Egypt "THE GIFT OF THE SUN"

When the biting cold of winter sets in, the shores of Egypt, stretching unpolluted for miles and miles, offers the warmth of the sun that has deserted other shores to shine only here honoring, it seems, the ancient days when the sun was an Egypt deity.

No country on earth boasts a longer recorded history than does Egypt “Gift of the Nile” as described by the historian Herodotus, a statement as true as today as it has been through the fifty centuries of Egypt's extraordinary history.

As well as the Pyramids - a must-see in this country - other major reasons for visiting Egypt include nearby Cairo itself, which contains the fascinating Egyptian Museum; the southern cities of Luxor and Aswan along the Nile river, and northern Alexandria. In addition, the Mediterranean and Red Sea beaches in places such as Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada and Marasa Alam are reason alone to visit Egypt with their excellent entertainment and water sports options. Egypt has more to offer travelers than any other North African country and its cheap prices, amazing history and great beaches account for its popularity as a holiday destination for travelers from all over the world.

There are many great things to see and do in Egypt. If you are not going on an organized package holiday, here are some suggestions for planning your itinerary.
• Spend three or four days based in Cairo to check out the capital and the nearby Pyramids and Sphinx.
• Four or five days cruising down the Nile between Aswan and Luxor.
• A day visiting Abu Simbel, the Sun Temple of Ramses II.
• Enjoy a few days down at the Red Sea with its fine beaches, excellent scuba diving and snorkeling.
• The adventurous could easily spend a few days trekking the remote, northern and southern Sinai area or the Western Desert of Egypt.

PLACES TO VISIT in Egypt

Cairo: straddles the mighty NileRiver in the north of the country, has a rich history and a massive population. Most people come to Cairo, and indeed Egypt, to visit the nearby Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, however, which lie just a few miles away to the southwest in the town of Giza. While in Cairo, you simply must take a look at the EgyptianMuseum even if you are not into museums. The sheer amount of stunning antiquities in here is mind-boggling.

The Pyramids and Sphinx: are by far the biggest attraction in Egypt, way above the capital itself. Situated in Giza on the outskirts of Cairo, the pyramids are the only live remainder of the true ‘Seven Wonders of the World’; the largest is 450ft in height. Camels, horses, touts and incessant tourists can be slightly off-putting if you let it get to you, but there is no taking away the grandeur of this sight. The 160-foot long Sphinx also sits nearby, with the head of a female and the body of a lion and all carved from a single block of stone. A visit here is unforgettable.

Luxor: also lies on the Nile but deep within the bosom of the country. This fine ancient city is one of spectacular architecture, of which the temples of Karnak are the focus. There are chambers and enclosures galore in here along with numerous statues and sphinxes. The Valley of the Kings is also near to Luxor and is the main reason that people head down this way. The Pharaohs’ Tombs are here, including that of King Tutankhamen, which was uncovered in 1922. Cruising the Nile in this region is a pastime, not to be missed.

Aswan: is further south from Luxor on the Nile and is one of the main places to visit in Egypt, a frontier desert trading town of stark beauty with many nearby attractions. The massive High Dam is one of the main sights and one of the world's largest dams, which led to the creation of the huge LakeNasser, the world's largest artificial lake. In addition, the temple ruins of Abu Simbel are a popular but long day-trip from Aswan. Also well worth a look is ElephantineIsland via traditional felucca sailboat to admire the ruins here.

Alexandria: is situated right on the Mediterranean in the extreme north of Egypt and has a welcome climate compared with the interior of the country. Egypt’s second largest city was home to the likes of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar and is a hodgepodge of historical intrigue. Sights worth seeing include the Roman Amphitheatre, the Catacombs of Kom Al-Shoukafa, the huge Pompey's Pillar and the Greco-Roman Museum.

Beaches in Egypt: many visitors are choosing to come here for summer and winter holidays over world-wide destinations nowadays owing to the near perfect weather and cheap prices. There are several main beach areas to choose from: the Mediterranean beaches from the Suez Canal to the Libyan border; the various regions of Sinai, on the Med and the Red Sea; and the mainland coast along the Red Sea. Most beaches have some type of entertainment and some throng with tourists year round, particularly along the Red Sea. The Red Sea also offers the best water sports action, particularly so scuba diving. The most popular resorts are Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.

Oases in Egypt: very much desert and the number of oases are smaller than many might imagine. There are 8 oasis communities interesting to a traveler, plus a handful of places where people do little but work and long for the day when they can return to their home town. Discovering the desert is a bit more difficult, most people only have this experience traveling between the oases. And then the area between Bahariya and Farafra is the most popular, as it boasts the Black and WhiteDeserts. If you are into true excursions into the desert, the easiest and cheapest will be the crossing between Bahariya and Siwa or to travel up to Qara Oasis. And if you are one of the many who were fascinated by the movie The English Patient, Gilf Kebir should be your destination. This is only visited by organized 4WD trips.

There is so much to do and see all over Egypt, this lovely warm land with its charming and hospitable people. Your one and only problem is likely to be time, you may never want to leave.

Once again, we invite you to visit us. We emphatically declare that you will have no regrets, but will come back many, many times.