Tourism in Marsa Alam – the Red Sea

Marsa Alam is a port and resort located on the Red Sea in the eastern desert, 280 kilometers south of Hurghada. After the opening of the Marsa Alam International Airport in 2001, Marsa Alam becomes an important destination for tourism from different European trips, especially from Italy.

The history of Marsa AlamIn ancient times, Marsa Alam was famous for its mountains used in mining and digging for gold and emeralds, as an ancient town dating back to the ancient Egyptian civilization is discovered in Marsa Alam by the supreme council of antiquates.
Marsa Alam is divided into two villages. The first is Bernice that is a small city located north of Al Quseir. This village is famous for therapeutic tourism. The second village is Abu El Hassan Al Shazly village, housing a famous Islamic center.

    Activates in Marsa Alam
  • Enjoying diving, snorkeling, and submarine trips in the Red Sea and seeing coral reefs and the wide range of underwater wildlife such as dugongs and dolphins. The levels of diving vary to be accessible for less experienced divers and experienced drivers.
  • Marsa Alam includes several marinas offering the best service as Spas for relaxation and entertainment.
  • Marsa Alam is famous for kite surfing and windsurfers.
  • In Marsa Alam, you will be able to enjoy doing safaris in the desert and wilderness exploration.
  • Marsa Alam houses many National Parks such as Gebel Elba, Hamata Island, and Wadi al Gimal, where a variety of birds and desert animals.
  • Also, Marsa Alam is considered a therapeutic tourism destination.
  • In addition, it has great economic importance as it contains many golds, emeralds, and marble mines.>

Several tourism projects are planned for the near future in Marsa Alam to become rival the popularity of the other Egyptian resorts such as Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.

Bahariya Oasis – The Western Desert

Bahariya Oasis is one of the most fabulous Egyptian oases in the western desert, as Egypt contains six oases El Fayoum Oasis, Farafra Oasis, Farafra Oasis, Kharga Oasis, Dakhla Oasis, and Siwa Oasis. It is affiliated with Giza Governorate.

The history of Bahariya Oasis Like other Egyptian oases, Bahariya Oasis was an important stop point on the trading route between the Western Desert and the Nile Valley.

Bahariya Oasis are two Arabic words meaning the northern oasis in English. This oasis played an important role during the ancient Egyptian civilization as it was known with two names (Djesdjes) and (wḥꜣt mḥtt).

Its importance increased during the Greco-Roman period as it was used as a trading route and began producing a lot of goods such as cereals, dates, olive oils, and wine.

The main economic sectors of this society are iron ore mining, tourism, and agriculture as they are growing guavas, mangos, dates, and olives.

The attractions in Bahariya Oasis Bahariya Oasis is surrounded by mountains and has numerous springs. It is considered as the start point for many safari trips into the western desert as it is the closest oasis to Cairo, as well provides immediate access to the White Desert, Black Desert, and the Crystal Mountain.

  • El Bawiti is the largest and the administrative center in Bahariya.
  • El Hayz: In El Hayz, the golden mummies have been discovered. It is a necropolis housing nearly 10,000 mummies dating back to the Greco-Roman period.
  • Bir Al-Ghaba: it is a hot spring worth visiting in this oasis.
  • Bawiti Museum: it is an Ethnographic museum displaying the customs and traditions community of Bahariya Oasis. It was built by Mohamed Eid, one of the oasis’s local artists.
  • The White Desert is divided into two deserts: the old white desert, where the Mushrooms and tents area, and the new white desert with its limestone formations. In ancient times, this desert was covered with the sea leading to its rocks contain some seashells. It is located on the road between Bahariya and Farafra.
The White Desert - Farafra Oasis - Egypt Vacation Tours
The White Desert
  • The Black Desert contains mountains formed from black stones and rocks created due to volcanoes.

