The Switchers Highlighted in This Guide
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THE Your guide to off-the- beaten-path sustainable SWITCHERS travel and shopping Egypt SwitchMed programme is funded by the European Union —— SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT EgyptEgypt RecognizedRecognized for for its its historyhistory andand nature,nature, Egypt’sEgypt’s tourism tourism sector sector isis steadilysteadily recovering,recovering, leaving leaving opportunityopportunity forfor sustainablesustainable tourism tourism initiativesinitiatives toto taketake rootroot andand grow. grow. This This guide guide willwill helphelp youyou traveltravel beyondbeyond the the standard standard touristtourist attractions,attractions, andand gain gain a a deeper deeper understandingunderstanding ofof thethe countrycountry and and the the innovative innovative entrepreneursentrepreneurs whowho call call it it home. home. ThisThis trip, trip, have have a a different different kindkind ofof experience:experience: one one that that isis asas responsibleresponsible andand environmentally-consciousenvironmentally-conscious asas itit isis fun.fun. Planning a trip can be overwhelming, so we kept this guide simple. It is separated into four sections: — THE FOUR SECTIONS YOU WILL FIND: WHERE TO WHERE TO WHAT TO WHAT TO STAY EAT DO BRING HOME We have also created a Google Map featuring each location mentioned, and underlined text can be clicked to access relevant websites. Each section features the projects and creations of our Egypt- Access Egypt Google Map based Switchers — the green entrepreneurs creating circular, sustainable economies to benefit their country and beyond. Whether you are traveling for business or work, we hope you discover something new and inspiring through the Switchers highlighted in this guide. Happy travels! The Switchers — HIGHLIGHTS 30 national parks & protected areas including Ras Mohamed National Park and Wadi Rayan 4.5 million visitors to Egypt in 2016 773,000 jobs in Egypt supported by tourism — WHERE TO STAY Where to Stay Venture out of Cairo and discover Egypt’s dazzling array of eco-lodges and camps. From beachfront property to mountainous terrain, our Switchers offer a diversity of accommodation types for any budget and travel style. Leave your laptops and smartphones at home — these sustainable accommodations are the prime spot for a digital detox. Dayra Camp Nuweibá, South Sinai — PERFECT FOR Low budget travelers and artists who want to meet like-minded individuals. Dayra Camp offers many respon- person, and price includes break- sible travel activities including fast and dinner. Dietary needs can snorkeling trips, guided hikes to be accommodated. nearby mountains and canyons, safari trips, desert Bedouin nights, — GETTING THERE and other activities. Want to stay Dayra Camp can arrange trans- close to camp? Participate in a jam portation for guests from Sharm session, art workshop, or bonfire El Sheikh airport, Cairo, Taba, and night where you can relax under other locations. the stars. — HOW TO BOOK — ACCOMODATION Call Ahmed Abo El Seoud (Dayra Huts, bungalows, and tents are Camp co-founder) at: made from eco-friendly and recy- clable materials. Huts and bun- +20 11 43 333 131 galows come fit with 2 electrical outlets, a lamp, small furnishings, Dayra Camp Facebook page and mosquito nets, while tents are more basic. Guests can also bring their own tent and camp on the beach. Accommodation is €16 per S Read the Story on Switchers — NEW HERMOPOLIS New Hermopolis Tune El Gebel, Minia — PERFECT FOR Hosting a retreat or meeting for groups of 12-24 people. Found near the original historical site, New Hermopolis adopts a belief of the ancient city of Her- mopolis: that arts and culture can transform society and bring people together. Take a day trip to various historical and archaeological sites and settle in for a night of enter- — GETTING THERE tainment featuring performances New Hermopolis can arrange by the famous Mallawi Stick Danc- transportation for guests from ing Group or Sufi chanting groups. Cairo and Luxor. Transport to local New Hermopolis consumes nearly sites can also be arranged. zero energy thanks to natural building styles, solar energy, and smart water consumption. — HOW TO BOOK New Hermopolis is open between — ACCOMODATION October 1 and April 30. Groups Guests are hosted in 12 studios of 12-24 people can book New with two adjoining rooms and Hermopolis by emailing Founder, ensuite bathrooms. There are 4 Mrs. Abdel-Nasser Mervat. larger studios to accommodate families. Studio rooms surround a [email protected] Blue Lotus pond and landscaped garden. Accommodation is for a [email protected] minimum of 12 guests, and ranges from €70 to €100 per person. Price includes breakfast and dinner. S Read the Story on Switchers — BASATA ECO-LODGE Basata Eco-Lodge Nuweibá, South Sinai — PERFECT FOR Families who want an ecologically and economically-friendly vaca- tion away. Egypt’s first eco-lodge! Everything huts and 9 chalets has a unique at Basata is recycled: food waste design. Vegetarian and fish meals feeds local animals