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Most visitors to Egypt visit the pyramids of Giza, one of the ancient seven wonders of the world. Few visitors travel beyond these well known sites.
But Egypt has many more wonders to offer it's visitors, from desert sunsets to sharing a delightful meal with the local Bedouin people. |
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 Cairo & Giza
Cairo the modern capital of an ancient land-is magical, mystical, and mysterious. It is itself a juxtaposition of the anachronistic and the modern. This extraordinary city, the largest in Egypt, and indeed all of Africa, simply cannot be missed. Islamic Cairo is truly a cultural and historical highlight of the city. Its minarets and domes, bazaars, and cobblestone streets are straight from A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. But let Islamic Cairo be but a start to your explorations here. From Central Cairo with it's fine 19th century architecture to the Citadel of Saleh el-Din and the astonishing dome of the Alabaster Mosque to the haunting echoes of the City of the Dead... Cairo beckons.
Giza and Heliopolis are two Cairo suburbs that are not only geographically opposed, they also epitomize two extremes of Egypt's history. Giza, on the West Bank of Nile, is famed for its ancient monuments. The Sphinx, dating back to 2500 BC and the earliest-known monumental sculpture, stands guard over the Great Pyramids at Giza and their attendant Queens' pyramids, temples and tombs. The Pyramids are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to survive. Even the accompanying circus of camel and horse rides, souvenir and soft drinks vendors and the nightly Sound and Light show do not diminish their splendor. In the diagonally opposite suburb of Heliopolis, history moves on to the late 19th century and Baron Edouard Empain, the entrepreneur whose vision inspired his garden city in the desert. Built in a mixture of European and Moorish styles, Heliopolis attracted wealthy Egyptians to it's leafy grandeur. Although it is no longer separate from Cairo, visitors still come to enjoy its stylish architecture, restaurants and nightlife. |
 Luxor
Luxor is by far the richest area of ancient Egyptian history. It is the modern day city on the ancient site of Thebes, the capital of the New Kingdom. Here, on the East Bank of the Nile, you will find the city of Luxor. The most notable sites are the glorious Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak, The Temple of Luxor is lits at night and is an unforgettable sight. In the evening at the Temple of Karnak there is a Sound & Light show - and it is quite the experience to walk through its columned halls in near darkness and hear the almost haunting sounds of its past.
On the West Bank of the Nile is the famed Valley of the Kings where the tombs of many pharaohs were discovered including King Tut's. However, there are many other historically significant and magnificent sites on the West Bank. These include the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon, and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - the only woman pharaoh.
Until Napoleon Bonaparte's expedition in the late 18th century, Luxor was an unknown little village in the province of Qena. Later however, the expedition revealed the importance of the sites in and around Luxor. Since then, the number of tourists visiting the sites has increased enormously.
Although there are daily flights and trains to Luxor most visitors prefer to visit Luxor as part of a cruise down the Nile. Seeing the sites of Upper Egypt while cruising down the Nile has often been described as a journey of a lifetime. |
 Aswan & Abu Simbel
Some 320 km outside of Aswan in Nubia lies what can only be described as the truly remarkable Temple of Abu Simbel. It was carved directly out of the sandstone cliffs along the Nile and built by Ramses II. Built under the pretense of dedication to the gods Amon Ra, Harmakis, and Ptah... many would say it was built for Ramses' own glorification. On the face of the temple are four huge statues of King Ramses II seated on his throne. Each individual statue is 20 meters high, four meters from ear-to-ear, and one meter across the mouth. Statues of Amon Ra, Harmakis, and Ptah once stood at the heart of the mountain from which this temple was carved.
Twice a year the sun would penetrate the entrance of the temple, into the mountain, and shine on Amon Ra and a statue of Ramses II. About 20 minutes lates it would then move to shine on Harmakis but, interestingly enough, would fail to ever shine on Ptah, the God of Darkness. In the temple's yard, there is a group of monuments, the most important of which is the famous marital monument on which is registered the story of the marriage of the Pharaoh and the daughter of the Hethean King; after signing the first peace treaty in the world between Egypt and Khita.
In the hall of columns, there are eight huge pillars on which is sculpted the statue of Ramses taking the figure Osiris, the God of the Dead. This hall is also known for it's northern wall on which is represented the Battle of Kadesh. The southern wall depicts a dazzling scene of the King and his sons attacking the Syrian citadel, and at the bottom we see a shepherd trying to escape the victorious King. Just beside this scene, the King is pictured again holding an enemy in one hand and stabbing him with the other. This scene is somewhat remarkable as the enemy appears to be of the same size as the King while in other scenes enemies were always humiliated by being smaller than the King. The Temple of Abu Simbel contains many other scenes of no less importance than the ones already described - indeed it is worthy of at least one full day's exploration. Truly this is a temple not to be missed. |
 Alexandria
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. However, he left it before laying a single stone. The city was then founded again after Alexander's death by one of his generals, Ptolemy I Soter. Alexandria played an important role in the development of mathematics, engineering and medicine as well as Christian thoughts. Now, Alexandria is Egypt's major port and the country's second largest city. Little of the ancient city did survive till today but its past still haunts the old streets. |
 El Fayoum
The Province of El Fayoum is the largest and westernmost of the several oases scattered across the western desert. It feeds on an off shoot of the Nile and is a center of a cultivated area.
El Faiyum, being an isolated land provided protection to the early centers of Christianity. After the Arab conquest, a large number of the population of El Faiyum accepted Islam and some Muslim Bedouins came to settle in the area. However, it remained a great center of Christianity for a long time. |
 Dahab
Dahab is a village 45 minutes north of Sharm El Sheikh on the Gulf of Aqaba. The Assala, near the center of town, is a place known for its hippy-like atmosphere. Hostel type accommodation and cheap eateries attract the back-packing crowd who flock to the Red Sea for sport and sunshine. The bazaar offers colorful clothing and hand made souvenirs. Here you can purchase beaded necklaces, and get your hair braided with colorful string by young beduin children. Like the rest of South Sinai, Dahab too is developing into a tourist hot spot with five star hotels and dive centers. |
 Hurghada
Hurghada is one of the best known places on the Red Sea. It lies 600 kilometers south of Cairo, halfway down the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. Hurgada has always been an attraction for those who seeks peace and tranquility. It is both a summer and winter resort and the starting point for deep sea fishing expeditions. There is also windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, glass-bottomed boat trips and other sports to be enjoyed. Almost every hotel possesses a perfectly equipped diving center. |
 Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh was a town built in 1968 near the tip of the Sinai peninsula. Today it is a bustling city extending from the eastern shore of the inlet / port, Sharm el Maiya, north to Na'ama Bay. Tourism has grown exponentially in the area as both small intimate hotels and five star resorts boast first class service and ultimate royal treatment. It is the enter of tourism in the South Sinai region. From here you can visit all the major top-side sites like Mt.Moses, Mt.St.Catherine, The Chapel of the Burning Bush, and the awe inspiring Colored Canyons. You can also venture downwards into an underwater world, an experience never to be duplicated elsewhere (Refer to the section of Red Sea tours). |
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