Located in the northern part of Africa, Egypt has a mystical and timeless appeal that has attracted travellers for centuries.

Ancient civilizations have left their impression on the landscape, creating what today ranks among the most spectacular sightseeing destinations in the world.

Cairo (al-Q?hirah meaning the Triumphant City) is a top travel destination in Ancient Egypt offering numerous attractions. Cairo is the administrative capital of Egypt and home of the Great Pyramids of Giza. In addition to the pyramids, there are ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and the Egyptian Antiquities Museum - all either within or nearby Cairo.

Alexandria the largest port and second largest city in Egypt is also an interesting travel destination. Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, Alexandria is home to beautiful beaches, Mediterranean Sea breezes and a wealth of history and culture. Pieces of history that tell of Alexandria’s rich and glorious past like the Roman amphitheatre and Catacombs as well as Pompey’s Pillar and the Museum of Graeco- Roman Antiquities  can all be found here.

The modern day Alexandria is a popular summer resort with beautiful hotels and gardens such as the Montazah Palace gardens. The locals come here to escape the hustle and bustle of Cairo during the winter. On sight is the fortress of Quait Bay, which was built on the site of one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Lighthouse of Pharos.

Visitors on Egypt holidays find tours to the city of Luxor quite rewarding. Located south of Egypt, Luxor (City of Palaces) and its surrounding area contain more than three quarters of Egypt’s ancient treasures including Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and Karnak temples. The hospitality of the residents of Alexandria and the area’s historical grandeur are guaranteed to capture your heart and mind right away.
Aswan, situated in Upper Egypt, is also a popular tour destination. The city was once the gateway to Africa and important ancient trade centre. Aswan today offers natural beautiful scenery in addition to many ancient attractions.

Some 320km 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.

Sinai, triangular peninsula wedged in between the waters of the Gulf of Suez to its west and the Gulf of Aqaba to its east, continues to attract numerous visitors. Forty million years ago, the Sinai was part of the African/Asian landmass until seismic activity began a process which split the landmass into two separate plates. Think of the Sinai as being pulled simultaneously by both Africa and Asia in virtually opposite directions. Such plate motion continued to influence the region thereby creating a protected underwater ecology, and vast uninhabited areas of rugged mountain terrain and arid desert.

The highest mountain of the entire Sinai Peninsula is Mt. Saint Catherine reaching a height of about 2,800 meters above sea level. An ascent, made easily by camel, donkey, or horseback, takes you to the peak. Walking up the mountain is a tiresome 5 to 6 hour trek. At the base of the mountain is a monastery dedicated to St. Catherine. According to the legend, St. Catherine’s body was carried from Alexandria by angels. Monks found her body on this summit and then carried it down the mountain to the monastery that bears her name.

The best time to visit Egypt is between November and March, outside the intolerable summer season. Beware of the khamsin, the hot dry wind that blows from the Sahara around April. Light clothing is generally recommended for Egypt’s warm climate. You may however need a sweater and jacket for winter evenings.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 9:21 am and is filed under Egypt. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.