'Cross Egypt Challenge' rally important tourist event: Minya governor

MINYA, Oct 20 (MENA) - The Cross Egypt Challenge, which runs from October 17 to 26, is an important tourism event aimed at reviving tourism in Egypt, Minya Governor Kassam Hussein said on Sunday.

Minya is the second leg of the event that includes a series of endurance cross-country motorcycles and scooter rallies conducted through the roads of Egypt.

The governor gave participants souvenirs and invited them to visit Minya again.

Around 34 participants, including 16 foreigners from six countries, are taking part in the rally.

The rally route extends over 2,650 km and will be completed over eight stages with one rest day planned in Luxor.

The route will start from Alexandria, heads south to the capital Cairo before riding along the Nile valley down to Minya.

From Minya, the challenge will make its way to the Kharga Oasis in the heart of the Egyptian Western Desert then back towards the Nile Valley to reach Luxor, the capital of ancient Egypt and the largest open air museum in the world where the riders will enjoy a rest day for sightseeing in this magnificent destination.

From Luxor the challenge will then head west to cross the Egyptian Eastern desert - one of the most challenging deserts on the face of the planet due to its rock formation and high mountain range - then south along the Red Sea shores to reach one brand new destination, Bernice in the deep Egyptian south and the closest location to Shalatein where the riders will spend their night on the shore of the Red Sea.

From Bernice, the north ascend starts as the challenge heads back north along the Red Sea Riviera to make stops in Hurghada/Elgouna and Sokhna. The final leg of the season will take place between Sokhna and Cairo to end the challenge under the great pyramids of Giza.