Activities in Egypt
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FEATURED
Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara
6 - 8 hours (Departs Cairo, Egypt)
by Viator
Step back in time to the days of ancient Egypt on a private tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, the necropolis of Sakkara and the former capital,…Not LP reviewed
from USD$83.00 - All activities
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Ace
ACE was opened in 2000 by a British-run charity to give free treatment for the working animals of Egyptians, particularly donkeys and horses, and it is today a great veterinary hospital and animal welfare centre seeing up to 200 animals a day. For those distressed by the state of the horses in Luxor streets, you may like to see what is done here. The centre also runs an education program receiving 80 local children a day, aiming to impart a love and care for animals. This is a great place to visit, and foreign children can spend the day at the centre to help care for the animals. Volunteers and donations are very welcome.
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Nobi’s Arabian Horse Stables
Excellent horses can be found at Nobi’s Arabian Horse Stables, which also provides riding hats, English saddles and insurance. Nobi also has 25 camels and as many donkeys at the same price, and organises longer horse riding and camping trips into the desert or a week from Luxor to Kom Ombo along the West Bank. Call ahead to book, and he can arrange a hassle-free transfer to make sure you arrive at the right place, as often taxi drivers will try and take you to a friend’s stable instead.
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Windsurfing
Windsurfing is a popular pastime, and the Hilton Dahab Resort and Swiss Inn Golden Beach Resort have good windsurfing centres. The centre of the bay boasts the steadiest winds in Dahab, though strong gusts occasionally sweep across the northern end. Kitesurfing is also starting to take off in Dahab, although offshore winds limit the areas where it can be done.
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Snorkelling and Diving
Other than just lounging around, snorkelling and diving are the most popular activities in Dahab. The reefs off Assalah are often strewn with litter, but if you can ignore this, the reef at the northern end of Mashraba has table corals and impressive fish life.
Also worthwhile are the reefs off the southern end of Mashraba, just before the lagoon; Lighthouse Reef, a sheltered snorkelling site at the northern tip of Assalah; and the popular Eel Garden, just north of Assalah, where a colony of eels lives on the sandy sea bed.
About 6km further north are the Canyon and Blue Hole dive sites. Despite their intimidating reputation as danger zones for careless divers, the tops of…
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Felucca Rides
One of the most pleasant things to do on a warm day is to go out on a felucca, Egypt's ancient broad-sail boat, with a supply of beer and a small picnic just as sunset approaches. The best spot for hiring is the Dok Dok landing stage on the corniche in Garden City, across from the Four Seasons. Subject to haggling, a boat and captain should cost about around £E30 per hour irrespective of the number of people on board; your captain will appreciate additional baksheesh (possibly in liquid form).
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Dr Ragab’s Pharaonic Village
The theme park Dr Ragab’s Pharaonic Village is cheesy but offers a child-friendly glimpse of what life in ancient Egypt would have been like, with a boat trip past actors in Pharaonic costumes, a playground and an art centre where kids can make mini reed boats. Take a taxi (E£20 from Downtown), or walk the 800m from the Sakiat Mekki metro stop. Note that the price of admission varies according to your planned itinerary.
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Pharaoh’s Stables
Pharaoh’s Stables has horses, donkeys and camels (all E£30 to E£35 per hour).
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Jeep Safaris
All of the camps and shops offer jeep safaris, though prices vary considerably depending on the time of year, your destination and the size of your party - don't be afraid to shop around and bargain hard.
In addition to trips to the popular Coloured Canyon, other popular destinations are Ain al-Furtega, a palm-filled oasis 16km northwest of Nuweiba, and Mayat el-Wishwashi, a large cistern hidden between two boulders in a canyon - it used to be the largest cistern in Sinai, but now has only a trickle of water, except after floods. Nearby is Mayat Malkha, a palm grove fed by the waters of Mayat el-Wishwashi and set amid colourful sandstone.
