Egypt Is Considered The Land Of ‘Sights’ In The Popular Imagination, And Not Without Good Reason—From The Pyramids At Giza, The Awe-Inspiring Sphinx And The Monuments Liberally Littering Ancient Thebes, To The Underwater Explosion Of Colour In The Coral Reefs Off The Red Sea Coast.
Egypt’s Destinations Can Be Divided Into Six Super-Sites—The North Coast And The Delta Area, The Upper Nile Area, The Lower Nile Area, The Desert And Oases, The Sinai And Red Sea Area, And Cairo And The Surrounding Areas.

The City Of Cairo

Cairo Was Once The Byzantine City Of Babylon—The Same As In The Song "By The Rivers Of Babylon…" In 969 AD, The Fatimid Rulers Captured The Reigns Of Power, To Be Succeeded By The Mameluks, A Slave Dynasty. They Left Behind A Warren Of Districts Like Al-Muski, Darb Al-Ahmar And Gamaliya. The Old-World Charm Here Is Palpable, And Well Worth Soaking In.

The Egyptian Museum
The Section Called Old Cairo Is Where Babylon Once Stood—Its Main Attractions Are The Coptic Hanging Church And The Monastery/Church Of St Sergius, Supposedly Built On The Place Where The Biblical Holy Family Rested While Escaping From King Herod. Memphis Borders Cairo And Is Renowned For The Temple Of Ptah, Which Has Within Its Precincts The Alabaster Sphinx And The Gargantuan Statue Of Rameses II.
Today, Cairo Is A Lively And Tourist-Friendly City, With An Active Cultural Scene And A Bustling Nightlife. The Egyptian Museum Is A Must-Visit, With Endless Rows Of Sarcophagi, Mummies And Other Tomb Treasures. The Museum Is Open From 9 Am To 5 Pm On All Days Except Friday, When It Is Closed For A Few Hours. Students Get A 50% Discount On Entry Fee, Which Is US$6 And An Additional US$18 If You Want To See The Royal Mummy Room.

The Khan Al-Khalili Is A Vast Maze Of Shops In Cairo That Offer Fantastic Opportunities For Souvenir Hunting. Bargain Like Crazy!

No Monuments Is Egypt Are Visited As Much As The Pyramids At Giza And The Sphinx—This Is Truly The Stuff That The Glossiest Egyptian Tourist Brochures Are Made Of! The Three Pyramids Are Devoted To The Father-Son-Grandson Trio Of Cheops, Cephren And Mycerinus. The First Two Are The Most Impressive.
Egyptologists And Archeologists Differ Over The Exact Significance Of The Sphinx (Known In Arabic As ‘Abu Al-Hol’ Or The ‘Father Of Terror’) In Egyptian Culture, But There Is No Doubting The Sheer Grandeur Of The Figure.

It Is Considered The Most Ancient Capital Of Egypt Established By King Mina .
Among Its Monuments :
• The Colossal Tatue Of Ramses Ii Exhibited In The Museum.
• The Alabaster Statue Of The Sphinx For King Tuthmosis III.
• The Serapeum :
                Temple Of Mummification Of Apis , The Sacred Bull .

Another Important Place To Visit In Saqqara Is The Pyramid Of Unas, The Serapeum Of Burial Place The Sacred Bulls And Mastabas Which Are Known As The Tombs Of Nobles, The Most Famous Of Which Is The Tomb Of Ptah Hotep, The Tomb Of Kagemni And The Tomb Of Mereruka.

The Citadel
One of Cairo's major attractions, the massive Citadel complex dominates the city skyline. Built on a limestone spur by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in the 12th century, most of its features are associated with Mohammed Ali, the early 19th century leader who freed Egypt of the Mameluke yoke. The Citadel offers fantastic panoramic views of Islamic Cairo in a castle setting rich in history. Perhaps its most famous tale is of Mohammed Ali inviting 470 Mameluke leaders to a feast in the Citadel palace, only to have them trapped in a narrow passageway upon leaving and slaughtered by his men. Legend says only one Mameluke escaped by leaping the walls on his horse. Within the Citadel complex are the following attractions: Al-Gawhara (Jewel) Palace, Mohammed Ali
Mosque, Police Museum, Sultan Al-Nasir Mosque, Military Museum, Carriage Museum, Archaeological Museum, Suleyman .

Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque
Designed By The Greek Architect Yussuf Bushnaq, The Mohammad Ali (Alabaster) Mosque In The Citadel Was Begun In 1830 (Finished In 1857) In The Ottoman Style By Mohammad Ali Pasha, Ruler Of Egypt, And Founder Of The Country's Last Dynasty Of Khedives And Kings. The Mosque Is The Tomb Of Mohammad Ali And Is Also Known As The Alabaster Mosque Because Of The Extensive Use Of This Fine Material From Beni Suef. Its Two Slender 270 Foot Minarets Are Unusual For Cairo. From The Arcaded Courtyard, Visitors Have A Magnificent View Across The City To The Pyramids In Giza. Just Off The Courtyard Is The Vast Prayer Hall With An Ottoman Style Dome Which Is 170 Feet Above. The Parapet To The Southwest Offers A Good View Of The Sultan Hassan And Ibn Tulun Mosques And Of Cairo Itself. Perhaps Because Of Its Location, It Is One Of The Most Frequented Mosques By Tourists

* The North Coast Has The Novelty Of Pleasant Climate Even In The Summer (It Being The Egyptian Mediterranean), And Has Two Main Tourist Centres—Alexandria And Marsa Matrouh.

Alexandria

Alexandria Is The Second Largest City In Egypt, It Has An Atmosphere That Is More Mediterranean Than Middle Eastern; Its Ambience And Cultural Heritage Distance It From The Rest Of The Country Although It Is Actually Only 225 Km. From Cairo. Alexandria Lies Northwest Of The Nile Delta And Adjoins Lake Mariut. It Is Linked To Cairo By The Delta Road (231 Km.) And The Desert Road (225 Km.). It Is One Of The Most Notable Summer Resorts In The Middle East, Known For Its Temperate Winters And Beaches, With Soft Sands And Magnificent Scenery That Stretch For 40 Km. Along The Mediterranean Sea. Founded By Alexander The Great In 331 Bc, Alexandria Became The Capital Of The Graeco-Roman Egypt, Its Status As A Beacon Of Culture Symbolized By Pharos And The Setting For The Stormy Relationship Between Cleopatra And Mark Antony. The City, Immortalizing Alexander's Name, Flourished, Beyond All Expectations, Into A Prominent Cultural, Intellectual And Economic Metropolis, The Remains Of Which Are Still Evident To This Day. There Is So Much To See In This City. Listed Below Is A Brief Overview Of Some Of The Sites That You Can Visit.

• The Graeco-Roman Museum: Houses Many Collections Of Rare Roman Relics And Coins- About 40 Thousand Pieces, From The 3rd Century B.C. To The 7th Century A.D. The Most Important Being The " Tanafra " Statues.
Pompeii's Pillar )This Is A Granite Pillar, Over 25 Meters High, And Built Amidst The Ruins Of The Serapium In 297 A.D., In Honor Of Emperor Diocletian.
The Catacombs Of Kom Al-Shqafa: This Is The Largest Roman Cemetery. It Is Of Three Levels And Cut In The Rock To A Depth Of 100 Feet. Dating To The Beginning Of The 2nd Century A.D., It Is A Blend Of Pharaonic And Roman Art.

• The Tombs Of Al-Anfushi: These Limestone Tombs, Dating From About 250b.C. Are Decorated With Pictures Of Egyptian Gods And Daily Life.

