4.7 KiB
How to get to AlKarm Ecolodge?
BACKGROUND ON ALKARM
South Sinai mountains massif boasts some of the best all-year hiking routes in the world. Natural and cultural heritage of the area is unparalleled by any other area of the world. For serious hikers and rock climbers as well as hillwalkers, the territory is vast and AlKarm ecolodge is at the center of it. AlKarm offers a fantastic lodging in the local preserved style and yet with all the facilities modern man needs like bathrooms and toilets and a decent kitchen. AlKarm has no electricity and mobile phones don't have coverage there. What's more is that there are no roads close by and one either has to use 4x4s or hike from the nearest town (Katrina) to it. It's managed by local Bedouins whose forefathers have settled in the land thousands of years ago. The local tribe is named Jebaleya. Manager is the amazing Jamil Atteya who not only is familiar with all the trails and forms names but is a Bedouin culture encyclopedia who doubles for a poet.
HOW TO RESERVE AND ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORTATION
- Call the office of the StKP (St Katrin Protectorate) in Katrina on 069/47.00.32 to make reservation under your name in the Ecolodge. Call mornings or nights before 9:00pm. Inform them in the phone call of your method of transportation, expected date of arrival and date of leaving. They will inform Jamil Atteya (Bedouin manager of the ecolodge). If you're going by hiking you'll have to specify that clearly so that a Bedouin Ranger or another may guide your hike and arrange for camels to carry your luggage. You pay the guide an agreed sum of money. If camels were used, you pay for it too per camel per day.
- Arrive in Katrina town in time. Go ahead with your choice of transportation as agreed with the protectorate. More details on that below. On busy days in the office, allow delay and follow-up to make sure Jamil Atteya is expecting you.
1-BY HIKING
Most enjoyable of all methods. Very scenic route through Nagb elHawa surrounded by mountains.
- If you're having a guide from the protectorate office, go visit them or meet up with the guide in the agreed place. If you haven't agreed with a guide you may wish to visit Sheikh Moussa's office to hire one 010/688.08.20. Guide fees should be around LE 40 daily.
- Get your luggage ready on your backs or on camels or might be in a Peageut Taxi and start the trail from AbuSeila (by end of Sahl elRa7a) through Nagb elHawa. It will take about 2-4 hours depending on your speed.
2-BY OFFROADING IN YOUR OWN 4X4
This method is very convenient for regular visitors. 4x4s are advisable unless you're sure the clearance under your normal car can take the bumps. [You should have your GPS loaded before you go on the trip–if you're not using a guide–with files downloaded from SS homepage as explained below]
If you're coming from Cairo, head to the tunnel as if you're going to Sharm and keep going until you reach the cross-roads to Wadi Feiran (to Katrina). Turn left and keep going (don't exceed 80kph for very dangerous turns). Turn your GPS on and activate the 'From Cairo' route (if you have Garmin GPSs) After approximately an hour you should reach the XS1CAI waypoint. Get off the road in wadi Sahab to the right and follow the route to the Ecolodge.
- Use GPS waypoints from one of the two files in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaharaSafaris/files/Sahara_Places/AlKarm/ You can use the .mps file directly in MapSource software for GARMIN GPSs. If you have another model, use the .txt file to enter the waypoints manually. There are two offroading tracks for the ecolodge. One is used when you're coming from Cairo and starts by XS1CAI waypoint at wadi Sahab through the Sn waypoints to AlKarm waypoint. The other is for those who are coming from Katrina town and starts by the XT1KTR waypoint at wadi Tarfa through the Tn waypoints.
- You can also pick up a guide from town of Katrina who'll join you all the way off-road to the Ecolodge. They normally will find a way back. Don't worry about your way back. The management of the ecolodge will find somebody to guide you to the road again.
3-BY TAXI
Easiest way of all. Recommended for first-timers.
- arrive at the bus-station of Katrina town. Ask for a Peauguet Taxi to take you to AlKarm in area of Sheikh 3Awwaad. Before the Taxi leaves you agree on his date and time of return to pick you up back to the bus-station in Katrina town.
This document (Transp2AlKarm.txt) could be downloaded in its latest update from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaharaSafaris/files/Sahara_Places/AlKarm/