Most travelers often think that adventure in Egypt is limited to exploring ancient tombs and living the Indiana Jones dream. But little do they know that Egypt is not just rich in history and culture, but it’s also an epic adventure travel destination. If you happen to be an adrenaline junkie like myself, then this is your go-to guide if you’re planning an adventure in Egypt.

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What is adventure tourism?

First things first, let’s get our facts straight about adventure travel, also known as adventure tourism. Both terms refer to a type of niche tourism that involves traveling to outdoor locations and physically-challenging activities.

There are two types of adventures; soft and hard. Soft adventures include activities like camping, backpacking, or hiking, which pose a lower risk to life. On the other hand, hard adventures, like trekking or rock climbing, pose a much higher safety risk.

Adventure travel is a relatively new concept to the world of tourism, but it’s growing in popularity and booming all around the world. Luckily, you can enjoy an epic adventure in Egypt as the country’s wonderful nature allows so many outdoor activities.

Adventure in Egypt: What to Do and Where?

Egypt’s wonderful nature makes it a perfect adventure travel destination. The mountainous deserts makes a heaven on earth for hikers and rock climbers; the golden dunes are great for sandboarding; the rich marine life of the Red Sea is an underwater haven for divers. These are only a few examples of the kind of adventure in Egypt that you can enjoy.

Check out the following list for more details on what exactly you can do, where and how.

Hiking and trekking

Egypt’s desert nature makes it easy to find epic hikes across the country – be it in the western desert or the eastern desert. The best hiking spots in Egypt though are in the eastern desert – in Sinai, to be more precise. The Sinai peninsula is known for so many beautiful things, and its mighty mountains stand out. The Bedouin town of Saint Catherine alone is home to the country’s highest mountain, Mount Catherine, as well as Mount Sinai, from the Biblical story of Moses and the Burning Bush.

Some of my favorite hikes in Sinai were Mount Sinai and Darb Ahmar in Saint Catherine, and the Double Canyon somewhere in the desert between Dahab and Saint Catherine. What’s still high on my list though is hiking the famed Sinai Trail. Egypt’s 1’s long-distance hiking trail –it’s 220 KM-long and takes 12 days to complete. The peninsula is home to endless mountains, valleys, and canyons, so it would take writing an entire book for me to list them all.

The Red Sea region also boasts a magnificent range of mountains. There, you can also find the Sinai Trail’s sister project, known as the Red Sea Mountain Trail – the 170 KM-long trail takes 14 days to complete.

FUN PICKS: HIKE MOUNT SINAI, ONE OF EGYPT’S HIGHEST PEAKS. CLICK HERE TO BOOK.

How to book a hiking or trekking adventure in Egypt?

There are plenty of adventure travel agencies and individual adventure tour operators nowadays. However, the ones I trust the most are my dear friends Hamsa Mansour and Nour El Din Sherif. Coming from personal experience, they’re both the most professional when it comes to the outdoor business. They usually organize 2-3 hiking trips every year, but they can also design one for you that’s just as adventurous if you reach out.

For long-distance hiking trails, you can contact Sinai Trail and Red Sea Mountain Trail directly.

BONUS TIP: Can’t travel and need a quick, easy hike in Cairo? Then, Wadi Degla Protectorate is your go-to option.

Rock climbing

Rocky mountains aren’t just perfect for hiking and trekking only, but they’re obviously as great for rock climbing and bouldering as well. Egypt’s top rock climbing destination is Wadi Gnai in Dahab. There are also a few hiking facilities in Cairo that you can check out if you have limited travel time and don’t mind compromising beautiful views.

Where to go rock climbing in Egypt?

If you’re traveling to Dahab, you can book a rock climbing session in Wadi Gnai via Homadventures or Insight Seekers. As for Cairo, there’s rock climbing at Mario’s High Ropes – it’s not a 100% professional facility though as they don’t have rock climbing shoes. On the other hand, you can go to Fingerlock, located at New Cairo’s Gold’s Gym, if you don’t mind an indoor rock climbing wall instead of a real mountain. The facility is well-equipped – there are rock climbing shoes, chalk, and everything, even private instructors. If you fancy bouldering, you can find some nice bouldering spots in Wadi Degla, or you can go to Ascent, another professional indoor climbing facility that’s specialized in bouldering.

Diving and snorkeling

Thanks to the Red Sea, Egypt competes with Indonesia for the first and second place when naming the top diving destinations in the world. The least you could do is bring a snorkel along and marvel at the colorful coral reefs and marine life while going for a swim in the Red Sea. If you’re willing to take things to the next level, then scuba diving is highly recommended. Dahab is also one of the cheapest destinations if you’re hoping to get your PADI certification. It’s also a haven for freedivers!

What are the best diving destinations in Egypt?

