Egypt

When you’re visiting Egypt adventure travel is always part of the itinerary, thanks to the wealth of activities on offer: outdoor activities in Egypt range from camel trekking in the desert sands through to kite surfing in the azure seas, mountain climbing on the Sinai Peninsula or scuba diving in the warm waters above astonishing wrecks and reefs.

There is something for the ever explorative traveler and with a great year-round climate, friendly local people, outstanding natural beauty and relatively competitive prices, it ensures that you’ll want to come back for more.

A flight in to Sharm El Sheik will provide you with a good base: start your Egypt adventure travel experience with a dip in the sea and some scuba diving – a must for any water sports lover. Further down the coast you could have a go at kitesurfing or windsurfing. From the Sharm El Sheik coastal area, it’s a couple of hours drive inland to the desert and the mountains – if you’re after outdoor activities in Egypt which mix adventure and culture, maybe spend a few days trekking in the Sinai and then to round off your holiday head back to Cairo and explore the hustle and bustle of this fascinating city?

Located in the Middle East, Egypt is west of Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, east of Libya and north of Sudan and Chad. With a society that boasts an existence of over 3000 years it is one of the oldest civilisations of earth. Modern day Egyptians range from the nomadic Bedouins that calmly roam the deserts in search of water for their camel herds, to the shrewd and lively business people of the cities.

At times, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria to name a few may seem overwhelmingly hectic, hot and dusty but the array of sights, sounds and smells on offer should excite the imagination and perhaps even transport you back to bygone times of medieval traders bartering goods from afar.

Across Egypt adventure travel lovers favour its coastline which runs along the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and promises clear waters, untouched reefs, shipwrecks and outstanding natural beauty. The topography further inland ranges from desert sands undulating mysteriously in the winds to the steep mountain escarpments on the Sinai Peninsula and Mount Catherine.

Outdoor activities in Egypt are made easier thanks to low annual rainfall and promised sun all year round. The summer season is May to October and the temperatures range is from 27C/80F to 32C/90F (but at times reaching 43C/109F on the Red Sea coast). In winter, (November through April), the range is from 13C/55F to 21C/70F.

International flights into Egypt are frequent from Europe and further afield making Egypt adventure travel holidays super easy to arrange. Internal flights operate daily and can deliver you to destinations such as Sharm El Sheik from where you can begin your adventure. The national bus system serves the Nile Valley and the coastal road – main routes are from Cairo to St Catherine’s Monastery, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. There is also a comprehensive rail network in Egypt that offers a high standard of service. All the major cities are good hubs to pick up public transport onwards to the outdoor activities in Egypt we’ve listed here.

Whilst in Cairo you could also hop on a traditional Felucca and float down the Nile. En route you’ll get the opportunity to tour the ancient cities of Luxor, legendary for its Pyramids and Giza with its serene Great Sphinx.