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Red Sea & Egypt
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EGYPT & THE RED SEA

Introduction

Egypt represents one of the world's longest recorded history mightily visible in Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic and modern monuments.
Egypt also enjoys a favourable geographic location with a mild climate all year round, a natural environment enriched by the Nile River, Mediterranean and Red Sea beaches, vast expanses of desert, fascinating oases, in addition to a wide variety of handcrafts and above all friendly and hospitable people. Egypt is also Red Sea scuba diving, hot night spots, luxury hotels and five star restaurants. It is romantic cruises down the Nile on festive river boats, a night at the grand opera and it is a cultural experience like none you have ever experienced. Egypt is a land bustling with life, sound, visual beauty and excitement.

To anyone standing on its shore and gazing out across its heavenly waters, the Red Sea may seem to be a mislabeling. Its blueness is eternal and anything less red cannot be fantasized. The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is truly one of the planet's most exotic and fascinating natural seascape environments. The Red Sea is located between Asia and Africa. At its most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over 1000 miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen. In the north and west are desert plains, while in the south a mountainous region (2642 meters high), which is part of the mountain range stretching from deep in Saudi Arabia, across the Sinai and then into Nubia of the African continent. The Red Sea holds beneath its crystal blue surface an oasis of living creatures, reefs, and coral formation. Its use as a highway between East and West has attracted man since the beginning of time.

For many, the true enchantment of the Red Sea is hidden just below its surface. There are over 1000 species of invertebrates and around 200 recorded coral types to be found. Moreover, the Red Sea boasts over a thousand species of fish, more species than any other proportional body of water. Not surprisingly, therefore, the Red Sea is considered by many to offer the very best diving available in the marine world. The Red Sea attracts divers, photographers, marine scientists, and leisure seekers from all over the world, hoping to experience and explore the incalculable wonders of the colorful, abounding marine life and the Red Sea's lavish coral reefs. In places, the exceptional living reef stretches way out to sea, forming a elaborate system of caves, lagoons, gardens, and plateaus. Some of these coral summits plunge dramatically thousands of feet to the ocean floor.

Snorkeling is a popular way to view the edge of the reef, especially for those with limited confidence in their swimming ability. Sharks, manta rays, turtles, and eels will take pieces of bread from your hand, and brilliantly colored schools of fish team all around in bewildering color. However, most divers will tell you that there is nothing to beat the thrill of experiencing the depth of the reef and the abounding marine life to be found in the Red Sea, which is a "paradise" with clear visibility, little wave action, and warm temperatures all year long.

 
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Egypt & The Red Sea - Suggested Itineraries

As lovers of both Egypt and the Red Sea, we believe this itinerary offers the chance to see the highlights of both, although we think you can never get too much of either..

The program includes a one-week charter aboard Al Zahra and a two-night stay in Cairo.

Day 1

Arrival at Cairo International Airport, where you will be met by Al Zahra's Manager.
Transfer to the Mena House Hotel, a five star ex-palace overlooking the Pyramids of Giza.
Dinner and oriental show aboard the Nile Maxim, the Marriott river boat.

Day 2 Morning tour of the Egyptian Museum. Guided by own Egyptologist, we'll be seeing Tutanchamun? mask and burial treasures, besides countless statues and artifacts several thousand years old.
Lunch at Khan El Khaleely- the old souk. The Khan was built in 1320 AD and is the oldest bazaar in the world The sensual experience begins with an exquisite meal at the Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. Wandering through the souk you will be engulfed by the aroma of spices and oriental perfumes. You?l see Cairo's best craftsmen busy with their arts and bargain to your heart's content over what you want to take home with you.
After the haggling's done, we'll be hopping aboard a felucca (traditional Nile sailboats) for a serene cruise down the Nile. Dinner served onboard.
The day ends with a mystical stroll horseback around the Pyramids, which are often illuminated at night.
Day 3 7:15 am flight to Hurghada. Accompanying Zahra crew will be identifying from the air some of the areas we'll be cruising. Arrival 8:00 am at Hurghada and transfer to Al Zahra's berth at the Marriott Marina.
Spend the day exploring the Hurghada environs by yacht. Begin complimentary dive course for guests interested in diving.
Anchor for the night at the Giftun El Saghir island.
Day 4 Morning snorkeling and diving at "The Aquarium", a nearby site with phenomenal fish life, hence the name.
Sail North towards Tawila island. Weigh anchor along the way for lunch onboard and possibly some fun on the donut.
Arrive at Tawila well before dark. The island is deserted with a perfectly protected azure lagoon. The only occupants in the winter are the several types of migrating birds that come to breed and shelter from Europe's cold. Watching the the warm setting sun while Al Zahra's chef prepares the dinner barbecue, we're sure you'll agree the birds know best.
Day 5

