| Put a little spring in your next trip to Sinai — the hot springs of Oyoun Moussa, Hammam Faroun and Hammam Moussa, to be exact By Lamia Hassan |
| While some prefer flying to Sharm El-Sheikh to save time, especially if it’s a short trip, a lot of people still opt to drive to the city. Whether it’s your first time driving to Sharm or your twentieth, try something different this time: Rather than just driving non-stop, take a break to explore the hot springs along the road down Sinai’s west coast.The three popular sites are Oyoun Moussa, Hammam Moussa and Hammam Faroun.Oyoun Moussa is the closest to Suez. It lies between Suez and Ras Sidr, about 40 kilometers from the Suez Canal tunnel. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, what makes this locale special are the hot springs gushing from the ground. The name — literally translated: Eyes of Moses — comes from the story of Moses leading his people through Sinai. In both the Qur’an and the Old Testament, accounts relay the prophet bringing forth water from the ground with a stick; Moses brought forth 12 springs, but today only seven remain, and the water is no longer drinkable. While many use hot springs for healing purposes, others choose to visit to have a little fun: People tie a string around an egg and dip it into the water to watch it boil. The next stop is Hammam Faroun, or Pharaoh’s Bath, located 100 kilometers from Suez. The site includes 15 sulfur-infused hot springs and a beautiful cave in the heart of one of the mountains. Hamman Moussa, or Moses’ Bath, is the last stop on your way down, located three kilometers before the city of El-Tor and 60 kilometers before Sharm. Oyoun Moussa and Hammam Faroun have stunning surroundings to their advantage. Hammam Moussa, however, is located inside a small building, offering privacy but lacking in landscape décor. The hot bath is known to be relaxing and therapeutic for treating skin, chest and musculoskeletal diseases. The Hammam Moussa building is open to the public without appointment, with unlimited opening or closing hours. Like the other two spring sites, it is best to arrive during the day, as they are hard to find in the dark. Stops at all three springs need not add more than 90 minutes to your trip, something easily accommodated by an early start. And you might just find yourself scheduling longer ‘layovers’ on your next trip to Sinai. |
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