<strong>Egypt's water adventures: </strong>Egypt is known for its deserts but the country is also blessed with a mighty river and one of the longest coastlines in Africa and the Middle East. Here are some of the best things it has to offer.
Egypt's water adventures: Egypt is known for its deserts but the country is also blessed with a mighty river and one of the longest coastlines in Africa and the Middle East. Here are some of the best things it has to offer.
courtesy ETA-Emeco Travel
<strong>Scuba & Snorkel: </strong>Egypt has been considered one of the top places on the planet to scuba and snorkel since the 1950s, when underwater legends Jacques Cousteau and Hans Haas discovered the riches that lie offshore.
Scuba & Snorkel: Egypt has been considered one of the top places on the planet to scuba and snorkel since the 1950s, when underwater legends Jacques Cousteau and Hans Haas discovered the riches that lie offshore.
courtesy ETA-Emeco Travel
<strong>Scuba & Snorkel: </strong>The Red Sea alone supports more than 220 different species of hard and soft coral, forming an ecosystem that offers both food and shelter to more than 1,100 species of fish.
Scuba & Snorkel: The Red Sea alone supports more than 220 different species of hard and soft coral, forming an ecosystem that offers both food and shelter to more than 1,100 species of fish.
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<strong>Beaches: </strong>With more coast than Florida, Egypt has many places to relish sun, sea and sand. With its soft white sand and warm blue-green water, Mahmya Beach on Giftun Island (near Hurghada) often tops the list of Egypt's best beaches.
Beaches: With more coast than Florida, Egypt has many places to relish sun, sea and sand. With its soft white sand and warm blue-green water, Mahmya Beach on Giftun Island (near Hurghada) often tops the list of Egypt's best beaches.
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<strong>Wildlife: </strong>Sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and the rarely-seen Indian Ocean dugong (pictured here) are among the large animals that complement the thousand-plus fish species that frequent the sea.
Wildlife: Sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and the rarely-seen Indian Ocean dugong (pictured here) are among the large animals that complement the thousand-plus fish species that frequent the sea.
courtesy ETA
<strong>Waterparks: </strong>Makadi Water World is among the half-a-dozen aquatic theme parks in Hurghada.
Waterparks: Makadi Water World is among the half-a-dozen aquatic theme parks in Hurghada.
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<strong>Boating: </strong>From fancy motor yachts in Hurghada to speed boats in Sharm El-Sheikh to a glass-bottom boat in Marsa Alam, Egypt offers plenty in the way of boating.
Boating: From fancy motor yachts in Hurghada to speed boats in Sharm El-Sheikh to a glass-bottom boat in Marsa Alam, Egypt offers plenty in the way of boating.
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<strong>Windsurfing: </strong>Located about an hour's drive north of Sharm El Sheikh along the Gulf of Aqaba, Dahab is the holy grail of Egyptian windsurfing.
Windsurfing: Located about an hour's drive north of Sharm El Sheikh along the Gulf of Aqaba, Dahab is the holy grail of Egyptian windsurfing.
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<strong>Kayaking: </strong>Nile Kayak Club offers short paddles in Cairo as well as five-day guided kayak expeditions down the river between Aswan and Luxor.
Kayaking: Nile Kayak Club offers short paddles in Cairo as well as five-day guided kayak expeditions down the river between Aswan and Luxor.
courtesy ETA-Emeco Travel
<strong>Desert Oases: </strong>Far away from the river and seas, Egypt's oases offer a totally different water experience -- a chance to take the edge off the intense desert heat by relaxing in a cool swimming hole.
Desert Oases: Far away from the river and seas, Egypt's oases offer a totally different water experience -- a chance to take the edge off the intense desert heat by relaxing in a cool swimming hole.
courtesy Maher al Naggar-ETA
<strong>Submarines: </strong>Why bother getting wet -- and crawling into a cumbersome breathing apparatus -- when you can view the underwater wonders of the Red Sea in a bright yellow submarine?
Submarines: Why bother getting wet -- and crawling into a cumbersome breathing apparatus -- when you can view the underwater wonders of the Red Sea in a bright yellow submarine?
courtesy ETA
<strong>Kitesurfing: </strong>With steady 20 knot winds blowing in off the desert mountains and funneled up the Red Sea, the Egypt coast offers ideal conditions for kitesurfing.
Kitesurfing: With steady 20 knot winds blowing in off the desert mountains and funneled up the Red Sea, the Egypt coast offers ideal conditions for kitesurfing.
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<strong>Sailing on the Nile: </strong>Egypt's ubiquitous feluccas have been around for at least 2,000 years, since Roman times when their trademark lateen (triangular) sail was first developed.
Sailing on the Nile: Egypt's ubiquitous feluccas have been around for at least 2,000 years, since Roman times when their trademark lateen (triangular) sail was first developed.
courtesy ETA-Emeco Travel
<strong>Wakeboarding: </strong>Since its opening in 2014, Sliders Cable Park in El Gouna has become a winter training ground for pro wakeboarders and an annual stop on the IWWF wakeboard grand prix circuit.
Wakeboarding: Since its opening in 2014, Sliders Cable Park in El Gouna has become a winter training ground for pro wakeboarders and an annual stop on the IWWF wakeboard grand prix circuit.
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