Karnak in Thebes (Modern Luxor)

In ancient Egypt, the power of the god Amun of Thebes gradually increased during the early New Kingdom, and after the short persecution led by Akhenaten, it rose to its apex. In the reign of Ramesses III, more than two thirds of the property owned by the temples belonged to Amun, evidenced by the stupendous buildings at Karnak. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometers north of Luxor, Egypt situated on 100 ha (247 acres) of land. Karnak is actually the sites modern name. Its ancient name was Ipet-isut, meaning "The Most Select (or Sacred) of Places".
This vast complex was built and enlarged over a thirteen hundred year period. The three main temples of Mut, Montu and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls. The Open Air Museum is located to the north of the first courtyard, across from the Sacred Lake. The main complex, The Temple of Amun, is situated in the center of the entire complex. The Temple of Monthu is to the north of the Temple of Amun, and next to it, on the inside of the enclosure wall is the Temple of Ptah, while the Temple of Mut is to the south. There is also the small Temple dedicated to Khonsu, and next to it, an even smaller Temple of Opet. Actually, there are a number of smaller temples and chapels spread about Karnak, such as the Temple of Osiris Hek-Djet (Heqadjet), which is actually inside the enclosure wall of the Temple of Amun.
In the Great Temple of Amun, the Second Pylon of Karnak was built by Ramesses II. The Ptolemies did some extensive repairing and some new building on the center section. Curiously enough, they left the columns and the facade of the First Pylon unfinished and left the mud-brick ramp where it was at. The reason for the work being left unfinished is not clear.The Hypostyle Hall is found after passing through the Second Pylon. The hall is considered to be one of the world's greatest architectural masterpieces. Construction began during Ramesses I's reign. He was the king who founded the Nineteenth Dynasty and was king for only one year. The work continued under Seti I (1306 - 1290 BC). Seti I also built the Temple of Abydos and many other temples. The hall was completed by Seti I's son, Ramesses II. The effects that are produced inside the hall are much different than they were originally. The huge architraves are not above the capitals that tower above. Toward the center of the hall several architraves and windows that have stone latticework still remain.
This small area can give one an idea of the builders' intent for the lighting effects. Some imagination is required here to appreciate what it must have looked like. The walls, ceilings and columns are painted with the natural earth tones. The light that was allowed in originally kept most of the hall in shadows. The hall ceiling was 82 feet high and was supported by 12 papyrus columns. The columns are made of sandstone and set in two rows of six. Each row is flanked on either side by 7 rows of columns that are 42 feet (12.8m) high. Each row has 9 columns, however the inner rows have 7 columns. The reliefs throughout the hall contain symbolism of Creation. The reliefs in the northern half are from the time period of Seti I and are obviously better done than those done by his son Ramesses II, which are in the southern half. Ramesses II's reliefs are cut much deeper than those of Seti's. This gives a much more dramatic light and shadow effect.

Plan of Karnak
The outer walls of the Hypostyle Hall are covered with scenes of battle. Again, Seti I is to the north and Ramesses II is to the south. The scenes have long since lost their color that was painted and the outlines of the scenes have been blurred by the centuries of wind and sun. It is unsure whether the scenes of battle are based on historical fact or of ritual significance. It is thought that when the battle details are very precise, real events are most likely involved. Seti's battles take place in Lebanon, southern Palestine and Syria. The southern walls of Ramesses II have hieroglyphic texts which actually record details of the Hittite king and Ramesses II signing a peace treaty in the twenty-first year of Ramesses reign. This is the first evidence found for a formal diplomatic agreement and is certainly historical.The Transverse Hall lies beyond the rear wall of the Hypostyle Hall. The wall is mostly ruined. With the Transverse Hall is a partially reconstructed Third Pylon of Amenhotep (Amenophis) III. The Transverse Hall has remains of the earliest sections of the Karnak complex that are still in existence.
Leaving the hypostyle hall through the third pylon you come to a narrow court where there once stood several obelisks. One of the obelisks was erected by Tuthmosis I (1504 - 1492 BC) who was the father of Hatshepsut. This obelisk stands 70 feet (21.3m) tall and weighs about 143 tons. During the centuries between Tuthmosis I and Ramesses VI, the kings of the time did more than their share of destroying and dismantling. This obelisk was never touched. The original inscription was left in its place. However, two kings did add their inscription on either side of the original. Beyond this obelisk is the only remaining Obelisk of Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BC). It is 97 feet (29.6m) high and weighs approximately 320 tons. Besides the Lateran obelisk in Rome, this is the tallest standing obelisk. The one in Rome is 101 feet (30.7m) high. Hatshepsut was a woman who dared to challenge the tradition of male kingship. She died from undisclosed causes after imposing her will for a time. After her death, her name and memory suffered attempted systematic obliteration. The inscription on the obelisk says, "O ye people who see this monument in years to come and speak of that which I have made, beware lest you say, 'I know not why it was done'. I did it because I wished to make a gift for my father Amun, and to gild them with electrum."
Tuthmosis III (1479-1425 BC) was Hatshepsut's successor. When he came to power, he built a high wall around her obelisk. This wall hid the lower two-thirds but left the upper towering above. It has been thought that this was an easier and cheaper way of destroying her memory than actually tearing it down and removing it. If Tuthmosis III had really wanted to destroy the obelisk, he would have certainly torn it down and removed it. Perhaps that was another reason for his building the wall. The top of the obelisk was visible for 50 miles (80 km). The pink granite for the obelisk was quarried at Aswan, which is several hundred miles south of Karnak. The stone was moved several miles over to the river and shipped down to Thebes. The setting of the stone is shown on reliefs as the pharaoh raising it with a single rope tied to its upper extremity. This is most probably symbolic, but may have been done this way with several hundreds of people pulling together. To the south of the standing obelisk is its companion which has fallen. It was also made of a single block of granite but is broken now.

