The Good Holiday.

 

So, you still want more? Here you go. Together with a host of other contributors, I now share responsible tourism stories from around the world on THE GOOD HOLIDAY. Here's how Daréll Lourens, the passionate film-maker behind the blog, describes the project:

TGH produces films in places that make an extra effort to involve and empower local communities. Our photographers take pictures in parts around the world that amaze with natural beauty and our writers string together sentences about destinations that inspire an inner knowledge that living well creates more abundance than living rich.

Do I need to say more?

Gayer-Anderson Museum.

A treasure trove of Egyptian artefacts from various periods in the country's rich history, the Gayer-Anderson Museum, originally built in the 17th century, is also an architectural masterpiece that oozes heritage and charm. Located in the same complex as Ibn Tulun mosque, you can make a turn at the museum when coming to Islamic Cairo anyway to see the mosque (or vice versa). Despite the fact that it was home to Mr Gayer-Anderson, after whom it is named, for only a couple of years in the 1930s and 40s, he managed to create a unique hybrid museum-cum-home space in which he and his family lived among his collection of oriental furniture, rugs, statues and other objects. Imagine how eerie that must've been! It is now open to the public so you can go for a self-guided tour up whimsical staircases and down half-lit corridors, and behind every corner there's a new thing to be discovered, a small patio maybe, a fountain or a secret nook.

http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/MUS_Gayer-Anderson.htm

Ibn Tulun Mosque.

One of the oldest and also largest mosques in Cairo, Ibn Tulun is another wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and unwind in its simple splendour. With its many arches and columns it almost feels as if Ibn Tulun boasts several rooms, while in reality it's all one magnificent space that flows seamlessly between the sunlit courtyard and the surrounding building. However, Ibn Tulun is probably best know for its unique minaret with a spiral staircase running around the tower all the way up to the top from where you have unparalleled vies of Islamic Cairo and beyond. By the way, Ibn Tulun is also the mosque featured on the 5 EGP note, so this is the perfect spot to start your tour through all Cairo mosques as represented on the 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 LE notes.

Tunis Pottery.

It still strikes us as somewhat odd that pottery village Ezbet Tunis in Fayoum isn't a more popular weekend destination with Cairenes, especially since you can find at least a few pieces of beautiful pottery made in Tunis in every self-respecting Cairo household. Well, at least in families that take an interest in Egyptian crafts and prefer authentic, local interiors over the internationalized sameness of today's design world. We especially love the bowls and plates by Tunis pioneer Rawya and her team, but each of the workshops and small outlets around the village deserves a visit. You'll always find a few unique pieces to take home. That is, if you travel all the way to Tunis to buy them - which you should. But if you don't, there's a number of shops in Cairo that also stock the ornate yet simple crockery from this most charming place, one of them being Oum El Dunia in Talaat Harb St, Downtown.

Al Hakim Mosque.

For a leisurely stroll far from the traffic that's become a perennial nuisance in most parts of Cairo, make your way to the area around Al Hakim Mosque between the Northern end of the city's old wall and Khan El Khalili market in the South. The narrow street connecting these two sights is mostly reserved for pedestrians and winds its way through a well-preserved and very picturesque part of Islamic Cairo. En route, there's many an antiques shop, eatery or mosque to explore and you can easily get lost if you stray too far from the main drag. Be amazed by the towering minarets and great mansions once owned by wealthy tradesmen. If you're in for some chaos, walk all the way to Cairo's most famous Souk where you can buy everything from plastic pyramids to spices and all sorts of random bric-a-brac. If you don't feel like bargaining, simply turn around and walk back to Al Hakim Mosque that manages to impress with an austere beauty and the refreshing absence of ornaments.

It's a short walk from Bab El-Shareya Metro station on the green line.

The Nile by Dahabiya.

It's definitely one of the highlight activities you can do in Egypt and shouldn't be missed. A Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan can't be beat if you have a penchant for peace, quiet and travel on water. And while you're at it, give the large cruise ships that basically are floating hotels a miss and opt for a wind-powered Dahabiya instead. These beautiful and aesthetic boats accommodate only a maximum of 12 people in six comfy cabins, making this a most intimate experience. When you wake up in the morning you hear the chatter of birds and the gurgling of water as the Dahabiya glides through the tranquil Nile. At the same time, the small crew is already busy preparing stacks of crepes and fresh coffee. So, rush up the stairs to the communal breakfast table to greet your fellow passengers and soak in the scenery. It's all green fields and palm trees with the desert as a contrasting backdrop and the blue Nile to match, dotted with the occasional donkey or village kids or group of fishermen. During the day, there are plenty of excursions to temples and other sights that you can join, but the best part is always returning to the boat and being welcomed by the steward with cold a hibiscus drink and refreshing towels. After lunch, you will have ample time for a nap in one of the cosy nooks around the ship equipped with rugs and cushions and of course the amazing view out into the green, blue and ochre of Upper Egypt. If you're not careful, you might sleep all the way until dinner, which would of course be a shame, as you would miss both the lovingly prepared afternoon tea as well as the golden afternoon sun, best enjoyed with a sundowner to match.

http://www.lazulinil.com/

Kom El Dikka Agri Lodge.

Sometimes you just want to get out of the city with friends and family for a leisurely weekend in the countryside, not too close to town, yet not too far away either. If this is your craving, Kom El Dikka agrilodge in Fayoum is your best bet. Situated at the edge of picturesque Tunis Village between the settlement and the fields, their North House offers all you need for a great self-catering holiday. The beautiful, clean and spacious house with all amenities, including huge bathrooms and a generous open-plan kitchen, easily sleeps 6 with the option to add more people in the living room. Children can roam around freely on the property while grown-ups doze in the shade on the super-soft lawn that surrounds the house. Meals are best enjoyed on the terrace just outside the front door, from which the view goes out to the fields and the desert beyond. Take a stroll down to the lake and back through the village around sunset, then sit down and relax with a cold drink while the fire is lit and preps for a delicious BBQ are under way. Bliss.

https://www.facebook.com/komeldikkaagrilodge