Most yachts visit Egypt only to transit the Suez Canal and very few visit the country itself.
The only area of the country worth cruising is in the Red Sea, the reefs and bays stretching from the Sudanese border to the Gulf of Suez. Day sailing along this coast is the most pleasant way to make progress against the prevailing northerlies. In recent years the Red Sea coast has seen a rapid growth in tourist resorts and developments including several new marinas. In the Mediterranean, Alexandria is the only alternative to Port Said. Occasionally yachts manage to obtain a permit to sail up the River Nile, a fascinating but not easy way to see Egypt Terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists against foreign visitors have badly affected tourism, and while this situation continues, the internal situation should be monitored carefully.