eco travel egypt

Eco Travel Egypt

• See all photos

Private All Inclusive Tour at Saqqara and Dahshur

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Eco Travel Egypt - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Green Global Travel

World's largest independently owned Ecotourism / Green Travel / Sustainable Travel / Animal & Wildlife Conservation site. We share transformative Responsible Travel, Sustainable Living & Going Green Tips that make a positive impact.

Top 5 Egypt Eco Attractions

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial policies .

TOP 5 EGYPT ECO ATTRACTIONS

(This story on Egypt Eco Attractions is a guest post by  Linda McCormick  of     Eco Traveller Guide .  You can follow her on Facebook, or via Twitter at @EcoTraveller.  If you’re a writer interested in submitting a pitch for a guest post, email Editor In Chief Bret Love at GreenGlobalTravel[at]gmail[dot]com.)

For many years, I was obsessed with all things Egyptian. I’d sit for hours reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica, absorbing page after page on Egypt and its history. Once I hit traveling age, I set off on a solo backpacking trip around a few countries in the Middle East, with Egypt as my last stop. I fell in love with the country and its culture, and after many visits realized  that there’s much more to this wonderful country than pyramids and pharaohs. Here are the top five Egypt eco attractions that I hope will inspire you to visit.

CRUISING THE NILE ON A FELUCCA

The longest river in the world (6,650 km), the Nile  is one of the most popular Egypt eco attractions. The most  frugal way to explore this ancient waterway is via  felucca ,  a small, single-mast wooden sailboat able to ferry up to 10 passengers. The duration of your trip is spent on one deck, shaded from the sun by a sail cloth. By night, it doubles as your bed… and everyone else’s.

Cozy it may be, but it’s also a wonderfully leisurely way to observe life unfolding on the increasingly threatened river . Boys jump into the murky waters for their daily wash, birds perch atop the reeds along the banks, and farmers tend their fields in the searing heat of the sun.

You’ll also visit various temples along the way, including the ruins of Kom Ombo (a vast 2nd century temple) and one of the best preserved in the country, the Temple of Edfu (built between 237 and 57 BCE to honor the falcon god, Horus ). If spending several days zig-zagging up river against the tide doesn’t appeal, there are short felucca trips available as well.

DIVING THE RED SEA

People always seem shocked to learn that diving in the Red Sea is so good.

This narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean measures 2250 km long, 355 km wide, and is classed as the most northerly tropical sea. Around 40% of it is shallower than 100m, with 25% of that above the 50m mark, making it perfect for diving. The warm, shallow waters mean there is more reef near the surface, which attracts a rich and varied array of marine life. Turtle , manta ray, whale shark, barracuda and shark sightings are common.

Wreck diving is popular here , with the SS Thistlegorm being one of the busier dive sites in peak season. I suggest avoiding the site during this time: When I last dived there, all I could see were bubbles and fins from the mass of divers. Marsa Alam on the southern coast is relatively new on the dive scene, so it still has many areas of unspoiled reef just offshore. If you’re a thrill-seeker, check out one of the few Blue Holes in the world, in Dahab .

VISITING SIWA OASIS

Far from the Nile, in the arid Sahara desert , sits Siwa Oasis . Rarely visited by the average tourist, this indigenous Berber community has been an important settlement for desert communities since around 10,000 BC. Now, with private funding and management through  Environmental Quality International , Siwa is emerging as a model of sustainable development, and said to be one of the world’s best examples of a responsible  ecotourism  project..

Here, you can visit the ancient Temple of Amun , where it is said that Alexander the Great consulted the Oracle (a manifestation of a god) to confirm that he was the son of Amun, and therefore the legitimate ruler of Egypt and all the lands he conquered.

The Siwans have their own language, customs and traditions. In fact, at one point same-sex marriage was commonplace there. But they do expect visitors to dress in a way that respects their conservative views and religion.

HAVING LUNCH WITH THE BEDOUIN

The Bedouin ,  a traditionally nomadic tribe who live in tents in the desert, are primarily found on the Sinai Peninsula and  the outskirts of Cairo. The growth of ecotourism to the area has led to a huge change in their culture, with many of the men leaving herding behind to move into hospitality. Many tribes now run small group tours into the desert, keen to show travelers their unique way of life.

When I visited, the entire family warmly welcomed us into their tent with wide smiles. I could see the matriarch giving me the once-over, as her weathered, wrinkled eyes shone from behind gold sequins hanging from a veil that covered most of her face. I distinctly remember the relief I felt when her scrutiny turned into a belly laugh and she beckoned me over to share tea. Phew!

We sat eating with the family for a few hours, conversing in bad Arabic and hand signals, gradually learning a little more  about each other. No matter which part of Egypt   you visit, I highly recommend a trip to see how the Bedouin really live, outside of the Westernized holiday hotspots and cramped markets where they sell their crafts. It’s worth it just to see the genuine joy on their faces when they realise you’ve made the choice to learn more about their way of life.

CHECKING OUT THE FOSSILS AT WHALE VALLEY

Otherwise known as Wadi Al-Hitan , Whale Valley gained UNESCO World Heritage Listing in 2005 for having the most abundant collection of whale fossils in the world. These fossils tell the story of whale evolution and their move from being a land-based animal to a marine animal. The fossils vary from single bones to entire skeletons. Some show that whales once had small hind legs and powerful teeth normally associated with carnivorous land mammals. The shark palaeontologist inside me got silly with excitement at the possibility of seeing these ancient fossils. But when I heard that fossils of a primitive elephant have also been found there, I knew for certain that a return trip to Egypt is a must.   –Linda McCormick

If you enjoyed reading about the Top 5 Egypt Eco Attractions, you might also like:

JORDAN: Ancient Ruins of Jerash

JORDAN: The Middle East & Our Culture of Fear

JORDAN: The Secret Trail At Petra

JORDAN: Wadi Rum Camel Trekking In the Heart of Bedouin Country

What is an Eco Lodge? A Guide to “Green” Accommodations

How to Choose a Green Hotel

Easy Ecotourism: 10 Simple Steps to More Sustainable Travel

The Benefits of Ecotourism: 20 Travel Bloggers on the Importance of Nature Travel

The Beauty of Nature Travel

About the Author

Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living.

We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others.

Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast.

As Seen On…

Join the 300,000+ people who follow Green Global Travel’s Blog and Social Media

• Africa Tours
• Egypt Tours
• Eco Tours in Egypt

Egypt Eco Tours 2024/2025

The best eco tours in Egypt. Below you will see 382 eco tours through Egypt that are all carbon offset. Bookmundi offsets the CO2 footprint on behalf of all the multiday tour companies that we work in Egypt by amongst others investing in wind, solar and tree planting projects around the world. In the future, we will continue to make our tours in Egypt more sustainable and climate-friendly.