Other Tourist Attractions Are:
• The Fort Of Qait Bay
The Fort Of Qaitbay Lies On The Northern Tip Of The Eastern Harbour On The Same Site Where The Pharaohs Of Alexandria Once Stood The 15th Century Fort Built In The Mediaeval Style . Comprise Three Floor 5 . Currently In Houses The Marine Museum Preserving Alexandria’s Marine Heritage.

• The Mosque Of Mursi Abbas
Located At El Anfoushi Area . The Mosque Is One Of Alexandria ‘S Islmic Landmars With Its Very High Minaret And Four Domes.

• Al-Montazah Palace
Acres Of Formal Gardens And A Beautiful Beach Make Montazah (Shown To The Right ) The Foremost City Pleasure Grounds. Montazah Palace, A Grand Structure Built In A Mixture Of Turkish And Florentine Styles, Is Now A Great Statehouse.

Marsa Matrouh Is Being Enthusiastically Developed By The Egyptian Government As A Major Tourist Center, But Despite Some Good Beaches (Shatt Al-Gharam, Agiba And Ubaiyyad), It Has Little To Offer.

* The Upper Nile Area (Which Is Actually In The South Of The Country) Boasts Three Very Interesting Towns, Albeit For Different Reasons.
 

The City Of Luxor

Is A Regular Tourist Hotspot For The Reason Most Travelers Visit Egypt—The Sheer Grandeur Of Its Well-Preserved Monuments Dating From The Old, Middle And New Kingdoms Of Ancient Egypt. The Best Part Is That You Don’t Need To Be An Egyptologist Or Even A History Buff To Appreciate The Beauty Of Luxor’s Monuments.

The Temple of Karnak: The Great Temple Of Amun At Karnak Was Once The Religious Centre Of Thebes And Upper Egypt. Karnak Was Linked To Luxor By A Sphinx-Lined Avenue, And The Whole Complex Of Temples Was In Turn Linked To The Nile Via A Canal Through Which Moved The Sacred Boats Of The God Amun. Passing Through A Smaller Avenue Of Ram-Headed Sphinxes, Erected By Ramesses II, We Come To The Massive Pylon Entrance Of The 30th Dynasty. Inside The Great Courtyard, Which Dates From The 22nd Dynasty, Are Three Chapels Dedicated To The Gods Amun, Khous And Mut By Seth II. The Impressive Hypostyle Hall Has 134 Soaring Columns; Each Column Is Carved With Scenes Of Gods And Pharaohs; The Inscriptions On The Walls Tell Their Stories Of War And Peace.

The Valley of the Kings : Situated In A Secluded Area Of The West Bank, The Valley Of The Kings Contains 62 Excavated Tombs, Mostly Royal But Some Belonging To Members Of The Nobility. There Are Differences In Style, Colour And Content In Each Of The Tombs; The Earliest Have Staircases, Corridors And Right-Angled Bends While The Later Ones Are More Simplified, Being Little More Than Huge Sloping Corridors. The Walls And Ceilings Were Painted With Scenes And Inscriptions Designed To Assist The King In His Journey Through The Underworld. A Visit To The Valley Of The Kings Usually Takes In Two Or Three Of The Tombs, Dependent On The Number Of Visitors In The Valley And Which Tombs Are Open. Other Main Tombs Include Those Of Amenophis II (One Of The Best Preserved), Ramesses IX (Never Completed), Ramesses VI And Seti I (Largest And Most Elaborate).

The Valley of the Queens : Also Situated On The West Bank, The Valley Of The Queens Is Smaller Than The Valley Of The Kings But Is Ringed By Impressive Cliffs. The Tombs Belong To Lesser Important Personages (Queens And Princes) But Have Many Interesting Facets. The Main Tombs Are Those Of Queen Titi (An Otherwise Unknown Royal Lady), Prince Khaemwaset (Ramesses III's Eldest Son) And Prince Amenhirkhepeshef (Notable For Its Vivid Colouring). The Finest Tomb, Is Tomb Of Queen Nefertari. Recent Excavations Have Unearthed Previously Unknown Tombs, Although Most Are Damaged Or Undecorated.
The Mortuary Temple Of Queen Hatshepsut
The Temple Of Hatshepsut At Deir El-Bahari, Unlike Any Other Temple In Egypt, Is Composed Of Three Widely-Spaced Terraces With Ramps Leading From One To The Next. It Is Said That The Queen Intended It As A Pleasure.
 

