Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam

Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam, Egypt

Like so many of the towns and cities of Egypt, Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam are living history museums. The three cities are positioned as corners of a triangle in the Eastern Desert. Hurghada, a former fishing harbour, stretches 15 miles along the waterfront and is the perfect area for water sports. Marsa Alam is found by the Red Sea coast and tourism is just starting to make an impact. The city of Luxor, with its jaw-droppingly beautiful monuments built by the hands of ancient craftsmen, lies 150 miles inland on the banks of the River Nile.

Population:

Hurghada: 250,000
Luxor: 510,00
Marsa Alam: 10,000

Currency:

1 Egyptian Pound (LE) = 100 piasters

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency: 123
Police: 126
Fire Brigade: 180

Opening Hours:

Opening hours vary. Most shops in Egypt are open from 9am - 10pm Monday to Saturday. Banks are open daily from 8.30am - 2pm except for Friday and weekends.

Newspapers:

Egyptian Gazette
Middle East Times
Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt Today
Egypt Insight

Hurghada

Hurghada has been home to fishing communities for centuries and remained unchanged until the 1990’s when tourists discovered this idyllic village. With wide stretches of beaches along the coastline, sea waters that were relatively safe and great for watersports, the city was, and still is, ideal for tourism. Today, it is a busy, sprawling town divided into two main areas, the Old Town Ad-Dahar to the north, and Sigala to the south. Each affords a wide range of hotels and restaurants catering for all tastes and tourist attractions.

Luxor

Luxor was the capital of Egypt around 1500-1000 BC and has over the years seen astonishing numbers of palaces and temples been built here. Because the structures were built of granite and sandstone they still remain to this day. Among the “must-sees” are: the Luxor Temple (which dates to the Amenhotep III and Ramses II periods), the complex of temples known as the Karnack Temples, the Luxor Museum, the Mummification Museum, (which is first of its kind in the world), the Funerary Temples and the two valleys of the Kings and Queens.

Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam still has the air of an unspoilt village, which makes it an ideal base for those looking for a quieter break. It is located within a three to four hour drive of both Luxor and Hurghada. Tourism has found Marsa Alam basically because of its location on the banks of the Red Sea. Here you can go on boat trips to watch multi-coloured fish, dolphins, turtles and the coral reefs that lie just offshore. The popularity has grown so much in the past years that it now has its own an airport and an increasing number of luxury resort style accommodations.

Do & See

Like so many of the towns and cities of Egypt, Hurghada as well as Luxor and Marsa Alam are living history museums. These three cities are positioned as three corners of a triangle in the Eastern Desert with plenty to offer both together and separately.