The Black Desert - Farafra Oasis - Egypt Vacation Tours
The Black Desert

Farafra Oasis – The Western Desert

Farafra Oasis is one of the most fabulous Egyptian oases in the western desert, as Egypt contains six oases El Fayoum Oasis, Bahariya Oasis, Farafra Oasis, Kharga Oasis, Dakhla Oasis, and Siwa Oasis.

Farafra is located on the southern road between Cairo and Bahariya. Farafra Oasis is affiliated to the Al-Wadi Al-Gadid governorate in Southern Egypt, the largest governorate in Egypt in terms of space.

The history of Farafra Oasis As other Egyptian oases, Farafra Oasis was an important stop point on the trading route between the Western Desert and the Nile Valley.

Farafra Oasis had a great position during the ancient Egyptian civilization, especially during the reign of the 10th dynasty, as it was named (Ana Akhet), meaning the land of the cow referring to the goddess Hathour.

During the Roman period, Farafra and other oases were famous for growing grains.

During the Coptic period, the Egyptian Copts escaped to Farafra and other oases due to Roman persecution.

This oasis is considered partly isolated what explains why its community still committing to its old traditions and customs. It is famous for growing dates, olives, and apricots.

The attractions in Farafra OasisFarafra is the start point for tours desert safari in the western desert to visit the white desert, the black desert, and the Crystal Mountains.

  • The Qaser Al Farafra or the Farafra Palace is a roman monument.
  • Qaser Abu Monqar is a roman attraction.
  • Farafra Oasis houses other roman attractions as some rock-cut tombs and ruins of a Roman Temple.
  • The White Desert is divided into two deserts: the old white desert, where the Mushrooms and tents area, and the new white desert with its limestone formations. In ancient times, this desert was covered with the sea leading to its rocks contain some seashells. It is located on the road between Bahariya and Farafra.
The White Desert - Farafra Oasis - Egypt Vacation Tours
The White Desert
  • The Black Desert contains mountains formed from black stones and rocks created due to volcanoes.
The Black Desert - Farafra Oasis - Egypt Vacation Tours
The Black Desert
  • Badr’s Museum: it is a mud-brick house owned by Badr Abdel Moghny, who is a local artist. It displays the customs and traditions of the Farafra community.
Badr’s Museum - Farafra Oasis - Egypt Vacation Tours
Badr’s Museum
  • Farafra distinguishes with its geographical location and geological formation, so it contains natural water wells using in therapeutic tourism as it has sulfurous wells for treating some respiratory diseases.

Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque

Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi, or Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Mosque as the people of Alexandria use to call it, is one of the most famous mosques and Islamic monuments in Alexandria. The mosque is located in the Anfushi neighborhood of Alexandria, close to the Citadel of Qaitbay.

Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi was a Andalusi Sufi. He lived during the 13th century in the Andalusia region of Spain and was born to a wealthy family. In 1242, he traveled with his family to Tunisia.

Then he moved to Alexandria in Egypt to study jurisprudence and religion, as it was a popular destination of many Muslim scholars at the time, and lived almost 43 years there. He lived in Alexandria as a scholar and teacher till his death in 1286. He was buried in a small building there.

There is an annual festival held in Alexandria on the 5th of July for celebrating the birth of Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas.

The history of the mosque The mosque was constructed in 1307 when El Sheikh Zein El Din, one of the richest traders of Alexandria, visited the building where Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi was buried and wanted to develop this mausoleum in honor of Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi.

The current building was redesigned and reconstructed in 1929 by Eugenio Valzania and Mario Rossi as it appears very influenced by the architecture of old Cairo buildings. Then, King Farouq I built the Midan el Masged or Mosque Square.

The mosque has two entrances in the north and the east. Also, it has a minaret with Ayoubids design standing on the southern side. As well, the ceiling is decorated with arabesque and has four unique domes.

The mosque is built on the tomb of Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi as he was buried there.

Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi’s tomb became one of the destinations of many Muslims during their pilgrimage to Mecca as they pass in Alexandria on their way from Egypt and Morocco.