The Red Sea Coast
The Red Sea coast runs from the Gulf of Suez, and the many mountain ranges inspired the mariners of antiquity to name it the "Sea Mare Rostrum", or the Red Sea.
Main islands along the coast include:
Qamar, AI-Fanadir, Abu Ramada, Om Gaweesh, Small Seoul lands, A1 Zabarged
Archaeological Sites and Sites to visit
The Red Sea region has a lot of Pharonic and Roman antiquities. Pharonic inscriptions were found in Wadi Elhaamat and Um El Fawageer, which are located 235 Km south of Hurghada.
Ruins of the temple of Dokhan:
A Greco roman temple which is located 65 Km north of Hurghada
Christian sites:
The area has two of the oldest and most famous monasteries in Coptic Egypt:
St. Paul: It goes back to the end of to the 4th century AD, check more here
St. Anthony: it is the oldest known monastery in Egypt, where St Anthony created the first monastic style of life. Check more here
Islamic sites:
-The Shrine of Sheik Hassan El-Ghasal is located 150 Km from Marsa Alam and is around 800 years old
-The Tower of Sultan Sleem in Al-Qusseir, it is located around 130 KM south of Hurghada
Red Sea Towns
Hurghada
Hurghada lies 500 Km from Cairo and is famous for its magnificent summer and winter climate. Click here for more information about this resort city.
Safaga:
Safaga is to be found 65 Km south of Hurghada. A marine port, connected by a cruise shuttle service line with Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Safaga city is considered an extremely important centre as special medical researches helps contribute to the potential of attracting international tourism to Safaga...
Al-Qusseir
It is 80 Km south of Safaga and is an excellent site for camping. Recently, several hotels of different categories have been established. Tourists can practise water sports. It is an important port for exporting phosphate, and is connected to Qena city by a road that is 220 Km long.
Marsa Alam
This popular resort is 135 Km south of Al-Qusseir and 270 Km south of Jiving, and is connected to Edfu by a 289 Km long desert road. Due to the proximity of Luxor and the shrine of Abu AI-Hassan AI-Shazli, it has become a big tourist centre, which avails the tourist of the many monumental sites and its exotic beaches.
Bernice:
A small town, about 12 Km south of Marsa Alam, and is very rich in fish. The site is an excellent therapeutic centre and today is a geological phenomenon as well. It is full of semi-precious gems, and was used from around 1500 BC until the mid-20th century.
How to reach the Red Sea coast:
By flight:
Egypt air and many international airlines runs regular and charter flights to Hurghdada, and Marsa Alam.
By bus:
You can take a bus from the main bus station in called known as Eltorgam (any taxi driver in Cairo knows where it is)
The East Delta Bus Company and El-Gouna Bus Company both run regular daily bus trips to Hurghada.
Red Sea air temperatures through the year:
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
||||||||
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
||
22 |
10 |
30 |
14 |
24 |
14 |
26 |
17 |
31 |
22 |
33 |
25 |
||
July |
August |
September |
October |
Nov |
Dec |
||||||||
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
||
34 |
27 |
34 |
27 |
33 |
24 |
28 |
20 |
28 |
15 |
23 |
14 |
||
Distances between the Red Sea coast and Cairo:
|
Cairo |
Ras Ghareib |
Hurghada |
Safaga |
Al-Qusseir |
Marsa Alam |
Cairo |
0 |
309 |
460 |
520 |
600 |
731 |
Ras Ghareib |
309 |
0 |
150 |
210 |
290 |
423 |
Hurghada |
460
|
150 |
0 |
60 |
140 |
273 |
Safaga |
520 |
210 |
60 |
0 |
80 |
213 |
Al-Qusseir |
600 |
290 |
140 |
80 |
0 |
133 |
Marsa Alam |
731 |
423 |
273 |
213 |
133 |
0 |
