Join us as we bike along the Red Sea coast. Bike through quaint villages steeped in history and lore. Each night we will return to our own ship and sail the Red Sea offering unique sights at every step.

EGYPT: RED SEA by BIKE

November 7-14, 2011

Cycling alongside the world's northernmost tropical sea

This tour starts in Hurghada, touring along the Red Sea and ending in Marsa Alam. During each day we will bike along the Red Sea's Egyptian coast and return to our intimate ship by night.

During the week we will explore the ancient coast and experience the northernmost tropical sea. Snorkeling is also offered as an alternative to biking for one day. Be sure to see our Cairo extension to experience the wonder of Egypt's ancient pyramids.

Highlights:

• Watch the Red Sea from the privacy of our intimate 22-passenger ship.
  
• Enjoy six days of cycling along the coast of the Red Sea and in the nearby desert hills and oases, and enjoy the wonders of the world's northernmost tropical sea.
  
• Explore unique sites ranging from an ancient Roman gold mine to a present-day Bedouin settlement.
  
• Ride a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Balarick Springs and Um Hawitat mines above Fustat Port Ghalib.
  
• Enjoy an optional sailing and snorkeling day and see the unique underwater wonders of the Red Sea.
  
• Shuttle to a panoramic viewpoint in the hills then bike down to a Wadi (oasis) where local tribesmen will treat us to a wonderful breakfast spread.
  
• On our post-tour Cairo and Pyramids Extension, stand in awe as you observe the grandeur of the three great pyramids and the Sphinx, and gaze at items from King Tut's tomb at the Egyptian Museum.
  

Dates and Price:
Nov. 7 to 14, 2010: $3,390: A trip for gay men.

Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can't match you with someone.

Location: Starts in Hurghada, Egypt and ends in Marsa Alam.

Price includes: 7 nights lodging, two per cabin on the yacht La Vela with private bath in each cabin; All meals starting with lunch on day of arrival until breakfast on day of departure either on board or on shore; Transfers from Hurghada Airport to La Vela and from the boat to Marsa Alam Airport at the end of the trip; Rental mountain bike with 21 gears and saddle bag (helmet required for rides but NOT included); Maps of daily tour routes available on board; 5 daily guided bike tours to be conducted in English; Guides with bike repair experience; Support van for bike tours with medical support available in the event of emergency; 4WD tour to Um Hawitat mines and Balarick Springs; Entrance fees for any included sightseeing.

Not included: Flights to Hurghada and from Marsa Alam; Helmet (Helmets are required for rides but are NOT included); Additional nights in Hurghada or Marsa Alam; Optional 3-night Cairo and Pyramids extension; Drinks on board; Other items not specifically mentioned.

Cycle alongside the picturesque Red Sea while experiencing one of the most historic lands in the world.

Starting times: Because of the climate and the potential for heat-related illnesses, we begin and end our riding days earlier than normal.

Alterations: We reserve the right to make alterations to the planned route due to changing wind and weather conditions, and where required by organizational necessities. Traffic and road conditions may require us to adjust the biking routes and to use our support vehicles to move passengers and equipment as necessary.

Depending on the number of Alyson Adventures participants, we may have a private charter of the La Vela, or we may share the boat with other passengers. In any case, the boat has a maximum capacity of 22 passengers, so it will be a small group.

1: Hurghada, Egypt

Fly from Cairo to Hurghada, Egypt or transfer overland from our Nile by Bike trip that ends in Luxor on the day this trip starts. Transfer to our ship, La Vela at Stella Makadi Resort in Makadi Bay. This afternoon we will test our bikes around Stella Makadi and have some free time to enjoy the facilities at Stella Makadi Resort.

We will embark on our ship in the late afternoon for dinner and spend the night on La Vela in Hurghada's harbor.

2: Mons Claudianus & Port Safaga

We will start our biking with a 17 km ride to Mons Claudianus, built in Roman times. We'll visit the Roman granite quarry and the ruins of the 2000-year-old settlement from which stone for the Pantheon in Rome was taken. After our visit, enjoy a barbecue lunch, then ride 17 km to reboard La Vela at Port Safaga harbor.