The Sixth Pylon, which was built by Tuthmosis III, leads into a Hall of Records in which the king recorded his tributes. Very little remains of this archive beyond two granite pillars. Just beyond these pillars lies the Holy of Holies or sanctuary. Originally it was the oldest part of the temple. The present sanctuary was built by the brother of Alexander the Great, Philip Arrhidaeus (323-316 BC) who was the King of Macedonia. The present sanctuary was built on the site of the earlier sanctuary built by Tuthmosis III. The present sanctuary contains blocks from the Tuthmosis sanctuary and still contain Tuthmosis' inscriptions. The sanctuary is built in two sections.
The Karnak Temples are open from 6:30 am until 5:30 pm in winter and from 6 am to 6 pm during summer. Admission is LE1 20 for foreigners, LE 10 for foreign students, LE 2 for Egyptians and LE 1 for Egyptian students. Visiting the open-air museum, to the left of the second pylon, costs an extra LE 10. The museum contains a collection of statuary that was found throughout the temple complex. The ticket has to be purchased at the main Karnak ticket kiosk.
Karnak takes at least a half of a day just to walk around its many precincts and years to come to know it well.
There is also a Sound and Light Show at Karnak. The show starts with a historical introduction covering the birth of the great city of Thebes and erection of the Karnak temple. The show also narrates the glorious achievements of some great Pharaohs. The Spectators listen to a magnificent and poetic description of the artistic treasures and great legacy which the Karnak temple encloses.
Show 1st show 2nd show 3rd show 4th show
Monday English ,French ,German ,Spanish
Tuesday Japanese, English ,French -
Wednesday German, English ,French -
Thursday Arabic, English ,French -
Friday English ,French, Spanish -
Saturday French, English, Italian -
Sunday German, English ,Italian ,French
Show "Winter" 6:00 P.M./ 7:15 P.M./ 8:30 P.M./ 9:45 P.M.
Show "Summer" 8:00 P.M./ 9:15 P.M./ 10:30 P.M./ 11:45 P.M.
Sound and Light Show Pricing
• Ticket fare LE.30 plus LE 3 (Sales Tax) all versions. LE.10 for Arabic version for Egyptians and Arabs only plus LE 1 (Sales Tax).
• Private shows are presented upon previous arrangement, Karnak for 100 spectators for lease (from October to March) and for 75 spectators (from April to September).
• Ticket fare for private show LE 35 plus 3.5 (Sales Tax) plus LE 300 open Expense.
• Russian show at Karnak are presented for 40 spectators by lease upon previous arrangement for the same price or ordinary ticket.
1. LE - Egyptian Pounds

The US King Tut Exhibit Tour

It will come as no news to most ancient Egypt enthusiasts that the treasures of the New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty pharaoh, Tutankhamun, perhaps better known to the world as King Tut, are coming to the US in June of 2005. This King Tut Exhibition is no small event, and one not to be missed, because the last time these artifacts left the basement of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo for the US was some 26 years ago. There will be more than 130 objects on display, including Tutankhamun's royal diadem. This gold crown was discovered encircling the head of the king's mummified body that he likely wore while living.
The exhibit is being organized by National Geographic, AEG Exhibitions and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. The Northern Trust Corporation has entered into an agreement with Los Angeles based AEG to become the National Sponsor of the event.
The layout, flow and scholarly conception of the show is being organized by curator David Silverman, the Eckley B. Coxe Jr. professor of Egyptology and curator-in-charge, Egyptian Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum, who also helped curate the 1970's tour. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities is writing the exhibition companion book, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," and a children's book, "Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King," both to be published by National Geographic in June 2005. AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Corporation, which has never participated in an art exhibit in the past, but is now betting some $40 million that the company can run this blockbuster.
That $40 million will go to the Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, and will help pay for antiquity site restoration in Egypt, as well as help finance the building of the new Grand Museum in Cairo. However, this type of "for profit" exhibit is also creating waves among museum curators. Several museums, including New York's famed Metropolitan Museum of Art refused the exhibition.
“It's not worth the cost, the hassle, the difficulty of setting up the whole infrastructure,” says Philippe deMontabello, director of the Met. “The Metropolitan has a pay-as-you-wish policy.”
Nevertheless, ticket sales, promoted through radio, print, billboard, television, direct mail, retail tie-ins and electronic marketing, suggest another wave of Tut-mania, despite the world's most famous art museum snubbing the world's most famous mummy. "It is a merging of art and entertainment," said David Stamper, an executive vice president in the Los Angeles office of Chicago-based GolinHarris International, a public relations firm working on the rollout. "When you see these items, they are so incredible and so beautiful, that really all you have to do is to shine a spotlight on them. The Tut Exhibit actually begins on June 16th, 2005 and runs through November 15th, 2005 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, one of the same venues of it's last visit to the US. That first tour of King Tut's artifacts, which was only half the size of this the new one, is widely considered to be the first museum mega-event. It generated eight million visitors nationwide. Since then, such museum road shows have become commonplace and an opportunity for the various venues to generate new members and revenue. Michael McDowell, senior director of cultural tourism for Los Angeles, said that the LA museum expects about one million people to attend the show, topping the Van Gogh exhibit in 1998-99 that brought 821,000 during a 17-week run. Tickets are currently on sale. Afterwards, the exhibit will move on to three other cities where it will be on display at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale (beginning in December 2005), the Field Museum in Chicago (beginning in May, 2006) and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia (beginning in February 2007).
The exhibit will include about fifty objects belonging to the boy king that were discovered when Howard Carter unearthed Tutankhamun's Valley of the Kings tomb in 1922. In addition, there will be scans of Tutankhamun's mummy captured through the use of a portable CT scanner and donated by Siemens Medical Solutions. These scans have allowed researchers to see through the mummy's wrappings for the first time and have never been on display in the past. Other documentary media, including videos, will also be on display.The exhibition also will include more than 70 objects from tombs of other 18th Dynasty royals as well as several non-royal individuals. These stone, faience and wooden pieces from burials before Tut's reign will give visitors a sense of what the lost burials of other royalty and commoners may have been like. They include objects from the tomb of Amenhotep II, the tomb of Tuthmosis IV and the rich, intact tomb of Yuya and Tuyu. All of the treasures in the exhibit are between 3,300 and 3,500 years old.
Tickets for the event can be purchased through any number of sources online, such as Ticket Masters, but there are many opportunities for special deals so shop carefully. For example, a number of LA hotels are offering a summer savings spectacular featuring deals and discount packages in connection with the Tut Exhibit. They include the Le Meridien Hotel in Beverly Hills, the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, the Doubletree Hotel Westwood, as well as various Holiday Inns and Sheratons.
Interestingly, the excitement of this exhibit seems to be spawning a number of others. For example, various science centers such as the McWane Center in Birmingham, Alabama will be featuring a Tut exhibit featuring 120 high quality replicas of the original treasures.

