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Soma Bay is a perfect place from which to take day trips and excursions or even longer stays at some of Egypt's many historical sites that are in close proximity. Ask your tour operator or travel agent about information and options for planning your trip.
Luxor in the Nile Valley is only three hours away by car from Soma Bay. Visit Egypt's fabulous ancient sites - the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Karnak and Luxor Temples.
Monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony are hidden deep in the Red Sea mountains and rely on springs for their water supply, both still observe rituals that have hardly changed in 16 centuries. St. Anthony's was founded in 356 AD, just after the saint's death. Today it is a self contained village with gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches with exceptional wall paintings and icons. There is also a library that boasts over 1700 manuscripts. St. Anthony's Cave, where he lived as a hermit, lies 2km away form the monastery and 680 meters above the Red Sea. It offers stunning views of the mountains and the sea offers the chance to see a wide range of bird life.
The Roman ruins of Mons Porphyrites and Mons Claudianus
Mons Porphyrites (Mountain of Porphyry) was an extensive Roman mining operation of the pinkish-purple Porphyry, which was used in temples, baths, sarcophagi and statues. The emperor Hadrian erected the Temple of Serapis, and a stele discovered in 1823 indicates that there was a Christian church, probably financed by Flavius Julius. The Romans also built a fort, stables, cisterns and wells.
The Fortress of El-Quseir is an Ottoman fortress located in Quseir that dates from the 16 century. It was later occupied and modified by the French, and after a huge battle in the 19th century, was then occupied by the British who added a fortified gate. The fortress has been largely restored, and will soon be the home of a museum containing displays on local history, Red Sea mining, monasteries and trade, as well as a visitors center.
Wadi Hammamat is located about half way between Quseir and Gift (ancient Coptos), and is famous today mostly for its pharaonic graffiti. More than 200 hieroglyphic tablets adorn the quarries of the renowned "bekhen" stone, which is actually made up of three distinct materials. However, the graffiti transverses time and extends into the 20th century and the reign of King Farouk.
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