This year the challenge kicks off on Thursday 20 October and will last for ten days. The new season includes nine stages that compromise a total distance of 2,700 km, one of the longest routes in the history of the challenge.
The challenge will begin from the Mediterranean’s largest seaport city, Alexandria then head south to the capital Cairo en route to ride the Nile Valley 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 riders 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 and camp by the sea.
From Marsa Alam, the challenge will head back north by the Red Sea Riviera to make two last stops in Hurghada and Ain Sokhna before the last stage takes place between Ain Sokhna and Cairo to end the new season in the most sacred place in Egypt, under the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Ahmad Elzoghby, the official spokesperson of the challenge said: “Tourism to Egypt has been affected in the past few years, and our mission is to prove that Egypt is still a safe place to visit. It is amazing to see all these adventure riders flying to Egypt yearly to take place in this unique and exciting rally and we want them to share their experience with the world.”
To access the challenge website, please visit: www.crossegyptchallenge.com
