Ras Sudr travel guide

Near the northern end of the Gulf of Suez, Ras Sudr, 190 km from Cairo and 250 km from St Catherine, is both an oil company town and the site of a noxious oil refinery and also a year-round destination for middle-class Egyptian tourists. Incessant gusts of wind throughout the day all year round make it the spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Moon Beach offers internationally acclaimed windsurfing opportunities and makes a good weekend break from Cairo less than three hours away.

Nearby sites include Ain Moussa – the springs of Moses mentioned in the Bible – and the place where the Hebrews rested after their exodus from Egypt and God provided honey dew and quails. Situated 3 km from Ras Sudr, the pool is at the foot of a small mountain where hot water springs spew out water at 26°C. There’s also Hammamat Pharaoun, 50 km south of Ras Sudr on a 494-m mountain that rises like a natural pyramid. Some Bedouins call it Jebel Hammam Firaun Malun, ‘the Mountain of the Baths of the Cursed Pharaoh’, believing it was here the King of Egypt drowned in the Red Sea with his army when he was pursuing Moses and his people. A very hot sulphur spring spews out of the mountain at 72°C and flows to the sea. Bedouins have visited these baths for centuries to cure rheumatism. You can bathe in the steamy waters, or in the sea where they fall.

Further to the south is Serabit El-Khadim which, in the pharaonic period, was an area well known for the mining of the semi-precious stone turquoise. Here are the ruins of the 12th Dynasty Temple of Hathor erected for the ‘Lady of Turquoise’, with a small chapel to Sopdu, who was guardian of the desert ways. It’s possible to arrange a tour to Serabit from Sharm El-Sheikh or Dahab, however, it is an adventure to arrange things yourself from this area. South of Ras Sudr, you will find a small port community called Abu Zenima from where it is possible to organize excursions to the lonely turquoise mines of Maghara and the temple a few kilometres further south. Bring lots of water. A reasonable amount to pay a guide is E£80 per day – not including food – and E£80 per camel, then reckon on a further E£80 to cover administration costs and fees.