Destination Overview EGYPT…
Egypt
Egypt… An incredible and diverse country that has one of a few old-age civilizations and is home to two of the ancient wonders of the world. The Ancient Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River more than 7000 years ago. It is recognizable for its temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, and above all, the Pyramids.
There are so many things to see and do. Apart from visiting and seeing the impressive temples and artefacts of ancient Egypt, there is also much to explore within the countries cities. In fact, each city in Egypt has its own charm of things to see with its own history, culture, activities, and people who often differ in nature from people of other parts of Egypt.
Egypt stimulates the imagination of tourists as one of the most popular tourist destinations world-wide. While Egypt has many attractions, the majority are found in Cairo, Alexandria, Upper Egypt, the Red Sea and Sinai. Visitors to Egypt will always find something to satisfy them and fulfil their interests, with the rich history and diversified activities.
If you are interested in archeological sites and Egyptian monuments, then go along the River Nile where most of the monuments exist, starting from Cairo and the surroundings and up the river until Luxor which, alone, has one third of the world’s monuments, and Aswan then further to Abu Simbel. Other historical sites from the Ptolemaic and Roman eras exist in Alexandria and around Luxor.
If you are looking for an adventurous holiday, you will find a variety of activities such as kayaking, hot air balloon rides and skydiving in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan; diving in the Red Sea; hiking in the mountains in Sinai as welll as Desert Safaris in many parts of the country. Beach resorts are tremendously spread around the Red Sea and The Sinai Peninsula, mainly in Hurghada and the surrounding cities, and in Sharm El Shiekh and its surroundings. Religious tours include Jewish, Coptic and Islamic sites in Cairo, Alexandria, Upper Egypt, the Red Sea and Sinai as also a possibility. One of the famous tours is the tour of the Holy Family in Egypt.
Travellers with special interest tours can certainly find what they are looking for; that includes bird watching, star gazing, duck hunting and the likes. Private groups can live the experience of matchless events in unique historical sites, that no other place in the world can offer, such as dinner in front of the Pyramids or in a temple. Sustainable and responsible tourism in Egypt are also well taken care of, including tours of environment friendly practices. The list is endless and the created memories last forever.
Top Destinations
Alexandria – The second largest city in Egypt, known as “The Pearl of the Mediterranean”, was founded in year 331 BC by Alexander the Great. The city remained the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt and Roman and Byzantine Egypt for almost 1,000 years. The city is home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Great Library, the largest in the ancient world; and the Necropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Alexandria was the intellectual and cultural center of the ancient Mediterranean world for much of the Hellenistic age and late antiquity.
Luxor – Once an Ancient Egyptian capital, is known today as the world’s “greatest open-air museum.” From the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings and the magnificent sunset views at the majestic temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor to the exciting and fun Nile cruises, Luxor is the perfect choice for culture vultures. It is divided by the Nile into two areas commonly called the East Bank and West Bank which were considered in Ancient Egyptian times as symbolizing respectively Life and Death.
Abu Simbel – The very small village of Abu-Simbel lies 280 km south of Aswan, and only 40 km north of the Sudanese border. Even though it is home to several hotels, the small town is usually overlooked by tourists as a holiday destination. Most of them prefer to visit the Nubian town on a daytrip from Cairo or Aswan or as an extension to a Nile cruise or a Lake Nasser Cruise. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Nile, the majestic Abu-Simbel Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