What's a Child to Do (On Tour in Egypt)

Egypt is a fine destination for family travel. Many children learn about ancient Egypt in school at a relatively early age, and some become very fascinated by the Land of the Pharaohs. Yet, many travelers wonder what activities, other than visiting ancient sites, are available for their children's entertainment and amusement. After all, a bored child on a vacation is not a pleasant one.
Editor's Note: While one will find many activities and entertaining ideas for children in this story, note that it is by no means comprehensive. By looking about, one will find many other activities for kids in Egypt than are listed here.
Most major hotels are very safe for older kids, and just about all of them have well supervised "clubs" for younger children, so it is not necessary for kids to make every sightseeing tour during a stay in Egypt. However, before giving up on the kids visiting the various sites, consider making it more exciting for them. Make it known that you will not only be visiting the Valley of the Kings or the Giza Pyramids, but you will be taking a donkey or camel ride.
Obviously, what to do depends, at least to some extent, on the child's age, as well as their sex. Younger preteens often seem to be a little easier to amuse than less engaged, sometimes aloof, teenagers. In fact, I have found after traveling on a number of occasions with children of various ages, that younger children will usually enjoy seeing the ancient sites while older teens will have a tendency to want to stay back at the hotel, perhaps to lounge around the pool. Younger boys might tend to like Egypt's Crusader fortresses, such as the Citadel, while young ladies might prefer the jewelry museum, though obviously there are always the exceptions. Also, girls of all ages seem to really enjoy getting a Henna tattoo, which is harmless and painless, applied on top of the skin, and only lasts a week or two. So what's a child to do in Egypt? As a generalization, one of the keys is to mix sightseeing with various activities, such as a camel ride or sailing on the Nile. To begin with, some planning may be helpful. For example, its nice to plan a trip to Egypt amongst friends, perhaps with kids of roughly the same age. If that is not possible, another solution is to find a family oriented tour where other children will be present. People, including kids, rapidly get to know each other during an Egyptian tour. And if one is taking a private tour, spend some time picking a guide who will pitch the tour at the kids as well as the adults. Also, try to visit less crowded sites. Kids tend to get overwhelmed in the midst of a crowd and can't see much.Of course, some tours are naturals for kids. Delta Tours, for example offers a family hosted tour where visitors actually stay with an Egyptian family. They seem to do a fairly good job of matching up families, so that the Egyptian family usually has children about the same age as the tourist family, and we know that a number of good, long term friendships have developed from this sort of tour. Many people with children might wish to start off their tour of Egypt with a visit to the Pharaonic Village. This is a basic theme park that recreates a living, ancient Egypt, and is very instructional for children, as well as adults. It will provide kids with an orientation to life in ancient Egypt with some insight about what they will see later in the tour.
As far as the actual sightseeing, kids in general will be less interested in seeing redundant sites than enthusiast parents. They may be interested in visiting a temple, but they will become bored with visiting every temple on the Nile. They will enjoy the Great Pyramids, but will not want to see many others, unless they have developed a genuine interest in Egyptology.
A few warnings
Kids are reluctant to drink as much liquids as they should in the hot Egyptian climate. Adding a bit of KoolAid to the mineral water can make it taste much better. Most kids who get ill in Egypt do so because they have not had enough water. Also, it is a good idea, especially in southern Egypt, to get an early start on visiting the monuments if possible, finishing up by late morning and thus spending the remainder of the day back at the hotel. Also, beware of the street animals in Egypt. Cats, and even a few dogs roam the streets of some Egyptian cities, particularly Cairo, and it is not a good idea for kids or adults to touch these often feral animals.
In Cairo
However, there will be some places that kids always seem to enjoy. In Cairo itself, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum has too much variety not to be interesting, even to kids who are not big on museums. Furthermore, one is likely to run into a group of Egyptian school kids, who will take an immediate interest in your children. Here one will normally find the Tutankhamun collection (even if some of it is on tour elsewhere), and of course Tutankhamun will be at least one pharaoh that the kids will know from school. It includes something for everyone, from chariots and golden knives to fine pieces of jewelry. Another section of the museum that kids tend to like is the mummy exhibits, and for whatever reason, the model farms.
Islamic Cairo can also be considered medieval Cairo, where centuries past armored knights rode about the streets. Here, one finds the Khan el-Khalili, the ancient market that so strangled east-west trade that Columbus set out to look for an alternate trade route. Today, the market is crowded with tourists from all over the world. Kids usually like the market, and older ones will want to set out on their own with a bit of money. It is safe for them to do so, provided they are good about keeping up with the time. One must arrange for a meeting place at a specific time. It seems almost impossible to locate someone just by walking about this huge market. Another spot that many kids will like is the Citadel, a huge fortress founded by Saladin which was the scene of some Crusader battles. From here, the Burgi Mameluke knights once lobbed cannon balls across Islamic Cairo onto the Bahri Mameluke knights located on Roda Island in the Nile. Later, the English occupied the fortress. Be sure and visit the Mosque of Mohammed Ali while in the Citadel for one of the largest chandeliers you will ever see. Furthermore, this is actually a great place to take a break if the kids need a short nap.
Other than sightseeing, many hotels in Cairo offer considerable entertainment for kids. All of the larger hotels will have very nice swimming pools, some almost water parks, kiddie pools, game rooms and internet cafes of their own, so one really need not venture too far afoot. Some hotels will have kid's clubs for the younger crowd, well supervised areas with games and various activities. Some, such as the Movenpick Hotel in Media City and the Cataract Pyramids Resort will even offer various kids entertainment programs with a DJ.
There are a number of other notable resorts that specifically cater to kids. Pyramids Park Intercontinental Resort, on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, has a petting zoo, the Scoo-Bi-Zoo, located in a haven of shade. While parents relax by the pool or have a cup of tea in the garden, the children have fun with the monkeys, deer, a camel, a pony, flamingos and ducks. There is no need to worry about safety, as there are keepers to take care of the animals, introduce the children to them, and keep the children amused at feeding time. There is also a children's garden with toys, swings, a trampoline and a safe junior pool. Special arrangements can be made for birthday parties.
Le Meridien Pyramids has a play area for children with pint-sized chairs and tables. It includes swings, houses and other toys. There is also a children's paddling pool, a special menu with the kind of food that goes down well with your youngsters, and coloring books and crayons. The hotel sometimes brings in a magician and an aragoz, a sort of puppet show, on Fridays and public holidays.
JW Marriott Mirage Hotel in New Cairo City, in Qattamiya, southeast of Cairo, is a marvelous place for adults and children alike. Here you can enjoy a day at the beach without having to drive to the Red Sea or Alexandria. "The beach", in a desert environment, is the Marriott's latest innovation. In this vast area there are four swimming pools. The one called Cleopatra Bay has waves and a stretch of sandy beach where children can play with their buckets and spades. Here you can have the "sea", sand and sun without leaving Cairo. "The lagoon" is another swimming area with a large central island and water slides to delight junior. A shallow pool is also available for four to eight-year-olds. Water guns, hoses, and tunnels are there to explore, all are safe, and lots of fun. For the youngest guests, the hotel has a paddling pool for the under four-year-olds.
Other activities that might be fun for kids in Cairo, as well as elsewhere, might be described as native, or universal. By native, we mean activities and entertainment that one may not find back home. For example, not only can a ride on a camel be fun, but also visiting the camel market in Cairo. These are obviously native. Kids will also enjoy a ride in a river taxi, one of Egypt's oldest forms of modern transportation, or perhaps even more fun, take a party boat. These are boats that simply go out for a pleasure cruise. Here, one might meet a very ordinary Egyptian family with kids out for their own fun. They are not swank, but lit up with blaring music its an interesting adventure, and one that most tourists to do not get to experience.If parents would really like to give their children a cultural experience, meeting up with Egyptian children, than Fagnoon is one of the rare places in Cairo where both parents and children can take a break and spend a few unforgettable hours. The word “Fagnoon” itself is a combination of two interesting words Fonoon (art) and Gonoon (wild). It is a place for families to play, run, dance, paint, draw, as well as trying out a bouquet of crafts including pottery, word carpentry, agriculture, baking, jewelry making, iron smithy and much more. In fact, this facility has only recently undergone an expansion program.