The City of Aswan While Aswan Was Always Of Strategic Importance To Egypt, The Town Only Became A City In The 1960s When Great Forces Of Workers Constructing The High Dam Were Housed There.
The High Dam Itself Is Over Two Miles Long And 360ft High And Affords Views Over Lake Nasser. The Lake Is, At Its Fullest, 310 Miles Long, 6 Miles Wide And On Average 600ft Deep. As Well As Being A Beautiful Resort, Aswan Has A Huge Array Of Temples, Monuments And Sights.
The Ptolemaic Temple Of Philae Was, Like Abu Simbel, Transported From Its Flooded Site To A New Position Above The Water And Completely Rebuilt Stone By Stone. The Beautiful Kiosk Of Trajan Stands Close By On The Same Island. Kitchener Island And Its Botanical Gardens Are Reached By Felucca Before Continuing To Elephantine Island (Although Not Desembarking) Which Has An Ancient Nilometer Built Into Its Eastern Side And Numerous Rock Reliefs, Inscriptions And Traces Of Pharaonic Temples.
The Granite Mausoleum Of The Late Aga Khan Commands A Splendid View Of Aswan And The Nile Valley Beyond Which The Desert Stretches As Far As The Eye Can See. In The Ancient Granite Quarry Of The Pharaohs, An Unfinished Obelisk Lies Cracked And Damaged, But Clearly Demonstrates The Method
Used To Cut These Vast Pieces Of Stone.

Philae: South Of The City Of Aswan Lies The Beautiful Temple Complex Of Philae (Pronounced "Feel-I"). Its Main Temple Was Dedicated To The Goddess Isis And Its Construction Was Undertaken During The Third Century B.C. Philae Was The Last Bastion Of Ancient Egyptian Religion And Hieroglyphic Usage. It Is Also A Superb Example Of Threatened Cultural Heritage Being Saved In The Face Of Modern Civilization's March To Change The Environment.
The Island Of Philae And Its Temples Came Under Threat At The Turn Of The Century When The British Erected The Aswan Dam At The First Cataract. Philae Began To Spend Some Of Its Time Beneath The Backed-Up Flood Waters Of The Nile. The Dam Was Progressively Raised In The Following Decades, But The Final Nail In The Coffin For The Island Of Philae Came With The Construction Of The Aswan High Dam In The 1960s. The Temples Were Destined To Disappear Forever Beneath The River's Waters.
Fortunately, Philae Was Saved From Drowning. In 1977, A Coffer Dam Was Constructed Around The Temples And The Water Was Pumped Out. Then The Temples Were Carefully Dismantled With Every Block Assigned A Number And Its Position Noted. A Nearby Higher Island Called Agilkai Was Modified To Resemble Philae And The Temples Were Resembled. In 1980, Philae Was Once Again Opened To The Public.
Today, Philae Is One Of The Highlights Of Any Visit To Aswan. To Reach It, One Can Take An Organised Excursion Booked Through A Travel Agent Or Hotel. Alternatively, Take A Taxi To The Boat Landing At Shellal On The East Side Of The Old Aswan Dam. From There, A Short Boat Trip Can Be Arranged To The Island.

