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The alternative Egypt experience

For the average first-time visitor researching holidays to Egypt it’s all too easy to focus on the typical tourist sites and miss the myriad of alternative experiences this fascinating country has to offer.
Egypt provides plenty of opportunities to step away from the beaten track and away from the crowds of tourists for something a little bit different that the whole family can enjoy. Here are some ideas for escaping the conveyor belt of run-of-the-mill tours to experience a truly alternative Egyptian experience that will give the kids something to show off about at school!

Instead of a camel ride in the desert, why not try....

Birqash Camel Market (Souk al-Gamaal), Cairo

Every Friday morning Egypt’s largest camel market sees hundreds of the humped beasts gathering to be sold for tourism and meat. Although the market is some 35km Northwest of Cairo - a 40 minute taxi or minibus ride - the trip there is nothing compared to the journey the camels have made to reach the market; some will have walked from as far as the Western deserts of Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Aswan to be sold at the Cairo market. The sight of hundreds of camels being haggled-over, bought and sold is both unique and unmissable and provides an exceptional view into the background of these renowned animals.

Instead of scuba diving in the Red Sea, why not try...

Camping in the Western Desert

Leave the four walls of your hotel behind for the chance to sleep out under the stars and amongst the sand dunes and rock formations of Egypt’s stunning Western Desert. The region occupies approximately two-thirds of the country and the area was all once underwater, resulting in the snow-like wind-swept stone monoliths and fossilised whale bones of the White Desert, as well as the volcano-shaped mountains of the Black Desert. Family-friendly tours are offered in the regions and with magical sun-rises and clear star-lit night skies this is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Tour companies, such as Western Desert Tours, can take you by 4x4, camel or even foot through the region’s continuously changing terrains and vast sandy plains. This is a fantastic option for a one to six-day trip that is a far-flung stretch from the typical Egyptian beaten path.

Instead of the beaches of Sharm el Sheikh, why not try....

The Western Oases

The Western desert isn’t all dry sand and rocks; it is dotted with five stunning oasis sites - Siwa, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga - each of which has its own fascinating attractions. For example, Siwa is eighty kilometres long and is filled with lush landscapes of salt lakes, mineral springs and farmland. It is also home to as the historical Temple of Amun, in which Alexander the Great is said to have consulted the Oracle to confirm that he was the son of Zeus.
Arguably the most beautiful of the Western Oases is the fertile Dakhla Oasis, which consists of several communities along a string of sub-oases. The area boasts leafy palm groves, orchards and market gardens, as well as some fascinating historic sites such as the deserted 12th century Islamic town of El-Qasr and the temple at Deir el-Haggar.

Instead of a visit to The Valley of the Kings, why not try...

Abydos

Abydos is a prominent sacred city that is considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites of ancient Egypt. It is considered to be further from the beaten path from most Egyptian sites, which tend to hug the Nile River and so doesn’t generally attract mainstream tourists and tours. Located in the low desert, Abydos was the site of an Ancient Egyptian city and temple complex that was inhabited for thousands of years. It has also served as a necropolis for the earliest Egyptian royalty, and was later a pilgrimage centre for the worship of Osiris. The 100-tonne limestone pillars of the stunning Great Temple of Abydos and structure of the Temple of Seti I are considered highly unusual in style, due to their smooth appearance and beautiful chambers.

Instead of the Great Pyramids of Giza, why not try...

The Pyramid Field of Dahshur

To experience the might of the pyramids, but without the crowds and tourist buses of Giza – Dahshur offers some impressive examples of ancient Egyptian construction. The Red Pyramid is the third largest pyramid in the country at 105 metres high and one of the few whose chambers can be entered and explored by visitors. Also situated at Dahshur is the majestic Bent Pyramid, named for its unusual wonky appearance owing to a mysterious angle change half-way through its creation. It is also the only Egyptian pyramid to still retain the majority of its original limestone casing, providing an insightful example of the original appearance of all pyramids.

If you and your family are interested in witnessing these off-track experiences for yourselves, Lowcostholidays provides cheap holidays to Egypt from their website www.lowcostholidays.com.