I planned my New Year’s Eve in a small seaside town on the South Sinai.
Dahab is full of European tourists, so I assumed there would be as many New Year’s Eve events as there are fish on the reef.
Well… not quite. 😉
The nature of this place is that workshops and events often pop up literally the day before — and that’s usually enough.
So I counted on some spontaneous offers showing up on the 31st itself. And a few did — but since I’m here with my four kids, none of them were really a match for me (a tantric night, a shamanic cacao ceremony in the oasis, and a drum’n’bass party in the desert).
Looks like next year I’ll have to organize something myself. 😉
What do you think?
But in many ways, this place is just… different from Poland or Europe.
• In Egypt, people generally don’t drink alcohol. In Dahab, there are just a few restaurants that serve it. Sometimes you can bring your own — a trick often used by Polish and Russian visitors. This absence of alcohol really changes the whole New Year vibe. You rarely see anyone drunk, the streets are filled with sober crowds, and there’s no glass-shattering, screaming-until-dawn party scene.
• No fireworks either. I haven’t seen any for sale here. At midnight, there were literally two launches — about 8 sparks in total. I honestly have no idea where those even came from.
It’s such a contrast to my village in southeastern Poland, where fireworks start a week before and go on for days. That’s always a nightmare for my dog.
• It’s really calm here.
If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the New Year frenzy, this place is like a breath of fresh air. Whether you’re on the beach or downtown, it’s peaceful.
Let me know — would you be up for a chill New Year’s like this?
Or do you prefer the glitter and madness of the classic European style? 🙂