Oasis : The Oasis, A Depression In The Desert Comprising Springs, Wells And Trees, Reflects The Beauty, Charm And Diversity Of Nature; Its Surrounding Desert...Green Valleys...Water Wells...High Plateaus...Therapeutic Sulphur-Rich Springs. In Egypt There Are Plenty Of Oases In The Western Desert. The Most Significant Are Fayyum, Kharga, Dakhia, Paris, Farafrah, Bahereya, Siwa And The Qattara Depression. The Fayyum Oasis Lies In Depression, Right In The Western Desert, About 103 Km. South-West Of Cairo. It Is Surrounded By High Plateaus, And Separated From The Nile Valley By A High Ridge To The East At Al-Lahun. The Oasis Is Famed For Its All-Year-Round Pleasant Climate And Beautiful Scenery. There Is Evidence Of Pre-Historic Settlements As Well As Pharaonic, Greek Roman, Coptic, & Islamic Monuments. Fayyum Boosts A Combination Of Rural, Coastal, Desert, And Urban Environments, And Thus Holds Out Great Attractions To Tourists. The Hawara Pyramid (Shown To The Right) Dating From (1991-1778 Bc) Can Be Found Here. The Oases Provides A Vast Amount Of Tourist Attractions, Below Is A Brief Overview Of Some Of The Sites That You Can Visit!

Al-Wadi Al-Gadeed Oases :(The New Valley Oases):  The New Valley Oases Occupies Some 67% Of The Western Desert And 45.8% Of The Total Area Of Egypt. It Lies 602 Km. From Cairo And 232 Km. From Assyut. It’s Bordered By The Governorate Of Matruh In The North, Sudan In The South, Libya In The West, And The Governorates Of Middle Egypt In The East. It Includes The Kharga, Dakhla, Farafrah And Paris Oases With More Than 99 Monuments Dating To Different Ages.
The Area Enjoys A Mixture Of The Desert Environment, Green Plains, Wells, And Sulphur-Rich Springs, Both Cold And Hot. In One Spring, The Water Temperature Reaches 43 C And Is Suitable For The Treatment Of Rheumatic And Digestive Ailments, Colds And Allergies.The Oases Are Famed For Their Dry Climate Most Of The Year, And Humidity Never Exceeds 9.5%. Warm, Sunny Winters Allow Them To Be An International Health Spa.

Dakhla Oasis: Dakhla (Capital Mut) Is The Second Provincial Capital Of The Governorate And Lies 200km. North-West Of Kharga. Midway Is The Zayyan Resthouse. Dakhla Contains Several Wells, The Most Important Of Which Are: The Mut Wells In Which The Temperature Reaches 43 C. One Well Is 1224 Meters Deep. It Has A Round Swimming Pool And Tourist Resthouses With Complete Facilities.The Pharonic Wells Of Ayn Al-Qasr In Which Water Temperature Reaches 45 C.

Kharga Oasis: Capital Of The New Valley Governorate, It Lies 232 Km. South Of Assyut. It Is Characterized By Its Numerous Monuments, Springs And Tourist Sites Such As The Ponds Of Fish In Bulaq Village.

Paris Oasis: (Temple Of Dush): Located 90 Km. South Of Kharga, It Houses The Roman Temple Of Dush Dedicated To The God Serapis. There Is Also A Mud-Brick Turkish Fortress, An Ancient Church And Some Pottery Dating To The Coptic Period.

Farafrah Oasis: About 320 Km. Northwest Of Dakhla And 170 Km. North Of Bahereya Oasis, It Is Suitable For Car Tours And Safaris By Means Of The Circular Road Connecting It With Dakhla And Bahereya. There Are Remains Of Roman Buildings, Including Qasr Al-Farafrah, Built Of Mud-Brick, And Qasr Abu Minqar.

Siwa Oasis: About 306 Km. South West Of Marsa Matruh And 627 Km From Cairo, This Oasis Is Renowned For Its Beautiful Scenery, Thick Groves Of Palm And Olive Trees, Water Springs, And The Surrounding Mountains. It Has A Steady Climate, Chilly In The Winter, Hot In The Summer And Moderate In Spring And Autumn.

