A top diving destination, El Quseir was once one of the major ports on the Red Sea coast, and the location from which Queen Hatshepsut set off on an expedition to the mystical African land of Punt. At one time, a large Coptic Christian community lived in this town, extracting gold from the surrounding mountains, which was then transported to the Nile Valley for refining. Additionally, the area was a significant trade route for spices from India to Britain. Today, with its clear azure waters, sandy beaches and exotic coral reefs, visitors may enjoy a spot of diving, scuba diving and snorkeling. Those interested in history can visit the old Christian settlements and view the ancient inscriptions etched into granite boulders.