and salt water are prepared on site, and guests is used to wash dishes and fill have 24-hour access to a shared toilets. Activities include relaxing kitchen space. Pricing ranges from on the sandy beach, swimming, 10€ to 80€ per person. and snorkeling to explore the local coral reef. Sherif El Ghamrawy — GETTING THERE and his staff can also arrange Guests can take the public bus, desert and mountain expeditions or Basata Eco-Lodge can arrange with the surrounding Bedouin taxi transportation from Cairo or population, and guests can spend a Sharm. night sleeping beneath the stars. — HOW TO BOOK — ACCOMODATION Camping sites and bamboo huts +20 693 500 480 or +20 693 500 481 are on the beach and share a [email protected] common toilet and shower area. Basata Eco-Lodge Facebook page Private, mud-brick chalets have been built using traditional Egyp- tian architectural styles and have ensuite bathrooms. Each of the 20 S Read the Story on Switchers — TALIST SIWA TalistTalist Siwa Siwa SiwaSiwa Oasis Oasis — PERFECT FOR — PERFECT FOR Peace and serenity in a less fre- constructed with local sandstone. Peace and serenity in a less fre- constructed with local sandstone. quented oasis Decorations include local carpets quented oasis Decorationsand handmade include pottery. local Pricing carpets Talist Siwa is a family-run ecolodge andranges handmade from €36 pottery. for the bed Pricing and Talistand Siwa organic is a farmfamily-run in northwestern ecolodge rangesbreakfast from double €36 forroom the to bed €65 and andEgypt. organic Started farm by in Al northwestern Sayed Al breakfastfor a two-bedroom double room suite. to Food €65 is Egypt.Domiaty Started and by Nabila Al Sayed Aziz Al, the forprepared a two-bedroom using crops suite. grown Food in theis Domiatyhusband and and Nabila wife/architect Aziz, the and preparedeco-lodge using organic crops garden. grown in the husbandinterior and designer wife/architect team have and created eco-lodge organic garden. interioran oasis designer within team the Siwa have Oasis. created — GETTING THERE an Alongsideoasis within their the three Siwa sons, Oasis. the —Private GETTING transportation THERE can be Alongsidefamily has their created three an sons, eco-lodge the Privatearranged transportation from Alexandria can and be familythat hasincorporates created an many eco-lodge of their arrangedCairo, or guestsfrom Alexandria can take a public and thatown incorporates sustainable many designs. of their Activities Cairo,bus from or guests either citycan usingtake a West public owninclude sustainable mountain designs. hiking, Activities safari busDelta; from free either transportation city using to West and includetrips inmountain the Western hiking, desert, safari and Delta;from Siwa free town.transportation to and tripsvisiting in the the Western oasis to desert, have a and sand from Siwa town. visitingbath, thean ancient oasis to technique have a sand used to — HOW TO BOOK bath,increase an ancient moisture technique in the body. used to — HOW TO BOOK +20 100 644 5881 increase moisture in the body. — ACCOMODATION [email protected] 100 644 5881 — ACCOMODATIONThere are double, triple, and [email protected] Swia Facebook page quadruple bungalows, and Siwian There are double, triple, and vernacular rooms. Bungalows TalistBooking.com Swia Facebook page quadruple bungalows, and Siwian are timber structures covered vernacular rooms. Bungalows Booking.com with fixed fabric, and include are timber structures covered a bathroom. Siwian rooms are S Check the Ecolodge Website with fixed fabric, and include a bathroom. Siwian rooms are S Check the Ecolodge Website — WHAT TO BRING HOME What to Bring Home Why buy standard souvenirs when Egypt is home to so many creative green entrepreneurs? Our Switchers have taken their creative eye for design and applied it to upcycle and transform waste into unique products that benefit local artisans and community groups across the country. Pick up a one-of-a-kind item — it is only fitting to accompany your once-in-a-lifetime trip. — cAIRO, EGYPT Up-fuse Cairo, Egypt — WHAT IS IT Up-fuse is a Cairo-based social enterprise created by product designers Yara Yassin and Rania Rafie in 2013. The lifestyle brand — HOW MUCH collects, washes, and compresses tens of thousands of plastic bags Prices range from €5 for change each year, transforming them purses to €81 for backpacks. into colorful, upcycled sheets. Artisans snip and sew, turning this — WHERE TO BUY former trash into fashion-forward, Virgin Megastores in Cairo; functional, and ethically-conscious ABN’g World in Zamalek district, tote bags, backpacks, and other Cairo; Up-fuse mini store (105 Al accessories. Each of Up-fuse’s Banafseg 10, New Cairo); or online products is proudly made in Cairo www.up-fuse.com by a team of local community members. Bags press flat, making them the perfect travel companion. S Read the Story on Switchers GebRaa Cairo, Egypt — WHAT IS IT — HOW MUCH GebRaa’s beautiful, handmade Prices range from €8 for a mother items pay homage to the heritage of pearl box to €40 for a large of Egypt, all while making sure mother of pearl tray.