Welcome to the Red Sea destination where the sun always shines. That’s not just a promo gimmick — Soma Bay really does have perfect weather with its year-round sunshine and temperate climate, and this relatively new five-star destination has more to offer than just a great suntan. If it’s relaxation you’re looking for, Soma Bay is a piece of paradise boasting some of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Red Sea, plus the ultimate in luxury pampering in the form of select resorts.

Only 45 kilometers from Hurghada International Airport, the self-contained community of Soma Bay is a peninsula pleasantly removed from air traffic lanes and public highways.Up for some sports and recreation? The area offers some of the best scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, tennis and squash facilities in the country.

The prime attractions here — beyond suntanning —are snorkeling and diving. Most hotels in Soma Bay either have their own diving facilities or have an agreement with local PADI-certified diving centers. Prices for certification or excursions vary depending on the package (there are levels corresponding to skill), the location and the number of dives. Most prices also include the guide and tanks, but it’s best to check exactly what’s in the package before leaving the hotel.

The southwest coast of the peninsula is also a great windsurfing and sailing destination. Once again, most hotels either have their own facilities or have agreements with nearby centers that provide equipment rental and, in the case of windsurfing, quick familiarization sessions.

Soma Bay is also a golfer’s haven, with an 18-hole golf course — the Cascades — designed by none other than Gary Player, who, in addition to fashioning over 200 golf courses worldwide, has gained a reputation as the world’s most traveled athlete. But what sets this impressive course apart is its breathtaking ocean backdrop. Come July, the Residence des Cascades and Sheraton Soma Bay are once again hosting the Red Sea Pan-Arab Open Amateur Championship, open to all golfers regardless of nationality.

If golf isn’t really your thing, adventurous souls can sign up for excursions outside Soma Bay, including a visit to the Monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony, nestled deep in the Red Sea mountains. And with Luxor only 240 kilometers away by road, same-day excursions to the treasures of ancient Egypt provide a break from sea and surf.

If all this seems too hectic, head straight for Les Thermes Marins des Cascades spa — the ultimate in luxury and pampering.

The Details

Sheraton Soma Bay (tel: (065) 354-5915) offers a fantastic range of activities, pleasant relaxing rooms with stunning sea views and reasonable food. Standard doubles cost LE 1000 and 1120 with sea view ; the rate for foreigners is $322. Also worth a look is La Residence des Cascades (tel: (065) 354-2333), which boasts a Gary Player-designed golf course; reserve your day on the green by calling (065) 354-4901. Double room accommodation goes for LE 850 half-board, 225 for foreigners.

The InterContinental Abu Soma (tel: (065) 326-0700) offers horse stables with Arabian horses as part of its five-star activity mix. A double room with breakfast starts at LE 550 for Egyptians and residents, $195 for non-residents.

Set to give the Sheraton a run for its money will be the Hyatt Regency, Soma Bay’s fourth resort, due to open this year. The chain promises generously sized guest rooms (321 rooms and suites), extensive landscaping and water features, banqueting and conference facilities, tennis, squash, a stylish health club, an extensive sandy beach, heated swimming pools and a ‘lazy river’ running through the grounds.

For a cheaper alternative, look out for The Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge, a reasonably priced 154-room hotel being established right next to the Dive Center. Most of its rooms will have beautiful views of the House Reef Lagoon, the Jetty and the sea —attractive lodging for dedicated divers and windsurfers.

The easiest way to get to Soma Bay is to fly to Hurghada Airport on EgyptAir. Flights depart from Cairo several times a day, with frequency and times varying with day of the week and season. All five-star resorts provide free transportation to and from the hotel. If not, one of the local taxis will take you. Bargain for the fare, but expect to pay a little more during high season. You can also take the SuperJet or Upper Egypt buses (approximately LE 45), which leave Cairo multiple times during the day.  et