Posts in ‘Things to do in Egypt’

Egyptian authorities have erected a 12-mile fence around the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx in order to keep out hawkers and peddlers.

Hawkers hanging around the site have grown notorious for hassling tourists to buy their goods, sometimes aggressively.

They sell everything from souvenirs to trinkets to T-shirts.

"It was a zoo," said Zahi Hawass, Egypt’’s chief archaeologist.

"Now we are protecting both the tourists and the ancient monuments."

While previously just a low stone wall protected the only surviving member of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the new 13 foot-high barrier is complete with alarms, sensors and CCTV cameras.

Visitors enter the fence through a brick entrance building, with half a dozen gates equipped with metal detectors and X-ray machines.

Once inside, they are closely watched by nearly 200 cameras whose footage goes back to the control room, where guards monitor a bank of 24 screens around the clock.

Culture and Sightseeing – City Tours – Whichever city you are in these tours will help to ensure you do not miss a thing.

If you”re going on holiday to Sharm al Sheikh, you must try diving in the beautiful Ras Mahommed National Park which is just 30km away.

Located at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez, the diving sites at Ras Mohammed are said to be some of the best in the world.

So it’’s definitely worth having a try no matter whether you are a seasoned veteran or a complete novice.

If you prefer to keep your feet dry, however, then there is no doubt that you will be amazed by the wild beauty of the beaches, the surrounding desert, the wildlife inhabiting it, as well as the different types of plants that grow here, including the ancient mangrove trees.

Due to its position, strong currents prevail throughout the year here which makes the waters around it very rich in nutrients.

This attracts huge numbers of schools of pelagic and reef fish, somewhere in the range of 1,000 different species.

Active and Adventure – Air Activities – Enjoy an exhilarating helicopter ride over New York or a serene hot air balloon ride over the Australian outback.

Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, is just a three-hour drive from Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt.

Moses is mentioned to have been here once in the Qu”ran, while the Bible says he has been here twice (the first time meeting his wife Zippora and receiving his mission, the second time leading the Israelites to the Promised Land and receiving the Ten Commandments).

Mount Sinai is also the location of the Burning Bush, the Monks” Garden and the Ossuary (Monastery of St. Catherine), a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in the 6th century, and one of the longest-running monasteries in the world.

Walking up this mountain is an unforgettable experience – visitors can decide whether to do so early in the morning, around midday, or late at night.

The last option is the most recommended – and the most popular amongst tourists - because the sun rising over Sinai is a fantastic view that will never be forgotten.

Culture and Sightseeing – City Tours – Whichever city you are in these tours will help to ensure you do not miss a thing.