Dahab

Dahab is the Red Sea's barefoot antidote to the big resorts, a former Bedouin fishing village on the Sinai coast where cushioned cafes spill onto the waterfront and the pace never rises above a stroll. Sandals, sarongs and long lazy breakfasts set the tone.

Beneath the calm surface lies serious diving. The famous Blue Hole, the Canyon and a string of shore-entry reefs mean you can walk straight off the beach into some of the world's best diving, no boat required. Snorkellers, free-divers and beginners find their place here too, alongside desert trips into the Sinai mountains.

This is where travellers come and end up staying longer than planned. Cheap, mellow and endlessly scenic, Dahab rewards those who want the reef and the mountains without the crowds.