Egypt

s Natu
re-a
nd-C
o mm
unit
y-B
ased
Touri
sm Guide

FEATHERLIGHT TOURISM
Egypts Nature-and-Community-Based Tourism Guide
featherlight
Travel Egypt on a light footprint
 WHY A FEATHERLIGHT
GUIDE BOOK FOR EGYPT?
Egypt has always been one of the major tourism spots
in the world the many guidebooks on the shelves are
a clear indication. So why did we feel the need to add
just another one to the already existing collection? The
Featherlight team sees that Egypt has more to offer than
the many books even begin scratching the surface of. We
want to shed light on, and propose a somewhat different
way of truly experiencing this unique country. There ex-
ists a more environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and
economically beneficial (to the local communities) method
by which to travel, made possible for Egyptians and for-
eigners alike. This guidebook is Featherlights presentation
to you, of all the pathways to a taste of the true Egypt.

E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 7
 WHICH KIND OF TOURISM IS
CAPTURED BY FEATHERLIGHT?
When searching for the right branding of what we wanted
to promote, we came across a universe of labels, word-
ings and definitions: responsible, sustainable, green, alter-
native, nature or community tourism, or just eco-tour-
ism but none of the terms fully captured the essence
of what we wanted to say. So after spending some time
thinking, our team decided to stay away from the la-
bels altogether, and concentrate on the actual content.
Then came the following question: What characterizes a
lodge, an activity, or operator as suitable to be featured
within the Featherlight campaign? And to answer this
pressing question, we had to clearly identify our purpose.

Our primary objective is to keep the negative impact of

tourism low enough that the country may still be able to
sustain both the environmental and the local communi-
ties it entails. Reducing waste production levels, regulat-

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 9
 ing water and energy usage, minimizing human impact on
natural ecosystems (e.g. corals in the red sea), and pre-
serving local cultural and historic heritage, are all things
that every tourist in Egypt should be actively wary of.

However, tourist wariness is not Featherlights sole ob-

jective. Featherlight, more importantly, aims at induc-
ing proactive impacts, mainly by providing local commu-
nities with newer and better jobs, through which they
could earn higher incomes. This financing of the local
communities directly corresponds to local tourisms el-
evation of the economic value of the countrys natural
sites and biodiversity. As proactive tourists, the Feather-
light Travel Guides readers contribute to the conserva-
tion of Egyptian communities by buying authentic local
crafts, travelling to regions that do not profit from tour-
ism flows yet, as well as staying in places that are run by
local management teams. In doing this, not only would
Egypt benefit tremendously, but so would the tourists,
having experienced the genuine Egyptian experience.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 11
 Now, given our clearly stated objective, the Featherlight
team collaborated in a search for all the places, peo-
ple, and products in Egypt that would guarantee that
you would receive a unique travel experience. Travel en-
tails far more than mere commercial and mainstream
tourism; travel entails effective learning and a widening
of ones horizon. Travelling the Featherlight way enables
mind changing experiences, and a direct knowledge of
ones hosts and surroundings. Featherlight challenges
you to open your eyes to a whole new definition of Egypt!

Travelling the Featherlight way is by no means the only way

by which to experience Egypt in a sustainable manner. Our
purpose is simply to introduce mainstream travellers to an
alternate option (such as the Green Star Hotel Initiative).
Travelling responsibly has the power to both prevent serious
environmental hazards, as well as proactively contribute
to a countrys economic development by way of tourism.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 13
 HOW DID WE COLLECT AND
FILTER THE CONTENTS?
When preparing for this project we decided that the most
efficient means by which to gather information would be
to create for ourselves a diverse Egyptian community,
who collectively possess a cumulative knowledge of Egypt.
We brought this community together through the Internet,
through communicating with Egyptian locals, tour guides, as
well as the tourists themselves. And since we all now live in a
globally connected, online world, we also asked our indirect
global audience for suggestions and input through Face-
book. However, seeing as how we were unable to physically
visit all the places mentioned in this guidebook, we want to
blatantly inform you that all the featured locations are NOT
the equivalent to any standard or label for eco-tourism.

