Activities End of the Trip

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Most divers come to Egypt just for the one week on the live aboard to fit as much diving into their holiday.  Most divers are flying back home, which means they can’t dive all or part of their last day. This is a good chance to experience a bit more of Egypt.
We will gladly help you to get around, and get more of Egypt regardless how much time is left -  one evening, a half or a full day, or maybe even few more days or a week. If you wish to combine a liveaboard holiday with a land-based package, we can organize some fun for you: 

Jeep Safari
The vast desert, with its rugged yet dramatic mountains and undulating dunes, is right on your door-step waiting to be explored.  4-wheel drive safaris take you to some of the most dramatic landscapes you may ever encounter while the genuine hospitality of the Bedouin brings a welcome respite!

Quad Trips
One or two hour quad trips into the desert,  an ideal short excursion to experience a glimpse of  the desert, and a great adventure ride for the end of your holiday

Camel Rides
After a week on the sea you should also try the ‘ship of the desert ‘, enjoy 1 hour on camel back, or go on a longer evening trip (camel ride combined with desert dinner and/or Star Gazing)

Bedouin Dinner
You want to eat your last day in Egyptian land, you want to get to know the famous Bedouin hospitality first hand, and you want to see the desert at least briefly? You can have it all with a  desert dinner, an unforgettable experience 

Star Gazing
An evening under a million stars, in the company of experts, who explain the starlit  night sky to  you and who show you planets and stars with high-Tec telescopes 

Shopping Tour
If you need a souvenir for you or the ones, which are waiting for you at home, use your last evening for a shopping tour in the City. (Sharm or Hurghada) Take a taxi and explore the premises yourself (Egypt very safe!) or go on a tour with us, let us show you our Sharm or our Hurghada.
You can reserve each of the above before your safari, just send us a short email. Or you can book any of the excursions during your trip, ask your dive guide at any time.
 
Excursions within Egypt 
If you are on a land-based holiday, you might want to see more  of this fascinating country – perhaps venture inland to some of the more remote desert locations or indulge in a spot of culture by taking in a day trip or longer to Egypt’s cities which are steeped in history. We have high-lighted some of the more popular excursions which can be arranged while you are on land in Egypt. To book one or more of these tours, please contact us.

St. Catherine’s Monastery and Sinai Mountain
Covering the mountainous interior of South Sinai, St. Catherine Protectorate encompasses a vast area of some 4,350sq km. At the heart of this protected zone is the highest mountain in Egypt, Gebel Katherina, whose summit reaches 2,641 mt and the smaller, nearby Sinai Mountain (also called Moses Mountain) at 2280 mt. It is here that Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments from God and, consequently, the site has been a place of religious pilgrimage ever since. At the foot of Mt Sinai lies the monastery of St. Catherine, built in 527AD.

Nabq Protectorate
Nabq Protectorate lies to the north of Sharm and is reached by road. It is a 600sq km area of outstanding natural beauty, comprising mountains, dunes, wadi systems, alluvial plains and mangrove stands which support a diversity of flora and fauna. Declared a protected area in 1992, the area of Nabq Protectorate follows the broad alluvial fan of Wadi Kid, whose source is high up in the mountains of South Sinai’s interior. At the top of Wadi Kid is the flourishing oasis of Ain Kid, with its many date palms; at its base, where it opens out onto the Gulf of Aqaba, lie many sand dunes, culminating at the water’s edge with the mangrove forests.  The Mangrove tree is a unique plant which thrives in marine environments. Its root system, visible above ground, filters salt from the sea water enabling the plant to survive. Any salt not removed by the roots is exuded through the leaves and can be seen as crystalline deposits on the underside of each leaf. Mangroves have important functions. They stabilize and extend shorelines through their sediment retention and create a unique habitat for the wildlife they support, which ranges from a variety of invertebrate and fish species to a number of different birds including herons, storks and ospreys on their migratory paths between northern Europeand Africa. Inland in Nabq grows the rare Arak, a bush-like tree which grows sideways on the leeward face of dunes. The roots of the Arakare used to make natural toothbrushes, which are used by many people in the Muslim world. Nabq Protectorate is also home to some Bedouin tribes, whose activities in the protected area include fishing and herding. More recently, the Bedouin have been engaged by the authorities to work with them to protect their natural heritage and several have been employed as park rangers. Today, many of the Bedouin assist tour companies by acting as guides in the park and arranging typical Bedouin meals for the tourist visitors to Nabq to enjoy.

