Egypt is one of the most diverse and mysterious destinations anywhere on the planet! It is known as the very cradle of civilization, and there are towns and cities that can trace their roots back to the earliest civilizations dating from around 8000 BC.
Over the course of its rich history Egypt has been occupied by the Persians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, British and the French. So it is a land steeped in the past and echoing with stories.
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These are fascinating tales that tell of leaders as different as Alexander the Great and King Tutankhamun. You can retrace familiar Biblical epics recounting the flight of the Holy Family from King Herod or how Moses led the Exodus of the Children of Israel. And you can immerse yourself in thrilling stories of explorers such as Howard Carter and the revenge of the Mummy’s curse.
The source of the Nile remained a mystery until it was discovered by John Hanning Speke in 1858. The mighty Nile River – the longest river in the world – flows north from the Great Lakes region of Central Africa and brings fertility and life to the Sahara Desert. The river flows north past the great Temples of Abu Simbel, the engineering marvel of the Aswan Dam and the iconic archeological remains found at Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
Then the Nile flows on past Cairo, now a thriving modern city with a unique mixture of old and new. It is Home to the best Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic sights in Egypt. Explore the Souks and markets – the most famous is the Khan el-Khalili. And just outside Cairo are the Pyramids - the last remaining Ancient Wonders of the World together with the Sphinx that seems to peer at us through the centuries.
Flowing on past the oasis of Al-Fayoum, the river finally reaches the Mediterranean Coast via the Nile Delta close by the city of Alexandria. Known as the “Pearl of the Mediterranean” Alexandria has inspired writers such as EM Forster and Lawrence Durrell. It retains a Mediterranean ambiance with many old European residences and it has a vibrant arts scene.
Egypt is a country that is best enjoyed in an unhurried fashion, either on an organized tour (try Insight Vacations or GM Tours) or independently – just give yourself plenty of time to get around.
Many travelers to Egypt are brought there by their religious beliefs. As well as places that are sacred within the Muslim faith, there are many sites that can be visited with the Bible as your guide book. The Holy Family is believed to have fled into Egypt after the birth of Jesus and there are many Coptic Christian shrines, churches and monasteries throughout Egypt.
Here are just a few places of religious significance in Egypt:
- The church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus is one of the oldest Coptic churches in Cairo. Tradition has it that the church was built over the site where the Holy Family once rested during their journey into Egypt
- The Church of the Virgin is world’s first Christian church and was built on the cave in which the Holy Family spent six months and ten days. Located in Deir Al Muharraq, near Asyut, in the Nile Valley, it was built around 60 AD! Monks have been living around this spot since the 4th century and their lives have changed little since that time.
- Moses Mountain or Mount Sinai is located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Hiking up the mountain to reach the 2285m peak is a wonderful experience. There are two ways to the top. The longer but less steep route, Siket El Bashait, takes about 2.5 hours on foot, but if you prefer, you can ride camels instead.
- At the foot of Mount Sinai and built between 548 and 565AD, the nearby St Catherine’s monastery is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. The site contains the world's oldest continually operating library, and possesses many unique books. The complex houses irreplaceable works of art such as mosaics and the best collection of early icons in the world.
- Two almost identical buildings face each other on Al-Saliba Street in Cairo. One is the mosque of Shaykhu or Amir Shaykhu Al-'Umari. The other is the Khanqah (a building where a teacher and his disciples gather). The mosque was built in 1349 and the interior is quite beautiful with decorations of black glass, wood and marble, as well as a stone Minbar, which is rather unusual. The beamed ceiling of the Khanqah, along with the blue and white tiling, creates a magnificent effect - which is further enhanced by the lovely Koranic inscriptions.
- Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi is Alexandria’s largest mosque. The mosque is a beautiful sight with a cream coloured façade, four great domes, arabesque designs and a high minaret.
No visitor to Egypt should miss the chance to see the extraordinary archeological ruins spread throughout the Nile Valley and there are many organized tours to help tourists discover the incredible history. Just the UNESCO World Heritage Sites alone include:
- Abu Mena: The church, baptistry, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses and workshops in this early Christian holy city were built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, who died in A.D. 296.
- Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis: Thebes, the city of the god Amon, was the capital of Egypt during the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms. With the temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Thebes is a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height.
- Historic Cairo: Tucked away amid the modern urban area of Cairo lies one of the world's oldest Islamic cities, with its famous mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains. Founded in the 10th century, it became the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden age in the 14th century.
- Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur: The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the site was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
- Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae: This outstanding archaeological area contains such magnificent monuments as the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Sanctuary of Isis at Philae, which were saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the International Campaign launched by UNESCO, in 1960 to 1980.
- Saint Catherine Area: The Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine stands at the foot of Mount Sinai where, the Old Testament records, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. The mountain is known and revered by Muslims as Jebel Musa. The entire area is sacred to three world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The Monastery, founded in the 6th century, is the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its initial function.
Egypt offers many and varied activities for the traveler. As well as exploring the historic sites and amazing architecture, you can also enjoy beachside rest and relaxation, high class spa and wellness retreats, soft adventure of all kinds including desert safaris – and more!
And there is no better way to immerse yourself in the country than on a cruise down the Nile - the "Mother of All Men".
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Nile Cruising has captured the imagination of travelers for centuries. Florence Nightingale went on a Nile Cruise and wrote afterwards of her experiences. Travel pioneer Thomas Cook was so captivated by his experiences that in 1869 that he became one of the first Tour Operators offering Nile Cruises to his clients. And Agatha Christie used a Nile Cruise as the backdrop for her famous mystery novel “Death on the Nile”. Nowadays you can take a day cruise or sail on a traditional boat called a felucca. Or a multi-day Nile Cruise offers a particularly leisurely and memorable way to see some of the great sights of the country.
A first class resort on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is pure escapism. This part of Egypt has sunshine and warm waters and the climate is lovely and dry all year long. Sharm El Sheikh is the best well known resort area. You can soak up the sun, dive amazing corals reefs, and enjoy the sea – plus a wide array of fun, exciting, and even crazy water and extreme sports. There is diving, snorkeling, sailing, wind and kite-surfing as well as sky diving or parachuting from a helicopter.
For land lovers visiting the Red Sea Riviera you can golf in the paradisiacal surroundings of crystal clear lagoons at El-Gouna Golf Course, or experience what it is like to play golf on a peninsula in the amazing Cascades Golf Resort in Soma Bay. The luxury Jolie Ville Golf & Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, owned by the prestigious Maritim Hotels, combines a 18 hole PGA championship course adjoining the resort with a luxurious Health Club and Spa wellness facility. In fact the town of Sharm El Sheikh is home to some of Egypt’s most famous and professional Spas. There are also lots of local bars and nightclubs for you to dance the night away.
Venturing into the desert in Egypt is a “must do”, and from the Red Sea Coast you can easily book trips and safaris into the nearby Sinai desert. The Sinai is arguably the best hiking and trekking destination in the Middle East and definitely the best rock climbing in Egypt. The mountains, canyons and valleys of the Sinai are perfect for environmentally friendly activities such as hiking and trekking. Based around Sharm El Sheikh you can not only experience the astonishing dessert landscapes, you can also take in sights such as majestic Mount Sinai, Nearby is the ancient St Catherine Monastery, built between 548 and 565AD.
Egypt’s Western Desert region is perhaps the place to head for wellness and spirituality. Treat yourself to a stay in the Qasr El-Bawity eco-lodge in the Bahariya Oasis or the
Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Luxury Lodge and Spa at Dakhla. The desert scenery is incredibly dramatic and the White Desert, part of the Western Desert, is justifiably the most well-known desert destination in Egypt. The quantity of unearthly and beautiful wind-carved rock formations, shaped in the form of giant mushrooms or pebbles, is unequalled in any desert in the world. There are different modes of transport available to enjoy a desert safari – but could there be anything more romantic than riding a beautiful Arabian horse into the desert landscape?
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