El Quseir

El Quseir is located 85 miles south of Hurghada. Sitting on the shores of the Red Sea this quiet unassuming resort is a great base for those who want to enjoy the marine life and coral reefs of the Red Sea's; explore the inland temples and ancient forts or just chill out and enjoy the peace and quiet which this resort offers.

Dating back over 2000 years El Quseir was once an important trading port, for the Pharaoh's and Romans. This was due to the fact that it was on the shortest route from the Nile to the Red Sea. During the Ottoman Empire Al Quseir flourished as a trading route and a place to start the Hajj to Mecca. To protect the port the Ottomans built the impressive Sultan Selim fort, which can still be seen today.

Today, El Quseir is a small quiet resort which thrives on tourists coming and enjoying its great diving sites and sandy beaches. Al Quseir may not be that suitable for families with kids needing to be entertained but it will be suitable for young children and families just wanting to chill out on its lovely beaches.

You don't go to El Quseir for the shopping although there are some great little stalls and shops which offer locally produced souvenirs. Look out for alabaster, tea, coffee, leather goods and papyrus paintings.

The recently completed promenade on the town's sea front offers a great place to eat and drink and watch the sea gently lap on the shore. If you are looking for belly dancing the have a look at the local hotels and resorts to see what they are offering.

There are a variety of ancient sites relatively close to El Quseir eg Mons Claudians -a Roman granite mine; Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul.