Coral reef jetty , Somabay , Egypt
augments the sports options . From all three resort areas you can make a day trip or longer visit to Luxor , between three and four hours away by road , to see the magnificent temples , tombs and monuments of the capital of ancient Egypt .
The big draw in Cairo is , of course , the Pyramids at Giza . Staying at the Hilton Pyramids , one of two hotels next to the Dreamland course , I ’ m just 20 minutes away and spend a day visiting them and the nearby , new Grand Egyptian Museum . My heart races as I approach the Great Pyramid . It is my second time here and its size , and that of its neighbouring two Pyramids , still defies belief . It is made from 2.3 million granite and limestone blocks , each of the giant blocks weighing up to 10 tons and dwarfing me as I climb steps up to a small walkway carved into the fifth level of stones .
It takes 20 minutes to walk around the mighty edifice , the circumference of its base measuring almost one kilometre . From there I head to the Sphinx , the awe-inspiring statue of the mythical creature guarding the Pyramids , before being driven to a viewpoint across an expanse of desert to the trio of Pyramids . There I grab the chance to have my picture taken sitting on a camel with them as the backdrop – emulating a cherished black and white photograph I have of my dad and granddad doing exactly
Sphinx i , Giza , Egypt
the same . From there I visit the nearby Grand Egyptian Museum , first planned almost 20 years ago and still not completed . The imposing building has allowed the public inside since its soft opening in December , with just a tenth of what will eventually be displayed currently on view .
Even now , it wows you from the moment you step into its soaring atrium , where a colossal statue of Ramses II , ancient Egypt ’ s greatest pharaoh , takes centre stage . Tutankhamun ’ s golden mask and other treasures are still housed in the historic Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo , although they will be moved to their new home when it fully opens , which authorities say will be “ soon ”. Another wow moment for me is the 30-minute Tutankhamun – The Immersive Exhibition , with its eye-popping 3D graphics that totally envelop you .
The only other part of the museum currently open is the Grand Staircase . It leaves you breathless as you climb up through the vertical gallery ’ s four themed sections – not just for the number of steps , although you can use an inclined lift and an escalator instead , but also for its 60 pharaonic sculptures – before you reach the top to gaze at the Pyramids through a huge glass wall . I glimpse the Nile crossing it en route to the airport for my flight home , also passing by the medieval , hilltop Cairo Citadel . Cairo has many more riches I don ’ t have time to see . Those are for my next trip back to the land of my grandfather .
WEB LINKS TO FEATURED GOLF COURSES & ATTRACTIONS :
WHERE TO STAY AND PLAY Somabay Golf : https :// somabay . com / golf
The Cascades Golf Resort , Spa & Thalasso : https :// thecascadeshotel . com
El Gouna : www . elgouna . com
Madinat Makadi Golf : https :// madinatmakadigolf . com
Hilton Pyramids : www . hilton . com / en / hotels / caipghi-hilton-pyramids-golf /
Dreamland Golf Club : www . dreamlandgolf . com The Allegria : www . theallegriacairo . com Newgiza Golf Club : www . newgizagolf . com
Palm Hills Golf Course : http :// palmhillsgolfcourse . com
WHAT TO DO Activities at Somabay : https :// somabay . com / directories
The Pyramids : https :// egymonuments . com / locations / details / Pyramids
Grand Egyptian Museum : https :// grandegyptianmuseum . org
GETTING THERE Egyptair flies from over 50 countries and serves 10 domestic points : www . egyptair . com
TOURIST INFORMATION Egyptian Tourism Authority : www . experienceegypt . eg
DestinationGolf . travel 19