People who are thinking about taking holidays to Egypt this year may be interested to learn that an eco-resort has celebrated 20 years on the Gulf of Aqaba.

Egypt’s first eco-lodge is still a haven for guests 20 years after  its inception, offering those on holidays to Egypt an alternative to the busy tourist hotspot of Sharm el Sheikh.

Writing for the Guardian, Benji Lanyado explained that Basata – which means “simplicity” in Arabic – was originally set up as a campsite for backpackers before owner Sherif El-Ghamrawy built the chalets that are currently dotted along the shoreline.

After arriving late on the first evening of his trip, Mr Lanyado described his first impressions after waking up just a few steps from the sea.

“The Gulf is laced with contours of blue: crystalline where the sun hits the pale golden sand, broody and dark where clumps of coral lie beneath,” he stated.

Visitors should be prepared for a simple holiday, Mr Lanyado noted, with a self-service kitchen and simple communal area the focal point of the resort.

However, he added that Basata’s appeal is in its different approach.

Last month, Alison Dando from the British Sub-Aqua Club commented that the Red Sea is an increasingly popular destination among UK divers due to the diversity of its marine life.

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