Surveying Egypt, we do not believe that setting a rig-

id criteria (e.g. the places provision of 80% renewable
energy supply plus 100% irrigation through wastewa-

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 15
 ter, etc.) would currently be the most useful rubric upon
which to decide on the places that are to be featured in
our Featherlight guidebook. The fact stands that there
are fantastic places that are trying hard to maintain a
lighter footprint while also remaining economically via-
ble. Such places need all the support and contribution
from all the environmentally concerned, green tour-
ists, in order for them to pick up momentum in their ob-
jectified direction. Such are the places that are sure
to be listed in the following pages of this guidebook.

Having understood the criterion upon which our de-

cisions were made, we highly welcome and encour-
age your comments, in case you feel as though any of
the featured information is not in harmony with all the
community based travel that we described. We hope
that you will receive all the inspiration that you need
to travel Featherlight and truly experience Egypt!

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 17
 FAYOUM
Got a free weekend and had enough of the Cairo chaos? Trav-
eling just 180 kilometers south of Cairo will take you to an oasis
of diverse landscapes; from wonderful green fields to barren
desert, its all in Fayoum. The region is famous for its lush fields
and orchards, making a good place to revel in fresh produce.
With equilibrium between vegetation, desert, history and civ-
ilization, thelifeline of this fertile basin is Lake Qarun, probably
Egypts oldest lake. The nature reserve is not only home to large
numbers of migratory birds, but also to many rare animals, and
makes for a beautiful picnic spot. Tucked away further along
the lake is Tunis village: small, quiet, and perfect for a lazy wan-
der, with lots of pottery workshops to explore. Your visit to Fay-
oums countryside shouldnt stop here as there are many simi-
lar hamlets around the lake and each is known for its local crafts.
A 10 km drive away from Tunis, the lush oasis around lake Qa-
run suddenly changes into barren desert Wadi Rayan and
the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wadi Hitan begin to unfold.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 19
 WADI EL RAYAN
Situated in Egypts Western desert, Wadi el Rayan is a
nature reserve 42 meters below sea level named after
King El Rayan Ibn El Walid, who lived in the area with his
army. Wadi el Rayan itself is home to two lakes, which
were formed in 1973 as a result of excess agricultur-
al drainage water from the Fayoum region. Since then,
extensive reed beds have formed around the shore-
line, creating a haven and breeding spot for many fish
and migratory water birds. It is a perfect spot to watch
birds. Wadi el Rayan has two fairly large lakes, connect-
ed by a little river and is home to Egypts only waterfalls.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 21
FAYOUM: WADI EL RAYAN - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

C LIM B GABA L EL MODAWA RA VI S I T T H E WAT E R WH E E L S

Around 10 km into Wadi el Rayan reserve, Gabal el Waterwheels have provided Fayoum with a prominent
Modawara is the definition of beauty. A hike up the peak source of economic aid. The waterwheels make a way for
yields a view that will easily take your breath away and its river water to be elevated and transported to the fields,
a great spot for bird-watching, particularly if you plan to creating a means by which the lands could be irrigated.
catch a glimpse of eagles or falcons. At the base of the There are around 200 waterwheels in Fayoum, and trips
mountain is the Magic Lake and if you linger awhile youll can be arranged for visitors to take a look at the ancient
be rewarded with stunningly beautiful sunsets. Just be technology for themselves (that is of course, if they dont
careful when climbing down in the dark. come across them by simply strolling through Fayoums
streets!)

