Today human beings are becoming more aware of the effect their activities have created on the planet Earth and its ecosystem. Many are becoming passionate about a "Green Revolution" to help Mother Nature and protect the beauty and health of nature. Green travel or ecotourism has an increasingly popular travel option among environmentally aware individuals. It ensures that all activities undertaken on such a tour will not negatively affect nature or create any harmful consequences for the environment.
Green Travel In Egypt
Green travel in Egypt is an up-and-coming market that is growing fast. The government has helped in this effort and has tried to conserve the different ecosystems of the country and established protectorates. Eco lodges have started surfacing in the desert oases and along the Red Sea coast. One famous eco-lodge here is Basta which was constructed with all-natural materials and where waste generated is used either as fertilizer or in construction. There are many other eco lodges located along the Red Sea coastline to help tourists flocking here enjoy a green travel experience without feeling any guilt about the impact on nature.
Eco lodges in desert oases in Egypt are beautiful places to spend a holiday and staying here will ensure an environment-friendly holiday while helping the locals have a good source of employment.
What Is An Eco-Lodge?
Any hotel, guest house, or accommodation that adheres to eco-tourism can be categorized as an eco-lodge. Green eco-lodges needn’t be simplistic but must adhere completely to the go-green concept. These can be anything from huts and tented camps to luxurious spas and hotels. In order to be successful as an eco-lodge, lodging must be constructed in an environment-friendly manner and must have a net positive impact on the environment. It should be an employment alternative for local people and the community and should benefit them in more ways. The lodge should create environmental and cultural awareness and should be powered by alternative sources like solar energy. The water should be conserved and used in an eco-friendly way and waste should be disposed of to form compost, fertilizer, or other useful stuff rather than just wasted. Meals served here should be organic and it's even better if they are grown by the lodge itself or a nearby farm.
Some Eco-Lodge Options In Egypt
Egypt is home to many eco-lodges even though eco-tourism is still in its growing phase. Many new properties are now being constructed to cater to people looking to travel green. The majority of green lodges are located in the Sinai Peninsula, but some also exist near the Siwa Oasis and the Red Sea Coast area. Here are some options:
- Basata Eco Lodge in Sinai was the first eco-lodge in the country.
- Al Karm in Sinai is an eco-lodge with 8 rooms and a maximum capacity of 40 guests at one time. The lodge makes use of only solar power and no electricity is consumed for heating water for guests.
- Bedouin Valley Eco Lodge in Marsa Alam, offers options to stay either in a chalet or a bungalow.
- Um Tobdoba eco-lodge in Marsa Alam is ideal to undertake the many water activities
- El Hamra eco-lodge in Nile Delta is known for its rich history and ancient traditions
- Taziry in Siwa is another eco-lodge.
- Adrere Amella in Siwa region has no electricity and is lit by beeswax candles and stars all night
- Desert Rose eco-lodge in Bahariya Oasis has no air conditioning and uses traditional techniques to ensure cooling for guest rooms.
Eco-Friendly Diving And River Travel
In addition to staying at eco-lodges, travelers can go diving and snorkeling with a dive club which is eco-friendly. In these clubs, special care is taken to avoid any harm to the reefs while diving and divers offer tips for reef preservation and caring for other natural wonders in the area. Another thing that travelers can do to enjoy responsible and green traveling is to travel the Nile on a felucca rather than on large cruises. Feluccas are sailboats that run without any motor and offer a calm, relaxed alternative compared to large cruises. Some feluccas offer electric options which run on solar power. This is much better for the environment.