Another native experience in Cairo is to visit the Cairo Tower. It has a revolving restaurant at the top, and from the observation deck and restaurant, the view of the Nile and Cairo extends over the medieval city to the east and the desert to the west.
The Gabalaya Park and Aquarium is a wonderful little place in the heart of Zamalek, just minutes away from the downtown area. It's a great place to take the kids as the park is pleasant and the aquarium is interesting. The fish swim around in tunnels that look a little like bomb shelters - a fairly original setting. The nice thing about Gabalaya is that it is so very close to the hustle and bustle of the downtown area, and yet, once there you feel as though you are miles away from it all.
If one has a bit of extra time, another great experience, and one better known to locals than tourists, is a boat ride south to Qanatar. Qanatar is an island in the Nile where ordinary Egyptians like to go to have picnics. There are also small amusement parks with bumper cars and ferris wheels and some amazing Victorian stone bridges and locks. To return to Cairo, hop on a taxi or take a minibus.
Parents will find in Egypt a number of very ordinary activities for kids, what we refer to here as universal. Most of the major hotels will have good satellite television systems, with a number of programming options from different countries and in different languages, including American movies and series. There are also a variety of cinemas that show first run Hollywood movies. In addition, there are also game rooms and well equipped internet cafes all about Cairo. In addition, there are also modern, large malls, as always a teen hangout and in Egypt, no exception. Some of the larger malls even have "kid's corners" with entertainment for younger children.
But Cairo is a huge city, full of all sorts of people, some poor, some rich and many in between, and like most monumental cities, the variety of entertainment is almost limitless. Media Production City contains a number of open air shooting areas, as well as the Mubarak studio complex and its own dedicated theme park, Magic Land. Children are sure to love Magic Land, where they can watch dolphin and seal shows, then tour the Dinosaurs' Jungle that depicts a prehistoric environment complete with Tyrannosaurus Rex, exotic birds and even primitive humans. Visitors travel back in time on boats on the waterways surrounding Dinosaur Island. The park also has outdoor and indoor game centers, which will appeal to adults as well as children.
This fantastic 150 acre theme park is one of the largest recreational facilities in the Middle East. There is certainly plenty to do with three areas for children, teenagers and families, all with a multitude of rides and attractions. Don't miss the fantastic condor flight. If you're feeling exhausted after all that excitement, pay a visit to one of the park's 22 restaurants, offering everything from pizza to kebab.Crazy Water is located in the city of Giza. This theme park offers a variety of fun and games such as water slides, a wave pool, a kiddies pool and a playground area with sand, slides and tunnels. The admission fee also includes a delicious meal. Look out for the regular special offers on family tickets.
There are at least two other large amusement parks, Sinbad and Merryland (where there are a number of theme restaurants), which have typical rides and perhaps a few less typical ones. There is, among just about every other imaginable entertainment, even an ice skating rink in Cairo.And don't forget the treats. Cairo is full of very good ice cream shops all over, even within many of the hotels, and ice cream is all the better for the hot Egyptian climate. But Napoleon's gang also brought to Egypt all manner of fancy pastry and the Egyptians have their own flavor of sweets, so one will not go far before running into one of these shops. Take advantage of one of these, and chances are one will enjoy it as much as the kids.
In fact, eating out in Cairo can be a fun experience for children. The city has all manner of fast food establishments, and while parents may seek something a little less ordinary, kids will still want to seek these out. Many of the American chains are present, such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC. But there are other places to eat that both the parents and children will also enjoy. Though there are many upscale restaurant in Egypt, children will probably most enjoy those located on boats, most of which are permanently docked on the Nile. Frequently, if not always, these boats once plied the Nile, often as Nile Cruise boats, and some of them are interesting in their own right. Just about all of the docked boats will have more than one restaurant aboard, and will be open for lunch and dinner. For example, one of our favorites is the Nile City Boat, docked at Zamalek very near the Cairo Marriott, where one has a choice between Alain Le Notre, Bistro Provence, Chilis, Johnny Cario's the Seafood Market and Studio Misr. Obviously several of these are American chains, but, for example, Studio Misr, more of an Oriental restaurant, has old props and pictures from Egyptian movies. Kids will not only enjoy the boats themselves, but the view of passing traffic on the river.
The other type of boat, the dinner cruisers, which actually cruise along the Nile, usually only have one restaurant, which is almost always buffet style. They are not usually billed as entertainment for kids, and are really more like nightclubs than normal restaurants. However, the entertainment is not all that risqué. The real problem for kids is that they leave the docks in the evening, usually staying out for several hours, and return relatively late, usually until 9:00 or later. And of course, if the kids act up, one is pretty much stuck. Furthermore, the entertainment can be somewhat loud, so this is probably not a great venue for very young children.And yet, just a bit older kids may be enthralled by all the entertainment. Good shows will include belly dancers, whirling dervish, various ethnic dancers and other entertainment, many of which the kids will doubtless find fascinating. Furthermore, most of these boats also have observation decks where, if the entertainment gets a bit too much, one can go to watch the lights of the night time skyline pass silently by. There is usually a good variety of food on board, something for everyone, and no shortage of various deserts.
Intermittent Entertainment
Various, periodic events in Egypt will also be fun for kids. Ramadan is certainly one of these events, always festive, though more so in the evening. In the early part of March one may also visit the Cairo International Film Festival for Children, which is really an event for both parents and kids.
Pyramid Fields
All of the better known pyramids are located near Cairo, including the Great Pyramids of Giza. Everyone must see the Great Pyramids. One must take the kids, like it or not, for later bragging rights if nothing else. As the kids grow into adults, they will relish their visit to the famous pyramids. Indeed, these are magnificent monuments, though they will impress just a bit less these days than a hundred or so years ago, before the time of modern skyscrapers. By all means, take a visit inside one of the pyramids, though this might be a bit scary for the youngest of children. This is also a great place to take a donkey or horse ride around the pyramids, which kids will truly enjoy. However, we strongly recommend using a company such as Al Sorat, whose horses and donkeys are well cared for and trained.And absolutely do not forget about the sound and light show at Giza. With English language shows beginning in the early evening, the kids might get bored with the monologue, but they will be thrilled with the laser light show.
Kids with a definite interest in Egyptology will also appreciate seeing Saqqara, not far from Giza. Here, the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first of Egypt's most famous monuments to be built. Also, just a little further south is Dahshur, where the Red Pyramid is located. It is almost as large as the largest Giza Pyramid of Khufu, but there are not nearly so many people, and it is much easier to go inside this pyramid. The Red Pyramid may have been Egypt's first true pyramid, but there are others, including the bent pyramid, that show the evolution of pyramid building in Egypt.Other than pyramids, there is also, near Giza in Mansouriya, the Sun Bird Gardens. This is a place where you can not only enjoy nature, but also learn: how fruit and vegetables are cultivated and what their seeds and flowers look like. On this living museum of contemporary life one can also observe how farmers live, what their homes are like and the traditions and customs they follow. The display encompasses a glimpse of the life of all the farmers of Egypt, from the Nile Delta in the north to Nubia in the south.