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 23
FAYOUM: WADI EL RAYAN - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

DE SER T C A MP I NG & HI K I NG
Spend the night at a wilderness camp-
site in an area that millions of years ago
was covered by the sea. The Wadi el Hitan
campsite offers natural beauty, barbeque
and clean toilet facilities. Just bring your
own equipment and firewood and enjoy
the fine weather year round.
Cool weather in the winter makes hiking
CYCLING
nice, with dramatic cloud formation. Oc-
tober through April are the best months Fayoum is a bikers heaven! If you want a smooth, chill ride
for hiking, trekking and sandboarding as take your bike on a trip around Lake Qarun. There are no
the summer months can be very hot in the steep hills, just flat land and a scenic route. For those that
desert. There are a number of routes up are up for more of a challenge, there is always the desert
the hills and soft sands and dunes make where you can take a ride around Gabal el Midawara or to
for soothing views. famous Wadi el Hitan. For more specific trip suggestions,
You can also contact the Zwara lodge to contact Bececletta or cycle Egypt.
organize camping equipment for you.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 25
FAYOUM: WADI EL RAYAN - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

BIR DWAT C HIN G VISI T QASR QARUN ON DEC EMBER 21ST

Lake Qarun beside Wadi el Rayan is a central spot for Qasr Qarun was built in the location of the ancient town
birdwatching in Fayoum. The lake is of international im- of Dionysias, which was the beginning point of the caravan
portance for migratory birds that winter there such as route to the Bahariya Oasis. This impressive monument
waterbirds including the Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps was built between 323 and 330 BC during the Ptolemaic
nigricollis, and the Northern Shoveller, Anas clypeata. For period and it flourished in the Roman era. On the 21st
detailed information or contacts of professional bird- of December of every year, the sun falls perpendicularly
watchers, contact Nature Conservation Egypt. over the palace and the people of Fayoum celebrate this
incident for two consecutive days.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 27
FAYOUM: WADI EL RAYAN - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

WA D I E L H I T A N /
VA L L E Y O F T H E WH A L E S

The Valley of the Whales is a UNESCO

heritage site 40 km into Wadi el Rayan.
It is home to 400 remains of primitive
whales, a petrified forest and many oth-
er fossils that have been found within the
25square-kilometer stretch. As of late,
an open air museum with an audio-visu-
al theater, as well as a fossil museum that
SA NDB O A RD IN G
displays the interesting findings of the
Surf the dunes of the beautiful desert of Fayoum. No area that was once covered in water.
experience is needed as there are plenty of tour oper- Visitors can reach the destination by four-
ators offering courses. If youre already a pro, it is recom- wheel-drive vehicles or their own cars,
mended to bring your own equipment, get a local Bedouin which are provided by many tour organiz-
guide, which can be organized via your lodge and let him ers or their own cars. The rest house of
guide you to his favorite dune. Hany Zaki is attached to the pen air muse-
um and is the last point reachable by car
before you proceed on foot or camel. By
the way, it has clean toilet facilities.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 29
FAYOUM: WADI EL RAYAN - LODGES

Zwara Campsite at Wadi el Hitan

/ Zwara - / Zwara -
Zwara ecolodge has existed for over 30 years, and is run The camp itself is a gem of a beautiful location and sym-
by experienced professionals in the North African desert pathetic design, with mud brick buildings housing clean fa-
and waters. Zwara is an ideal spot for memorable ad- cilities. You can bring your own tents or rent from the rest
ventures for business travelers from all over the world. house. Contact Zwara lodge for more details.
If youre lucky, you meet Amm Hussein. He collects the
mountain salt in Wadi Rayan and carries it on his back all
the way to Zwara lodge and other places around Lake
Qarun to sell it.
Price: low

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 31
 TUNIS VILLAGE
Fifteen years ago, two Swiss potters built a school to train
locals in the art of pottery. The school has a very well-
stocked shop selling all kinds of crockery inspired by the
colors of the local landscape. The charming thing about
Tunis village is that urban and local rural culture mix as
Cairenes and foreign visitors and organizations converge
on the tiny village now renowned for its unique pottery
and community development. People are amazingly hos-
pitable. Between the greenery and the old village buildings
there are plenty of activities: bird-watching and tracking,
horse and camel safaris, and things as simple as picnics
by the beautiful lakes.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 33
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