• Dahab
• Sharm El Sheikh
• Hurghada
• Marsa Alam
• El Quseir
• Alexandria (only to see the underwater ruins of ancient Alexandria – you must have a diving license)

FUN PICKS: SNORKEL WITH DOLPHINS IN HURGHADA. CLICK HERE TO BOOK.

Sandboarding

This is hands down one of my personal favs. You’re probably familiar with snowboarding, but what about sandboarding? Unlike snowboarding, sandboarding isn’t that hard – even if you fall, it’s still fun! You see, you can ride the dunes standing (that’s what requires some practice) or sitting if all else fails. The only downside to it is having to climb the steep dunes every single time.

Where to go sandboarding in Egypt?

There are dunes by the Magic Lake in Fayoum and the Fayoum desert; in the heart of Nabq Natural Protectorate; and in some places in the Sinai desert. However, the ultimate best dunes in Egypt are definitely those in the Great Sand Sea in Siwa Oasis. The desert safari trip in Siwa is one of my all-time favorites as it also includes dune-bashing –the best I’ve ever done.

Kayaking

After hiking, kayaking is probably the second-most adventure travel activity that I’m obsessed with. It’s also not a hard activity to learn at all and it’s very easy to get the hang of. Just be prepared for a killer arm workout though! There are two types of kayaks, a single one and a double one, so you could enjoy it alone or with a friend.

Where to go kayaking in Egypt?

If in Cairo, there are various places where you can rent a kayak on the Nile river; Ahimsa, Cairow Watersports, Nile Kayak Club, and Zamalek Kayak. You can learn more about each facility here.

On the other hand, you can kayak in the sea – my personal favorite. If you’re in El Gouna, you can go to El Gouna Sailing Club or Osmosis Kiteboarding. If in Sinai, you can rent a kayak on the promenade in Dahab, or go to Nabq’s Dajal Camp or Nabq Adventure Park.

Camping

Camping in the desert is an absolute favorite of mine. If you’re looking for one hell of an adventure in Egypt, this is it! There are lots of destinations where camping is a super cool experience. My top favorites are Ras Muhammed, Saint Catherine, and the White Desert. Dahab’s Abou Galloum and Blue Lagoon, as well as Nuweiba, are packed with campsites that offer huts for lodging. I love these so much because it’s just you, the Red Sea, and the mountains.

P.S: It’s important to know that permits are required for going out to the desert, whether you’re camping or not – camping permits are also required. The camps in Dahab and Nuweiba are basically lodging facilities, so your booking would be fine. However, when camping in Saint Catherine or the White Desert, your tour operator will be taking care of these permits so you must have some identification. As for Ras Muhammed, you can easily get a camping ticket and permit at the gate while entering the protectorate.

FUN PICKS: SLEEP UNDER THE STARS IN THE WHITE DESERT. CLICK HERE TO BOOK.

Adventure in Egypt: Adrenaline-Fueled Watersports

The following don’t really fall under the adventure travel category because they’re more of sports, but they’re as adrenaline-fueled. Here are 3 watersports that you can enjoy in Egypt if you’re a pro, or even take a course if you have some time.

Kitesurfing

Believe it or not, kitesurfing is actually BIG in Egypt. The number 1 kitesurfing hub in Egypt is Ras Sudr in South Sinai. Ras Sudr is privileged with 2 things that play a major role in its popularity amongst kitesurfers. The flat water surface and windy nature make it a perfect kitesurfing destination, but also its strategic location is a great plus as it’s only 2 and a half hours away from Cairo. Soul Kitesurfing is the top kitesurfing camp in Ras Sudr.

Dahab is also a great place for kitesurfing, especially if you’re hoping to learn – it’s much cheaper to take a course in Dahab. If you’re staying for a long time, a lot of people find it convenient to learn in Dahab and once they get the hang of the sport, they go to Ras Sudr for its close proximity to Cairo. The best spot to practice tricks or learn in Dahab is hands down Blue Lagoon.

Another, but a pricier, destination that’s popular among kitesurfers is El Gouna. Where to go kitesurfing there? You’ve got plenty of options; Makani Beach, Element Watersports, Osmosis Kiteboarding, Kite People, Kiteboarding Club, Kitepower, Kite Family, and Red Sea Zone.

Windsurfing

Since windsurfing more or less requires the same nature as kitesurfing, Dahab and El Gouna are also known for both watersports.

Surfing

Surfing may not be as popular or big as the other two, but it’s getting there. Unlike kitesurfing and windsurfing, surfing requires waves instead of a flat water surface. That’s why it’s more of a Mediterranean speciality, so it’s limited to summer months as it gets super cold up North in other months. The country’s first surf camp, Surf Camp Egypt, has 3 locations on the North Coast in 3 different resorts; Hacienda Red, Hacienda White, and Swan Lake.

Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

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You might also like:

• Epic Things to Do in Dahab: Your Unconventional Guide
• St Catherine, Egypt: From Fascinating History to Mindblowing Views

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