About Family Tours to Egypt

To a certain extent, taking my family to Egypt recently was an experiment. More and more, whole families are vacationing in Egypt, and that means bringing along children of all ages. So, I wanted to know a little more about how this works out, for both parents and kids. And the answer is...pretty well! Everyone came home happy, from a memorable and enjoyable trip. But we, as a family, made a few discoveries along the way.
Egypt as a tourism destination is all grown up. It has matured into a place with something for everyone, including each member of your family.
A specific member of a family with specific interests often encourages a trip to Egypt. Where tours are concerned, that interest is usually in classical antiquities, though it may also be driven by an interest in mythology, scuba diving, or even New Age discoveries. Regardless, it is probably unusual for every member of a household to have the same reasons, or the same level of desire to visit Egypt. This particularly applies to children, but may also be just as applicable to one's spouse. Therefore, certain allowances must be made to satisfy everyone.
Though our son is interested in Egypt, nevertheless getting him up early for tours everyday not only proved to be a challenge for him, but on a few occasions, a challenge for my wife as well. There were days where I heard the dreaded, "What kind of vacation is this anyway...too much work!", which mostly meant, "leave me alone, I want to sleep a little longer". And while my wife did participate in most excursions, there were even a couple of days that she felt like taking a break. A certain amount of understanding is in order, as well as allowance for some mix of activities. One of the Grand Shopping Malls Going up in Egypt
After the first week, and urging my son not to miss anything, we came to a better understanding, and established a better pace. He was truly interested in the monuments and sightseeing, but sometimes he wanted to relax, wake up late, and go swimming or participate in some other activity. As we allowed this to happen, things went much more smoothly. A few times, my wife opted to sleep in and take in some shopping instead of seeing monuments.
Today, Egypt is more then ancient monuments. In fact, it is unlikely that most of the tourists who come, do so for classical antiquities. Indeed, current statistics point to Egypt's largest draw as being beach destinations on the Red Sea and Sinai, and every day this country seems to add new entertainment adventures.

Golf at the PyramidsFor a typical family, including some of these non-antiquity diversions may be a great idea. Perhaps your husband isn't that keen on the antiquities, but playing on a championship golf course in the shadows of the Pyramids would give him real bragging rights back home. For that matter, what about a game of bowling along the Nile, or even a fishing trip on Lake Nasser, where record breaking fresh water fish have been caught. For many women, Egypt is simply a shopper's paradise and Cairo is one big mall. What makes this all so special is it is easy for a spouse to play golf or shop while the other takes in Sakkara or Old Cairo. For kids, there are always the swimming pools found in most hotels, but there are also amusement parks, Internet Cafes, and even youth clubs at many of the better hotels. Younger kids tend to love shows including belly dancing and whirling dervish, and generally doing the "night thing" with parents. They also seem to love riding camels and horses, as well as sail boats on the Nile. Older kids can enjoy just getting out on their own a bit, as well as visiting the discos and other entertainment found at many hotels.
Sometimes we found a "taste of home" was called for. No problem as a trip to McDonalds, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, or even the Hard Rock Cafe is a good fix. Even my wife, who has a much more exotic taste for foods than I, every so often craved a cheeseburger. She found the McDonalds in Luxor to be exactly like home, of course with the exception that it overlooks the Temple of Luxor.

A KFC in cairo
Building in a side trip to Sharm El-Sheikh was a real bonus for the family. While this is still Egypt, it feels nothing like the Egypt of the Nile Valley. It is a well-organized vacation beach resort, with all manner of water sport, from scuba to parasailing, and with no small amount of shopping and nightlife, including good live shows all along the promenade. And again, one spouse can easily take a side trip to St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai, while the rest of the family suntans.
Never underestimate having friends along for the trip. Optimally, it is great to travel with family friends, particularly where families have similarly aged children. This can be a real godsend for the kids, but also for the parents. There is plenty to do at most hotels, but having kids along of a similar age will encourage them to take advantage of every entertainment, as well as giving the grownups a break. Of course, sometimes its nice to have along good adult friends as well.It is all a matter of diversity, and the more diverse the family's interests, the more diverse of a vacation one should plan to Egypt. If you don't leave out Cairo's major league opera and art galleries, the beach, sports of all kinds, chances are that everyone in your family will have the time of their lives.