We'll have dinner onboard and spend the night in Port Safaga's harbor.

Total biking: 34 km

3: Port Safaga to Al Qusayr

Bike along the azure blue shores of the Red Sea to Al Qusayr, one of the oldest ports along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. This is also a hopping-off point for pilgrims on the Hajj, held every year in Mecca across the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. We'll have lunch on La Vela in Al Qusayr, then in the afternoon we'll enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful city of Al Qusayr and Sultan Selim's Fortress.

Dinner and overnight on la Vela at Al Qusayr.

Total biking: 40 km

4: Al Qusayr to Port Ghalib

We'll depart early this morning then bike 65 km along the Red Sea from Al Qusayr to the fantasy harbor and marina of Port Ghalib, where we will have lunch on our boat.

We'll depart Port Ghalib and bike or ATV (extra charge) 12 km to the impressive ancient Roman fort and present-day Bedouin settlement of Fustat Port Ghalib. From there we will go an additional 2 km to the ruins of an ancient Roman gold mine.

We'll have dinner with Bedouin entertainment in Fustat Port Ghalib, then return to our boat by bus, spending the night in Port Ghalib harbor.

Total biking: 79 km

5: Port Ghalib to Marsa Alam

Today we take a break from riding and head inland by 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Balarick Springs and the Um Hawitat mines above Fustat Port Ghalib.

We will experience a early morning on the Wadi (oasis) with herds of wildlife feeding on the abundant acacias reminiscent of the African savanna, and the local Bedouins will treat us to a morning snack of gabana, fresh-brewed coffee with ginger, and fresh-baked bread with various cheeses, fruits and juices. After a wonderful morning on the Wadi, we'll have lunch at Fustat Port Ghalib and return by bus to La Vela at Marsa Alam.

We'll have dinner and spend the night on La Vela at Marsa Alam.

6: Marsa Alam to Shams Alam

Today avid cyclists will resume our biking along the Red Sea from Marsa Alam to Shams Alam, and those who prefer to explore the Red Sea itself can opt for a day of sailing and snorkeling. Cyclists will have a bag lunch today to eat on the road.

We'll have dinner and spend the night on La Vela in Shams Alam.

Total biking: 50 km

7: Wadi Gemal National Park & Shams Alam

We start our last biking day with an early morning shuttle to the upper entrance of Wadi Gemal National Park, an area known as the Valley of the Camels. From the park entrance we will bike down to a beautiful spot on the Wadi where local tribesmen will treat guests to a wonderful spread for breakfast, with gabana, fresh baked bread and more.

We will then bike down from the Wadi to mangroves in a portion of the National Park closer to sea level. Our last leg is by bike or bus 19 km to Sharm Eluly beach in for snorkeling and swimming. We'll return to La Vela in the early afternoon for lunch and a rest.

At 4 pm we depart by bus to the Wadi Gemal Restaurant in the National Park, where we have our farewell dinner with entertainment by the local Bedouin tribe.

Our last night on the Red Sea will be at Shams Alam.

Total biking: 20-25 km, plus optional 19 km if biking to Sharm Eluly.

8: Farewell to the Red Sea

Transfers will be provided to Marsa Alam Airport based on flight departure times to Cairo. Most travelers will need to spend the night in Cairo before boarding international flights home.

Our optional 3-night Cairo and the Pyramids Extension starts with a hotel stay in Cairo tonight.

9-11: Cairo & Pyramids Extension

For first-time visitors to Egypt, we encourage you to join our three-night post-tour extension based in Cairo. The extension includes a half-day excursion to the pyramids and a full-day tour of Old Cairo, including visits to the Alabaster Mosque, to the home of the last British pasha, and to the Egyptian Museum, famous for housing the original relics from King Tut's tomb.

The extension price includes three hotel nights, breakfast each day, two lunches and one dinner, as well as the excursions and a transfer to our hotel from Cairo Airport after the flight from Marsa Alam. (Flight costs are not included in the extension price.)

For our November 2010 trip the extension is US$750 in a shared room and $900 in a single room.