386 Eco trips in Egypt

• Starts Cairo, Egypt
• Ends Cairo, Egypt

Ultimate Egypt (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities Art and architecture
• Accommodation Hotel & Sleeper Train
• Transport Bus, Coach, Train & Sleeper Train
• Age Range 18-39 yrs
• Operated in English
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,680
• Special Deal (45%): - US$ 1,656
• Total Price from: US$ 2,024
• Apr 13 10+ seats left
• Apr 20 10+ seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

Beauty of Egypt Tours – Nile & Abu Simble

• Trip customizable
• Tour Type Private Tour
• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Cruise Cultural, religious and historic sites , Cruise & Honeymoon 'data-more-tripid='12423'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Transport Flight, Private Vehicle & Boat
• Age Range 1-79 yrs
• Operated in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Essential Egypt (5 Star Hotels)

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Art and architecture Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='12800'>+1 more
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,219
• Special Deal (45%): - US$ 999
• Total Price from: US$ 1,220

Discover Egypt: Cairo & Nile Cruise in 8 Days W/Air

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & River cruise Cultural, religious and historic sites , River cruise & City sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='28209'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Ship Cabin
• Transport Private Vehicle, Train, Bus, Cruise Ship & Flight
• Age Range 1-99 yrs
• Operated in Arabic, English, German
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,140
• Special Deal (55%): - US$ 1,727
• Total Price from: US$ 1,413

8 Days in Egypt: 3 N in Cairo & 4 N in Nile River Cruise

• Free cancellation
• Activities Adventure & Cruise Adventure , Cruise & Honeymoon 'data-more-tripid='10281'>+1 more
• Transport Private Vehicle, Flight, Bus & Cruise Ship
• Age Range 5-79 yrs

Felucca Odyssey & Red Sea (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

• Activities Local culture & Art and architecture Local culture , Art and architecture & Cultural, religious and historic sites 'data-more-tripid='12813'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel, Resort & Sleeper Train
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,877
• Special Deal (45%): - US$ 1,295
• Total Price from: US$ 1,582

Egypt Adventure

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Active and outdoor & Art and architecture Active and outdoor , Art and architecture , Camping & City sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='3680'>+2 more
• Accommodation Sleeper Train & Hotel
• Transport Private Vehicle, Boat, Bus, Minibus, Sleeper Train & Train
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,465
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 366
• Total Price from: US$ 1,099
• Apr 17 Only 7 seats left
• Apr 20 Only 7 seats left

Royal Tour of Egypt Wonders of Ancient Egypt

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Natural landmarks sightseeing Cultural, religious and historic sites , Natural landmarks sightseeing , Cruise , Museum and gallery visits & City sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='15598'>+3 more
• Transport Flight & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 1-85 yrs

Wonders of Egypt and the Nile

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Explorer
• Accommodation Hotel & Resort
• Transport Boat, Flight, Private Vehicle, Cruise Ship & Minibus
• Age Range 12-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,099
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 620
• Total Price from: US$ 2,479
• Apr 21 Only 9 seats left
• May 05 Only 10 seats left

Jewels of the Nile (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Arctic Circle Cruise Cultural, religious and historic sites , Arctic Circle Cruise , Art and architecture & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='12810'>+2 more
• Transport Bus, Coach & Sleeper Train
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,292
• Special Deal (45%): - US$ 1,031
• Total Price from: US$ 1,261

King Ramses - 13 days

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Art and architecture
• Accommodation Hotel, Sleeper Train & Resort
• Transport Train, Boat, Private Vehicle & Sleeper Train
• Age Range 18-80 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,945
• Special Deal (30%): - US$ 584
• Total Price from: US$ 1,361
• May 03 Only 8 seats left
• May 10 Only 8 seats left

Best of Egypt

• Transport Boat, Flight, Sleeper Train, Private Vehicle, Train, Minibus & Ferry
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,299
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 260
• Total Price from: US$ 1,039
• Apr 12 Only 10 seats left
• Apr 16 10+ seats left

Highlights of Egypt

• Transport Boat, Flight, Train, Private Vehicle, Sleeper Train, Minibus & Ferry
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,949
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 390
• Total Price from: US$ 1,559
• May 11 Only 8 seats left
• May 25 10+ seats left

• Starts Luxor, Egypt

Special Egypt Tour 9 Days - 8 Nights From Cairo

• Activities Adventure & Sightseeing Tours
• Transport Flight, Private Vehicle, Coach, Boat, Cruise Ship & Minibus

Egypt Eco Tour Reviews

• Cathryn Wise
• Deepa Prasad

Eco tours and trips

• Eco tours in Africa
• Eco tours in East Africa
• Eco tours in Mediterranean
• Eco tours in Middle East
• Eco tours in Southern Africa
• Eco tours in Tanzania
• Eco tours in Morocco
• Eco tours in Kenya
• Egypt trips
• Egypt budget tours
• Egypt guided tours
• Egypt family tour packages
• Egypt honeymoon packages
• Egypt luxury tours
• Egypt private tours
• Egypt small group tours
• Egypt solo trips
• Egypt tailor-made vacation packages
• Egypt tours for senior citizens
• Egypt tours for young adults
• Egypt group tours
• Egypt last minute deals
• Egypt travel deals

Egypt upcoming departures

• Spring 2024/2025
• Summer 2024/2025
• Winter 2024/2025
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

Eco Travel Egypt

• See all photos

Private All Inclusive Tour at Saqqara and Dahshur

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Eco Travel Egypt - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Eco Travel Egypt

• See all photos

Private All Inclusive Tour at Saqqara and Dahshur

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

ECO TRAVEL EGYPT (Cairo) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Get involved

• Eco Egypt Experiences - English pdf (23.8 MB)
• Eco Egypt Experiences - Arabic pdf (12.2 MB)

Eco Egypt: Egypt's Ecotourism Experiences

September 22, 2020.

ECO EGYPT Experiences is a campaign that aims to reconnect adventurous travellers with Egypt’s countless ecological sites and protected areas. With the goal of prompting natural rediscovery and boosting the importance of ecological conservation, the ECO EGYPT Experiences campaign sheds light on all the wildlife, plant diversity, and natural landscapes on offer throughout Egypt. The campaign encourages sustainable, responsible tourism for travellers seeking unique, out-of the-box experiences.

By centering the voices, experiences, and customs of local tribespeople, from Nubians to Bedouins, ECO EGYPT advocates support for local livelihoods by giving a platform for the unique practices, traditions, and crafts of local communities. From camping to diving, stargazing to birdwatching, Egypt’s ecological sites promise unparalleled experiences for the curious, young and old. Get a taste of everything Egypt’s ecology has to offer and start planning your environmentally conscious, once-in-a-lifetime trip now!

