7 Nights in egypt
The Egyptian belief that "To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again" is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The stunning, colossal monuments of Ancient Egypt never fail to astonish. The heat, sight and the light of the desert invigorate. The cool, turquoise waters rejuvenate. A romantic cruise along the world's longest river dazzles the senses. A first class getaway resort in the Red Sea Riviera is pure escapism. No place has the magic, mystery and pleasures of Egypt. Most of Egypt tourists describe their trip to Egypt as an overwhelming experience: the culture, the nature, the sights, the history, the people, the lifestyle, the cuisine… It is truly a unique experience. Travel to Egypt to discover a world of wonder. The contrast of historical layers that range from Ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire, Islamic dynasties to the modern history of Egypt is what you’ll find in Egypt today. In Cairo and most of the Egypt’s major cities you’ll find skyscrapers, highways, international hotels, restaurants, mass advertising, western clothing, local clothing, ancient monuments, historical mosques, Coptic churches, and traditional souks; all blending together into the unique mosaic that is modern Egypt. Over the past decade, Egypt has grown to become the modern hub of Africa; the country boasts numerous airports, ports and modern marinas, and major cities are connected through a network of newly built highways. Moreover, telecommunications and Internet services in Egypt are booming, providing the needed infrastructure for the constant development of the country. Visit the major achievements of modern Egyptian architecture such as the High Dam, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and contemporary art museums. Go to Egypt today!
CAIRO: An amazing city full of life and movement, and it is that way almost 24 hours a day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and merchants selling their wears and services. On first impression, there is hardly a superlative too extreme to capture the epic scale of this city. So take your time, relax over a mint tea in a café, or wander the quiet back alleys, and a different world will be revealed to you. Cairo is third world and first world, Islamic world and pharaonic world, a teeming city that jars all the senses, all at once. More than 16 million people call it home; it's chaotic, exotic, smelly, dusty, and also beautiful. There is a lot to see in Cairo. You can enjoy the numerous historic buildings of the city's many rulers - Arab, Roman, Greek, Turkish, British, French - spanning over five millennia. And of course there are the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Cairo is also a great place to shop and soak up some Islamic culture.
City Sights
Cairo Tower, Bab Zuwayla, Bayn al-Qasryn, Bayt el-Kritliya, City of the Dead, Coptic Museum, Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, el-Muallaqa Church, el-Qal'a (Citadel), Islamic Art Museum, Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, Pyramids of Giza, Solar Boat Museum of Giza, Islamic Ceramics Museum, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Gayer-Anderson Museum, Mohamed Ali Mosque (view over Fatimid Cairo), Khan al Khalili (shopping wonderland of souvenir) |
For the kids
AniMania Petting Zoo, Kalila and Dimna (Bookstore, cultural center), Kinder Musik (World’s Leading Music & Movement Program), Cheeky Chimps & MaxFun House (indoors play areas), Maadi (World Food), Adrenalin Paint ball, Africa Safari park (Outdoors drive thru animal park), Al Azhar Park, Alex Toy Shop, Dr. Ragab's Pharaonic Village (living museum), Dream Park, Magic Galaxy (indoor amusement park), The Cairo Tower Observation deck. |
Pyramids of Giza
At The Giza Plateau. The oldest and largest pyramid Cheops used 2.5 million limestone blocks to house the sarcophagus of King Cheops. Nearby are smaller pyramids Khafre and Menakaure, built for the queens, and beyond are the pyramids of Chephren, son of Cheops, and Mycerinus. Nearby Sphinx, the enigmatic symbol of Egypt with The Sphinx guards the entire site, thought to be some 2,600 years older than the pyramids. Click me for virtual panorama by AirPano. |
Egyptian Museum
Housing 165,000 Egyptian artifacts, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo attracts millions of visitors each year. The highlight for most are the rooms containing the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamun. His 6 gold gilded coffins, each one smaller and more intricately decorated than the last, dominate the main hall, while his magnificent death mask is the must-see item of the day. The Royal Mummies Room is another highlight of the Egyptian Museum. |
Memphis
Memphis is the ancient capital of Egypt. This ancient capital is known as the oldest known royal city in the world. Founded in 3100BC during the 1st Dynasty, it was the royal capital for 500 years and remained occupied in all for a total of 4,000 years. Sadly, not much remains today of what was one of the grandest cities in the world, but the small museum and scattering of statues is a good appetiser for the more stunning Saqqara. |
Saqqara, City of Dead
The Necropolis is Egypt's oldest pyramid and arguably the world's most elaborate and extensive burial ground. Here the first pharoahs were buried. its most prominent monument, Djoser's Step Pyramid. See Saqqara Necropolis, Pyramid of Teti I and Teti Period Cemetery, Tomb of Mereruka, Ankhmahor & Kagemni, Serapeum, Mastaba of Ti, Unas Causeway leading to Pyramid of Unas, and the Imhotep Museum |
