Egyptian Night

Alf Leila Wa Leila

For 15 euros experience the sound and taste of Egypt-horse riding, belly dancing, fakirs, dervish dancing and all. And hear the short version of Egypt's exciting history in English, German, French and Russian.

Theme: Eating and Drinking
Website: http://www.pickalbatros.com

A step from the sea

The Dana Beach Hotel is a huge complex of modern buildings with a beautiful park just a step from the sea.

This is the hotel I passed by on my way to the beach. I also had some time to explore its grounds.

Unique Qualities: This hotel has its own beach where you can play sports or take part in different organized activities.

It's very good for children, too. There's the Giant chessboard with giant figures, mini golf...

Directions: the outskirts of Hurghada

Paradise on Earth

The name '1001 night' really fits it, because the whole complex, with the hotel, is just like Aladdin's palace, with its colourful domes, huge gates, marble paths and all.

All the rooms have a balcony, sat TV, phone, bathroom and a minibar.

Everything's very clean, and you can always see cleaners (male, by the way) tidying and dusting around.

The service's great and everyone's always willing to please you.

Unique Qualities: This is a 4-star-hotel with its own private beach (20min far if you go on foot or 5min if you go by bus), swimming pools, restaurants, sauna...

the stairs

It's also perfect for children. There's a playground and a small zoo, and, what's more, friendly guards stand in front of the main gate so you can feel really safe.

Address: Safaga Road

Directions: 15min drive from the Hurghada airport

Phone: 065 466 401

Website: http://www.pickalbatros.com

Pita Sphinx

A warm and friendly atmosphere!

Favorite Dish: You should definitely try grilled veal (reash)! It's great!

Address: Hurghadh Al-Skala- Sheraton Road
Price Comparison: about average
Directions: behind McDonalds across the Regina Hotel
Phone: 065/449 105
Price: less than US$10

Herbal Tea

Alf Leila Wa Leila hall

If you choose to go into a shop in Hurghada, especially the 1 selling perfumes, you'll be asked to drink a cup of herbal tea with the owner. Don't refuse! It's their way of saying 'welcome'.

Where're You From?

street scene

Try to get used to being asked where you are from! You'll be asked that same question wherever you go. You can answer it, and prepare yourself for more personal ones, or ignore it, and be left alone! You choose! 

Bedouin Dinner

Dinnertime!

The dinner we had at the Bedouin village wasn't real Bedouin dinner. It was brought from our hotel, but we enjoyed it as if Bedouins themselves had prepared it for us.

After the candle light barbecue dinner, we had the pleasure of listening to a small concert and dancing bare feet.

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com  

Sunset

Is there a better way to end a day in the desert than watch the sunset? That's what we did from the top of a hill a few minutes from the Bedouin village.

The picture's also showing the Bedouin village and a pigeon house.

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Rocky Desert

Here's the proof that there aren't just sandy deserts in Egypt but rocky, too. Look at that spectacular landscape with colourful mountains and canyons!

This is where we visited a relatively new well, a present from the state, and watered a palmtree nearby.

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Camel Ride

on the camel

This was the 1st time I ever rode a camel and I have to say it was a really amazing experience. I wish it lasted longer!
Just 1 advice - lean forwards when the camel gets up or down to escape the possible but unnecessary pain when hitting your back against the wooden saddle!

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Bedouin Village

This is where we found out a lot about the Bedouin way of life, watched their women making bread (made from flour, salt and water and baked on an iron plate into thin pancakes called 'fetir' - delicious!), visited their houses (amazing where people can live!), pharmacy, selling home-made medicine, and shop, selling colourful necklaces, bracelets and scarves.

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Wild Race

go, go, go!

What followed was a race down the dune for a Bedouin toothbrush.

When we got to the Bedouin village, the winner got his prize - a kind of stick that a Bedouin uses to clean his teeth.

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Sandy Dunes

A few steps away we went up a sandy dune and enjoyed every minute of it!

Website: http://www.redseadesertadventures.com

Fatamorgana

Water where there isn't any - this is what you'll experience on a hot day with no winds! And that's what we saw 1st when we went on our jeep safari. If you enlarge the picture hopefully you'll see what I'm taking about right above my head!

Jeep Safari

Walk like an Egyptian

A wild jeep drive, visit to a Bedouin village, camel ride, watching the sunset in the desert and the candle-light dance can be an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Website: http://www.hurghada.com

Sunny Hurghada

my catch

Hurghada's a relatively new place on the Red Sea, an hour's flight from Cairo, with a lot of hotels, restaurants, cafes, discos, soft white sandy beaches... You can go snorkeling, scuba-diving, fishing and wind-surfing. Some say that the underwater world's unmatched here!