Port Safaga

The brilliance of Luxor Temple (available daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) will impress you, particularly because the well-preserved temple of old Thebes doesn't leave a great deal to your imagination, with regards to how it looked at its level. Located in exactly what, today, may be the center regarding the town, the temple had been built into the 14th century B.C., and several pharaohs - including King Tut - included their particular touches. Ramses II included a statue of himself and two huge obelisks, certainly one of that has been traded to France in the belated 1800's and now stands into the destination de Concorde in Paris. (it absolutely was traded for a French time clock, which never worked.) Alexander the fantastic as well as other Roman frontrunners also left their level. A mosque was included with the inner courtyard inside 13th century.

Karnak Temple (available everyday, 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) is a magnificent temple complex with a number of sanctuaries. Also housed you will find obelisks, built and enlarged over a period of 1, 500 years and focused on the Theban gods and great pharaohs. You enter on an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes that'll probably have your jaw dropping before you even start to see the Great legal featuring its 134 huge columns. A nighttime light and noise program is well-liked by site visitors who instantaneously in Luxor.

The Valley of Kings (available daily, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is found regarding west lender of Nile River (across from Luxor from the east bank) and is a remote, mountainous area where the great pharaohs were laid to rest in tombs dug into barren cliffs. It's about a 15-minute walk to attain the tombs - frequently scorching when you look at the desert climate. But, most trips consist of seats to trolleys that take you nearer to the website. (take note, however, that hiking is still included, plus some associated with the tombs have actually high measures on sloping paths as entrances.) Your entry pass gives you to be able to look at the chambers of three underground tombs; you must buy a separate solution (for about $1) if you would like begin to see the tomb of King Tutankhamun (King Tut), but know that, of all the tombs, that one may be the least attractive, with few of the exquisite paintings you will discover in other tombs. There are many than 62 tombs which were excavated, but only about eight - which vary - are ready to accept site visitors at any one time. The tombs date right back some 3, 500 many years and so are tributes to your old Egyptian belief in the afterlife. They contain colorful hieroglyphic texts and images of kings. They as soon as in addition included silver, jewellery along with other things thought to be beneficial in the afterlife - including each day household items - but these have all already been relocated to galleries, as whoever has seen the traveling King Tut display can attest.

Editor's Note: It is determined that just one-third of Egyptian antiquities were found. That knows just what all of those other wilderness sands tend to be hiding.

Safaga is famous for windsurfing, utilizing the nearly constant warm winds attracting surfers, especially in spring and fall. A well known location to surf is Tobia Island, a white sand island under two miles from coast. There are certain windsurfing suppliers in the city, including Tornado Surf during the Holiday Inn Safaga Palace. Newbie classes are available. Leasing of windsurfing gear is $80 for five hours, and classes start at about $189 for a six-hour class.

There are numerous diving providers around, supplying dive excursions to reefs offering the sheer walls of Abu Kafan; Panorama, which boasts huge red coral structures; and center Reef, with difficult red coral landscapes, ranked among the better in the Red water. Creatures usually seen consist of barracudas, tuna, manta rays, reef sharks and water turtles. The plunge operation at the Lotus Bay seashore Resort and Gardens is named Barakuda Diving Center and has six boats, all with spacious diving platforms. They leave at 8:30 a.m. day-to-day and return by 5 p.m. evening dives are also frequently offered. A full-day adventure with two dives costs about $59. Divers who are prepared for a poignant experience may choose to look at the wreck associated with the Salam Express, an Egyptian passenger ferry that sank returning right back from Mecca in 1991 (a significant tragedy for which some 300 people perished).

Thirty-six kilometers towards the north is Hurghada, a town supplying similar scuba diving and windsurfing attractions, but with a more created resort atmosphere. (coast trips are available truth be told there, including time trips to fancy hotels.) Hurghada in addition serves as a launching point for wilderness safaris by Jeep or camel.

Navigating Around

Taxis aren't readily available at port, nor will they be around. Should you choose see one, you can easily flag it down, such as various other urban centers, however if you wish to simply take a taxi, it's always best to organize one out of advance through your ship. The trip to town should cost not so much than $4. Taxis to Hurghada are about $20 each means. Taxis to Luxor can run $100 or even more each method and must be arranged in advance, because demands they travel in police convoys.

Lunching

Mediterranean food and fresh fish tend to be preferred meals choices. The Coral Beach café during the Holiday Inn Safaga Palace serves sandwiches and grilled entrees, whilst the Diver's treat Bar features pizza and spaghetti (open late early morning to sunset). Another good lunch area may be the Al Fresco Pizzeria within Lotus Bay Beach Resort and Gardens, devoted to newly baked pizza.

In Which You're Docked

Port Safaga is mostly a commercial slot, found about 1.5 kilometers from city of Safaga. There are no tourist services on slot.

Be Cautious About

Eliminate intense souvenir sellers, especially in Luxor. It's always best to say a firm “no” when provided merchandise in the road. Unless you, be prepared to be pestered for several minutes.

Currency & Easiest Way to Get Cash

The Egyptian Pound may be the money, and $1 U.S. equals about 5.69 Egyptian weight. (Check XE.com for the most recent currency rates.) Most souvenir shops are content to simply take U.S. dollars. Bank branches (Banque Misr and Banque du Caire) in Safaga have ATM's, which dispense Egyptian weight. Exchange traveler's checks on your own ship or at resorts and finance companies. Charge cards are extensively acknowledged at stores and restaurants.