Bir Shalatein, also spelled Shalateen or Shalatayn, is the southernmost village on Egypt's Red Sea Coast. And while a beach town this isn't, Bir Shalatein rewards intrepid travelers with a memorable visit. This dusty outpost 1,000 km south of Cairo is a bustling trade center. Camels and spices make the journey north. Household goods - mainly light plastics - travel south. The traders? Desert tribesmen, Egyptians and Sudanese. Bir Shalatein marks the administrative boundary between Egypt and Sudan and is home to 3 nomadic clans: Bisharin, Ababda, and Rashayda. Tour the Camel Market. Shop for spices. Watch Nubian Vultures. Marvel at the complexity of loading vehicles. Coaxing a camel to board a truck can sap the strength of 10 strong men. Trucks traveling to Sudan are packed 3 stories high and over both sides. Life in a frontier town is colorful but not easy.