Document Type

Regions and countries, sustainable development goals, related publications.

Publications

Beheira voluntary local review.

Local governments play an indispensable role in the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with more than 65% of the 169 targets underpinni...

Fayoum Voluntary Local Review

Port Said Voluntary Local Review

UNDP Egypt Annual Report 2022

This report highlights some of our results and presents UNDP’s experience using its integrated, transparent, and innovative role.

Expanding Opportunities for the Egyptian Private Sector i...

This report, the third edition in our series of business reports in Egypt, looks at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on private sector companies in Egypt, a...

Pathways to Development Issue 2 – Achievements Report

For more than 50 years now, UNDP has supported the Government of Egypt in its development pathways, providing essential policy support to help identify innovati...

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

The state of eco-tourism in Egypt

Ecotourism is getting a lot of attention now, but just how significant of a force is the budding industry in Egypt? Armed with a wealth of natural attractions scattered across three deserts, two seas and the Nile Delta, Egypt is ripe with options for more sustainable travel. The government has in recent years started speaking about the importance of better nurturing Egypt’s ecotourism attractions in its strategy to revive the tourism industry at large. And while there have been some efforts made in that regard, operators say a few fundamental hurdles still stand in the way of fully realizing that potential. So what is the state of ecotourism at the moment and just how much is being done to support the transition to sustainable travel?

Pinpointing the exact size of Egypt’s ecotourism industry is tricky , in large part because what counts as “ecotourism” isn’t clear. There are general principles: Minimizing harmful environmental impact, maintaining natural areas, and protecting indigenous culture are all core components of this kind of travel. But as far as concrete certifications are concerned, there are no unified rules and regulations, meaning operators are the ones left to decide exactly how ecologically sound their practices should be.

In Egypt, ecotourism generally refers to lower-carbon accommodation like eco-lodges and camping that are situated in the country’s many natural protectorates. For Basata — one of the oldest eco-lodges and campsites in Sinai — ecotourism means using fresh water sparingly, sorting trash and engaging with the local community. “We use a dual plumbing system where saltwater is used for toilets and cleaning activities and fresh water for our showers,” founder Sherif El Ghamrawy tells Enterprise. A portion of their food waste goes to feeding livestock and whatever remains is used to manufacture mud bricks on site, which they use to build new structures.

In Siwa, the guiding philosophy is similar. “Creating a sustainable travel destination consists of three main pillars: Respecting natural heritage, reviving cultural heritage and engaging the local community in heritage conservation,” Dr. Mounir Naemattalla, founder of luxury ecolodge Adrere Amellal and sustainable development consultancy EQI , tells us.

Local operators insist that the interest is there : “I think people want to experience nature and stay in eco-lodges but there currently aren’t enough,” Ghamrawy says. Eco-lodges and “semi-eco lodging” — as Ghamrawy described some of the campsites between Nuweiba and Taba — actually attract more visitors than hotels in the area do, he explained.

And official figures suggest a rising appreciation of Egypt’s natural beauty: Some 1.1 mn tourists visited protected areas between 2018 and 2021, a figure that was 5x greater than what the Environment Ministry had anticipated. In FY2019-2020, ticket sales at these sites reportedly generated revenues of EGP 30 mn , more than triple the sum in the four fiscal years prior.

This is part of a global trend: The global ecotourism industry in 2019 was estimated to be worth USD 181.1 bn in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 333.8 bn by 2027. Ecotourism in Africa alone is now worth some USD 29 bn a year employing 3.6 mn people, and is crucial to conservation and economic development efforts in remote parts of the region.

What has the government done so far to support ecotourism? Over the past two years the government has started to speak publicly about the importance of better utilizing our natural resources for tourist activities. The Environment Ministry earlier this year launched an ecotourism campaign, dubbed Eco Egypt , to promote 13 of the country’s 30 nature reserves. Maintaining the health of natural reserves is one of the ministry’s top priorities at the moment, Tamer Kamal El Din, General Manager of Red Sea Protectorates at the Environment Ministry tells us. More specifically, the ministry has been working on developing a new system for accurately logging and studying ecosystems’ health, constructing dams in flood zones like Wadi Degla, installing buoys at popular dive sites and building bird-watching towers in Sharm El Sheikh.

What more can be done to support the industry? Putting in place clear rules that specifically govern the activities of companies in the ecotourism space would be a good start, says Ghamrawy. These include regulations on things such as how close to the coastline they can construct buildings, what materials to use and how to organize trips for guests. He adds that he is currently working alongside a number of operators on drafting a set of guidelines for how to run ecologically sound tourism businesses.

A little help for SMEs: Making it easier to register ecotourism-focused SMEs would really encourage a lot more activity too, Ghamrawy says. For some groups running low-capital operations like guided trekking tours in the mountains and wadis of South Sinai, the barrier to entry can be overwhelming. “It doesn’t make much sense to be governed by the same rules that large tourism operations are bound by,” Ghamrawy says. Shifting these rules would jive perfectly with the government’s policy of supporting SMEs, he said.

Opening up the outdoors: Easier access to nature would be a huge leap in supporting the industry, Wael Abed, who owns Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary at the Dakhla Oasis in New Valley, tells us. Wadis and outdoor locations not designated as protectorates often see restricted access due to heightened security concerns in remote regions. Making it easier for visitors to access these locations would be a huge boost for the industry, both Ghamrawy and Abed agree.

Awareness campaigns on sustainability and environmentally sound development are at the forefront of Naemattalla’s concern, he tells us.

More private sector involvement with natural protectorates could be on the horizon. Protectorates are technically public land, which means they can’t be sold to private entities, but granting operation rights for limited time periods are currently on the books, says Kamal El Din. Environment Ministry proposals have long pushed for legislation to allow private companies to manage protected areas , similar to how Orascom Development won rights to manage the Pyramids Plateau . But so far there hasn’t been much happening on that front. The first steps towards private-sector involvement in nature reserves took place earlier this year with the introduction of a privately owned “ Bedouin Tent, ” at the Petrified Forest protectorate in New Cairo.

And it doesn’t necessarily have to be driven by altruism. Investing in ecotourism doesn’t always need to be a philanthropic endeavour, Naemattalla explains. “Any new product done well has a great chance for success. A commitment to sustainability is one of the most powerful forms of branding for a country, a region or an enterprise,” he says.