Sinai :

Land Of Discovery. The Route To The Promised Land; Where Isis Sought Osiris And The Pharoahs Found Gold. Where Moses Witnessed The Burning Bush And Bedouins Camped By Crusader Forts. A Meeting Point For Three Great Religions, At The Crossroads Of Africa And Asia. After 80,000 Years At The Heart Of History, Experience The Continuing Contrasts. Sinai: Where Rock Meets Coral Reef And The Desert Stops At The Sea. Where The Grandeur Of Granite Meets The Golden Beaches Of The " Red Sea Riviera ". Tropical Fish And Rare Birds; Spectacular Sunsets And Clear Starry Nights.
Sinai Is Rich In Scenery. To The North, Palm-Shaded Sandy Beaches Stretch Along The Mediterranean Shore. Along The Gulfs Of Aqaba And Suez, Soft Golden Sands Surround Bays Of Clear Blue Water. There Are Tourist Villages, Fishing And Snorkeling Centers, Where The Waters Are Rich With Rare Marine Life And Exquisite Coral Reefs. Sweet Water Springs Are Scattered Throughout Sinai. In The South, The Towering Mountains With Their Beautiful Reddish Colored Rocks Are Surrounded By Huge Valleys Leading To The Holy Mountain.
Sinai Also Has Various Medicinal Plants And Different Kinds Of Indigenous And Migrating Birds. Has An Airport That Can Handle Small And Medium Size Aircrafts.

St. Catherine: Lies About 150 Km. South-East Of Abu Rodeis On A High Plateau 2500 Meters Above Sea Level. It Is Considered The Center Of Religious Tourism In Sinai. Nearby Lies The Monastery Of St. Catherine Dating Back To The 6th Century. This Town Is Famous For Its Orchids And Plentiful Water. The Village Compromises 100 Bungalows And An Elegant Restaurant.

Monastery Of St. Catherine: This Was Built In The 6th Century And Dedicated To The Daughter Of A Ruler Of Alexandria, Who Converted To Christianity And Was Subjected To Great Torture. The Huge Walls Of The Monastery Surround A Number Of Small Churches. On The East Wall Is An Ancient Basket And A Pulley Which Was Used Instead Of Opening The Door.

Ras Mohammed: (Shown To The Right) Situated At The Peak Of The Sinai Peninsula, 53 Km. From Sharm Al Shiekh And Its Narrowest Part Between The Gulfs Of Suez And Aqaba. It Is Renowned For Having The Most Exquisite Coral Reefs In The World And For Being A Refuge To Rare Marine Life. It Has Recently Declared A Nature Preserve And Most Fit For Diving.

Sharm Al-Shiekh: Overlooks The Gulf Of Aqaba, And Is About 53 Km. From Ras Mohammed And 336 Km. From Suez. It Is Both A Summer And Winter Resort Due To Its Moderate Climate All Year Round And Depends On Fishing And Tourism. It Is The Mecca Of All Those Who Seek Tranquility And Love The Sun. There Are Several Well Equipped Diving Centers.

Dahab: About 81 Km. North Of Sharm Al-Shiekh, It Is One Of The Most Beautiful Beaches In South Sinai Because Of Its Gleaming Sand, Clear Waters And Colorful Marine Life. It Has A Tourist Village, Diving Centers, Camping Sites And Boats And Waterskiing Facilities.

Hurghada: Founded In The Early 20th Century , Hurghanda Has Gone On To Become The Foremost Tourist Resorts Of The Red Sea Coast And An International Centre For Aquatic Sports. If It Takes Place In The Water You Can Do It Here: Windsurfing, Sailing, Deep-Sea Fishing, And Snorkeling. The Unique Underwater Gardens Are Some Of The Finest In The World.

Safaga: Is A Working Port With Several Tourist Villages Specializing In Diving Holidays, A Handful Of Hotels And Some Excellent Fish Restaurants. Daytrips To Tobia Islands Or Mons Claudianus In The Red Sea Can Be Arranged With Local Guides.