Egypt Travel Guide
Egypt Essentials
Language: Arabic
Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)
Rate:
Time Zone: GMT +2
Capital City: Cairo
Population: 79 million
Layout: See Map
Travel to Egypt
Egypt is one of the most remarkable travel destinations in the world. With a history dating back more than 6,000 years, it has been ruled by Pharaohs and Romans, Turkish Sultans and Muslim caliphs, as well as British and French colonisers - all of whom left their distinctive marks. The Nile River has been the lifeline of Egypt since the beginning of time and much of the country's population and sights are clustered around it.
The capital, Cairo, lies on both sides of the Nile River, and boasts a rich history with a delightful blend of cultures among its population of 17 million. Egypt's most amazing sights - the Great Pyramids and Sphinx - are just outside of this city, in the township of Giza. Another must-see in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum, filled with amazing antiquities. In your down time, it's fun to wander the winding alleys and stop at the old-fashioned coffee shops (ahwas).
The Nile Valley is home to thousands of ancient monuments and you can take a luxury cruise on the river to spend a few days exploring the antiquity en-route between Cairo and Luxor.
Luxor boasts spectacular ancient architecture, with the temples of Karnak as the centrepiece. The complex encompasses an assortment of chambers and enclosures, as well as a courtyard of pillars, statues and sphinxes. Nearby is the Valley of the Kings where all the main Pharoah's tombs are, and it was here that King Tutankamen's tomb was discovered in 1922.
Aswan is an intriguing frontier trading town, and no visit here would be complete without a trip to the massive Aswan High Dam - the worlds largest. Additionally, the amazing temple ruins of Abu Simbel, relocated to an island on this - the world's largest man-made lake, should not be missed. Elephantine Island, on the Nile river near the city has a good collection of ruins and taking a traditional felucca sail boat to get there is popular.
Egypt's second largest city is Alexandria, located at the delta of the Nile. This grand city has a rich history, with former residents including Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Euclid. Roman remains include the Roman Amphitheatre, the enormous Pompeys Pillar and the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa. The fine Greco-Roman Museum is well worth seeing.
The Sinai Peninsula links Africa to Asia, and has become a popular destination for those seeking sun and water sports; Sharm-El-Sheikh offers some amazing scuba diving. Dahab, to the north, is a popular hippie retreat and is laid-back and charming. Hurghada is the main attraction along the western coastline of the Egyptian mainland and is known for its excellent coral reefs and turquoise waters, as well as good wind-surfing conditions.
