When you think of Egypt what springs to mind? Like most people you probably know Egypt as the land of the pyramids where you can relax on beautiful beaches in glorious sunshine, explore the many ancient sites that the country is so famous and cruising along the Nile for but there is much more to this amazing country.

Jungle Aqua Park Hurghada

Combining water sports and leisure, the Jungle Aqua Park near Hurghada is something different that has something for all family to enjoy on their package holidays to Egypt. Located on the Red Sea just 25 minutes from Hurghada on the road to Safaga, the park offers swimming pools, water slides and a multitude of sports and activities for all ages.

Hurghada is a popular Red Sea resort well known for its hot climate, beaches, scuba diving and snorkelling, water sports and nightlife. With temperatures around the 30˚C mark for most of the year Hurghada is a popular year round holiday destination, including Christmas and the New Year. The resort is divided into three main parts; the modern El Memsha, the city centre Sekalla and the old part El Dahar.

Jungle Aqua Park

When you need to take a cooling break from the heat on a hot summers day then take the family to Hurghada’s biggest aqua park. With 14 outdoor pools (some are heated) and 35 water slides, what a fantastic way to cool down. The Jungle Aqua Park water slides include wave pool which circles the whole area, swimming pool area (2 large swimming pools), kids area (18 games), group slide (3 games), tube free fall (1 game), twister (2 games), up hill (1 game), uphill plus (1 game), turbo lance, flying boat (2 games), wave slide (1 game), space boat (1 game), space hall (1 game), tsunami (1 game), multi slide (1 game 4 lanes), family slide (1 game), black hall (1 game), rafting slide (1 game), big rafting (1 game) and rafting river which is 1000 meters long.

Aqua Park Hurghada

The park also offers a variety of themed restaurants and bars including the Mediterranean restaurant, Asian planet restaurant, Tragin restaurant, Tarzan restaurant, Viking restaurant and the Zum Kaiser restaurant. Bars include the Ananas bar, Banana bar, Coconut bar, Crocodile bar, Indigo bar, Jungle bar, Lion bar and the Tropical bar.

Enjoy the thrilling water slides, exhilarating rides and the splash pools and animal rides for the younger children at the Jungle Aqua Park Hurghada on your next direct holidays to Egypt. Stay at the Jungle Aqua Park Hotel complex which offers holiday bungalows, a large swimming pool, lots of sporting activities including tennis, table tennis, football, mini-golf and aerobics and plenty to keep the children occupied including a children’s pool, children’s club for 4-12 year olds, playground and mini disco.

A great way to explore and see parts of Egypt you wouldn’t normally see whilst on holiday is a Desert Safari or Excursion.  It allows you to experience the real Egypt and visit areas you might not normally encounter whilst on holiday.  There are many different tours and excursions you can take, from a day trip riding a camel in the desert to camping and sleeping under the stars.

Six Types of Egypt Desert Excursions & Safari’s

1) Jeep Safari
Book an off-road jeep safari and experience the thrill and adventure of

Jeep Safari Egypt

 driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle across uneven terrain through desert hills and slopes.  Stop at a bedouin camp for dinner and to watch the sunset go down across the magnificent desert.  Jeep Safari tours can be arranged as day trips from many places but Hurghada is particularly popular for a day long safari trip including a visit to our bedouin camp and a climb up the mountain to view the sunset going down.  These day excursions usually include food normally in the form of a barbeque at the camp.

2) Safari Tours
Some holiday companies offer Safari tours whereby you spend a week or more travelling by Jeep across the Egyptian desert and off-road terrain to different attractions and ancient ruins.  This gives the holidaymaker an ‘off the beaten track’ experience for their Egypt holiday.

3) Camel Safari
A visit to Egypt is not possible without the obligatory Camel ride! Most

Camel Safari

tourist areas in Egypt offer Camel rides so you can experience what it is like. Day trips from Sharm el Sheikh offer a camel trek, dinner under the stars at a bedouin camp and then drop you back off at your hotel.  For the more adventurous, camel safaris can be booked for 9 days, starting at Sharm el Sheikh and visiting and trekking through attractions/areas of interest such as Gebel Gunna, St. Catherine’s Monastery, Arada Canyon, Bir Safra, Gabel Barqua and Wadi Gibi.  The focus is on exploring Egypt via camel, experiencing the traditional ways of life and hospitality of the Bedouins.  As you’ll be riding a camel every day this is not for the faint hearted! Direct holidays to Sharm el Sheikh can be booked from many UK airports meaning you can arive and start your safari straight away.