While there’s still a lot to be done to better support ecotourism, creating a thriving and sustainable industry will depend mostly on larger global trends like the resumption of global air travel and more visitors entering the country. What is clear though is that the way to better ensure visitors and operators commit to sustainable travel will likely require more than just promotional campaigns.

Your top climate stories for the week:

• West Bakr wind farm is now live: Lekela’s Actis-backed 250 MW wind farm became fully operational last week.
• Private sector eyes EV assembly: General Motors and Al Mansour Automotive could partner up to produce electric vehicles in Egypt under a MoU signed by the two companies last week.
• New ESG bonds are coming to Egypt: Companies in Egypt will soon be able to list social, ESG, gender equity and women’s empowerment, and sustainable development bonds on the EGX.
• Plastic Bank has collected 2.7k tonnes of plastic waste from Egypt and hopes to collect a total of 5k tonnes by 2023, the company announced in a statement .

Tag 1 , Tag 2 , Tag 3

Enterprise is a daily publication of Enterprise Ventures LLC, an Egyptian limited liability company (commercial register 83594), and a subsidiary of Inktank Communications. Summaries are intended for guidance only and are provided on an as-is basis; kindly refer to the source article in its original language prior to undertaking any action. Neither Enterprise Ventures nor its staff assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, whether in the form of summaries or analysis. © 2022 Enterprise Ventures LLC.

Enterprise is available without charge thanks to the generous support of HSBC Egypt (tax ID: 204-901-715), the leading corporate and retail lender in Egypt; EFG Hermes (tax ID: 200-178-385), the leading financial services corporation in frontier emerging markets; SODIC (tax ID: 212-168-002), a leading Egyptian real estate developer; SomaBay (tax ID: 204-903-300), our Red Sea holiday partner; Infinity (tax ID: 474-939-359), the ultimate way to power cities, industries, and homes directly from nature right here in Egypt; CIRA (tax ID: 200-069-608), the leading providers of K-12 and higher level education in Egypt; Orascom Construction (tax ID: 229-988-806), the leading construction and engineering company building infrastructure in Egypt and abroad; Moharram & Partners (tax ID: 616-112-459), the leading public policy and government affairs partner; Palm Hills Developments (tax ID: 432-737-014), a leading developer of commercial and residential properties; Mashreq (tax ID: 204-898-862), the MENA region’s leading homegrown personal and digital bank; Industrial Development Group (IDG) (tax ID:266-965-253), the leading builder of industrial parks in Egypt; Hassan Allam Properties (tax ID:  553-096-567), one of Egypt’s most prominent and leading builders; and Saleh, Barsoum & Abdel Aziz (tax ID: 220-002-827), the leading audit, tax and accounting firm in Egypt.

Travel Guide

• Things to Do
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Getting Around
• Visitor Information
• Regions in Brief
• Tips on Accommodations
• Tips on Dining
• Getting There
• Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism
• Escorted & Package Tours
• Health & Safety
• Internet Access
• Tips for Families
• Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers
• Tips for Senior Travelers
• Tips for Single Travelers
• Tips for Student Travelers
• Tips for Travelers with Disabilities
• Tips for Women Travelers
• Tips for Black Travelers
• Tips for Vegetarian Travelers
• Active Pursuits
• Suggested Itineraries

Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism in Egypt

Until a few years ago, scant attention was paid in Egypt to the environmental impact of the millions of tourists who visit every year.

This has started to change, as foreign donors have pressed the government on the consequences of environmental degradation caused by massive development along the Red Sea coast.

Egypt has established 21 protected areas, and foreign donors, including the European Union, have contributed large amounts of capital to develop them on behalf of future generations of Egyptians.

The best known of these protected areas are St. Catherine protected area, Ras Mohamed National Park, and the Wadi Rayan protectorate. Read more about the protected areas at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) website (www.eeaa.gov.eg/protectorates).

A number of resorts on the Sinai Peninsula, down the Red Sea coast between Gouna and Marsa Allam, and even in Cairo have begun to participate in environmental certification programs designed to assess their environmental footprint and maximize their sustainability. One of the more common ones is Green Globe 21 (www.ec3global.com/products-programs/green-globe). The program is named for the U.N. environmental Agenda 21 program (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htm). You can contribute to making tourism greener by learning about the program and asking about it when you make your booking: Make it clear that your tourist dollars prefer to flow to sustainable enterprises.

Additionally, a number of local Egyptian NGOs have emerged that work on raising awareness of environmental issues and train tourism workers in ways that they can preserve the natural capital on which their jobs depend.

The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) is focused on marine issues along the coast. Read more about their efforts to protect marine life, coral, and wrecks at www.hepca.com.

Red Sea Rangers is an organization based on the Red Sea coast that aims to protect the marine environment over 700 km (435 miles) of coastline. It has an interesting and informative website at www.redseaparks.net.

Environmental Quality International (www.eqi.com.eg) is a private consulting firm that has done an enormous amount in the isolated desert oasis of Siwa, including the development of an ecolodge.

There are a number of locations in the Red Sea where it's possible to swim with wild dolphins. For information about the ethics of swimming with dolphins and other outdoor activities, visit the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (www.wdcs.org) and Tread Lightly (www.treadlightly.org).

Apart from staying in low-consumption facilities, you can also look at carbon offsetting as a way of reducing the overall impact of your vacation. Each time you take a flight or drive a car, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. You can help neutralize this danger to our planet through carbon offsetting (paying someone to reduce your CO2 emissions by the same amount you've added). Carbon offsets can be purchased in the U.S. from companies such as Carbonfund.org (www.carbonfund.org) and TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and from Climate Care (www.climatecare.org) in the U.K.

Although one could argue that any vacation that includes an airplane flight can't be truly "green," you can go on holiday and still contribute positively to the environment. You can offset carbon emissions from your flight in other ways. Choose forward-looking companies that embrace responsible development practices, helping preserve destinations for the future by working alongside local people. An increasing number of sustainable tourism initiatives can help you plan a family trip and leave as small a "footprint" as possible on the places you visit.

Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com) contains a great source of sustainable travel ideas run by a spokesperson for responsible tourism in the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International (www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) promotes responsible tourism practices and issues an annual Green Gear & Gift Guide.

You can find eco-friendly travel tips, statistics, and touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) website (www.ecotourism.org). Also check out Conservation International (www.conservation.org), which, with National Geographic Traveler, annually presents World Legacy Awards (www.wlaward.org) to those travel tour operators, businesses, organizations, and places that have made a significant contribution to sustainable tourism. Ecotravel.com (www.ecotravel.com) is part online magazine and part ecodirectory, letting you search for touring companies in several categories (water-based, land-based, spiritually oriented, and so on).

