Hooked on Ain Sokhna

The beaches of Sokhna, as its fans affectionately call the weekend destination, are not its only attraction. Combine an abundant number of luxury hotels lining the coast with the warm Red Sea tickling your toes, therapeutic packages capitalizing on the natural sulfur and mineral springs nearby and renowned deep-sea fishing, and you have a guaranteed good time on your itinerary.

For fishing lovers, all you need to do is round up a few friends, rent a boat and enjoy your day at sea. Boat rentals can be found almost everywhere in Sokhna, so check with the resorts or call the marina (Porto Sokhna • Tel: 19156 or +2 (062) 321-0100) for recommendations.

The boats usually come fully equipped, so there’s no need to find your own rod and reel. Small boats can take up to 12 people and cost approximately LE 800 for a six- to seven-hour trip. The best part: Your dinner goes from your hook to your plate with a brief stop in the kitchen, where the crew dresses your fish with sides of oriental rice and baladi salad. Seafood couldn’t come any fresher.

If you’re not keen on fishing, you can hit the links at the Stella Golf Resort or the Jaz Little Venice Golf Resort, or book a spa day at one of the many hotels. The monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul — two of the oldest monasteries in the world — are also within an hour’s drive.