MAP OF SAFAGA
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SAFAGA
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Safaga, or Port Safaga which is formally correct, is one of the new resorts along Egypt's Red Sea coast. It benefits from its proximity to the airport of Hurghada, but just like Hurghada poor planning and lax authorities are about to kill its attractions before the tourist fairytale really starts. And contrary to Hurghada, there are no parts of town that appeal to travellers' interests.

North of the town, there are reefs. A few kilometres offshore lie the best diving grounds, the main attraction here are the coral pillars. Diving around Safaga involves a few hazards, with the strong currents and aggressive hammerhead sharks. Safaga is well connected to other destinations in Egypt. It is located next to the shortest route from the Red Sea to the Nile Valley. Safaga has several buses a day for Hurghada; for Cairo; for Luxor; for Qena (Dendara). There are also a few daily departures for Quseir; for Marsa Alam; for Aswan; for Alexandria. Shared taxis cover far less destinations; only Qena and Hurghada are practical options. Safaga has a daily ferry to Dubai Saudi Arabia, but this is only an option for those with a pre-arranged permit to visit this country.

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The history of Safaga City goes back to the beginning of the 20 th century. In 1902, During the English occupation of Egypt, a man named Krakson discovered the city, while he was mainly searching for metals for commercial purposes in this area. Safaga Island, which faces Safaga City, acts as a wave breaker that offers the International port of safaga safety and security. In the past, during the Second World War, Allied forces used this port of Safaga, and now it receives international cruises and huge commercial ships.

GEOGRAPHYOF SAFAGA
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Safaga, or Port Safaga (Bur Safaga) is a working port located 37 miles from Safaga with several tourist villages specializing in diving holidays, a handful of hotels and some excellent fish restaurants. Its unspoiled beaches and stiff breezes made it the ideal venue for the 1993 World Windsurfing Championships. Day trips to Tobia Island or Mons Claudianus in the Red Sea Mountains can be arranged with local guides. The coast of Red Sea extends in the Egyptian lands from south of Suez city in the North till Halaib city in the South at the Egyptian – Sudanese frontiers. Because of its touristic features, and warm weather, this coast area is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Safaga is the second big city in Red Sea governorate, the whole area of the governorate is 130000 m2.

Safaga City lies in the middle of the Egyptian coast on Red Sea, nearly 60km south to Hurghada City. Safaga can be reached either through Hurghada International Airport (about 45 km from the airport) or by bus (about 550 km from Cairo). Safaga area has lot of distinguished features such as: tranquillity; moderate climate all year round; infrequently raining; healthy weather (with no humidity); long hours of sunshine. Also there are sandy beaches; serene calm waters varying in colors between turquoise and light blue that attracts divers and snorkel practitioners.

Besides, the new trend of Climatotherapy which make the dreams of Psoriasis and Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in healing come true. So, annually a great numbers of visitors come to Safaga seeking for…. Joy and Heal in a healthy and wonderful climate …. free of pollution and noise All these characteristics make Safaga distinctly sparkle on the map of the international tourism and health tourism.

PLACES TO SEE IN SAFAGA
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Mons Claudianus
In the parched desert between the Red Sea and the Nile lies the fascinating ruins of a Roman settlement. For over two centuries, from 68 AD to 282 AD, Mons Claudianus used the surrounding mountains to produce high quality columns and building blocks of grey granite known as granodiorite for the sole purpose of beautifying imperial Rome. Today, you can witness these magnificent objects in the Pantheon, in Hadrian's Villa and in the unfinished Temple of Venus. The largest and best-preserved Roman site in the Eastern Desert, Mons Claudianus, was once home to one thousand quarrymen and soldiers. You can still see remnants of the fortress, dwellings, workshops, stables, baths, broken granite columns and slabs. One column is an impressive 16 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, weighing 209 tons. Mons Claudianus is definitely well worth a day trip from Hurghada, Safaga or Quseir.

