Friday March 29th, 2024
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Reimagine Egypt

Sick of the same old weekend routine? Here are six unique getaways, all with in three hours of Cairo that are bound to spark childlike curiosity...

Staff Writer

As Cairenes, it is very easy to get caught in a cycle of Zamalek followed by Nacelle followed by comedown followed by work. However, if you fancy heading somewhere different this weekend then here are six cool things to do within three hours of the pollution and chaos of the capital…in the style of your favourite childhood memories!

See where the Jungle Book meets Egypt
Gezira el Mozz, otherwise known as Banana Island is a pretty cool place accessible by Fellucca from Luxor (flights direct from Cairo) – it’s the perfect excuse to monkey around.

See Flipper in his natural habitat
We’ve all seen Flipper – or at least some of us have... Basically it’s a show about a friendly dolphin. In order to make up for lost time why not meet some friendly dolphins of your own at Sinai's Dolphin House dolphin sanctuary?

Pretend to be Popeye (and maybe meet Olive Oil) in Alexandria
Spitfire on the second city’s Old Borsa Street provides something of a rarity in modern Egypt – a proper sailors pub. The Spitfire bar in Alexandria has taken pride of place in the city since the days of old and over the years has amassed a plethora of history, memorabilia and general character.
Meet the Flintstones in Fayoum
If you’re tired of the glitz of modern Cairo living then check out the Zad El Mosafer guesthouse in Fayoum City. It's got a whole load of rustic charm and frankly it feels like you’ve stepped back to the stone age.

Spot Rosie and Jim in Ismalia
The once great Ismalia (birthplace of the ever popular Muslim Brotherhood) still has a lot to offer in terms of a chilled getaway with its beautiful canals and parks. It offers a slice of Egyptian life with which few can compare.


Free Willy in Halayeb
Wadi il Hitan (the valley of the whales) is a paleontological site in the Al Fayyum Governorate of Egypt, some 150 km southwest of Cairo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July for its hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whale; the archaeoceti (a now extinct sub-order of whales). Think the sort of place Free Willy would go…to die. And its good enough for everybody’s favourite childhood memory – then surely its good enough for you.