Soma Bay
Soma Bay is a resort on the Red Sea Coast in Egypt developed by the Soma Bay Development Company established in 1991.
Understand
[edit]45 km south of Hurghada International Airport, the 10 million m², self-contained community of Soma Bay is surrounded on all sides by the sea. It offers year-round sunshine and mild temperatures. Unique to Soma Bay are its white sandy beaches and panoramic views of desert mountains. A selection of luxury hotels, a championship golf course, a grand thalassotherapy spa, and a diving and kitesurfing center all make Soma Bay an ideal place for relaxation and recreation.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Soma Bay is a 4-hr flight from Central Europe. It is easily accessible by charter and scheduled flights from many European destinations direct to Hurghada International Airport. EgyptAir also offers several flights per day between Cairo and Hurghada. The airport is 45 min away from Soma Bay. The hotels in Soma Bay can provide airport transfers from/to Hurghada to Soma Bay at a rate of €15 per person each way. Soma Bay is featured by a variety of international tour operators and travel agents. You can also book directly with Soma Bay and purchase flights separately.
By car
[edit]Soma Bay is also accessible by private car. Driving from Cairo, the capital, takes you along 500 km of well-paved highway along the coast. There are places along the way for pit-stops. The views are impressive where desert meets the Red Sea.
Get around
[edit]Walking is a pleasure in Soma Bay, but there is also a convenient free shuttle bus that departs frequently between all the hotels, golf course, spa, diving and kitesurfing center.
See
[edit]Nearby day trips include:
- Monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony
- The Roman ruins of Mons Porphyrites and Mons Claudianus
- The Fortress of El-Quseir
- Wadi Hammamat.
Do
[edit]- Diving & snorkeling – Soma Bay is popular for scuba diving and snorkeling due to its clear, calm waters and vibrant coral reefs. A large turquoise-blue lagoon lies at the front of the reef and provides sheltered waters ideal for training. A fleet of dive boats access the many dive sites in the region from the Soma Bay marina. The dive sites in this area have the advantage of being considerably less crowded that those found elsewhere in the Red Sea and include coral gardens, walls, drop-offs and wrecks suitable for all levels of experience.
- Kitesurfing & sailing – Soma Bay is arguably one of the best spots in the world for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The bay offers flat water conditions, coupled with side shore winds that range from 4-8Bft all year round. The wind is accelerated by the close proximity of the mountains to the sea. Catamaran and Laser boat sailing are popular with the ability to take lessons for first-timers.
- Golfing – An 18-hole, par 72 championship course designed by Gary Player has ranked the number 1 golf course in the world outside of Europe for several years in a row by the readers of the German magazine Golf Journal. Adjacent to the championship course, is the 9-hole, par 3 challenge course, also designed by Gary Player, that offers both the beginner and the more advanced golfer the opportunity to practice a variety of shots with emphasis on the short game. The challenge course serves a golf academy where individual and group tuition by PGA golf pros is available. There are also practice facilities, including a 60-bay driving range, and several putting and pitching practice greens.
- Thalassotherapy Spa – Highlights of the treatments include seawater facilities, a variety of hydrotherapy treatments, including seaweed wraps and underwater massages, plus beauty & wellness treatments that include personalized fitness, weight and nutrition programs as well as post natal recuperation programs.
Eat
[edit]Restaurants in all the five hotels featuring international and local cuisine. Most guests tend to dine at the hotel they stay in, but guests can also "dine around" at the other hotels at discounted prices.
Vacationers usually stay on half-board plans, enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast and dinner, while snacking at the various pool and beach bars for lunch.
Sleep
[edit]- Sheraton Soma Bay. Notable for its pharaonic architecture and its impressive central swimming pool as well as its expansive sandy beach.
- Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay. The first of this European hotel chain in Egypt, the Kempinski is designed as a Moorish fortress with oriental accents. It features an impressive system of pools, waterfalls and lagoons and extends over 7,000 m².
- Robinson Club. The Robinson is popular with families and water sports enthusiasts. It features an expansive sandy beach, lush landscaping and a wide range of activities and animation programs including children's programs.
- The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge. Designed to appeal to divers, kiters and windsurfers looking for reasonably priced accommodation. This hotel has 173 rooms right next to the Soma Bay Dive Center, most of them have extraordinary views of the house reef.
Go next
[edit]- Luxor – In the Nile Valley, 3 hr away by car from Soma Bay. With Egypt's ancient sites: the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Karnak and Luxor Temples. Most of the Soma Bay hotels can arrange day or over-night trips.