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Iván Gilabert tells that he has never experienced fear in any of his journeys. Not even when he went into a quad in the Sinai desert. Nor when he swam among sharks in the Red Sea. Former professional diver and inveterate traveler, Gilabert has chosen as the protagonist of his new novel, The Sacred Rock (The Sphere of Books), an intrepid adventurer reminiscent of Indiana Jones.
Traveling around the world, his character faces all kinds of dangers to reveal a secret hidden for centuries: the sacred rock of the Knights Templar. Next, a series of destinations and travel advice inspired by the scenarios through which the plot takes place: from Egypt to Jordan .
Visit the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Giza, Cairo
The ticket offices open very soon and it is advisable to be among the first in the queue to access the interior of the pyramid, as there is a limited quota per day. It is also advisable to hire a guide. Do not forget to bring bottled water, comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a cap, or take the opportunity to buy a kufiyya , a typical handkerchief from Arab countries that will help you protect yourself from the sun or cold for the rest of the trip.
Explore a sunken ship in the Red Sea
You can't miss an inch of the SS Thistlegorm, an English wreck that the Nazis sank in 1941. You will dive between trucks, motorcycles, locomotives, rifles, ammunition boxes. You will be dumbfounded with its huge propeller, with the anti-aircraft machine gun and all the life you will see around this wreck. Do not forget to wear a hood, long neoprene and gloves in case you accidentally touch the rusty iron of the boat.
Diving in the coral reef of Ras Mohammed
Do not forget to bring a camera or video camera. Always follow your dive guide so you don't miss the best points. You will see that it is not necessary to go down many meters since in Ras Mohammed all life is close to the surface. You will enjoy thousands of goldfish and dozens of different coral species. It is important to maintain good buoyancy so as not to damage the reef.
Discover the Canyon de Dahab caves
What, in principle, might seem like a boring beach dive will be transformed into an adventure full of sensations, obligatory for cave lovers, whose walls are full of coral and with dozens of corners full of crystal fish. During the tour you will see countless light inputs that will create fantastic effects worthy of being photographed. Do not forget to wear gloves and hood in case you rub against any rock.
Swim with Elphistone Reef sharks
Without leaving the Red Sea, this is a shallow dive. You must remain calm at all times since Longimanus sharks are curious and approach so much that they can even touch you. The whole area is surrounded by fantastic coral reefs. Remember to maintain good buoyancy, hands glued to the body and avoid making sudden movements so as not to scare them.
Quad tour through the Sinai desert
Starting the group walk when it is still a closed night is a highly recommended option. You will enter between dunes and rivers of sand while the day wakes up without you noticing. In this way you will discover an incredible sunrise in the middle of the desert while having tea among Bedouins. Wear sunglasses for the return and the kufiyya to protect you from the morning cold and the sand.
Route to Santa Catalina
In this getaway you will enjoy excellent panoramic views from the top of Mount Sinai. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the old monastery was built where they say that Moses saw the bush burning. If you walk inside you can see all its treasures, among which are its large collection of codices. Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a cap.
Discover Petra
The stone city is a mandatory stop. Touring the gorge that precedes the Treasury of Petra is an incredible experience. Enter its history and you will go back centuries during the tour, which will end in the great Monasterio de Piedra, an incredible building carved into the rock and which you will reach after climbing some 800 steps, of course, of stone. Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses, hat or scarf.
Full day at Wadi Rum
Walking among the red dunes of this magical desert, located south of Jordan and known for being the scene of Lawrence of Arabia , until night falls and the first stars appear in the sky is an experience. You will sleep in a camp in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the silence and one of the most impressive starry skies you can ever see. Do not forget to bring warm clothes because at night the temperature in the desert is cold.
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