Egypt: More Than Just Sea, Sand and Pyramids
Egypt holidays are often a Red Sea 4 star all inclusive affair - a week of sun, sea and maybe a visit to the pyramids. Having suffered this type of Egypt holiday myself on my honeymoon in 2008, I was not overly thrilled to be returning for work but I was pleasantly surprised at the adventure holidays Egypt actually has to offer. My first visit ended in the one week of the year it rains in Egypt, a boring hotel buffet every night for a week and the loss of my husband's brand new wedding ring. My second time this September ended in ten days of treks across the Sinai, snorkelling in a underwater oasis, crossing the desert by 4WD and exploring ancient wonders by sailing down the Nile in a felucca.
While the Pyramids are Egypt's biggest draw besides its fabulous beach resort the Red Sea and Hurghada, the country also has a host of other activities on offer for the adventurous traveler. On my €work' trip (I love my job); I got to travel deep into the Sinai Desert which is an adventure in itself. Entering the Sinai from under the Suez Canal, through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, we took a long 7 hour journey to Mount Sinai. The desert is an eerie place and I was quite shocked by the true harshness of the environment I found myself in. There's no vegetation and just endless miles of dry dust sitting beneath a strong and powerful sun. It is difficult to believe that the nomadic Berbers chose this landscape as home but still they live here, at one with the land. From the vast sands we moved on to the Feiran Oasis where thousands of Palm trees line the way, the first sign of life for miles. Mount Sinai and the infamous St Catherine's Monastery sit just beyond this oasis and although there has been recent advice to avoid this area, the hike I took on day three to the top of the Mount was incredible. We left before sunrises in order to catch the rising sun appear from our spot on top of Mt. Sinai and what a view it was. After a 3 hour hike I was in awe at the 720 Steps of Repentance I had to endure to the summit. The Monastery itself is also well worth a visit just to marvel at the hundreds of years worth of history packed into this mystical church.
From the desert - where I tried my hand at sand boarding and wild camping - to the River Nile. The Nile is one of the oldest motorways in the world, the lifeblood of Egypt and even today it is busy with sailing and rowing boats and large tourist cruisers. From my River cruise boat I was taken on a journey through Egypt's past of excessive golden displays of wealth, the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, to the modern day lives of Egyptians making a living on the fertile banks. Luxor was one of the biggest highlights with its dramatic column lined entrance, the beautifully carved obelisks of ancient Queens and the crumbling walls of a once regal hall. The Valley of the Kings was a marvel too especially from the air, as I flew over it in a hot air balloon which was simple a wonderful experience. The life along the Nile is quite wonderful and at night you can hear locals singing and dancing to Nubian songs along the banks, celebrating the fertile river lands and their unique age-old culture. One night we even camped around a burning fire and dined with a local Nubian family which was something I had never imagined I would do in Egypt!
Alexandria next and what a place not to be missed! The ancient Egyptian port of the Roman Empire, Alexandria once housed one of the ancient wonders of the world, The Lighthouse. Now it no longer stands but you can visit the site and marvel at what would have been one of the greatest manmade structures of the era. Here the biggest burial site from Roman history can be explored and if you have the time why not visit the Bibliotheca which houses over 8 million books! It's impressive to say the least.
From the river and the desert to the Red Sea - oh yes I couldn't leave Egypt a second time without catching some sun on the beautiful blue seas. The Red Sea resort can be as active or as docile as you like. If you want to lie all day on a sun lounger so be it but the real adventure lies beneath the waves. Take the time to snorkel among the coral, the brightly coloured zoo of sea life and to gaze upwards at the sunny skies. Paradise.
My trip was a mix of several that my company run but there are plenty of options to choose from, just ask a Travel Consultant to help you find your best trip.
While the Pyramids are Egypt's biggest draw besides its fabulous beach resort the Red Sea and Hurghada, the country also has a host of other activities on offer for the adventurous traveler. On my €work' trip (I love my job); I got to travel deep into the Sinai Desert which is an adventure in itself. Entering the Sinai from under the Suez Canal, through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, we took a long 7 hour journey to Mount Sinai. The desert is an eerie place and I was quite shocked by the true harshness of the environment I found myself in. There's no vegetation and just endless miles of dry dust sitting beneath a strong and powerful sun. It is difficult to believe that the nomadic Berbers chose this landscape as home but still they live here, at one with the land. From the vast sands we moved on to the Feiran Oasis where thousands of Palm trees line the way, the first sign of life for miles. Mount Sinai and the infamous St Catherine's Monastery sit just beyond this oasis and although there has been recent advice to avoid this area, the hike I took on day three to the top of the Mount was incredible. We left before sunrises in order to catch the rising sun appear from our spot on top of Mt. Sinai and what a view it was. After a 3 hour hike I was in awe at the 720 Steps of Repentance I had to endure to the summit. The Monastery itself is also well worth a visit just to marvel at the hundreds of years worth of history packed into this mystical church.
From the desert - where I tried my hand at sand boarding and wild camping - to the River Nile. The Nile is one of the oldest motorways in the world, the lifeblood of Egypt and even today it is busy with sailing and rowing boats and large tourist cruisers. From my River cruise boat I was taken on a journey through Egypt's past of excessive golden displays of wealth, the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, to the modern day lives of Egyptians making a living on the fertile banks. Luxor was one of the biggest highlights with its dramatic column lined entrance, the beautifully carved obelisks of ancient Queens and the crumbling walls of a once regal hall. The Valley of the Kings was a marvel too especially from the air, as I flew over it in a hot air balloon which was simple a wonderful experience. The life along the Nile is quite wonderful and at night you can hear locals singing and dancing to Nubian songs along the banks, celebrating the fertile river lands and their unique age-old culture. One night we even camped around a burning fire and dined with a local Nubian family which was something I had never imagined I would do in Egypt!
Alexandria next and what a place not to be missed! The ancient Egyptian port of the Roman Empire, Alexandria once housed one of the ancient wonders of the world, The Lighthouse. Now it no longer stands but you can visit the site and marvel at what would have been one of the greatest manmade structures of the era. Here the biggest burial site from Roman history can be explored and if you have the time why not visit the Bibliotheca which houses over 8 million books! It's impressive to say the least.
From the river and the desert to the Red Sea - oh yes I couldn't leave Egypt a second time without catching some sun on the beautiful blue seas. The Red Sea resort can be as active or as docile as you like. If you want to lie all day on a sun lounger so be it but the real adventure lies beneath the waves. Take the time to snorkel among the coral, the brightly coloured zoo of sea life and to gaze upwards at the sunny skies. Paradise.
My trip was a mix of several that my company run but there are plenty of options to choose from, just ask a Travel Consultant to help you find your best trip.
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