al-quseir, known in ptolemaic times as the white harbor, has a long history as one of the major ports of the red sea. from here, queen hatshepsut launched her expedition to the land of punt, as depicted in the reliefs in deir el-bahari temple at luxor. legend has it that the expedition returned with two live panthers and 21 incense trees. the 16th century fortress of sultan selim, still standing in the centre of town, shows al-quseir's former strategic importance. today, it is a quiet resort with sandy beaches, clear waters and coral reefs. the town's narrow streets are lined with colourful bazaars which have a decidedly bedouin accent. an ancient caravan trail to qift in the nile valley, leads from al-quseir through the mountains, passing several pharaonic and roman sites.