Cross Egypt Challenge

Dear Rotarian friends around the world,

As we are already few weeks into the new Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Alexandria Cosmopolitan - District 2451 – Egypt is wishing you a joyful and very successful 2016-2017 year. 

The board and members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Cosmopolitan - District 2451 – Egypt are happy to renew their invitation to you and the members of your prestigious and respectful club to learn more about and share our Rotary organized initiative, "Cross Egypt Challenge" that aims to promote tourism to Egypt and prove that Egypt is still safe for tourism.

The world as we knew it is rapidly changing, and Egypt has been suffering from bad media and is being looked at recently as a dangerous place to visit. However, among the Middle East security instability Egypt remains a very safe country to visit.

Unfortunately the media keeps focusing on the action taking place in neighboring  countries and generalize, and this affect Egypt, a country depends on tourism as a main source of income. We as Rotarians from this side of the planet feel it is our duty to let our fellows worldwide know that Egypt is still a marvellous place to travel to, and to enjoy some of the best sights in the world. We send an assurance message to our fellows that the situation in Egypt is very safe and we invite you to experience this first hand by taking part in our initiative: Cross Egypt Challenge.

Cross Egypt Challenge is a series of international cross-country motorcycle and scooter rallies conducted throughout one of the most mysterious and fascinating countries of the world, Egypt. Participation is not only open to Rotarians or professional athletes and riders, but also open to average riders and their accompanying spouses or friends from around the globe.

This amazing Rotary project started in 2011 and the first season was a 9 days rally from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the north of Egypt to the temple of Abu Simbel, on the southern borders of Egypt with a total distance of over 1700 km. The following 4 seasons had participants from over 35 different countries many of which were Rotarians and witnessed different routes throughought the River Nile vally, eastern and western Egyptian deserts and the Red Sea mountain range where the riders enjoyed riding between the most exotic oases and sights of Egypt and the north african Sahara. 

The past 3 seasons witnessed what we believe was the first ever arranged “Sahara Rotary Meeting” where riding Rotarians along with Rotaracts from our organizing team from the 4 corners of the globe conducted an official Rotary meeting in the Egyptian Desert – please view attached image -, a practice that we happily repeat at each new season.

This year marks the 6th season of Cross Egypt Challenge that will start on October 20, 2016 and will last for 10 days. This season, the challenge will include a fascinating and challenging route of 2,700 km that begins from the Mediterranean's largest seaport city, Alexandria then head south to the capital Cairo en route to ride the Nile Vallery and the Egyptian Western desert to Minya on the shore of the River Nile then to Kharga Oasis on the edge of the great sand sea of the north African Sahara.
 
The challenge will then head East to the ancient city of Luxor, the world's largest open air museum city, and  the capital of Ancient Egypt.
 
From Luxor the challenge will head further south to the fascinating city of Aswan the gate of Egypt's water reserve, then head further east to cross the Egyptian eastern desert, one of the most difficult deserts on the surface of the planet due to its rock formations and chain of mountains to reach the shores of the Red Sea and stop at the beautiful diving city of Marsa Alam.
 
From Marsa Alam, the challenge will head back north by the Red Sea Riviera to make one last stop in Hurghada before the last stage of the 2016 season of Cross Egypt Challenge takes place between El Ggouna and Cairo  to end the new season under the Great Pyramids of Giza.
 
Cross Egypt Challenge provides a very rewarding and challenging experience for participants from around the globe as it combines the best of adventure travels and extreme sports. The 2016 season of Cross Egypt Challenge will pass through many of Egypt's finest spots including modern cities, coastal resorts, historical sites, Egyptian western and eastern deserts and Egypt's Nile Valley.

I invite you, your club and the members of your club to support our initiative by: