With a fascinating history that reaches back
to the dawn of civilization, Egypt is considered
the oldest travel destination on earth.
The African nation’s awe-inspiring temples
and pyramids have captured the imagination
of travelers for thousands of years.
Although most people come to Egypt to view
its ancient monuments, natural attractions
beckon travelers too.
The Red Sea coast is known for its coral reefs
and beach resorts while a trek through the
Sahara can lead visitors to a refreshing oasis.
Here’s a look at the best places to visit
in Egypt:
Number 10.
Hurghada
Hurghada was once a fairly small and unimposing
fishing village, located next to the Red Sea
and boasting a number of sandy beaches.
Today, the resort town is almost unrecognizable
from its past life and has grown to become
one of the most visited tourist destination
in Egypt, with more than 100 different hotels,
many of which line the shoreline.
Hurghada is especially popular for its diving
opportunities.
Number 9.
Alexandria
Located on the coast of the Mediterranean
sea, Alexandria is Egypt’s leading port
and transportation hub.
Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great,
the city was once considered the crossroads
of the world.
Many of Alexandria’s most famous historic
sites, including a library that housed more
than 500,000 books, were destroyed by devastating
earthquakes.
Today the city is a faded shade of its former
glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth
a visit for its many cultural attractions
and glimpses of its past.
Number 8.
Mount Sinai
Located in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula,
Mount Sinai is said to be the place where
Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
While there is very little archaeological
evidence to support this assertion, the mountain
is still a popular pilgrimage site and home
to the Monastery of Saint Catherine.
Founded in the 6th century, the Greek Orthodox
monastery is one of the longest-running monasteries
in
the world.
Number 7.
Siwa Oasis
Located near Egypt’s western border, Siwa
Oasis remained culturally isolated from the
rest of the country until late in the 19th
century.
Today, Siwa Oasis is an increasingly popular
travel destination.
Vacationers come to the city to enjoy the
town’s many freshwater springs, to stroll
through acres of palm groves and to explore
ancient mud-built fortresses and remnants
of Siwa’s Greco-Roman past.
Number 6.
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a well-known beach resort
at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula,
popular with package holiday makers and divers.
It is one of the finest diving spots in the
world.
Hotels and travel agencies in Sharm el-Sheikh
can also arrange tours by jeep, camel or quad
bike.
Some of the most popular day excursions include
snorkeling visits to Nabeq, jeep trips to
the Coloured Canyon and overnight trips to
Saint Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai.
Number 5.
Dahshur
Dahshur is a necropolis located in the desert
on the west bank of the Nile River approximately
25 miles south of Cairo.
Compared to Giza, it is a more tranquil and
isolated location to see some very large pyramids.
Visitor numbers are much smaller, queues are
way shorter and there is far less hassle.
Pyramids at Dahshur include the Bent Pyramid
and the Red Pyramid, constructed during the
reign of Pharaoh Sneferu.
Number 4.
Aswan
Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is a mid-sized
city located north of Lake Nasser.
Although its own monuments are minor compared
to Luxor’s, Aswan is the base for excursions
to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and to
the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel,
to the south.
It is also the best starting point for excursions
to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, between
Aswan
and Luxor.
Number 3.
Cairo
Located near the mouth of Nile River delta,
Egypt’s modern capital is a busy, bustling
metropolis with a long and turbulent history.
Built near the ancient capital city of Memphis,
modern Cairo is a popular starting point for
cruises up the Nile and for explorations of
the Pyramids at Giza just outside the city’s
limits.
At the world-renowned Egyptian Museum of Tahrir
Square, visitors can get a close-up view of
the treasure of Tutankhamun as well as mummies
and other artifacts from Egypt’s ancient
past.
Number 2.
Luxor
Luxor’s lush landscape is the setting for
incredible ancient monuments.
The Nile slowly snakes its way through the
area, with the modern day city of Luxor sitting
on the East Bank and the ancient capital of
Thebes on the West Bank.
The once resplendent city of the ancient world
is like a modern-day, open-air museum for
visitors.
You can find the famous temples of Karnak
and Luxor on the East Bank while the Valleys
of the Kings and Queens are situated on the
West Bank.
Number 1.
Giza
The Giza necropolis, situated in the immediate
vicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo
is probably the most famous ancient site in
the world.
The pyramids, together with the Sphinx at
the base of the Giza plateau, are the iconic
image of Egypt.
They were built over the span of three generations
– by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre,
and his grandson Menkaure.
Along with these major monuments are a number
of smaller satellite structures, known as
queen pyramids, causeways and temples.