Birqash Camel Market
Egypt’s largest camel market (45-minute journey by taxi) takes place just outside the village of Birqash (pronounced Bir’ash), approximately 35km (22 miles) northwest of Cairo. Each Monday and Friday morning, camel traders from all over Egypt and as far afield as Sudan, sell their beasts in a hubbub of sights, sounds and smells – a unique experience. Visitors have to pay an admission fee, and extra for a camera. |
Nile River Dinner Cruise
The cruise boats are built in the style of a flat pharaonic barge of ancient Egypt. As you drift along the River Nile, the house band performs. Choose from the set menu or go for the a la carte selection offering seafood, Lebanese and Chinese cuisines. Sit back and relax while you enjoy a colorful belly dancing show with a folklore band, featuring the unforgettable tannoura spin, in keeping with Egypt's whirling tradition. |
LUXOR: A balloon ride is a great way to see where you've been and where you might be going in Luxor. Luxor has often been called the world's greatest open air museum, as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Actually, what most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the city of Luxor on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor, and Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. To say that the Luxor area is a major attraction for tourists in Egypt would be an understatement. It has been a tourist destination since the beginning of tourism. Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek and Roman periods, the area drew tourists, and has been doing so ever since. Today, Luxor is well equipped to accommodate tourists with many hotels and, in general, a tourist industry ready and willing to serve the people from across the globe that descend on this area of the Nile Valley every year. Within Luxor, there are only three main streets consisting of Sharia al-Mahatta, Sharia al-Karnak and the Corniche, next to the Nile. The street in front of the train station is Sharia al-Mahatta and runs away from the Nile where it meets the gardens of Luxor Temple. Sharia al-Karnak, or Maabad al-Karnak which means Karnak Temple Street runs along the Nile from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple. However, Sharia al-Karnak is known as Sharia al-Markaz where it meets Sharia al-Mahatta, and to the south around the temple it is known as Sharia al-Lokanda. Along this street one will find the colorful signs of restaurants and cafes, as well as bazaars where the usual variety of Egyptian souvenirs can be found. Of interest is the alabaster, which is plentiful along the West Bank and milled not far from here. Also look for the clay pots used by the locals for cooking, which are more unusual. In Luxor proper, one of the first stops must be the Temple of Luxor built by Amenophis III.
Karnak Temple
The history of the Karnak complex is largely the history of Thebes and its changing role in the culture. The Karnak Temple Complex usually called Karnak comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes. The complex is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world. It consists of four main parts, Precinct of Amun-Re, Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Montu, and the dismantled Temple of Amenhotep IV. |
Luxor Museum
The Luxor Museum is surprisingly entertaining. Displays of pottery, jewelry, furniture, statues and stelae were created by the Brooklyn Museum of New York. They include a carefully selected assortment of items from the Theban temples and necropolis. There are a number of exhibits from Tutankhamun, including a cow-goddess head from his tomb on the first floor and his funerary boats on the second floor. However, some of the real attractions include a statue of Tuthmosis III (circa 1436 BC) on the first floor, and 283 sandstone blocks arranged as a wall from the ninth pylon of the Karnak Temple. |
Valley of the Kings
The Pyramids of Giza and the Nile Delta were the tombs of choice for pharaohs of Egypt's Old Kingdom. But New Kingdom pharaohs, who wanted to be closer to the source of their dynastic roots in the south, built their crypts in the hills of this barren tract west of Luxor, now called the Valley of the Kings. Biban el-Muluk, composed of two separate branches. The main eastern branch, "The Great Place," is where most of the royal tombs are located, and in the larger, westerly branch where only a few tombs were cut. The Valley contains 62 tombs to-date not all of the tombs belonged to the king and royal family also privileged nobles. |
Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens is located on the West Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes). There are between 75 and 80 tombs in the Valley of the Queens, or Biban al-Harim. These belong to Queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties. The Tomb of Nefertari (Tomb 66): One of five wives of Ramesses II, Nefertari (known as 'the most beautiful of them') was his favorite and the tomb here has been is said to be one of the most beautiful in Egypt. The tomb is completely painted with scenes though out. Near the stairs to the burial chamber is a wonderful scene with Nefertarti offering milk to the goddess Hathor. |
Think you have seen all of Egypt's splendors, think again. Just beyond Cairo and Luxor lie a world of travel pleasures.