Egyptian Beach Vacations Part II: Egypt's Mediterranean Coast

Today, one of the hot spots of tourism development is Egypt's north coast, specifically between Alexandria and Marsa Matruh, and even more specific to the region between Alexandria and Al-Alamein. In fact, this section of the coast is so much under development that it presents a bit of a moving target to discuss, with new vacation oriented beaches seemingly popping up everywhere along the coast. Much of the new development is not unlike the Ain Sukhna area on the Gulf of Suez, where village-like compounds are the common denominator.
It should be noted that the beach region of Egypt's mainland north coast does not really include the region east of Greater Alexandria. For the most part, Abu Qir, which is a bit east of Alexandria proper, but really on the city's eastern edge, signals the eastern end of Egypt's north coast beaches, because of the more marshy Delta coastline. Abu Qir has historical significance as the place were Admiral Nelson destroyed the French fleet in the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Today, it is not a very good location for swimming, but very notable for its many seafront restaurants that serve delicious seafood.
Otherwise, the beaches extend to the west all the way to the Libyan border.
Much of this development revolves around local vacation retreats for Egyptians themselves, but there has and continues to be a big push for foreign tourism to Alexandria, which for many years was largely ignored by tour operators. However, since the antiquity finds along the coast of Alexandria and the construction of the New Library of Alexandria (Bibliotcheca Alexandrina), together with much promotion, Alexandria is indeed becoming much more popular among foreign tourists. It is likely that the northern beaches will also benefit from these efforts. However, it must be remembered that many of the Red Sea beach goers arrive in chartered tours arranged by large European travel agencies, and unless these companies decide to focus more attention on the North Coast, it will probably never be as popular as the Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh regions. Also, while the North Coast resorts may very well be more pleasant during the summer months, they do not enjoy the year round warmth of the more southerly locations.