HOR SEBAC K RID IN G R OW A B O AT O N L A KE Q A R U N

The villages around Fayoum are perfect for horseback The lake is not only an important archeological site with a
riding excursions. Most of the lodges in Tunis Village have unique collection of fossil fauna and flora that datesback
contacts to locals who organize horseback riding tours or some 40 million years. It is also a beautiful body of water
you can contact local tour operators to arrange a ride. where you can enjoy by renting a boat and rowing out to
While rides are easy to organize, not all owners treat their play music, watch birds, or just enjoy the silence.
animals well so please make sure the horses look healthy
and well cared for before taking off.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 35
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

VI SI T T HE C A RICAT URE MU SE U M POT T E R Y S C H O O L

The artist colony has more to offer beyond pottery; the The most famous pottery school is found in Tunis Village
incredible Caricature Museum, curated by Mohammed founded by Evelyn Porret. Children as well as adults, be-
Abla is housed in a beautiful adobe complex in Tunis Vil- ginners as well as experts, can apply for courses to learn
lage. The main room with a large mud brick dome con- about the craft of pottery and clay making. Situated in
tains an excellent collection of caricatures and cartoons one of the most beautiful locations in Fayoum, Pottery
by Egypts best-loved artists since the beginning of the School is a source of artistic inspiration in and of itself.
20th Century, as well as sculptures by locals.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 37
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

POTTE RY FE ST IVA L M E E T LO C A L POT T E R Y PR O D U C E R S

The village is host to a cheerful annual pottery festival, Being the famous pottery source that it is, Tunis Village
which every year draws more people. There are puppets, has many opportunities for visitors to meet with the local
musicians and craftsmen displaying their works as well as artisans and see how the clay is made, how the product
opportunities for participants to create their own pottery. is shaped, how the kilns work and how the solidified clay
is painted and glazed before it is ready for sale. Just by
strolling through the small village streets you can marvel at
the beautiful creations and learn about these processes.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 39
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - LODGES

Constructing Sustainably
Constructing a lodge in an environmentally sensitive
manner from the onset is the key to fully tap its green
potential. In Egypts hot climate this often means allow-
ing for a radical cut in energy consumption through nat-
ural ventilation, isolating materials and high solar reflec-
tance. It also means using local building materials which
neither harm the environment in their production nor in
transportation. At Kom El Dikka you can feel how this
KOM EL D IKKA changes your experience: the founders did not only ap-
Kom El Dikka Agri Lodge ply sustainable building techniques but also heavily rely
on traditional architecture, decorations and furnishing.
Kom El Dikka isa 45-acre olive farm on the hills of Tunis Village in
Fayoum overlooking Lake Qarun. The 30-year old destination
has recently been developed into an agri-tourism lodge that is Traditional mud walls isolate perfectly A wind catcher brings in a fresh
keeping cool in summer and warm breeze all day long. No need for an AC,
organic and provides its visitors with a variety of activities such
in winter even in summer.
as bird watching, sailing, horseback riding, fruit and vegetable
picking, animal petting in their very own zoo, hiking, jogging, sail- Have a look at the traditional deco- A garden will calm you down after the
ing, duck migration observation, pottery schools, planting, arts rations making this lodge a special hassle of Cairo. Wondering about irri-
place. gation in the desert? They use waste
and crafts, mountain bike riding, and boat rides on the lake.
water recycling.
Price: high

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 41
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - LODGES

Z A D EL MO S AFER Z E L A L E L N A KH E E L / PA L M S H A D OW
Zad ELMosafer (Guest House) fayoum-palmshadow.blogspot.com/
Zad El Mosafer is the first lodge that was established in A peaceful, calm and green spot in the heart of Tunis. Palm Shadow
the Fayoum province. It provides its visitors with a calm, offers housing, meeting and parking facilities, a professional catering
tranquil environment full of authentic activities by which service and a beautiful 4,000-square-meter garden, in which some
to create lasting memories and experiences. The rooms of the vegetables for the kitchen are grown. The lodge offers four
are furnished with simple furniture made of palm mid-rib. two-bedroom apartments and one beautifully decorated four-bed-
Almost all rooms have shared bathrooms. The lodge, how- room villa (suitable for six people). All units are fully equipped (kitchen,
ever, also has some rooms with en suite bathrooms. Call TV and free WIFI, etc.). All units have access to the roof, which offers
them to check the availability. a panoramic view over the village and Lake Qarun.
Price: low Price: medium