After a morning swim in the lagoon, cruise North headed for Sharm El Sheikh. The trip direct from Tawila takes around 3 hours, but it might take more as we stop along the way to reel in the Tuna. The fishing in this region is excellent, and if we catch some early enough, we'll have fresh-caught seafood for lunch.

Arrival at Sharm El Sheikh around an hour before sunset. Waiting for us at the marina will be a coach to take us on a 15 minute ride to the beginning of the desert and mountains. There, we will be riding camels led by Bedouin guides. The scenery is spectacular, and we approach the valley where we'll be stopping just in time to catch the sun set behind the mountains. In the valley is an authentic Bedouin rest camp where we will be treated to a sumptuous Arabic dinner, accompanied by more Bedouin hospitality in the form of music and dance.

Day 6

Early morning flight to Luxor. The flight time is around one hour. We'll be met by our Egyptologist who'll be our private guide for the day.

We'll be seeing the highlights of this ancient city, once the capital of a glorious kingdom. Our tour will include the Temples of Karnak, Luxor, Queen Hatsepchut, and the Valley of the Kings.
Return to Sharm at around 6 pm. Dinner aboard
Al Zahra.

Day 7

We spend the day snorkeling, diving, and exploring the Ras Muhammad Marine National Park, arguably the most coral-intensive site in the world. The park is home to marine life of all sorts and sizes as well as more than a few shipwrecks shallow enough to be explored snorkeling.

Option of overnighting in a protected harbor or, for the more adventurous, a two-and-a-half-hour trip by coach to Mount Moses in the middle of Sinai. This is where the Prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments. The climb up the mountain by foot takes between 2-4 hours. Overnight at the peak. While this trip isn't for everybody, those who choose to undertake it will be well rewarded with the site of a dawn like no other.

Even if only one out of the group decides to take this trip, it will be arranged with private guiding while the rest spend the night aboard Al Zahra.

Day 8

For the Al Zahra loungers, another day of cruising the Southern Sinai region. There are several islands here, the biggest being Tiran. Around the island are four separate coral islands that rise from the blue to nearly 30cm below the sea's surface.
Lunch anchored in Tiran's sandy lagoon. Dolphin spottings are frequent here as there are several resident schools of dolphin in the nearby Strait of Tiran.

As for the Mount Moses explorers, after the descent in the morning, a guided exploration of St. Catherine's monastery at the foot of the Mountain. Built in 670 AD over the site of the Burning Bush where Prophet Moses first heard God's call, St. Catherine's is the oldest Greek Orthodox monastery in the world. After the tour, the party returns to meet Al Zahra in Sharm.

Alternatively, some guests could choose to forego the Mt. Moses climb but still take the 2.5-hour ride by coach to explore the monastery in the early morning, returning after lunch to Al Zahra.

Day 9

During the last day of their charter, guests may opt to do more of what they liked best. They may sail in the Sinai region or return South towards Hurghada.

Another shore trip option could be the Colored Canyons, named for their striking mineral-rich composition. The journey takes around 1 hour 45 minutes by road and gives yet another perspective on the varied Sinai terrain.

Depending on where our guests will be leaving us, the charter ends in either Sharm or Hurghada, both having international airports.

Egypt & The Red Sea - Weather

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Egypt & The Red Sea - Maps

 
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