North Coast of Egypt
The North Coast
The MEditerranean Coast also known as tThe North Coast stretches for 500 kilometers, starting west from Alexandria all the way to the Libyan border. The stunning shoreline of turquoise sea, lined with endless white sand beaches remain unspoiled and free of the hordes of tourists; but not for long. In the past few years, the Egyptian Government has paid a lot of attention to the area, and in 2006 the government allowed developers to commence a mega tourist project in Sidi Abdel Rahman.
The North Coast has had its share of famous visitors, from Alexander the Great to Caesar and MArk Anthony, and more recently to King Farouk and President Nasser. The shores of the Mediterranean have always been a popular vacation spot with Egyptians. During the summer months, Cairenes and Alexandrians flock to the North Coast. The spectacular beaches; such as idyllic Agibah Beach 28km from Mersah MAtruh, and Sidi Abdel Rahman's dazzling white sand could not be kept a secret for long, and tourists are starting to come looking for their own little bit of paradise.
While visiting the North Coast, the Traveler must be aware that the beach etiquette here is much different than in Sharm El Sheikh, for instance. Unless the female traveler is willing to conform to the standards of the public beaches, she may want to seek out the several resorts geared to the western tourists; such as Mamoura Beach in Alexandria, the King's Ranch; 10km from Alexandria, and Porto Marina, where swimming can be enjoyed in privacy and luxury. A new trend gaining popularity along the coast are "Women Only Beaches", in these secluded areas, women can lie in the sun and swim in bikinis, attended exclusively by female staff.
But life is not only a day at the beach; the Western Coast is full of historical sites. Beginning with Alexandria; a fascinating city with a European flair, where 5 million people speak up to five different languages, all the way down to Mersah Matruh and to El Alamein, the site of battle between the German Army and the Allied Forces during World War 2. The sea bottom in the area of MErsah MAtruh is wonderful for wreck diving, because of all the sunken warships and submarines. In El Alamein, war memorials have been erected on the Battlefields in honor of those who gave their lives for their countries.