Hotels near Emerald Mines (Mons Smaragdus)

The ancient Mons Smaragdus mining district sits 35-50 km inland in the Eastern Desert and supplied the Roman Empire with the world's only known emerald source from the 1st century BCE through the 6th century CE. Three main sites - Sikait, Nugrus and Geli - retain rock-cut temples to Serapis and Isis, miners' barracks, watchtowers and tunnels still visible in the mountainside. The 8-hour 4WD tour from Marsa Alam crosses Wadi El Gemal terrain, stops at Bishari nomad camps for tea, and ends at the surprisingly intact temple of Sikait carved into the granite cliff. Operators charge 3,000-4,000 EGP per person including 4WD, driver, lunch and permits, and depart 6 AM. Closed shoes, full water bottles and a windbreaker are essential - desert temperature swings 15 C between morning and midday in winter.

Pro Tip: Ask the operator about combining the Sikait temple route with a stop at the Roman watering station of Apollonopolis Parva - both fall within a 25 km radius and add little to the travel time.