“... That exquisite corridor of tinted mountains and radiant water... here and nowhere else, is the vestibule between the Levant and the Tropics."
E.M Forster describing the Guld of Suez, 1923.

Egypt's Red Sea coast runs from the Gulf of Suez to the Sudanese border. its mineral - rich red mountain ranges inspired the mariners of antiquity to name the sea Mare Rostrum, or the Red Sea.
Hermits seeking seclusion founded early Christian monasteries here, sharing the widerness with camel-trading Bedouin tribes, Today, the crags and limestone wadis of the Eastern Desert remain relatively unexplored, home to herds of ibex and gazelle. But the Red Sea itself, dotted with coral reefs, fringed by ancient ports, abounding in underwater life, has  a rich maritime history which stretches back to Pharaonic

Suez has been a commercial port since the 7th century. The spice trade and pilgrimages to Mecca made it prosperous throughout the Middle Ages. It became a naval in the 15th century and, in 1869, the opening of the Suez Canal ensured its development as a modern city. Today, Suez is one of Egypt's largest ports.
El Ain El Sukhna - the Arabic for "hot spring" - was named after the nearby sulphur springs. Close enough to Cairo for a day-trip, this popular weekend resort has fine beaches, coves and coral reefs. It is also an ideal site for fishing and water sports.
El Gouna: 25km north of Hurghada. it is a tourist resort recently developed to offer ultra-modern facilities. It consists of several tourist resorts, International hotels of different categories, diving centres and a gold course. it has a small airport for handling private planes.
Hurghada

Founded in the early 20th century, Hurghada has gone on to become to the foremost tourist resort of the Red Sea coast and an International centre for aquatic sports. An excellent location for windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, swimming, snorkelling and diving. The unique underwater gardens offshore are some of the finest in the world-justifiably famous amongst divers.
Safaga

Safaga City is a port on the Red Sea besides being a renowned resort for vacationers and divers. Safaga resort hosts a variety of lodging properties, diving centres and offers excellent seafood specialties. The resort is reputable for its unpolluted atmosphere, black sand-dunes and mineral springs that attract visitors from all over the world and windsurfers in particular. Day trips to Tobia Island or Mons Claudianus in the Red Sea Mountains can be arranged with travel agencies.
Al-Qusseir

It has a long history as one of the Red Sea ports: from her Queen Hatshepsut launched her expedition to the Land of Punt. The 16th century Fortress of Sultan Selim, still standing in the town centre, shows Al-Qusseir's strategic importance. Today, it is a quiet resort with sandy beaches, clear waters, coral reefs and places for accommodation. It is also a suitable site for camping and water sports. An ancient caravan trail to Qift in the Nile valley, leads from Al-Qusseir through the mountains, passing several Pharaonic and Roman sites. A new road, direct to Luxor, hass been opened.
Marsa Alam

A village with a small harbour and stone quay, Marsa Alam is the ideal base for a fishing holiday. Dokki shooting Club has a resthouse where deep-sea fishing trips are arranged. There are some fine offshore coral reefs, and diving facilities are available. A nature reserve stretches from here to Gabel Elba in the south. It hosts hotels and tourist villages.

St Antony's Monastery and its neighbor St. Paul's, are the oldest monastries in Egypt. Hidden deep in the Red Sea mountains and relying on springs for their water supply. Both still observe rituals that have hardly changed in 16 centuries. They are accessible by special tours from Cairo, Sue or Hurghada. Accommodation in either monastery can be arranged in advance. St. Anthony's was founded in 356, just after the saint's death. It houses gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches with exceptional wall paintings and icons. There is also a library that boasts over 1700 manuscripts. St. Anthony's Cave is a 2 km. It offers stunning views of the mountains and the sea, besides the chance to see a wide range of birdlife. The Egyptian Red Sea border ends at Shalateen and Halayeb, two destinations for those who seek relaxation and diving.

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(ALEXANDRIA - ASWAN - SHARM EL SHEIKH - FAYOUM - MERSA MATRUH - LUXOR - MINYA )


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