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 43
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - LODGES

SOBEK E L M A N D A R A LO D G E
Sobek Camp Kamariat Resort - El Mandara

Located in the heart of Tunis Village, Sobek Lodge features a The seven suite El Mandara Lodge is situated on the shore of
garden and free Wi-Fi. Sobek Lodge has simple but spacious Lake Qarun, just an hour and a half away from Cairo.The re-
rooms with traditional furniture. Each room has a fan, a closet, sort was previously a series of rundown buildings before being
and a private bathroom with shower. renovated using local, sustainable building materials including
Guests can enjoy organic, home-cooked food before visiting mud brick and palm fronds. El Mandara serves up traditional
one of the nearby pottery workshops, shop in their beautiful Egyptian cuisine, including locally-sourced fish, feteer and local
little bazar, enjoy the view over lake Qarun, or take a dip in the honey.
pool. The owners are very helpful and try to accommodate their Price: low
guests and can advise you where to get locally made products.
Price: low
F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M FA
E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N IYT O
Y -UB M
A S: ETDUTNOIUSR IV
SMI LG
LUAIG
DE 45
FAYOUM: TUNIS VILLAGE - LODGES

BEI T SAA D R AW Y A S G U E S T H O U S E
fayoum-palmshadow.blogspot.com ecoegypt.net
The house of Amm Saad is a small farm house in the beautiful Rawya, the potter, and her family live next to her workshop in
village of Tunis. Since Tunis has developed into a tourist desti- Tunis. After having achieved quite a reputation with her pottery
nation, more and more locals are refurbishing houses for rent. work, the family invested in the construction of a beautiful guest
The two-story house features two bedrooms and a beauti- apartment on top of their house to accommodate visitors and
ful and clean bathroom on each floor. The ground floor has a people who want to learn the art of pottery. The apartment is
well-equipped modern and clean kitchen with an adjacent living fully equipped with a modern kitchen and bathroom facilities,
room, which is big enough to accommodate two more people. has two bedrooms and a beautiful terrace. Contact EcoEgypt
A beautiful terrace overlooking the small garden offers a view for bookings at her place.
over lake Qarun. Book Amm Saads house via Palm Shadow. Price: low
Price: low - medium
F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M FA
E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N IYT O
Y -UB M
A S: ETDUTNOIUSR IV
SMI LG
LUAIG
DE 47
FAYOUM: HANDICRAFTS

H A N D I C R A F T S O F F AY O U M

As in many of the rural Egyptian communities, women are

the main producers of arts and crafts in the Fayoum villag-
es. Aside from pottery, the crafts typical of the area include
palm leaf baskets, beaded jewelry, woven embroidery,
tent embroidery, puppets, and leather. Fayoum crafts are
mostly simple, seeing as how the crafters main objective is
to sell products for practicality and easy usability.

Nazla Pottery Village

Nazla Pottery Village Is located in the Nazla valley. The
village is site of a project by Past Preservers to save the
pottery-making practice that has been handed down from
family to family for generations here. Nazla, other than Tu-
nis produces the traditional local functional products.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 49
FAYOUM: HANDICRAFTS

Desya Village
Desya is famous for its handmade carpets of silk and the
traditional material of goblan, an industry which has re-
cently gone into decline. It is also famous for the Famous
Touristic Coptic monastery, known as Prince Tadharos,
which was built in the 18th Century.