In the U.K., Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) works to reduce social and environmental problems connected to tourism and find ways of improving tourism so that local benefits are increased.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) (www.abtamembers.org/responsibletourism) acts as a focal point for the U.K. travel industry and is one of the leading groups spearheading responsible tourism.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) (www.aito.co.uk) is a group of interesting specialist operators leading the field in making holidays sustainable.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

• All Regions
• Australia & South Pacific
• Caribbean & Atlantic
• Central & South America
• Middle East & Africa
• North America
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Arts & Culture
• Beach & Water Sports
• Local Experiences
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• National Parks
• Winter Sports
• Travelers with Disabilities
• Family & Kids
• All Slideshows
• Hotel Deals
• Car Rentals
• Flight Alerts
• Credit Cards & Loyalty Points
• Cruise News
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Car, Bus, Rail News
• Money & Fees
• Health, Insurance, Security
• Packing & Luggage
• -Arthur Frommer Online
• -Passportable
• Road Trip Guides
• Alaska Made Easy
• Great Vacation Ideas in the U.S.A.
• Best of the Caribbean
• Best of Mexico
• Cruise Inspiration
• Best Places to Go 2024

Is Egypt The Latest Ecotourism Destination?

You may not think of Egypt as a particularly eco friendly destination, but with millions traveling to this destination every year ecotourism is becoming increasingly important. Keep reading for all of the amazing ways ecotourism in Egypt is making a big impact. 

What Is Ecotourism?

According to the Rainforest Alliance, “The key principles of ecotourism include minimizing impact, protecting biodiversity, building environmental awareness, and respecting local culture. Typically, the primary attractions for ecotourists are flora, fauna, and cultural heritage.” 

Protected Areas

In recent years, the consequences of environmental degradation caused by massive development along the Red Sea has been brought to the attention of the Egyptian government. As a result, there are a total of 21 protected areas, including St. Catherine protected area, Ras Mohamed National Park, and the Wadi Rayan protectorate making travel to Egypt more eco friendly than ever before. 

Eco Lodges And Resorts

A number of resorts and lodges have begun to participate in eco/sustainable certification programs designed to assess their environmental footprint, these include popular certification programs such as Green Globe Certification and Green Star Certificate Program . So far there are a total of 83 hotels and lodges  in Egypt that have received eco-friendly certification. 

One of the most famous eco-lodge is Basata , which is located on the Red Sea coast. The main goal of this eco-lodge is to create a straightforward and unique form of tourism that has a low impact on both the native inhabitants and the surrounding environment. Basata was built with natural materials, and all waste is used at the camp as either fertilizer or building material. This eco-lodge is certified by Green-Key . 

Eco tours are becoming increasingly popular. There are even eco tour companies that offer incredible options for ecotourism in Egypt. If you’re wondering how responsible travelers can travel through Egypt, there are several ways to increase sustainability. You can opt to snorkel or dive the Red Sea with an environmentally friendly dive club. These clubs are incredibly careful not to cause harm to reefs while diving. They also give tips to divers on how to help with the preservation of the reefs and the vibrant natural wonders that surround them. Some great options include the Seahorse Dive Club and Camel Dive Club . Check out the Green Fins website for more great eco friendly dive options. Find out more about Red Sea diving by reading Sustainable Red Sea Diving and Eco Initiatives . 

Cruising the Nile is one of the popular tourist attractions in Egypt travel. Of course, it’s easy to find large cruises, but these are not environmentally friendly. If you are interested in cruising the Nile responsibly, you can absolutely take a felucca, an environmentally friendly sailing experience on the Nile. Feluccas are traditional wooden sailboats found on the Nile River that operate without any motors. These are a  calm and relaxed alternative to large cruises, perfect for those wanting to leave less of a carbon footprint. A fantastic felucca cruise can be found at Responsible Travel . 

Not sure where to start? Check out some of the eco friendly tour companies that are surfacing to accommodate Egypt travel. Companies like Eco Travel Egypt offer different eco tours, trips, camping and dives in Egypt. ECO Egypt is another amazing option for planning an eco-friendly travel to Egypt. This campaign aims to connect adventurous travelers with Egypt’s ecological sites and protected areas. It offers suggestions of eco-friendly hotels and lodges, diving centers, and even sustainable Egyptian products. They are certified by Global Environmental Facility ( GEF ).

Travel to Egypt has never been more sustainable, making it the perfect destination for eco conscious travelers. Ecotourism in Egypt includes initiatives to protect areas of the country and eco friendly lodges and resorts, as well as eco tours. What are you waiting for? Cruise the Nile on a felucca or dive the Red Sea to see the vibrant life beneath the water. 

Would you like to receive more inspiration directly to your email inbox? Please click  here  to register for Ecotourism World newsletter!

You May Also Like

Best Places to Visit in the Middle East for Sustainable Tourism

A Globally Desired Eco hotel in Jordan, The 2019 Winner of World Responsible Tourism Awards

Saudi Arabia Tourism: The Next Sustainable Destination

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Travel Planning Guide

The Best Eco Tours in Egypt

Planning your next trip and interested in an extraordinary eco-tour? We have devoted extensive research to explore a variety of ecological, environmental, and nature-focused tours offered by top-rated tour companies, guaranteeing you a remarkable opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural wonders of Egypt. These eco-conscious tours not only allow you to reconnect with nature and witness awe-inspiring landscapes but also enable you to contribute to the preservation of our environment. With our thorough evaluation of factors including guest reviews, destinations, and activities, you can embark on an exhilarating adventure. Get ready to embark on an eco-tour that will leave you awe-inspired!

• From Cairo - Private 3 Days 2 Nights White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour 3 Days, $175.00
• Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise and Show diamond boat cruise 1 Days, $41.00
• 3 Days 2 Night Nile Cruise Includes Visits to Edfu & Kom Ombo from Luxor 3 Days, $256.00

What are eco tours like in Egypt?

Here are the important factors:

• 18 trip options analyzed
• $253 average price per day (USD)
• 1 to 18 days in length
• 4.77 of 5 average rating
• 36 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of eco tours? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.77 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 36 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 1 days, while the longest is 18 days. Looking at physical activity , the tours are easy and relaxing, with the most as easy. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 18 eco tours, you can rest assured that Egypt has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best Eco Tours in Egypt

From cairo - private 3 days 2 nights white desert and bahariya oasis tour.

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for eco tours.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

This exceptional trip offering by Sun Pyramid Tours has received a 4.9 out of 5 rating. On this 3-day journey you can unwind while also making new memories. Your adventure starts and ends in Cairo. With a group size of 200 people, it's suitable for travelers aged 1 to 120 years old. With an emphasis on family-friendly activities and safaris, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $58 per day.

Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise and Show diamond boat cruise

Check out this journey that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 5 out of 5 rating. Cairo will be the beginning and end of your trip. And since the priority is on family-friendly activities and local cuisine, this tour is a great choice. Spanning across 1 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 10 participants, and it's great for people of any age. Brought to you by the renowned Sun Pyramid Tours , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $41 per day - an unbeatable value.

• Food & Culinary

3 Days 2 Night Nile Cruise Includes Visits to Edfu & Kom Ombo from Luxor

This 3-day voyage is ideal for travelers aged 6 to 90 years old. And priced at only $85 per day, it's a great value, too. This trip visits 4 destinations, including Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. Beginning in beautiful Luxor, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Aswan. It's offered by Booking To Egypt , a very popular company with rave reviews and knowledgeable guides.

Felucca Odyssey & Red Sea (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

• On Sale: 45% Off See Prices

Priced at just $132 per day, this terrific 12-day voyage is ideal for travelers aged 18 to 59 years old. Experience a trip that takes you to 12 remarkable destinations, including Luxor, Aswan, Philae, and Edfu. You'll start and end your journey in beautiful Cairo. Organized by the reputable Travel Talk , this is one of the best tours on this list. Act quickly to seize the current limited-time sale and reserve your spot now.

Absolute Egypt (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

Check out this incredible trip that has received a 4 out of 5 rating from previous guests. With a duration of 15 days, this journey ensures an intimate group size of 40 people, and is good for travelers aged 18 to 59 years old. Explore 15 incredible locations on this trip, including Nuweiba, Dahab, St. Catherine, and Alexandria. Cairo kicks off your expedition, serving as both the starting and finishing point. This fantastic option, organized by Travel Talk , presents an unbeatable value at just $144 per day. Hurry and secure your spot while this incredible sale lasts!

• Hiking & Trekking
• In-depth Cultural

Amazing 3 Nights Nile Cruise / Aswan To Luxor - Gamila Cruise

Spanning over 4 days, this voyage has a maximum size of 100 individuals. Welcoming travelers aged 1 to 100 years old, it is organized by Sun Pyramid Tours , a very popular company with plenty of great reviews. Discover a journey that spans 8 destinations, with notable stops in Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna. Beginning in beautiful Aswan, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Luxor. Available at an unbeatable price of only $189 per day, this option also has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from previous guests.

13 Days Cairo, Dahabiya boat and Abu Simbel tour

• On Sale: 40% Off See Prices

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional trip that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 13 days, this jouney will have 12 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers aged 5 to 80 years old. Expertly organized by Vacations to go travel , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $226 per day. It's currently on a special discounted offer.

Highlights of Egypt Luxury Tour

• On Sale: 35% Off See Prices

This memorable trip is offered by Ciconia Exclusive Journeys which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $247 per day. With 10 destinations to explore, you'll get the chance to see Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan, and more. Your adventure starts and ends in Cairo. The maximum group size is 20 people, welcoming travelers aged 18 to 95 years old. Act quickly to seize the current limited-time sale and reserve your spot now.

Ultimate Egypt

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. With a duration of 9 days, this voyage offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 16 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers aged 25 or older. Along the way, this journey encompasses 8 destinations, including Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, and Giza. Beginning in beautiful Cairo, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Abu Simbel. Brought to you by Culture Trip , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $279 per day.

5 days Sailing tour from luxor to aswan : Royal beau ravage

With this option you can experience an unparalleled trip for 5 unforgettable days. It ensures an intimate group setting with 55 participants at most. This itinerary covers 6 captivating destinations, with stops in Valley of the Kings, Aswan, Edfu, and Kom Ombo, among others. Luxor will mark the start of your journey, while Aswan will serve as its final destination. Sun Pyramid Tours , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests people of any age. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $405 per day.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt , The Best Historical Tours in Egypt , The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt , The Best 3-Day Tours in Egypt , The Best 2-Week Tours in Egypt , The Best 3-Week Tours in Egypt , The Best River Cruises in Egypt , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Egypt , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Egypt , The Best Coach Bus Tours in Egypt , The Best Adventure Tours to Egypt , The Best Sightseeing Tours in Egypt , The Best Cultural Tours in Egypt , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Egypt , The Best Honeymoon Tours in Egypt , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Egypt , The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt , The Best Budget Tours to Egypt , The Best Tours for Seniors to Egypt , or The Best G Adventures Tours to Egypt for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Cairo , The Best 3-Day Tours from Aswan , The Best 3-Day Tours from Luxor , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cairo , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Luxor , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Aswan , The Best 10-Day Tours from Cairo , The Best 10-Day Tours from Luxor , The Best 2-Week Tours from Cairo , The Best 2-Week Tours from Hurghada , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Luxor for more package tour options.

How much do Eco Tours in Egypt cost?

After analyzing 18 eco tours in Egypt, we found the average price to be a remarkably economical $253 per day. Naturally, this region has many fantastic options for eco tours with a variety of prices. The individual costs will vary by the destinations, travel style, available dates, and other factors. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Egypt .

And for more information on Egypt, see Egypt Travel Costs and Egypt Hotel Costs .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

By signing up for our email newsletter, you will receive occasional updates from us with sales and discounts from major travel companies , plus tips and advice from experienced budget travelers!

Budget Your Trip

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.

• Privacy / Terms of Use
• Activities, Day Trips, Things To Do, and Excursions

• International
• Art & Design
• Health & Wellness
• Life & Society
• Sustainability
• Entrepreneurship
• Film & TV
• Pop Culture

Quality Journalism relies on your support

Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited access to the stories that matter.

Don’t have an account?

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Forgot Password?

Quality Journalism relies on your support.

Already have an account?

Egyptian Streets

Independent Media

5 Eco-Lodges Across Egypt For a Serene Vacation

By Dina Khadr

Across Egypt is a smattering of campsites and ecolodges, some of which are located near protectorates, that offer tourists an opportunity to reconnect with nature while still being environmentally friendly. Built with sustainably-sourced materials and traditional techniques, these ecolodges are gaining popularity as a means to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and experience a more simple form of living.

Over the past few years, Egypt has been making a concerted effort in promoting ecotourism within the country, with one of the initiatives being the launch of a campaign Eco Egypt. The campaign has as one of its aims to encourage ecotourism by boosting adventure and leisure trips while maintaining the ecosystem. One of the means through which the country is boosting ecotourism is by spotlighting its many eco-lodges. But what exactly is an eco-lodge? Eco-lodges are environmentally-friendly accommodations built with the intent of ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Here are five eco-lodges to visit in Egypt.

