Sinai: The Trekking Guide: 74 large-scale maps and route guides to the best of Egypt's mountain & desert treks plus Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, St Katherine, Wadi Feiran Paperback – Illustrated, 31 July 2013

Vanwege een geconstateerde te lage vitamine D spiegel ben ik voor het eerst de zon op gaan zoeken in de winter en een week in Sharm El Sheikh geweest begin januari. Dat was zo'n mooie ervaring dat ik z.s.m. terug wilde. Deze keer wilde ik wat beter voorbereid zijn en kocht ik online deze gids.Hoewel het een 'trekking guide' is, is de informatie ook zeer bruikbaar voor als je gewoon voor een zonvakantie naar Sharm gaat. De hele Zuid-Sinaï wordt besproken, inclusief alle plaatsen en de verschillende wijken van Sharm. De historie komt aan bod, de lokale gebruiken, de bezienswaardigheden, de beste winkels & restaurants, kortom alles wat je moet weten.Ik ontving een editie waar een iets oudere publicatiedatum in staat dan op Amazon wordt weergegeven, nl. augustus 2013. Vanzelfsprekend is hier en daar informatie verouderd. Zo bestaat het genoemde fietsverhuurbedrijf in Sharm niet meer, maar kan je nu wel fietsen huren in Naama Bay aan het strand aan de zuidwest kant van Fayrouz Resort. Tijd voor een actualisering dus, maar bij gebrek daaraan is dit nog steeds een waardevol boekje.

I met the author, Ben Hoffler, several years back in Cairo as he was contemplating this book as a future project. His meticulous attention to detail stems from his training as an Oxford educated fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, with a spirit of adventure one would expect from a former shipwreck hunter such as himself.This guide is the first of it's kind - a rare gem in the bewildering chaos of navigating Egypt's vast touristic offerings. From planning your trip to practical and historical overviews of the landscape all the way to trail guides and maps, let this be your compass across the "vast terra incognita of wild wadis, unclimbed peaks and hidden ruins."On a personal note, reading through this book was a discovery of what could have been, as my past days in Sinai went lost in the wilderness. The closest practical comparison I can conjure up is a more sophisticated version of "Lonely Planet" specifically geared toward trekking through Sinai, all within the consolidated expertise of a research scholar whose attention to detail will not disappoint.

This book covers everything one can think of in terms of practical advice: when and where to go, what to bring, what to think of when dealing with the risks involved, and the potential culture shocks associated with visiting the region from a western background. It goes into minute detail, covering a large number of trails and associated maps in the various regions of South Sinai. In addition to this, it gives you the historical context and importance of the region, from the migration of the early humans out of Africa, to the pharaos and Exodus, to the recent revolution. I also loved the little grey boxes, containing factoids, anecdotes and quotes from visitors in the colonial times. This book strikes an incredible balance between capturing the magic of the region and giving sound, practical guidance to trekkers. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Excellent guide. attractive. Although mentioned in first or so chapter, it is and must not be a guide to use WITHOUT using an experieced guide that knows the area and weatherconditions.Pages I find a bit too thick.Needs an add on how to deal with cold (sudden snow blizzards and such).Jikke Posthuma

Really great book, was pretty up to date with the local sites. Excellent info on food, prices, customs.