Map of the Alexandria BeachesMany people probably still consider the North Coast to be "underdeveloped" from the standpoint of tourists. Indeed, in comparison with traditional developed beach regions in the west, it may very well be underdeveloped, unless one considers them to be overdeveloped, which is often the case. Historically, there have always been a few beaches and beach resorts on the North Coast, particularly around Alexandria. In fact, the Corniche (also known sometimes as Sharia 26th of July and Sharia al-Geish) along the shore of Alexandria is lined with beaches, though these are public areas that are not altogether suitable for most western visitors. Specifically, the unofficial dress code for these beaches is decidedly conservative, not to mention the fact that they can be very crowded during the peak season. Nevertheless, some beaches are much more suitable for foreign tourists. Specifically Mamoura Beach, located about one kilometer east of Montazah Palace, is a semipublic beach that requires an entrance fee.
But if you really want to be spoiled, treat yourself to horse-riding and swimming in the absolute serenity and privacy of the King's Ranch, which is operated by Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza and is located on King Mariout Road 10 kilometers from the Alexandria-Cairo Desert Road. King's Ranch is an extravagant weekend venue for North Coast vacationers and an ultimate romantic escape for couples and honeymooners. Although standing away from the beach, the ranch's lush greenery and nice landscaping creates a spectacular atmosphere for those who would like to laze by the swimming pool, ride horses, enjoy all kinds of sports or just exercise in a health club.
Several other older beach regions along the Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria include, specifically Agami, which is an exclusive resort about 20 kilometers west of downtown Alexandria where Cairo and Alexandria elite spend their vacations. Agami actually lies on the western end of Greater Alexandria. Known also as the Egyptian St-Tropez, Agami today also caters to the middle and working class. The resort village was founded in the 1950's, but there are few structures remaining from this period. While most of the housing in the area is simple, there are exceptions, including the Villa Lashin, built in 1962 by architect Ali Azzam and the Beit el-Halawa built by Abd el-Wahid el-Wakil. Most of the upmarket hotels are in Agami, while near here, you will also find the resort villages of Hannoville (about one kilometer further west) and Sidi Kreir, which are also popular summer retreats. Sidi Kreir has a 3 kilometers long private beach. A model tourist village and casino were established there recently. There are a number of small hotels in this region.
After the beaches around Agami there is Sidi Abdel Rahman, just east of Al-Alamein. Actually, this is only a small village, but the stunning white sandy beaches and clear seawater make it one of the coasts most beautiful locations for a little time on the beach. Nevertheless, it seems to remain a somewhat secluded region that has not attracted any horde of tourists to date.Another small village further east, only about 48 kilometers short of Marsa Matruh, is Ras Al-Hikma, which is a land spur jutting out into the sea. It also has some attractive beaches, but little else. One of the main traditional beach resorts, which is like Alexandria, packed with Egyptian tourists during the summer, is Marsa Matruh. Unlike Sidi Abdel Rahman and Ras Al-Hikma, this is a much larger city with a population of around 80,000. It has a charming bay with stunning turquoise waters and clean, white, sandy beaches, but also like Alexandria, it is packed during the summer. Two well known beaches include Cleopatra Beach, where the famous queen is said to have bathed, but is in fact a difficult place to swim. It is located about seven kilometers west of Marsa Matruh. The best place to swim is Agibah Beach, about 28 kilometers west of town. It should also be noted that Marsa Matruh is a frequent stopover for travelers to the Siwa Oasis. In fact, Alexander the Great is said to have founded this city on his way to visit the oracle at Siwa. Later, it served as a port for Anthony and Cleopatra's fleet.
There are a few other older beaches frequented by mostly Egyptian tourists along the Mediterranean coast, but the real story of Egypt's northern coast is the new resorts that are springing up, almost exclusively between Alexandria and Al-Alamen. Unlike Egypt's older beaches, these are mostly resort compounds as opposed to actual villages or cities. Most of these resorts really have only villas, some of which are privately rented out to guests, but many of which are vacation homes for affluent Egyptians. However, there are apparently at least a few villas in each location that can be rented. Some of the newer tourist villages that really have very little or no hotel accommodations, but mostly consist of privately owned villas, include Marakeya tourist village, which lies about 52 kilometers from Alexandria, and is considered one of the largest tourist village on the northern coast, the Al Ahlaam Tourist Village, about 93 kilometers west of Alexandria, Sondos Village about 138 kilometers from Alexandria in the Bay of Gazelle at Sidi Abdel Rahman, the Ibn Sina Village I and Ibn Sina Village II, near Marsa Matrough, which is said to have at least one hotel, and the Marbella Village. Foreigners who do wish to visit these resorts, perhaps renting a villa, will have enjoy a unique experience, mostly surrounded by very upscale Egyptians who are usually well traveled and sophisticated.
Other's have fine, and sometimes very fine hotel accommodations, which is a growing trend.
Map of Egypt's North Coast Beaches
Marakia is one of the first resorts west of Alexandria. Due to its marble-like nature, Marakia was originally known as Marmarina in the old times. The name is extracted from the Arabic word "marmar" which means marble. This is the oldest of the new North Coast Villages, located about 51 kilometers from Alexandria. Clear sea and pure sand are its two main characteristics. It consists mostly of a fine beach, housing units and public service units. The beach is 1500 meters long and there is a pedestrian road that separates it from the housing units. The public service units are in both the middle of the village and at its main entrance, including administrative, emergency, communication, commercial, and entertainment services. The entertainment facilities include restaurants, a cinema and an open theater. There is also an airport that serves this area. Just after the Marakia residential village is the Borg el Arab Hilton HotelMarina is 15 Km from "Marakia", and has a 750 meters long beach. Many service units are constructed on the beach. It has a center for administrative, commercial, medical, religious and entertainment services which can be found in the middle of the village. Marina specifically has had a reputation of opulence, but some of the beaches here are apparently becoming more available as at least semipublic.
Al-Alamein is actually an older beach location, old enough in fact that Romel is said to have used its beaches during World War II for relaxation. However, though it has historical significance, it has never had much in the way of tourist facilities. Now, however, Movenpick has a fantastic resort at Al-Alamein that may change all of that. While there have always been a few hotels in the area, this five star hotel is exceptional. Of course, Al-Alamein has historical importance as the location where, in World War II, a battle between the British Eighth Army under General Montgomery attacked Field Marshal Rommel's German-Italian Afrika Korps. Montgomery won that battle and changed the course of the North Africa campaign. Along with the beaches, there are World War II cemeteries and a War Museum.
Entertainment
There is, of course, all of the usual beach activities at many if not most of the North Coast resort areas. Certainly there are water sports, such as skiing and jet skiing, parasailing, surfing in some locations, snorkeling, sailing, sail boarding, boating and scattered about are even scuba diving centers. There are not many water sports that cannot be found, and many of the better resorts provide a range of such activities. And while the parents play, most resorts offer good facilities for children, with exciting and safe activities so that the entire family can enjoy there holiday. However, the many North Coast resorts, as vacation getaways, also offer many opportunities for fine dining. All villages have open-air cafés with big screens displaying films and video clips, where people can have pizza, fetir (pastry) and zalabya (small balls of sweet pastry) or just go for a soft drink.
But if you would like to stretch your budget a little bit, Marina boasts a number of elegant dim-lit cafés, such as Jomana, which has a strategic location on the lake. Sea Gull, a fish restaurant and hotel in Marina, also has a nice dim-lit café, where tables are elegantly encircled with lush greenery to ensure the privacy of guests. Or you can get an extraordinary fish meal at the Sea Gull restaurant overlooking the lake. There is also a famous street in Marina named the Chanzillezer, where you can find a wide variety of elegant restaurants and coffee shops.
At the Borg el Arab Hilton, you can also enjoy a seaside barbecue while listening to the charming tunes of lutes and singing, or just go indoors where you can eat Italian food.
Other eateries can be found on the road. You can eat grilled chicken with special spices at Andria (which stands in front of Marabella resort, 63 kilometers from Alexandria), or go for oriental food at Al-Tikkeya (65 kilometers from Alexandria). Other food outlets include Al-Safwani, Fish Market (which has a fish restaurant and a number of American fast food franchises, located three kilometers after the Borg el Arab Hilton on the way to Al-Alamein).
In a more active mood? You can dance the night away at Borg el Arab Hilton's or Marina's open discotheques or have an extraordinary night at one of Marina's famous summer parties, Layali Al-Telifizyon, which host famous Egyptian and Arab singers every week.
The Sinai North Coast
Port Said marks the boundary between Egypt's mainline Meterranean coastline and Egypt's Sinai Mediterranean coastline. However, there is not much between Port Said and Rafah on the border of Egypt's Sinai, with the exception of El-Arish. In fact, much of the north coast of the Sinai west of El-Arish is dominated by the swampy lagoon of Lake Bardawil, separated from the Mediterranean by a limestone ridge.
El-Arish is the capital of the North Sinai Governorate and still receives a few tourists, but probably because of its proximity to the Palestinian territories, it has had little opportunity to live up to its potential, at least from the standpoint of westerners. There are reportedly a number of Egyptians who use it for a summer retreat. It does have nice beaches, along with a Bedouin crafts market, some reasonably good hotels and even a Pharaonic fortress, but until some of the regional differences between its neighbors are solved, it is unlikely to progress much as a mainstream tourist destination.