Quseir Fortress This Ottoman fortress in the town center of Quseir is certainly worth a visit. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Selim to protect trade links with India. Napoleon's troops occupied the fortress in 1799, fortifying it with cannons mounted high on the walls. They also added a new viewing platform. A few years later, British forces ejected the French after a fierce battle and added a new gate to the fortress. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the decline of Quseir and its fortress. Recently, restoration work on the fortress has been completed. Cannons are once again pointing seawards from their original gun ports. The viewing platform was also restored with the help of illustrations from the Déscription de l'Égypte that had been commissioned by Napoleon. The fortress now houses the new Visitor Center containing displays on local history, archaeology and culture of the surrounding region.

Myos Hormos
Two thousand years ago Myos Hormos was the Roman Empire's principal gateway to India and East Africa. Only recently have archaeologists been able to identify the exact location of this ancient port, just eight kilometers north of Quseir. During its peak period around 20 AD, reportedly 120 ships laden with wines, fine pottery, glass, precious metals and textiles set out each year from Myos Hromos to India. They brought back all kinds of luxury goods, including spices, medicines, silk and pearls. Myos Hormos seems to have been abandoned in the 2nd century AD. During the 14th and 15th centuries however, the site was revived into a thriving port for Mecca pilgrims and a rejuvenated India trade. At Myos Hormos you can see foundations of ancient port structures and numerous remnants of empty Roman storage jars (amphorae). Pottery shards are strewn all over the area, evidence of thriving economic activity.

ACTIVITES IN SAFAGA
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Land Activities in Safaga
Safaga has become famous as a top watersports destination, with its large sandy bay of crystalline waters, it is a paradise of divers, snorkellers, wind and kite surfers. But Safaga is also on the doorstep of the awe-inspiring Eastern Desert. With its breathtaking views and unforgettable atmosphere, the Eastern Desert is a land of exhilarating boundlessness, and a favourite destination for an endless series of excursions and activities. Most desert trips include the visit to a typical Bedouin settlement, where you will be shown how this timeless nomad people lives in harmony with its very harsh land. There are many ways to discover the beauty hidden in wadis and mountains. Whether by camel, 4x4 jeep or quads, desert safaris and day trips take you to unforgettable adventures, guaranteed to take your breath away. Hiking and trekking in the desert is within range of everybody, provided that you go with experienced guides and follow their advice – most excursions to the desert include an easy walk accessible even to the less fit.

In addition to this, the resorts offer a selection of land based sports and leisure activities. From tennis courts to games rooms with table tennis, to billiards, darts, beach volleyball, water polo, water gymnastics, aerobic and stretching classes, jogging on the beach, Safaga has a wealth of fun activities to break the lazy routine of beach and swimming pool. Nearby, is Soma Bay with its famous PGA golf course – ranked among the best ten in the world. The course offers also courses for beginners, and the welcoming club house offers golf-related shopping and a relaxing atmosphere for friends and family.

Watersports in Safaga
Sporty, sunny Safaga is the Red Sea's most classical and famous windsurfing spot. The large bay is a surfers’ paradise, with its wide sandy beaches with flat water and only occasional swells – and recently has become a favourite of kite surfers too. Sheltered shallow areas are ideal for beach and water-start training. Perfect wind conditions all year round facilitate boat trips to Tobias Island, where local surf centers take surfers for a day of fun offshore. You will find plenty of variety in Safaga – from the wonderful slalom and freeride area to the swell zone for those seeking special thrills. Many international happenings and competitions are held in Safaga every year. In addition to this surfers’ paradise, the beautiful bay of Safaga offers plenty of other watersports, from catamarans to kayaking, banana rides, snorkelling excursions to the bay’s islands, and much much more.

Entertainment in Safaga Safaga is mainly a watersports and diving destination, and as such, entertainment revolves mostly around early evenings and quiet drinks with friends at the hotels. In town there are only a couple of bars where local expats meet – or, on the picturesque side of it, you can choose to spend some time in the typical “ahwa” or cafeteria, where the locals meet after work to play backgammon, smoke a waterpipe and watch TV. Nevertheless, the sporty local community often organises great beach parties in some excellent venues, such as the surf hut at the Holiday Inn, with its cool wooden terrace right on the beach. Mingle with the locals to be updated of ongoing parties and barbecues. Apart from this, the hotels and resorts offer the customary selection of oriental evenings with belly dancing, piano bar evenings and special weekly theme events.