4) Quad bike Safari
Quad bike safaris can be arranged daily from many of the main tourist areas such as Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Safaga amongst others.  They generally last a few hours and include riding through the sandy desert, possibly passing mountains and stopping at a Bedouin village/camp.  Sunset’s are a big draw for tourists and safaris usually incorporate a stop to watch the sunset go down over the desert land.

5) Off Road Kart Safari
If you don’t fancy a quad bike or camel, and off-road Kart may be an option.  They’re basically a large buggy with an engine that you can drive across the desert.

6) Desert Horse Safari
Horse riding is available throughout Egypt as a day trip but if you can ride well it’s worth booking a safari starting perhaps starting from the Egyptian Pyramids and exploring out across the desert.  Galloping across the desert terrain is sure to give you vivid memories of Egypt. 

Many operators and holiday companies offering package holidays to Egypt combine horse safari’s with other elements such as nile cruises, camel rides and red sea diving depending on your preference.  Choose from a day excursion to a week long safari and enjoy and experience the real way of life in Egypt.

There are some great places to play golf whilst holidaying in Egypt. Because Egypt has very little rain and is warm all the year round it is possible to play at any time.

Alexandria Sporting Club – Alexandria

This is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Egypt, built in 1898.
Facilities include an 18 hole course, horseracing, tennis, squash, football, basketball, croquet, pro ship, swimming pools and restaurant.

Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort (Championship Course) – Cairo

Facilities here include an 18 hole course, turf driving range with 6 target greens (lit at night), putting green, swimming pool, excercise facilities and a tennis academy with 6 clay courts, tennis pro, lessons, tournaments and pro shop.

Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort (Pharaoh Course) – Cairo

Facilities here include a 9 hole course, turf driving range with 6 target greens (lit at night), putting green, swimming pool, excercise facilities and a tennis academy with 6 clay courts, tennis pro, lessons, tournaments and pro shop.

Gezira Sporting Club – Cairo

Built in 1882, this is the largest multi-sport facility in Egypt. This is a private club with an 18 hole course played on 9 fairways. Other facilities include a driving range and pro shop.

Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort (Championship Course) – Cairo

Facilities here include an 18 hole course plus driving range with 5 target greens. Other facilities include a golf school, putting green and pro shop.

Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort – Cairo

Facilities here include a 9 hole course plus driving range with 5 target greens. Other facilities include a golf school, putting green and pro shop.

Mena House Oberoi Golf Course – Cairo

Mena House is the only hotel in Cairo which has its own golf course. The 18 hole couse overlooks the pyramids and is played on 9 fairways with 2 tees.
Other facilities here include a putting green, meeting centre, restaurant, swimming pool, fitness centre and horseback riding.

Royal Valley Golf Club – Cairo

This is an 18 hole course with driving range, pro shop, restaurant and bar.

Mirage City Golf Course – New Cairo

This is a private 18 hole course and is home to the Mirage City Golf Academy. Here you will also find a driving range, restaurants, function rooms, board room, bar, library and billiards.

Jolie Ville Golf & Resort (Championship Course) – Sharm el Sheikh

Here you will find an 18 hole couse, driving range (lit at night), putting green, golf school, function rooms, conference centre, excercise facilities, health spa, sauna, billiards, table tennis, swimming pool, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, restaurants, disco, bars, satellite tv, play area and aqua park.

Jolie Ville Golf & Resort (Par 3 Course) – Sharm el Sheikh

Here you will find a 9 hole couse, driving range (lit at night), putting green, golf school, function rooms, conference centre, excercise facilities, health spa, sauna, billiards, table tennis, swimming pool, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, restaurants, disco, bars, satellite tv, play area and aqua park.

Taba Heights Golf Resort – Taba

Built in 2006, this 18 hole course also has a driving range, putting green, restaurant and bar.

