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The Most Beautiful Protectorates in Egypt

<a href="https://flic.kr/p/e7X8S8"> Elephantine Island | © David Stanley/Flickr</a>
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/e7X8S8"> Elephantine Island | © David Stanley/Flickr</a>
Photo of Gehad Medhat
Gehad Medhat
19 June 2017

The land of the Nile, Egypt is home of a 7000-years-old civilization, the treasure-box of unique-Pharaonic attractions, and the host of some of the world’s top wonders. With Egypt’s natural beauty spreading between the seas and the deserts, here are some of the country’s most beautiful protectorates.

Ras Muhammad Nature Reserve

Located in the southern part of Sinai, Ras Muhammad is one of Egypt’s most famous national parks. Surrounded by the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, it covers around 480 square km (around 185.3 square miles) of land and sea. Ras Muhammad hosts some of the most stunning coral-reef ecosystems as well as some of the Red Sea’s most spectacular fish species and sea creatures. Diving in Ras Muhammad is one of the most astonishing natural breaks a visitor can have within the breathtaking ecosystem of the Red Sea.

Ras Mohamed Nature Reserve, شرم الشيخ, رأس محمد، Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, +20 69 3660559

Saint Catherine National Park

Saint Catherine is another protectorate in south Sinai. Covering an area of 4350 square km (around 1679.6 square miles), the protectorate includes some of Sinai’s most appealing attractions like Mount Sinai and the Saint Catherine Monastery. Saint Catherine is known for its desert ecosystem and biodiversity as well as the unique plant, mammal and reptile species.

Saint Catherine, Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt

Wadi El Rayan

Wadi El Rayan, El Rayan Valley, is a marvelous protectorate. Located in the Governorate of Faiyum, it stands out for its unique waterfalls, lakes, sand dunes, and rock formations. Also known for its mountains and oases, Wadi El Rayan hosts different types of plants, gazelles, foxes, birds, falcons, and eagles. Beside the natural ecosystem, the valley is famous for its archeological value and marine fossils.

Wadi El Rayan, Faiyum Governorate, Egypt

Siwa Oasis

Siwa Oasis once had the ancient Egyptian name of Sekht-am, which means the palm land. That’s why, in addition to its fertile land, the oasis is known for its olive and palm trees. Located 25 meters (around 82 feet) below sea level and between the Egyptian Sand Sea of the Western Desert and the Qattara Depression, the Oasis has several springs scattered throughout its 80 km (49.7 miles) of length and 20 km (12.4 miles) of width.

Siwa Oasis, Qesm Siwah, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt

Wadi El Hitan

One of the most iconic-paleontological sites of southwestern Cairo, Wadi El Hitan, the Whales Valley was named after the hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whales. Located in the Governorate of Faiyum, the valley is considered the only place in the world to hold such a great amount of fossils. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fossils, the Valley represents one of the major evolution stories: the evolution of whales from a land-based animal to an ocean-based mammal.

Wadi Hitan National Park, Giza Governorate, Egypt, +20 114 674 2577

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