Snorkelling sites in Safaga
Safaga is a large, calm water bay with a series of nice sandy beaches along its shore. Snorkelling in Safaga is easy and ideal for kids. Just remember that the bay is a favourite spot for board sports enthusiasts, so always check out for where the windsurfers’ action is! A favourite among tourists though is the half day or full day excursion to Tobia Island, a flat sandbank located in the middle of the bay. Snorkelling is ”the” watersport per excellence in the Red Sea. With the wealth of underwater life in all destinations, snorkelling is an easy and very enjoyable way to spend some time and discover the wonders of the marine life. Whether you go out from your resort beach, or you spend a day or half a day on a snorkelling boat, you will collect unforgettable memories! In the Red Sea, snorkelling is particularly easy, as the high salinity of the water allows you to float almost without effort. Follow though our Snorkelling Guide tips, for those areas where currents and waves can make it a bit more challenging.

Here are some of the nicest spots for snorkelling in Safaga:

• Ras Abu Soma, the fringing reef famous also among divers, with an incredible wealth of marine life. Accessible via the jetty at the Sheraton Soma Bay, it can be at times a bit challenging due to wind and currents. But you are in for some unforgettable sights here!
• Tobia Island, a flat little sandbank located in the middle of the bay of Safaga, with outstanding coral heads in shallow water. Excursions to Tobia are regularly scheduled by all diving and aqua centres in the area. In all hotels you will find watersport and diving centres hiring snorkelling equipment, and organising guided and non-guided snorkelling trips to the best places in the area. They also cater to the tiny ones, with professional guides teaching your kids how to use snorkel, mask and fins, for an experience they will never forget. Another way to have some great snorkelling is joining one of the scuba diving boats, going out on daily basis for half day or full day trips to the best sites in the area. Have a look at our Diving and Snorkelling Maps to check out the names and location of the area’s snorkelling sites.

Dining in Safaga, Egypt
Safaga, a fairly big harbour town, has a very strong local atmosphere. In town, there is an array of local restaurants and snack bars with a big choice of delicious, freshly caught fish, especially along the coastal road, where fishermen sell their catches and spartan joints cook them for you. There are no famous international chains in Safaga, but there is a fair choice of good a-la-carte restaurants inside the high category hotels, where you can enjoy fine dining on the water's edge, if you are looking for a gourmet dinner in relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

In Safaga, the hotels’ cuisine is quite good. Hotels normally have a main restaurant serving the boarding meals (breakfast and dinner, sometimes also lunch), and one or more a-la-carte restaurants to sample specialties or to celebrate that special occasion in an intimate atmosphere.

WHY INVESTING IN SAFAGA

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• Lower prices than Hurghada
• Can buy freehold
• Beach front property available
• Easily accesiable to Hurghada (25mins into the centre)and Luxor ( 3 hours drive)
• Good selection of Water Parks, and Golf courses nearby
• Spa treatments in the famous “black sand” and salty waters (35% more salt than in normal sea water)
• Quiet, relaxing resort
• Marina
• Unique micro climate with over 300 days of sunshine each year
• Lower cost of living

Overview
As an investor you can expect above average returns from investing in the off-plan property developments in Sharm El Sheikh Why?

Four reasons:

• 1. The property is priced BELOW today's market value (You literally buy your property at a discounted price).
• 2. Your equity is limited to only around 30% of your property's price. (You only pay a fraction of the total sales price to secure your ownership rights).
• 3. During construction you can sell your property on to a 'lifestyle' buyer benefiting from any pre-scheduled price increases from the developer and additional capital market growth. Or, elect to go to Title Deed and complete your purchase; then sell the property on approximately two years later and see potentially even bigger gains on your investment due to the development's 'mature' status and desirability (it's easier to sell a completed apartment with a beautiful swimming pool and gardens than something still in construction)