Picture this: sparkling blue coastline, pristine white beaches, five star luxury hotels, a world-class spa and a championship golf course.

This is exactly what you’ll find on the exclusive resort of Soma Bay located on the eastern shores of Egypt. Just 20 minutes drive from Hurghada International Airport, this hidden gem of a holiday spot boasts all-year sunshine, sweeping desert mountain vistas and spectacular coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.

With a cluster of beach-fronted hotels where guests are treated like royalty, holidaymakers are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to stay on this plush gated development.

For the ultimate pampering getaway look no further than La Residence des Cascades as the hotel’s star attraction is its 7,000 metre square state-of-the-art spa offering everything from traditional massages to hydrotherapy.

During my two-day stay I spent a relaxing afternoon having a massage and trying out its Thalasso-Tonic Hydrotherapy Pool, which contains different water jets, showers and counter-currents and is designed to rejuvenate and tone the body.

Believe me, this is something you’ll want to experience even if at times if feels like hungry crabs are nibbling on your knotted muscles. As you blissfully swim around the circuit you can literally feel the stresses of daily life being washed (or more accurately power hosed!) away.

But if this is not your bag, then the hotel also backs onto a vast 18 hole, par 72 golf course and golf academy designed by international sporting legend Gary Player. I forgot to pack my trainers so didn’t get the chance to practice my swing, but I did have a bite to eat at Spikes Bar, situated on the 18th green, which I can imagine is the ideal place to unwind after a round of golf.

Elsewhere, the resort has a wide-range of water sports facilities for everyone from thrill-seeking kite surfers, seasoned divers and even the most novice of snorkelers.

The Breakers Dive and Surfing Lodge specifically caters for the water sports enthusiast, and if you’re a guest here it’s well worth spending a morning strolling out along the jetty and exploring the aquatic life, before heading back to laze on a cushioned sunlounger along the hotel’s stretch of private beach.

To ensure visitors don’t miss out on any of Soma Bay’s culinary delights, all restaurants are involved in a nifty scheme called ‘dine around’. This means that guests can take the on-request complimentary shuttle bus to enjoy a meal at one of the neighbouring hotels.

Whatever you do, don’t miss out on dining at Bamboo Shoot, a Pan-Asian restaurant situated at the stunning Kempinski hotel. I feasted on vegetable spring rolls, the most succulent chicken in black bean sauce that has ever passed my lips and for dessert devoured the divinely creamy deep fried vanilla ice cream.

Kempinski, my home for the remainder of my trip, is an opulent 325-room five star hotel set in impressive grounds amid a myriad of outdoor heated pools, water features and a lazy river.

I stayed in one of the Moorish-style sea-view rooms, which had a spacious en-suite bathroom, free soft drinks mini bar and - my favourite touch - your choice of room fragrance. Watching the breathtaking sunset from my balcony with the sweet smell of mango and vanilla filling my nostrils was a very pleasant way to while away an evening.

Forget Sharm el Sheikh, be sure to make Soma Bay your next holiday destination.

Flights from Heathrow to Hurghada International Airport with Egypt Air start from £399.95.

For more details visit www.somabay.com