of a temple to Alexander the Great can be found. The Siwa Oasis can also be found in the Western desert. It was the Greeks, Alexander the Great in particular, who made the Siwa Oasis famous by discovering and telling the world about the Oracle of Amun located there. 
Ain El Sokhna is also very convenient for excursions to the sights of the desert just outside Cairo, including The Pyramids of Cheops, Chechen and Mykerinus and the Great Sphinx.

Golfing in Ain El Sokhna
With direct access to Ain El Sokhna's beautiful beach, this 5-star resort offers spacious and modern accommodation with breakfast included and a shuttle service from Cairo International Airport so you won’t even need to carry your clubs!  The lush new  International standard 9-hole golf course at the Jaz Little Venice Golf Resort , due to open by end of 2010, will offer challenging greens, fairways and bunkers to suit experienced golfers without putting off the novice.  Tee-ing off and driving on lovingly maintained greens against the backdrop of clear blue skies and crystal clear waters will exceed your expectations.  The delightful climate throughout summer and winter means this plush resort can also be enjoyed and played all year round.