Deep South Eco-Lodge & Dive Club – Marsa Allam

The Deep South Diving Club & Eco-Lodge , which was established in 2007, is about 14 km from Marsa Allam, in Um Tondoba Bay. The lodge, which was founded by Karim Nour, organizes a number of undersea adventures while still minding the marine ecosystem. It’s also home to Egypt’s first independent music and camping festival, 3ALganoob – which sees a string of musicians performing with nature as their stage. Deep South Eco-lodge is for the adventurous with its executions including diving with sharks (the hammerhead, and the oceanic whitetip shark); and for the faint-hearted, spotting dolphins, kite-surfing, snorkeling, and desert excursions can be arranged.

To book, call +20 111 181 2277 or visit the website .

Eco Nubia – Nubia

Winning the Traveller Review Award in 2023 by Booking.com, Eco Nubia boasts of awe-inspiring vistas and a return to nature. The lodge was lauded by Egypt’s Ministry of Environment for its ecological and sustainable practices, and it was recognized by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for being one of the top start-ups in the sustainable tourism industry.

Located in Aswan, Eco Nubia merges heritage with a sojourn immersed in nature. The lodges are old community homes, no longer in use, that were transformed into accommodations using sustainable materials – rock and mud – with the intent of encouraging the locals of the area to pick traditional building techniques. A range of activities is available to guests including canoeing, tours to learn about local cultures, hiking, and fishing.

To learn more, visit the website .

Taziry Ecovillages – Siwa

Siwa is home to both cold and hot springs, the most famous of which is Cleopatra’s pool – believed to be where the queen once swam. Somewhat secluded, part of Siwa’s charm is its inaccessibility, in contrast to other tourist spots. The design and construction of Taziry Ecovillages is an incorporation into the surrounding environment, almost becoming an extension of the area, with some of the rooms being carved out of the mountains. The lodges were built using traditional techniques from the locale. Comprising 30 rooms, both suites and chalets, their construction was done through a method known as Karshif, which removes the need for air conditioning, and rather allows guests to enjoy the natural breeze.

The soft brown and red hues of the décor coupled with the natural breeze to cool its visitors makes this the ideal spot to reconnect with nature. The food at the location is sourced from the lodge’s organic farm with the drinking water being extracted from the spring (and filtered).

Al Tarfa Lodge – Dakhla

Al Tarfa Lodge , which has won several awards over the years and made it to the Conde Nast Hot list in 2009, is located in Dakhla Oasis. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding villages for its design, the lodge was built using traditional methods with local materials. The rooms, which are each unique, merge modern with classic, adding a twinge of luxury. Due to its somewhat isolated location, this lodge is an optimal option for those looking to take a break from the chaos of daily life.

Dar Dahab – Dahab

Owned and run by a Swiss-Egyptian family, Dar Dahab is located, as the name suggests, in Dahab, in the South of Sinai. Built with sustainable materials, the ecolodge’s architecture was modelled in harmony with the locale’s aesthetic. It was founded in 2010, and offers the choice between studios, one-bedroom apartments, or a two-bedroom apartment. The design, created from locally-sourced material, includes elements made of salt bricks taken from Siwa – which are thought to positively boost the mood.

Comments (3)

Cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

[…] post 5 Eco-Lodges Across Egypt For a Serene Vacation first appeared on Egyptian […]

[…] Source link […]

Related Articles

Recommended for you

Turning Air into Water: Egypt and Japan Unite for Sustainable Solutions

Makani Homes: A Trailblazer in Personalized Muslim Travel

Amid Climate Change Challenges, Egypt’s Corals Demonstrate Surprising Resilience, Biologist Says

• Multi-level
• South Africa
• Saudia Arabia
• Middle east
• Giza Pyramids
• Saint Catherine
• Ras Mohammed
• Sharm El Sheikh
• western desert

ECO Travel Egypt

Travel Egypt

There are 19 products.

Active filters

Giza great Pyramids &...

Old cairo tour, full-day great & sakkara..., saint catherine sinai hike, full-day tour to ras..., sinai canyons, nubia and abu simbel, eco mini-hike, eco mega-hike, eco multi-level-hike, saqqara day tour.

• Alternative Egypt
• WRITERS WANTED!
• HOSTELS AND HOTELS
• CHEAP FLIGHTS
• TRAVEL INSURANCE
• PRIVATE TOUR GUIDES

Egypt Eco-Lodges

What is an eco lodge.

Generally speaking, an eco lodge is a hotel, hostel or guest house that adheres to the principles of ‘eco tourism’.

Defined by the International Eco Tourism Society as "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people", an eco lodge should do the same by striving to protect the natural and cultural environment in which it exists.

The make up of an eco lodge can differ greatly, and being ‘green’ doesn’t mean being rustic or simplistic. Eco lodges can vary from tented camps and huts, to luxurious spa retreats.

If you’re staying at an eco lodge you can typically expect it to have the following characteristics:

• Have been built in an environmentally friendly way.
• Have an environmental impact that is, if anything positive.
• Be staffed by and benefit local people and the community
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
• Be powered by alternative energy
• Use environmentally friendly water and waste solutions
• Serve meals containing fresh/organic produce grown in the ground or locally within the community
• Generally serve to benefit the environment and community in which it exists.

Eco Lodges in Egypt

Egypt has been welcoming tourists for literally eons, but eco-tourism is relatively new here and pioneered by just a few. You may have to search harder to find it, but for those that do the rewards are great.

Egypt now had a growing number of eco tourism practitioners and eco-lodges.

Although the majority are located on the Sinai Peninsular , they can also be found around the Siwa Oasis region and along the Red Sea Coast of Marsa Alam.

Eco-Lodges in Egypt tend not be a cheap option and some are certainly better, and truer in their commitment to eco-tourism than others.

A few are mentioned below:

Basata Eco-Lodge, Sinai

Hailed by the Guardian newspaper as ‘Egypt’s first Eco-lodge’, Basata is located on an otherwise undeveloped crescent of coast line between Nuweiba and Taba on the Red Sea coast of the Gulf of Aqaba .

Created by a Cairovean engineer and his German wife, visitors to Basata may either camp or stay in on the bamboo and reed-made huts.

Prices range form €14 per night for camping to €20 per night for a private hut. Chalets are also available.

http://www.basata.com

Al Karm, Sinai

Al Karm Eco-lodge is located on the old pilgrim route to St Catherine’s monastery , in the surroundings of Wadi Gharba. Bedouin owned and run, the lodge is both simple and remote.

The lodge has 8 rooms that can accommodate up to 40 guests at any one time. With no electricity, the lodge uses solar power to heat the shower water for guests.

A ponze age Nabatean (the builders of Petra) village lies close by and the hills and mountains in this part of Sinai are excellent for trekking and other outdoor adventures .

