1
The Pyramids & Sphinx, Cairo
Kufu’s Great Pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx are two of the most iconic man-made structures in the world. The Great Pyramid still looms imposingly over modern Cairo and is the only extant Wonder of the Ancient World. Nearby, the famous statue of the Sphinx – known as Abu Hol (father of terror) in Arabic - is said to be a representation of the pharaoh Kafre the builder of the second pyramid at Giza. This amazing site was, along with nearby Saqqara (site of Stepped pyramid), and Dashur (site of Bent & Red pyramids), the necropolis for the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis.
2
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
The greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world is without doubt, that held by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Amongst the 120,000 artefacts on display are countless treasures and works of art including: the golden funerary goods from the tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor; the partially unwrapped mummified bodies of several of Egypt’s great pharaohs; and the Narmer Palatte which is thought by some to represent the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Also present are great quantity of superb statuary; countless coffins; fine jewellery; household goods; and the body of a mummified crocodile!
3
Khan El Khalili Bazaar & Islamic Cairo
The fact that Cairo contains one of the greatest concentrations of medieval buildings in existence may come as a surprise; yet, its towering mosques, mausolea, religious schools, and caravanserais number amongst the finest ever built. The labyrinthine cobbled lanes of the Khan el Khalili bazaar and Islamic Cairo are a joy to discover and showcase a Cairo where seemingly little has changed since the Middle Ages. In the bazaar the profusion of goods on display is staggering and the atmosphere infused with the cries and aromas of the orient. This is a real immersion into the Middle Eastern experience!
4
Temple of Karnak, Luxor
The largest temple complex ever built by man, Karnak, known as ‘Ipet-isut’ (The Most Select of Places) by the ancient Egyptians, is one of the most impressive sites in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians considered Karnak to be the site of creation where Amum-Ra brought the world into being from the primordial ocean. The temple represents the combined achievements of generations of ancient builders and covers an enormous area; its massive temple pylons, forests of great columns, and towering obelisks are simply unforgettable.
5
Valley of the Kings, Luxor
The famed Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank was the cemetery of the pharaohs from the New Kingdom period (1550 – 1069 BC) and contains 63 rock-cut tombs – including that of the boy-king Tutankhamen discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Despite its name the Valley of the Kings also contains the tombs of favourite nobles as well as the wives and children of both nobles and pharaohs. Many of the royal tombs were decorated with extravagant, brightly coloured, religious texts and images that have lost none of their vibrancy over the ages.
6
Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel
One of the most impressive mouments in Egypt, the great rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel were built by the pharaoh Ramses II (c1279 – c1213 BC) in Lower Nubia. The famous facade of the main temple is dominated by four colossal seated statues of Ramses – each one over 20 metres in height – and ranking amongst the tallest in Egypt. The smaller temple was built to honour Ramses’ wife Neferatari and the goddess Hathor. It is fronted by six enormous figures of Ramses and Nerfertari , each 10 metres high and flanked by smaller figures of the royal children.
7
Aswan & Philae Temples
Aswan is one of the most attractive spots in Egypt. Here the sands of the Sahara desert tumble directly into the Nile from giant dunes, and the tall sails of feluccas ply the tranquil waters between emerald islands and pink granite rocks. A short distance away, the stunning Philae Temple, ‘The Pearl of Egypt’, emerges from the waters of its encasing lake. Nearby is the enormous Aswan High Dam, built in the 1960s to harness the waters of the Nile, and the Quarries of the Pharaohs from where much of the statuary of ancient Egypt was hewn. Aswan has a distinctly Nubian culture and is a very relaxed and enjoyable place to experience. The city is also home to the beautiful Moorish-style Old Cataract Hotel where it is said Agatha Christie wrote “Death on the Nile”.
8
Temple of Horus, Edfu
The Temple of Horus at Edfu was the traditional location of the mythical battle between the gods Horus and Seth, and is the site of Egypt’s best preserved and most complete ancient temple. The temple dates to the Ptolemaic period and was completed by the father of the last Cleopatra. Today, the enormous temple is incredibly impressive and is replendant with massive pylons, a marvelously decorated peristyle court, two columed hypostyle halls, and a complete inner sanctuary.
9
St Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai
Set in the glorious isolation of the Sinai desert, beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, St Catherine’s Monastery is a UNESCO World Heriatge Site and was built during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 527 – 565 A.D. Amongst its many treasures is a great library of manuscripts, beautiful icons, and a 6th century church reputed to lie directly on the site of the Biblical Burning Bush. The climb up Mt Sinai to see the dawn is a memorable experience and recommended if you can manage the 3 hour ascent.
10
The Red Sea
With its pristine deep blue waters, technicolour reefs, abundant marine life, and many hours of warm sunshine, the Red Sea is wonderful place to come to relax, indulge in watersports, or enjoy being pampered, following a busy tour of the Nile Valley. Stretching from the Gulf of Aqaba along the East coast of the Egyptian mainland to Sudan, the Red Sea Riviera is one considered to be one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkelling. The most luxurious of the Red Sea hotels are to be found to at Sharm el Sheikh in the Sinai and to the south of Hurghada on the Eastern sea-board.