Abu Galum
A Managed Resource Protected Area, Abu Galum covers an area of approximately 400sq km. It is north of Nabq Protectorate covering an area between Dahab and the port town of Nuweiba. The area is made up of craggy granite mountains, with a number of small sinuous wadis which plunge almost vertically into the sea.
The wadis support plant and animal life; over 165 plant species are to be found in this protected zone, of which 45 are unique to the area. Among the fauna to be found here include the Nubian Ibex, Rock Hyrax and Red Fox.
Abu Galum is less visited than the parks of Ras Mohammed and Nabq, since it is further away from Sharm and less accessible. Some parts are only accessible by camel, using the Bedouins as guides. However, if you have the opportunity to visit the area, it will certainly be worth the effort.

Ras Mohammed National Park
is a small, arid peninsula at the very southernmost tip of the Sinai, can be visited either overland or by boat. First declared a park in 1983, the area it encompasses was extended in 1989 to take in the surrounding seas of the peninsula, which are rich in corals and fish species (over 1000 species), and it became Egypt’s first marine national park. The park now covers a 480sq km area.  Most of the peninsula is an exposed coral reef plate, which has been reclaimed by the land due to a fall in sea-level. As a result there are many marine fossils to be found here. There are a number of beaches worth visiting here, from where one can snorkel and many tour companies offer excursions by land. On land, within the park, lives a variety of wildlife including 3 species of fox, gazelles, the Ibex (in the mountainous section) and several types of wild cat. Many of these, are nocturnal, however, so unless you stay overnight in the park at one of the designated campsites, you are unlikely to encounter them. Animals you will see on land and by the water’s edge include many different bird species; some live in the vicinity including the Osprey and Sinai Rosefinch but many more pass through on their migratory path such as the White Stork. 
Divers and snorkellers often visit Ras Mohamed National Park boat, visiting the popular dive sites for which the park is so well-known such as Shark and Yolanda Reefs and Shark Observatory. The fantastic coral reefs here support a vast amount of marine life, indeed statistics tell us that there are more fish to be found per m² in the Northern Red Seathan anywhere else in the world! The reef fish are colourful and plentiful – as a diver, you can expect to see parrot fish, lionfish, moray eels and puffer fish amongst hundreds of others. The larger pelagic species which feed on the reef species include tuna, barracuda, groupers, and, of course, sharks. Species of shark known to frequent the waters here include White and Black Tip Reef Sharks, Hammerheads and Oceanic White tips, all of which are more plentiful in the summer months. Other shark visitors include whale sharks, tiger and leopard sharks.

The Coloured Canyon
The Coloured Canyonis reached by air-conditioned jeep.  It is north of Dahab, inland from the port town of Nuweiba.  Once you reach the Coloured Canyon, you leave the comfort of your jeep for a hike on foot through the 800m long fissure in the rocks.  The ColouredCanyongets its name from the amazing rock formations; bands of sandstone, limestone, granite and basalt lie stratified against each other and there is evidence of wind erosion, which has rounded off the edges resulting in smooth contours in the walls of the Canyon.   After your hike, rejoin your jeep for a visit to the beach at Nuweiba  where you can swim or snorkel.


Cairo
The bustling, cosmopolitan city of Cairo and capital of Egypt  a must for all visitors to the country. The largest city in Africa, Cairo is a thriving metropolis steeped in history, yet adapting to life in the 21st Century.  Every visitor to Cairo must take the time to visit the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. The Great Pyramid at Giza the only remaining wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A visit to the Egyptian Museum, in downtown Cairo is also worth a visit. Home to many ancient Egyptian artefact, including the gold mask of the boy-king, Tutankhamen, a visit to Cairo is not complete until you have visited the Museum. Of note, too, is the Citadel, wherein one will find the mosque of Mohammed Ali, perched high above the city and giving the visitor a panoramic view over the city, in particular over the adjacent Islamic quarter.  Last, but not least, a visit to the souk district of Khan El Khalili in the heart of Islamic Cairo is recommended. A labyrinth of alleyways with bazaars selling Egyptian gold and silver, Arab coffee pots, shisha pipes and more, it is well worth a visit.

Luxor
Luxor(once the ancient capital of Egypt, then known as ‘Thebes’) is home to many of Egypt’s ancient antiquities. The main town lies on the eastern bank of the Nile. In the heart of the town, you will find the ancient Temple of Luxor. Close by is Luxor Museum, which houses a small but, nevertheless, interesting collection of artefact collected from temples and tombs in the vicinity. North of Luxor town stands the awe-inspiring Temple of Karnak, built over some 1300 years; it is a must-see for any visitor to Luxor. The main treasures, however, lie across the river on the West Bank with its vast necropolis, wherein you can discover the tombs of the great pharaoh leaders of Egypt the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The Temple of Hatshepsutand the Colossi of Memnon are also worth a visit. Luxor is the main departure point for Nile Cruise boats which ply up and down the Nile, enabling tourists to reach many of the temples both north and south of Luxor.
 

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