Wadi Huweiyit is an impressive…
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Camel Safaris
With the exception of Dahab, Nuweiba is the best place in Sinai to arrange camel safaris into the interior. When planning your trip, keep in mind that camels are a slower and - if budget is a worry - more expensive way of travelling. However, they allow you to reach places that are inaccessible to vehicles, and are the best way to see the area.
Almost every camp and shop in Tarabin offers these trips, but take care that whoever you pick is a local Bedouin - not only are they marginalised by tour operators from the Nile Valley and therefore need the work, but there have been some instances of travellers lost in the desert without water because their so-called guides didn't…
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Gelal
The trustworthy Gelal, who hangs out near Panorama Restaurant near the ferry landing, offers hassle-free tours on his family's feluccas at good-value fixed prices. He is from Seheyl Island and can also arrange a visit of the island and lunch in his house, as well as a swim on a safe beach.
The Nile looks fabulous and magical at Aswan, and few things are more relaxing than hiring a felucca (traditional canvas-sailed boat) before sunset and sailing between the islands, the desert and the huge black boulders, listening to the flapping of the sail and to Nubian boys singing from their tiny dugouts.
When walking along the Nile, it's hard to avoid felucca touts any time of the…
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Camel Safaris
Dahab is one of the best places in Sinai to arrange camel safaris into the dramatic mountains lining the coast, especially the spectacular Ras Abu Gallum Protectorate. When choosing who to go with, try to find a Bedouin - or at least an operator that works with the Bedouin.
Unfortunately, local communities have been excluded from the tourist industry, which tends to be dominated by migrants from the Nile Valley. A good place to look is the waterfront in the village, where camel drivers tend to congregate. Register with the police before beginning the safari, and don't pay the camel driver until you return to the village. Itineraries - and as a result prices - are…
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Jeep Safaris
One of the most popular jeep safaris is a trip to Coloured Canyon, between St Katherine and Nuweiba. The canyon derives its name from the layers of bright, multicoloured stones that resemble paintings on its steep, narrow walls, and is magnificently beautiful. As the canyon is sheltered from the wind, the silence - assuming you aren't there with crowds of other visitors - is one of its most impressive features.
Unfortunately, the canyon has become overtouristed in recent years, and many operators have also begun offering trips to other sites, where the rock formations are equally impressive and the sense of wilderness more intact. All of the hotels, dive centres and…
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Fatnas Spring
There's a secluded pool at Fatnas Spring , the small island in the salty Birket Siwa (Lake Siwa) accessible across a narrow causeway. Nicknamed 'Fantasy Island' for its idyllic setting, the pool is about 6km from Siwa Town, and surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery. Although it is a safer place for a swim than Cleopatra's Bath, women should not swim alone and, again, should leave their bikinis for the Red Sea beaches.
There's a small café among the palms, which is good for sitting and puffing on a sheesha, or drinking a cold beer if it's available. This is an idyllic place to watch the sunset. A ministry of agriculture project to try and improve the lake's drainage…
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Bir Wahed
A favourite excursion among local guides is the cold freshwater lake at Bir Wahed 15km away on the edge of the Great Sand Sea. Once over the top of a high dune, you come to a hot spring, the size of a large Jacuzzi, where sulphurous water bubbles in a pool and runs off to irrigate a garden. Cooling down in the lake, and then watching the sun setting over the dunes while soaking in a hot spring, is a surreal experience.
The thorns in this rose are the mosquitoes that bite at sunset. Because it's far from town, women can wear bathing suits here without offending locals. Bir Wahed can only be reached by 4WD, so if you don't have your own, you'll need to hire a guide and car.…
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Cleopatra's Bath
Siwa has no shortage of active, bubbling springs hidden among its palm groves. Following the track that leads to the Temple of the Oracle and continuing past the Temple of Umm Ubayd, will lead you to the most famous spring, Cleopatra's Bath. The crystal-clear natural spring water gurgles up into a large stone pool, which is a popular bathing spot for locals.