The lodge currently has no website, but you can make a reservation by contacting the manager on his mobile phone. Full details can be found at the Lodges Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2469840355

Bedouin Valley Eco-Lodge, Marsa Alam

Bedouin Valley Eco-Lodge is located 14 Km from down town Marsa Alam on Mainland Egypt’s south East coast. 

A growing destinations for divers, this stretch of coast line is still largely unexplored and infinitely more peaceful than the likes of Hurghada and Safaga further North.

Visitors can stay in either bungalows or chalets. The lodge does not have a functioning website but you can find out more or contact through the Facebook page below:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4887819386

Um Tobdoba Eco-Lodge, Marsa Alam

Also located near Marsa Alam is the Um Tobdoba Eco-Lodge. Visitors are invited to stay in African huts with joint bathrooms or bungalows with private bathrooms.

The area is superb for aqua fun, snorkelling, diving or swimming with dolphins; all of which can be organised close by.

Prices vary from 35€ per night for an Africa Hut to 45€ for a bungalow.

http://www.ecolodge-redsea.com/

El Hammra Eco Lodge, Nile Delta

El Hammra Eco Lodge is located mid way between Cairo and Alexandria on the edge of Wadi El-Natrun.

‘Natrun’ means ‘sodium’ and hence the waters of the shallow lake are rich in natural salts and both pleasant and healthy to swim.

The area is rich in nature and ancient history, some of the world’s oldest Christian Monasteries located just a short distance away.

For reservation and prices contact  reservations through the website:

http://www.elhammraeco-lodge.com/gallery.htm

Taziry – Siwa

Taziry is an eco-lodge located by Siwa Oases in Egypt’s Western Desert just a short distance from the Libyan border. Visitors stay in traditional yet comfortable mud pick style accommodation that blends in effortlessly with the surrounding environment.

http://www.taziry.com/main.asp?PageID=7&MenuID=3

Adrere Amella - Siwa

Also located in the Siwa region , Adrere Amella has 40 hand built rooms, each one filled with furniture and trinkets carefully crafted by local artisans. With no electricity the rooms are lit by beeswax candles and the stars in the night sky.

Dinner is served somewhere different each day and food is grown locally within the grounds.

http://adrereamellal.net/index2.html

Desert Rose, Bahiriya Oasis

Desert Rose Eco Lodge is located by the Bahariya Oasis, 350km from 6th of October City. It’s a fifteen minutes drive away from the nearest town and just one hour away from the White Desert by car.

The lodge has no air conditioning but uses traditional mud pick techniques to ensure that visitors are kept cool all year long. The lodge has 9 twin and 2 double rooms each one of which can accommodate up to three people.

Food is traditional Middle Eastern cuisine and is included in the room price. So make yourself at home and eat as much as you like!

http://www.desertrose-ecolodge.com/

For More Information:

The International Eco Tourism Society nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism and Eco lodges

Green Profit - Magazine dedicated to a sustainable Egypt and wider Middle East

Any comments? Was this page useful? Please use the newly installed Facebook comment box below:

Copywrite © 2008 - 2014 Tariq El Kashef All rights reserved.

Are you travelling in Egypt? Or planning a trip there? Add # alternativeegypt to your tweets and share your latest travel adventures with fellow travellers in the region

Get to know Alternative Egypt on facebook and bring all your Egypt loving friends, too facebook.com/ AlternativeEgypt

Miss Eco USA 2024 prepares for Miss Eco International in Egypt

Ann Arbor, Mi. (WNDU) - Beauty pageants sometimes get a bad reputation, but one young engineer is taking beauty and brains internationally. Former Miss Eco Michigan is now Miss Eco USA 2024.

Sabrina Ramos will be competing for the grand title of Miss Eco International in Egypt later this month.

Miss Eco International represents eco-tourism and keeping our world sustainable, along with aligning with the United Nations’ sustainable and developmental goals.

Ramos has competed in beauty pageants for over 10 years. She was originally from Miami, Florida, before moving to Michigan.

She took a break from pageants to focus on her career as a transmission engineer.

Sabrina shared with WNDU 16 News Now on Thursday, when she realized she wanted to become an engineer.

“Since a very young age I was always very intrigued by how things worked. My parents would say I would grab toys, discombobulate them, put them back together, and be like,’ These pieces are missing,’” said Ramos. “I always excelled in math and science, and those are the subjects that always kept me interested and kept me on my toes wanting more. As I got older, I figured if this is what I love and this is my passion, and then engineering was introduced to me. I was like, I am going to become a civil engineer, and I have never looked back, and it’s the best career option that I could have done for myself.”

Ramos graduated from FIU, Florida International University, in 2022 with a degree in civil engineering.

She explained to me what she does as a transmission line engineer, specifically working with power grids.

“My job, what I like to explain it as is I get to play Minecraft in real life. I design overhead transmission lines, those big structural towers you see when your driving on the highway,” said Ramos.

Although Ramos says, she missed the thrill of being in pageants and the volunteer work that also comes with it.

She says as a child she would help out at the Ronald McDonald House and was able to continue doing so in Michigan.

“I would volunteer with them there as well as over there prepping meals for the families staying in the houses. If you know me, I would always collect those little pop tabs. Since I was young, I would always take them to the Ronald McDonald House, and that is something I would do just for fun. I would go take all the little pop tabs and donate them. I know it’s something so simple, but it is the only recyclable part of an aluminum can,” Ramos explained.

She would later become Miss Dearborn, Miss Eco Michigan, and now Miss Eco USA 2024.

She was inspired by the pop tags and used them for her costume for Miss Eco International. Ramos expressed what she would do if she took home the crown and title of Miss Eco International.

“The first thing I am going to do is defininetly give my parents and all my friends a very, very big hug because it truly does take a village and especially prepping for this competition, it has taken a village, and I would not be sitting here going to Egypt without them,” she said.

Ramos will compete against 49 women from around the world for the title of Miss Eco International in Cairo on April 14.

Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.

Deadly crash shuts down I-80/94 for several hours

Man dies in Cass County farm tractor crash

An earthquake centered near New York City rattles much of the Northeast

Buy groceries at Walmart recently? You could get up to $500 as part of a class action settlement

First Alert Weather: Rain for Sunday Afternoon and Evening, Mostly Sunny for the Eclipse

Latest news.

13th annual dance marathon at Plymouth HS raises money for Riley Children’s Foundation

‘EPIC ‘80s Prom’ generates support for South Bend Civic Theatre

Purdue beats NC State 63-50 to advance to national championship game

Notre Dame softball picks up 10-3 win over Virginia

Notre Dame women’s lacrosse wins big on Senior Day against Duke