MOUNTAIN MANIA

Vacations on Egypt’s Red Sea coast may be synonymous with beaches and aquatic diversions around the resort town of Hurghada, but the newly opened Red Sea Mountain Trail promises to connect visitors with the awe-inspiring wilderness just inland, as well as Bedouin communities typically relegated to the sidelines of the local tourism industry. While the entire 170-kilometer circuit can be completed in 10 days, six smaller sections offer deep dives into the hidden beauty of the region. Hikers will get to explore dramatic gorges with prehistoric rock art and early Christian chapels, a pair of ancient Roman settlements, and Jebel Shayib, the highest peak in mainland Egypt ( redseamountaintrail.org).