egypt’s White Med


Where white meets turquoise


For long a popular retreat for Egypt’s more affluent tourists, the white sand beaches and resorts of the White Med are the newest destination on UK holidaymakers’ horizons


repare to be dazzled by the White Mediterranean coast. Until relatively recently it was a little-known gem, visited mainly by Egypt’s affluent domestic tourists and more intrepid travellers from overseas. This northern shoreline runs 500 km (310 miles) from Egypt’s fabled second city, Alexandria, to the border with Libya, and with an increasing number of UK tour operators featuring the destination, more people are discovering the pristine white sand beaches lapped by the Mediterranean’s turquoise waters.


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The White Med has a more European feel to its resorts and another major draw is that temperatures are cooler


than in the Red Sea resorts, averaging around 22C from April to October and peaking in the low 30Cs in mid summer. Often linked with a stay in Cairo, the gateway to the region is the cultural city of Alexandria which is just over two hours from the capital by express train and around four hours by one of the frequent air-conditioned buses that run back and forth. The elegant city, founded by Alexander the Great, retains the sweeping Corniche and atmospheric old-style cafes and buildings immortalised by author Lawrence Durrell in the Alexandria Quartet. Home to antiquities from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome,


Alexandria is a fascinating city with a Roman amphitheatre, underground Kom ash-Shuqqafa catacombs dating from the second century and the landmark 15th century Fort Qaitbey built on the site of Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Other city attractions include the Graeco- Roman Museum, Jewellery Museum and the fairly new Alexandria Library. Accommodation in Alexandria includes a number of big-name hotels such as Hilton, Sheraton and Four Seasons and the Maritim hotel recently underwent a major refurbishment which included a new swimming pool with panoramic views and a restaurant that transforms


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