Egyptian Beach Vacations

Despite Egypt's ancient allure, today the country probably attracts more beach vacationers than any other type of tourists. This is because, for many Europeans, the warm Egyptian beaches are both inexpensive and well appointed. Many European countries specifically lack warm beaches and the alternatives to Egypt are somewhat expensive. Therefore, not only do people come to Egypt's beaches independently, but many arrive by way of chartered airlines that specialize in such vacations from Europe.
Depending on how one looks at it, Egypt can be said to have as many as seven beach zones. These consist of the Mediterranean beaches along the mainline coast from the Suez Canal over to Libya, the Mediterranean beaches along the northern Sinai, the Sinai coast along the gulf of Aqaba, the Sinai coast along the Gulf of Suez, the southern Sinai region which opens onto the Red Sea, the Mainland coast along the Gulf of Suez and the Mainland coast south of that along the Red Sea. Each of these areas vary either somewhat, or extensively from the others. Obviously the biggest differences are between the Mediterranean coast and all of the other regions that connect with the Red Sea. Some of these regions attract extensive tourism, while others are almost void of tourists. Some attract very specific tourists, while others are more generalized.
The North Coast from Libya East though the SinaiIn reality, the various regions are looked upon somewhat differently. For example, on the Egyptian mainland coast along the Mediterranean, there is a vast difference between the area from Alexandria over to Port Said from the region west of Alexandria. East of Alexandria is very populous along much of the Delta and not suitable for beaches until one reaches the northern Sinai. The beaches at Alexandria cater almost exclusively to Egyptians, with the exception of some specific resorts, who either have their own villas or apartments, or who stay in hotel facilities. In fact, probably most Egyptians come to Alexandria not for a beach vacation as such, but to escape the heat of Cairo. West of Alexandria along the coast, thinning out as one proceeds further west, but extending almost to the Libyan border, are resorts that differ from the beach hotels and facilities to the east. These are frequently compounds, as opposed to real villages, some of which are very exclusive and have only recently been built. The main point is that, while indeed some foreign tourists can be found in this region, they are very few in number, other than tourists visiting Alexandria for more classical reasons. This, of course, may change over time. The regions west of Alexandria has been called "underdeveloped". That too is rapidly changing, as new resorts are popping up all along the shoreline, particularly just west of Alexandria.
One of the intriguing aspects of the Mediterranean coast beach resorts is that there is a certain amount of experimentation with various types of Beaches. For example, around Marina, one of Egypt's most exclusive northern beach resort areas, specific beaches have been set aside for women, who wish to enjoy the beach without interference from male eyes, and youth, where the atmosphere is a little more lively and geared to their pleasures.Along the north Sinai coast there is today actually very little tourism. In fact, about the only well known tourist location is Al-Arish, which has tried to make a go of tourism but has not been too successful, even though there are some fairly nice hotels in the village.
The Gulf of Suez
What is not surprising is that the mainland beach along the Gulf of Suez is ever more popular among Egyptians, and may very well become more important to foreign tourists as well. Though perhaps not quite as warm as beaches further south, resort complexes such as Stella Di Mari, which already receives a large number of Italian tourists in particular, are very nice, relatively inexpensive, and an easy visit from Cairo. We have often praised this location, along an area known as Ain Sukhna, for its convenience to Cairo as a quick Red Sea jaunt (though it is actually on the Gulf of Suez), which also allows tourists close access to visit the Suez Canal, and fairly close access to the famous Eastern Desert Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. Though this area remains mostly a destination for Egyptians, we expect to see more and more foreign tourists in the future, for which it is well suited.
It is rather interesting that, along with the northern Mediterranean Sinai coast, the Sinai coast along the Gulf of Suez has not much been developed as a tourist destination, either for Egyptians or foreigners. This is not to say that no facilities exist, but they are very sparse.
The Mainland Coast Along the Red Sea
Where we begin to see the most foreign beach goers is as Egypt's mainland coast opens onto the Red Sea. Specifically, the and Hurghada region is one of the most popular beach areas in Egypt among foreign tourists. Hurghada has traditionally been known as one of the most affordable beach resort communities, though there are certainly more luxurious facilities available in the city proper, while El Gouna, just to the north, has strictly an upper class reputation. Just to the south of Hurghada is also the exclusive compound of Soma Bay, with several hotels and a fine golf course. As one travels further south along the mainland Egyptian coast, resorts areas become less dense, and many of the more southern tourist destinations are more scuba diving camps than resorts though, for example Marsa Alam is gaining in importance as a general tourist destination.
The Eastern Sinai along the Gulf of Aqaba and its Southern region in the Red Sea The eastern shore of the Sinai along the Gulf of Aqaba has a number of beach vacation resorts and towns, from the very northern tip of the Gulf all the way down to the southern end of the the Sinai. These areas really are frequented almost entirely by foreign tourists. However, they vary considerably, from Taba, which probably receives most of its tourism from Israel, down to Sharm el-Sheikh, which like Hurghada, is one of the main tourist destinations for beach goers to Egypt. In between Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are Nuweiba and Dahab, which seem to cater to a mix of foreign tourists looking for perhaps a little less formal resorts and for that matter, less crowded resorts.
Types of FacilitiesIn Egypt, one of the nice things about its beach resorts is that just about every area seems to be interestingly different, and there are a wide range from the standpoint of expense. Facilities range from very rudimentary beach camps to the finest imaginable five star hotels, and include the possibility of villa rentals. In general, in the region south of Hurghada, not including Marsa Alam, beach camps and more rudimentary accommodations seem to be more dominant, but then so too are open beaches with little in the way of crowds. On the east, Aqaba side of the Sinai, while Taba and especially Sharm el-Sheikh are built up areas with fine facilities to choose from, the area in between these two destinations tend to be more camp-like, though there are certainly a few fine hotels here and there. These areas, south of Hurghada (and south of Soma Bay, and not including Marsa Alam), tend to be very laid back areas of beach with less formal entertainment facilities than the main tourist areas of El Gouna, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba and more and more, Marsa Alam. However, even the grand tourist destinations can be very different. For example, Hurghada is almost two cities in one. There is the downtown area with its less expensive hotels, some with beach front property, and then there are the individual resorts that are really somewhat segregated from the downtown area. The more segregated beach resorts at Hurghada are not all that different from those further north in the area of Ain Sukhna and along the Northern mainland coast west of Alexandria. They are essentially self contained complexes that offer little availability to the main city of Hurghada. Tourists tend to not stray far from the compound where they are staying. On the other hand, El Gouna, just to the north of Hurghada is set up more to allow tourists in the various resorts to roam around in the small village. Sharm el-Sheikh is probably the most open resort area, with a boardwalk that connects most of the beach front resorts and the town center, though there are a few more isolated resorts. What this means for the most part is that the entertainment possibilities in Sharm are much more varied.It should be noted that in many more isolated compounds, such as Stella Di Mari in the north, there may be more than enough activities and entertainment for most people. Many of the individual compounds such as this have more than one hotel, and work hard to include various forms of entertainment and activities for the whole family.
Scuba Diving and other Water Activities
One of the main differences between the the coastal regions that border the Red Sea and those in the Gulfs and Mediterranean Zones is the availability of Scuba Diving. There is some sparse scuba diving facilities in just about every zone, but by far, most Scuba Diving facilities are located from El-Gouna south along the Red Sea, and around Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai. In fact, perhaps as much as 80% of all Scuba Diving activities originate from the immediate region of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. This is not to say that activities such as snorkeling cannot be found at almost all beach areas. Furthermore, other activities such as windsurfing and skiing, while available in many different locations, seems to be very popular along the mainland Gulf of Suez Zone. At various locations on just about all of the beaches there are other water sports available, such as sail boat rentals and parasailing.