Khaltha House of Textiles

Khalta, is a small village on Lake Qarun, neighboring the
better known village of Tunis. The women of Khalta de-
cided to enter the patchwork business inspired by the
pottery school that had tremendously increased the living
standards of the people of Tunis. Ever since Swiss tailor,
Doris Frei, has trained the women and together they es-
tablished the Brand Khalta: Home Of Textiles. Currently
they are constructing a green training center in the village
to educate more women in the craft.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 51
FAYOUM: FLORA AND FAUNA

F LO R A A N D F AU N A O F F AY O U M

Located just south of Cairo, the governorate of Fayoum

is home to two protected areas, Wadi el Rayan Nation-
al Park and Northern Lake Qarun Protected Area. Wadi
el Rayan is one of the most popular national parks in
Egypt, acting as a gateway to the Western Desert where
rare animals like the white deer, the Egyptian deer, the
sandfox, the nearly extinct slender-horned gazelle or the
worlds smallest fox, the fennec fox, can be found.
The National Park is also home to Wadi el Hitan, a UNES-
CO World Heritage Site that hosts a wide variety of ma-
rine fossils, most notably the fossilized remains of ancient
whales. These fossilized remains are of particular global
importance as they present the transition of whales from
land mammals to marine mammals. The Protected Area
of Northern Lake Qarun is known for its pristine natural
landscapes, and is also of extreme archeological impor-
tance.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 53
FAYOUM: FLORA AND FAUNA

Fayoum is a haven for bird-watching in Egypt, as it com-

bines a variety of habitats, including lakes and wetlands,
deserts, as well as agricultural lands. Many migratory
birds rest in Fayoum during their long journeys in autumn
and spring, and many waterbirds spend their winters by
Lake Qarun. About 162 species of migratory and resident
birds were listed including: Flamingos, Herons, Waders,
Ibis, Spoonbills, Shoveler ducks, Skylarks, Hoopoes and
Bee-eaters. The best time to watch birds is mid-Sep-
tember through the end of April with the peak being from
mid-December to the end of March.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 55
C ON SIDER YOUR Treat waste consciously. Think twice when being of-
OWN RE SPON SIBILI T IE S fered plastic bags. Make use of recycling/ separation
facilities if available. Take your own waste back with
To get the most out of your journey while traveling on a you, especially in the desert. Do the extra effort and
light footprint, consider not only staying at a lodge with pick up waste others left behind for the sake of the
eco-friendly facilities but also the way you travel. A few environment.
ideas on how you can be a responsible, featherlight tourist: Buy local. When looking for souvenirs, make use of the
craft descriptions in this guide. They will help you to
Get involved with people. Whether you are Egyptian find the authentic goods that benefit local employ-
or an international tourist, there is a lot to be learned ment and incomes. Stay away from items made from
when you speak with your hosts, are open for a chat endangered animals or pirated archaeological trea-
with residents and listen to their stories and recom- sures. And if souvenirs are not your cup of tea, you
mendations. Who knows which hidden gems you might can still contribute to local incomes by buying food and
find? drink, trying the local way to brew and drink tea etc.
Apply the basic rules of saving resources. 95% of Be conscious of what you give. When visiting popular
Egypt is covered by desert; saving water while show- touristic sites it is common to encounter children and
ering or washing should be a daily habit. Moreover, adults asking for money, food or other handouts. Be
Egyptian habitants suffer from major electricity cuts, mindful about the community and certain situations
especially in summer time. Remember that the most when giving something might create more harm than
sustainable energy is the energy which is not being good. Ultimately, its your personal decision. Regarding
used even if your lodge applies renewables. tipping, be aware that many professions and parts of

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 57
 the informal economy are sustained in large part, or
even entirely, through tips.
Dive into local culture. Ask for local recipes there are
many varieties of cuisine depending on the region, vil-
lage and even family, and there is so much more to
be explored when leaving the capital. Learn and use
a few words in local languages if your Arabic is good,
you can still go for Nubian or Siwan.
Respect peoples privacy. Dying to take the picture of
that shop owner in front of his display? Ask permission
first, only promise to send the photo if you intend to
do so and do not be surprised if someone wants your
picture or a photograph with you in return.