Women should think twice about swimming here during the day, and if they decide to brave the stares then they should only bathe with their clothes on.There are changing rooms at the nearby Tanta Waa café.
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Moon Beach
One of the most famous places for wind- and kitesurfing, Moon Beach is where the British magazine Boards tests equipment each year. Located on the Gulf of Suez just off the main coastal road, Moon Beach has beachfront bungalows with all the trimmings. Additionally, there’s a professionally staffed and stocked wind- and kitesurfing centre, as well as a fully licensed school for budding surfers of all kinds. Nightly rates and shorter-stay packages are available – check out the website for more detailed information.
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Stone House Reef
Underwater delights are the feature attraction of Nuweiba, and while not as dramatic as at other resorts on the Gulf of Aqaba, the dive sites tend to be less busy, with an impressive variety of marine life. There are shallow reefs offshore that are reasonable places to snorkel, but the best snorkelling is the Stone House Reef just south of town.
Divers sometimes head to nearby Ras Abu Gallum, Ras Mohammed National Park or other offshore destinations - many of which are also fine for snorkellers - though most diving here is shore based.
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4-Day Nile River Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Optional Private Guide
4 days (Departs Aswan, concludes Luxor, Egypt)
by Viator
Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you cruise the Nile on a 4-day journey from Aswan to Luxor. Sightseeing, entrance fees and meals are included on this luxuriously…Not LP reviewed
from USD$229.00 -
Fagnoon Art School
Fagnoon Art School is a wonderful art centre in the fields between Giza and Saqqara. Children can slosh paint around, model clay, work with wrought iron or print and paint on textiles, all in the shadow of the Saqqara step pyramid. You can bring your own food and drink, although fiteer (pancake/pizza), coffee and water are usually on sale. To get here, take a microbus from the Pyramids Rd 12.5km in the direction of Saqqara and asked to be dropped off at Sabil Umm Hashim.
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Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara
6 - 8 hours (Departs Cairo, Egypt)
by Viator
Step back in time to the days of ancient Egypt on a private tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, the necropolis of Sakkara and the former capital,…Not LP reviewed
from USD$83.00 Advertisement
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snorkelling or diving
Although there is some easily accessible coral at the southern end of the resort strip, the best reefs are offshore, and the only way to see them is to take a boat and/or join a snorkelling or diving excursion. For all excursions, shop around a bit. Relying on your hotel may not be the best way to do things as travellers often complain about not getting everything they thought they would. For any boat excursion, take your passport with you as you'll need to show it at the port.
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Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
If the unhurried trams of Alexandria aren't quite slow and relaxed enough for you, you can take it down another notch by getting a Horse-drawn Carriage Rides. Popular during the summer months, these Victorian-style carriages clip-clop their way along the Corniche and are happy to take you to the major tourist attractions. A sunset trip along the waterfront could be quite romantic if it wasn't for the occasional blaring horns of taxis and microbuses trying to get past.
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Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
6 - 8 hours (Departs Cairo, Egypt)
by Viator
Take a leisurely private tour of Cairo's most famous sites: the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili bazaar. With your own private…Not LP reviewed
from USD$69.00 -
Taghaghien Touristic Island
If you’re desperate for a beer, this small island 12km northwest of Siwa Town and connected by a causeway is one of the few places selling the amber nectar (for a whopping E£35 a bottle). There is some humble accommodation and a restaurant here, but its many shaded tables and chairs, paddle-boat rentals and sweet sunset vistas make it better suited for a day trip or picnic. You’ll need your own transport to get here.
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5-Day Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan with Optional Private Guide
5 days (Departs Luxor, concludes Aswan, Egypt)
by Viator
Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you cruise the Nile on a 5-day journey from Luxor to Aswan. You also have the opportunity to upgrade to a private guided tour so…Not LP reviewed
from USD$300.00