Forget tombs and pyramids: This newly renovated Four Seasons will have you planning an Egypt beach vacation

Egypt is a dream destination I’ve been waiting for a special time to visit. And if there’s ever been a time, I think it’s pretty soon considering that Egypt is open to tourists and on the forefront of an incredible hotel boom with a ton of great projects in the works.

While Egypt has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, like visiting the Pyramids, taking a felucca boat down the Nile and marveling at the wonders of Luxor, you might be shocked to hear that Egypt is also home to a pretty incredible resort scene with beautiful beaches and diving. And now, one of the most luxurious hotels in the country, the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, just wrapped up a major renovation.

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Located on the Sinai Peninsula on a hill overlooking the Red Sea, the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh just doubled in size compared to when it opened 20 years ago. Stretching across a kilometer-long private coastline, the resort is an ode to nature, with lush, palm-filled gardens complimented by bougainvillea framing the mountains, desert and nearby sea. (Not exactly the dusty desert landscape many people think when their mind drifts to Egypt.)

As part of the resort’s renovations, Four Seasons added 115 brand-new guest rooms and suites in two-story “hideaways” that face the Red Sea. Available in one- and two-bedroom layouts, including some with private pools, this new addition is the largest and most expansive area of the resort and perfect for families or groups. Inspired by the golden sand and blue waters of the beach below, guests can easily move between the nature-inspired rooms out onto large balconies to see the vision for the room in real life. Combine that with modern takes on Arabian designs and Arabesque details, such as arched windows, and you might never want to leave.

Or, if you really want to take your Egyptian beach vacation to the next level, reserve The Palace, a three-bedroom standalone beachfront residence that was “designed to host royalty, international figures and the world’s elite.”

At more than 6,000 square feet, The Palace has a private fitness room, spa treatment room, dressing room, office and more. This little slice of Egyptian paradise has its own garden and terrace with outdoor seating for eight, not one but two swimming pools and a private beach.

The one not-inconsequential caveat is that a space designed for the rich and famous comes with an equally rich price tag and easily costs more than $10,000 a night. But don’t fret, standard rooms here can be found for a little over $400 a night.

But while the rooms — especially ones with private pools — are incredible, it’s what you experience outside of them and around the resort that’s really why you’ll want to head to this part of Egypt.

First, you’ll want to book it to the resort’s dive center, which has a dedicated training pool and classroom to help visitors get certified so they can explore the resort’s beautiful house reef. With clear water that’s warm all year long, this is the perfect place to experience the biodiversity found in the Red Sea.

Or, if going underwater isn’t quite your style, guests can charter a private yacht to sail around Tiran Island, directly across the resort, or head out on a sunset sail searching for dolphins. Kayaking, parasailing and stand-up paddleboarding are also on offer.

For visitors who just want to just kick back and relax, take the funicular down to the beach to soak up the sun. There are also five different pools to unwind by and a beautiful spa offering the “Egyptian Masterpiece” package that combines a milk bath with a brown sugar scrub, massage and hydrating hair treatment.

And don’t worry about going hungry: executive chef Sebastiano Spriveri, who has been with Four Seasons for 27 years, is leading an impressive culinary team serving up meals at a handful of restaurants (Asian street food-inspired dishes at Yatai; authentic Arabic at Zitouni; Latin American snacks at Luna and more).

It’s safe to say that whatever you want out of a trip to Egypt, you can get that and more at Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh. The only question now: When will Four Seasons finally get a loyalty program so die-hard fans of the brand can earn and burn points while checking out this exciting hotel renovation?

Featured image courtesy of Four Seasons.