The Cascades at Soma Bay Golf & Country Club (Championship Course) – Soma Bay

Built in 1999 this is an 18 hole desert course, complete with a golf school, driving range, putting green and pro shop.

The Cascades at Soma Bay Golf & Country Club (Par 3 Challenge Course) – Soma Bay

Built in 1999 this is a 9 hole desert course, complete with a golf school, driving range, putting green and pro shop.

Madinat Makadi Golf Course (Championship Course) – Red Sea

Recently built in 2008, this 18 hole course has driving ranges (80 stations), putting green, golf school and pro shop.

Madinat Makadi Golf Course (Short Course) – Red Sea

Recently built in 2008, this 9 hole course has driving ranges (80 stations), putting green, golf school and pro shop.

El Gouna Golf Club – El Gouna

Built in 1999, this 18 hole course also has a golf school, driving range, pro shop, excercise facilities, health spa, sauna, massage facilities, restaurant and bar.

The Links at Stella di Mare – Ain Soukhna

Built in 2006, this 18 hole course has a meeting centre, spa and pro shop.

There are thousands of cheap holidays to Egypt available throughout the internet, why not book one and try your hand with a relaxing round of golf!

If you are looking for a golfing holiday in Egypt or maybe just want a taste of golf in this fascinating country, try one of the many package holidays on offer that include a ‘golf taster’.

For more information on Egypt and to view my latest articles please visit my Egypt Blog.

Fishawi's Tea House

Shopping
No trip to Egypt is complete without a trip to Cairo’s famous Khan-el Khalili bazaar where haggling for spices, copper and brass, perfume and trinkets has been refined into an art form. Not to be missed is Fishawi’s tea house, which has been in business for over 200 years. 

Camel-buying
For something more exotic and considerably more grudging, go to the Camel Market (Souq al-Gamaal), held every morning at Birqash, around 21 miles from Cairo on the Western Desert fringe. A livestock market is also held every Tuesday morning at El-Hebel,  2.5  miles  from Luxor.

White Desert

Explore the Desert
Egypt’s six oases in the vast Western Desert offer a fascinating glimpse of Bedouin and Berber life, often with ancient ruins nearby. Don’t miss the White Desert, an area of dazzling white, wind-blown rock forms scattered across the wilderness.

Nile cruise
Part of the Egyptian experience is a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.  Along the Nile, egrets flock to the water’s edge and Egypt’s ancient wonders unfold like a story book along the river bank.

Hot Air Ballooning

Hot-air ballooning
Luxor, strewn either side of the Nile, looks good from the ground, better from the river and superb from the air. Rise above the land of the Pharoahs in a hot-air balloon and take a bird’s-eye view of the colossal works of ancient mortals.

Eating
A walk along the corniche in Alexandria is a good way to work up an appetite for one of the city’s fabled fish suppers. The catch of the day, seasoned with exotic spices and dressed with a dozen mezze (small dishes), is a treat worth being hungry for.

Ras Mohamed

Diving
The Red Sea justly deserves its worldwide reputation for peerless underwater adventure. The crystal waters are landscaped with coral and dramatic drop-offs, teeming with many colourful species of fish. Head for Ras Mohamed National Park  for the underwater world at its best.

Snorkelling and swimming
Egypt’s spectacular coastline is accessible without a wetsuit. Simply wade out with a mask or snorkel or take a glass-bottomed boat from the shores of Sharm el-Sheikh and the fish will come to you. Alternatively, soak up the rays from the shore and wait for the cocktails instead.

St Catherine's Monastery

Hiking
For centuries, pilgrims of different denominations have been making the journey up historic Mt Sinai to witness the sun rise across the desert landscape. If the three-hour hike sounds a bit ambitious, stay overnight at St Catherine Monastery, hire a camel and walk down in leisure.

Relive olden days
Aswan, the gateway to Africa, offers a fascinating glimpse of the fast disappearing Nubian culture. For hints of a more recent colonial past, take tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie penned Death on the Nile.

Golf
While it’s not a sport readily associated with Egypt, the country is now making quite a name for itself and offers almost 20 courses. They range from locations within sight of Cairo’s Pyramids to settings alongside the Red Sea.