Simple – Peaceful – Sustainable: About Sawa Camp

A peaceful beach camp at the red sea shore, Nuweiba – Sinai – Egypt

As more and more of Sinai’s once paradisiacal coast gets covered in formulaic cement resorts, it’s becoming more difficult to find a retreat away from the crowds. Salama established Sawa Camp in 2004 as a place where you can do just that; where travellers can simply sit back and relax and enjoy the unique and peaceful beauty of the northern Sinai coast which has so far escaped the over-development of the south. With that in mind Sawa has been kept deliberately simple, the epitome of the traditional Egyptian beach camp before the developers moved in. Huts lie along a strip of extremely clean, white-sand beach, only a hop from the water’s edge. You can spend your days relaxing in your hammock on the hut’s porch or, if you’re feeling more social, move to the restaurant area, strewn with comfortable cushions to lounge on, where you overlook the glistening Red Sea and in the evening can watch the moon rise over the hazy jagged cliffs of Saudi Arabia. At night the only entertainment you need here, after an atmospheric candle-lit dinner on the beach, is the night sky itself; un-hindered by street lamp haze you’re guaranteed a million-star view from your porch. In keeping with the natural surroundings and Salama’s own ethics, Sawa Camp has been designed sustainably and as ecologically-attuned as possible. Natural, locally-sourced materials have been used for the buildings such as bamboo, palm leaves and Sinai stone and the showers are heated by solar power.

How to get to Sawa Camp?

Camp Facilities:

Huts

All huts have a beautiful sea view and include a hammock on the porch

Bathrooms

The communal toilet and shower block is kept spotless with regular cleans by staff throughout the day. Toilet paper is provided.

Restaurant

The shady heart of the camp is the perfect place to chill out and serves up a variety of delicious Middle Eastern and Western dishes as well as fresh juices and snacks. This is also where you’ll find our library and the camp’s pool table.

Electricity

24 hours

Beach beds

For working on that all-important holiday tan.

Snorkel Equipment

To check out our reef with.

Games and activities

For the more active guest we have a pool table, a volley ball net and other games such as darts, sheshbesh (backgammon) and playing cards are available.

Bonfire and outdoor bbq area

Bedouin bazaar

Not available

Tourist information and assistance

we are happy to assist in booking onward travel from Sawa Camp and have maps and bus time tables to help you plan the rest of your holiday. We can also arrange a whole host of trips and activities in the Sinai region such as dive trips, climbing Mt Sinai and Sinai desert hikes.

All the Sawa Camp Crew speak English

How to get to Sawa camp

From Sharm el Sheikh Airport

Sharm el Sheikh is the nearest airport to Sawa Camp, only 3 hours drive away. If you want to take public transport there is a regular shuttle beach connecting Sharm Airport with the bus station from where it is possible to catch a bus to Nuweiba or Taba (please see the bus timetable below). Unfortunately there are only two buses per day and be aware that bus schedules from Sharm tend to change. If you want, we can arrange a private transfer to pick you up from Sharm or from Nuweiba. Please contact us for details.

From Cairo

East Delta bus company run a public bus from Cairo Gateway bus station (also known as Turgoman bus station) to Nuweiba, via Taba, four times daily (please see the bus timetable below) which can drop you on the main road right beside the Sawa Camp entry. It’s a seven hour drive through the Sinai to here. Ask the bus driver to drop you at Sawa Camp or, if you have a phone, call us and we can explain to you where to get off. When you’re ready to leave Sawa we can help you catch the bus.

From Nuweiba

There are three East Delta buses per day from Nuweiba, from where it’s a short half hour trip to Sawa. Ask the bus driver to drop you at the camp entrance. You can also get a taxi here from Nuweiba which will cost around 50 EGP or we can arrange a private transfer to pick you up. The bus timetables are below

Public bus timetable from Sharm el Sheikh to Nuweiba

Departure from SharmArrival in Nuweiba09.00 11.40 (arrive Sawa approx 12.00)17.00 20.00 (finishes in Nuweiba) The 0900 bus from Sharm el Sheikh heads to Taba so goes right beside our door. The 17.00 bus unfortunately only goes as far as Nuweiba from where you’d have to hire a taxi or we can arrange a private transfer to pick you up. Please be aware that the bus timetable from Sharm is liable to change. If you want to come by public transport from here please contact us beforehand so we can check the current schedules. Public bus timetable from (Cairo to Nuweiba) (Nuweiba to Cairo)Departure from CairoArrival in NuweibaDeparture from NuweibaArrival in Cairo 06.00 13.00 09.00 (arrive Sawa 09.20) (arrive Sawa 11.20)(arrive Sawa 15.20) (The day buses tend to be more comfortable)