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Top Things To Do
Camel trading
Perhaps best not to purchase a camel yourself while on holiday, but to observe this exotic activity, head to the Camel Market (Souq al-Gamaal), held every morning at Birqash, around 35km (21 miles) from Cairo on the Western Desert fringe. A livestock market is also held every Tuesday morning at El-Hebel, 4km (2.4 miles) from Luxor. Diving The Red Sea justly deserves its worldwide reputation for underwater adventure. Teeming with a colourful marine life, the crystal waters are landscaped with coral and dramatic drop-offs. Head for Ras Mohamed National Park (www.rasmohamed.com) for the underwater world at its best. Explore the desert Egypt's six oases in the vast Western Desert offer a fascinating glimpse of Bedouin and Berber life, often with ancient ruins nearby. Don't miss the White Desert, an area of dazzling white, wind-blown rock forms scattered across the wilderness. Fresh fish suppers A walk along the corniche in Alexandria is a good way to work up an appetite for one of the city's fabled fish suppers. The catch of the day, seasoned with exotic spices and dressed with a dozen mezze (small dishes), is a treat worth being hungry for. Golf While it's not a sport readily associated with Egypt, the country is now making quite a golfing name for itself and offers around 20 courses. They range from locations within sight of Cairo's Pyramids to settings alongside the Red Sea. Haggling Take a trip to Cairo's famous Khan-el Khalili bazaar, where haggling for spices, copper, perfume and trinkets has been refined into an art form. Don't miss Fishawi's tea house; in business for over 200 years, it is the ultimate place to people-watch. Hiking For centuries, pilgrims of different denominations have been making the journey up historic Mt Sinai to witness the sun rise across the desert landscape. If the three-hour hike sounds a bit ambitious, stay overnight at St Catherine Monastery, hire a camel and walk down in leisure. Hot-air ballooning Luxor, strewn either side of the Nile, looks good from the ground, better from the river and superb from the air. Rise above the land of the Pharoahs in a hot-air balloon and take a god's-eye view of the colossal works of ancient mortals. Nile cruise Plying the river between Luxor and Aswan, and generally lasting around three to five days, a boat ride is the quintessential Nile experience. Along the Nile, egrets flock to the water's edge and Egypt's ancient wonders unfold like a story book along the river bank. Snorkelling Egypt's spectacular coastline is accessible without a wetsuit. Simply wade out with a mask or snorkel or take a glass-bottomed boat from the shores of Sharm el-Sheik and the fish will come to you. |