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 59
We hope you enjoy this guide and spent some wonderful We especially thank the team of the Cairo Climate Talks
time travelling Egypt. If you know of a place which is consid- for their constant support. They have been encouraging
ered one of the best in Egypt and has not been included, us throughout the way and giving us a platform to pres-
please email us the name of the place or post it on our ent the Featherlight Guide at the 29th Cairo Climate Talks
Featherlight EG Facebook page. in Cairo. A special thank is dedicated to Lindsey Parietti
for her extensive editing work and her valuable assistance
Acknowledgements and comments.
Many people have helped in the efforts of putting this http://cairoclimatetalks.net
guide together. We have relied heavily on many people and
organizations in preparing it. We also want to thank the team of Nature Conservation
Egypt that provided us with valuable insights into the Flora
The Featheright Team wants to thank all participants in and Fauna of Egypt. Especially Noor Ayman was a great
the ecolodge workshops and ecolodge meetups. Your con- help through offering information on nature, birds, and bird-
tributions helped us understand the needs and hurdles watching, which you now find throughout the guidebook.
of lodges in Egypt. We also want to thank all people who http://www.natureegypt.org
helped us with valuable contributions via Facebook, Email,
or simple hints from colleagues and friends. Without you Moreover we want to explicitly thank the team of Ayadi
this guidebook wouldnt have been possible. Masriya that explained to us the different crafts in each re-
gion, introduced us to beautiful products and provided the
guide book with beautiful pictures from each destination.
http://www.amfegypt.org/

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 61
This work is published on the responsibility of the Private
Sector Development Programme and the Responsible and
Inclusive Business Hub MENA; The Egyptian-German Pri-
vate Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is a bilater-
al technical cooperation programme under the guidance
of the Egyptian Ministry for Trade, Industry and Small and
Medium Enterprises (MTISME) with Technical Assistance
provided by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Develop-
ment (BMZ). RIBH . The opinions expressed and arguments
employed herein are strictly the authors views and do not
reflect the official views of GIZ or BMZ.

For Reviews or new entries contact us on:

Email: natalie.elassiouty@giz.de
Facebook: Feaherlight EG

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M E G Y P T S N AT U R E - A N D - C O M M U N I T Y - B A S E D T O U R I S M G U I D E 63
Imprint

Published by:
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Registered offices:
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40
53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49 228 44 60-0
Fax: +49 228 44 60-17 66

Dag-Hammarskjld-Weg 1-5
65760 Eschborn
Phone: +49 61 96 79-0
Fax: +49 61 79-11 15

Email: info@giz.de
Internet: www.giz.de

Lead Authors:
Responsible and Inclusive Business Hub MENA, Private Sector
Development Programme, Basma Bishay, Sahra Gemeinder

Edited by:
Lindsey Parietti

Photo credits:
Bernhard Rohkemper, Watter Al Bahry, Mohamed Sedky

Layout:
Natalie El Assiouty

Place and Date of Publication:

Cairo, February 2015

Printed and distributed by

Deutsche Gesellschaft fr
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
 featherlight
Travel Egypt on a light footprint

Featherlight EG is all about traveling Egypt on a light foot-

print. It aims to promote and power a more environmentally
friendly and socially inclusive way of traveling Egypt. Feath-
erlight EG offers networking space, marketing support,
skill-development to tour operators, lodges, handicrafts
producers and engaged NGOs. To make a difference, it also
addresses the costumers: national and international tour-
ists who want to travel Egypt on a light footprint. Feather-
light EG evolved from a joint initiative of two GIZ programs*
and community partners in various destinations in Egypt.
Join us on this journey and lets show the world that theres
a whole country to be explored. And the best, while explor-
ing, you support Egyptian communities with all its treasures!
#featherlightEG

*Responsible & Inclusive Business Hub (RIBH) MENA

and Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP)

F E AT H E R L I G H T T O U R I S M