Aswan
Aswan is a serene Nile Valley destination where the Nile is more majestic than anywhere else, flowing through granite rocks, and round emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. It is considered as an all-time favourite winter destination. Moreover, you'll be surprised to see how many monuments and sites this small city has to offer. Consider sailing to the temple of Philae, seeing the Agha Khan Mausoleum and taking an excursion to St. Simeon’s Monastery. |
Abu Simbel
Ramses II built his temple so that the internal chamber would light up two times a year: once on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne (Feb.), and once on his birthday (Oct.). Every year on the Sun Festival, crowds gather before sunrise to observe the stream of light gradually sneaking through the stone and enlightening the statuettes of Ramses, Ra and Amun in the central chamber. Only the statue of Ptah – the god of darkness – remains in the shade even on these two special days of the year! |
Great Alexandria
The Mediterranean Pearl, captivating Alexandria will fascinate you. Little remains of the old city still retains its Mediterranean ambience and old European residence houses, combined with old cafes and Greco Roman monuments. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shouqafa, the underwater ruins of Montazah and Maamoura and the city’s vibrant arts scene make Alexandria a great sightseeing destination. Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque and the Coptic Cathedral of St. Mark are also sights to behold. |
Duo of Deserts
Farafra the most isolated oasis is ideal for visiting The White & Black Desert. 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 as popular White Desert. The mountains have eroded to coat the Black desert with a layer of black powder and rocks giving it its name. Climb up the English Mountain and you will be awarded with an amazing view of the strange landscape. Visit Badr Museum. |
Red Sea Riviera
Revel under the sun in the Red Sea Riviera and enjoy some of the best seaside and family activities in eastern Egypt. Located near the Eastern Desert and south of the Sinai, the Red Sea Riviera is a long coastal area full of beautiful beaches that lead to the Red Sea. Swim among dolphins and a number of flora and fauna. Ras Muhammad is the most famous national park in Egypt and one of the most famous diving sites in the world. At the southern end of the headland there is a small stand of Mangrove, Avicennia marina. Beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea you’ll find coral reefs teeming with life including a diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Slightly further offshore you might spot dolphins, including Risso's Dolphin, Grampus griseus. The area hosts White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, during their annual migrations. |
St. Catherine
During Pharaonic Era Saint Catherine wasn't established as a city, it was always part of the Egyptian Empire throughout history and it was part of the province of "Deshret Reithu". Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery was the start of the city, it was constructed by order of the Emperor Justinian between 527 and 565. Today Saint Catherine City is one of the newest cities in Egypt, with all amenities of a modern place. Saint Catherine's Monastery is Orthodox, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. The monastery possesses copies of an important historical document, the Achtiname, in which Muhammad is claimed to have bestowed his protection upon the monastery whose library preserves 2nd largest collection of early codices and manuscripts in the world. |
Sharm el Sheikh
With sunshine and warm waters all year round this is the closest destination to Europe where you can soak up sun, dive amazing corals reefs, and enjoy the sea any time you need a break from routine. Sharm El Sheikh boasts the widest array of fun, exciting and even crazy water and extreme sports: besides diving, snorkeling, sailing, wind and kite-surfing, you can even try sky diving or parachuting from a helicopter on your next holiday in Sharm El Sheikh. Take trips or safaris into the nearby Sinai desert and discover the amazing St Catherine Monastery, or the majestic Sinai Mountains. You can also head to Sharm for a wellness and pampering holiday; the town is home to Egypt’s most famous and professional Spas in Egypt. It's all happening at the sandy beautiful Naama Bay. This strip of beachfront is famed for its nightlife. |
Taba Heights
Taba is a flourishing touristic destination for guests from around the world in search for pristine beaches and exceptional coral reefs to explore. But there's more to Taba than the common sea and sun resort/diving vacation, the nearby Sinai landmarks are must-sees, and they're all only a couple of hours away. Be sure that the impressive coloured canyon, the inspiring St. Catherine's Monastery and the massive Saladin fortress are all worth an escape from your resort activities. Gracefully perched atop a desert cliff between the cities of Taba and Nuweiba, Castle Zaman is a unique attraction on the serene stretch of Sinai. One of the natural wonders of the Sinai, the Coloured Canyon, can be visited from Taba. A maze of sandstone rocks in hues of yellow, purple, red, magenta and gold reaching up a height of 40 meters. |