The community’s founder paved the way for adventure travelling years before the country’s residents and tourists realised its potential, writes Moustafa Daly.
In the 1990s, Egyptians were still oblivious of the many strikingly beautiful places scattered across the country, their knowledge of tourist destinations mostly confined to trendy Red Sea resorts like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, and the ultra-popular Mediterranean city of Alexandria. In those days, Yasser El Rasool was among the first Egyptians to break out of that shell, embarking on road trips to rarely visited locations across the country. Little did he suspect that his solo expeditions were sowing the seeds of a thriving business.
“I had always been passionate about visiting new places, discovering how people in remote communities live –their habits, traditions and manners,” El Rasool, 50, shares. “I had a dream of travelling the world, so I started with the hidden gems of Egypt. I’m talking about more than two decades ago –no mobile phones, no satellite, no Google Earth, sometimes not even roads that go to such places.”
His meanderings led him to discover astonishing places across Egypt, and he was pleasantly surprised to find communities upholding traditions thousands of years old. Among the spots he has helped put on the local and international tourism map are Halayeb and Shalatin, Wadi El Weshwash in Nuweiba, Heisa Island in Aswan, the El Nawamis tombs in St. Catherine and the Shakhloba village in Burullus.
Being a photographer as well as an adventure traveller, El Rasool has amassed a vast collection of images of the remote villages, towns and communities he visits. He began exhibiting his photographs in Cairo to promote travel to these locations. As the internet spread in Egypt in the 2010s, he started posting his pictures online, garnering a lot of attention.
Overwhelmed with requests from people wishing to join him on his travels, El Rasool decided to launch a “virtual” adventure hub, setting up Egyptian Discovery in mid-2017. He explains: “The kinds of trips we organise are entirely ‘explorational’ – no five-star hotels or luxury vacationing. It’s all about living the true local experience.”
Egyptian Discovery has now built a sizable fan following, prompting El Rasool to expand its operations and organise a monthly average of five trips. As he notes, one of the most crucial things for him is ensuring that the right kind of traveller comes along.
“It has to be someone who likes adventure and exploration, fully aware that things could get tough sometimes and that they may have to do things they’re not used to or feel fully comfortable with. But it’s all part of the experience.
“They know they may stay in one-star hotels, ride in pickup trucks to cross the desert, cook their own food –they know it all in advance. That’s why we usually attract a certain type of culture travellers who want to live the truly authentic experience of the locals living in those places, not the touristic, detached one.”
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5 MUST-SEE HIDDEN GEMS FOR ADVENTURE AND CULTURE TRAVELLERS IN EGYPT
Whilst travel is on hold around the world at the moment, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of travel inspo.
El Rasool reveals some of the most astonishing locations he has discovered during his journeys across Egypt, ones that the region’s adventurers can add to their must-visit bucket list.
Paris Oasis, El Wadi El Gedid
Lying 90 kilometres away from El Wadi El Gedid’s capital, El Kharga, Paris Oasis was once an important trade and travel centre for North Africa pilgrims headed to Mecca and Medina. Its strategic location has been recognised by several civilisations, as evidenced by the ruins of ancient Egyptian, Coptic, Roman and Ottoman places of worship.
Lake Nasser, South of Aswan
Lake Nasser is a rarely visited location despite its countless monuments and stunning landscapes. Egyptian Discovery organises five-day boat trips that navigate the entirety of the lake, exploring ancient islands, Nubian villages, and ancient Egyptian temples like Seboo’, Mahra’a and El Amada.
Abraq, Halayeb and Shalaten
Nestled in the heart of the Halayeb and Shalaten triangle, Abraq has been home to the Bedouin Ababda tribe for centuries. The village, renowned for its diverse wildlife, has Egypt’s biggest collection of prehistoric carvings (dating back 25,000 years).
Shakhloba, Burullus Lake
El Burullus Lake is one of Egypt’s most underrated travel destinations, Shakhloba being one of its most exquisite spots. The village, whose population of 15,000 comprises mostly fishermen and boat builders, is known among local travellers for its alluring landscapes and delicate ecosystem.
Wadi El Weshwash, Nuweiba
Only 15 kilometres away from Nuweiba, Wadi El Weshwash lies among the stunningly colourful Red Sea mountains the area is known for. A perfect spot for mountain climbing, Wadi El Weshwash has a pool of rainwater accumulated over the centuries, making it also one of Egypt’s most spectacular spots to go for a swim.