When it comes to wonders of the world, an Egypt holiday features them in abundance, making the country a natural choice for travellers who crave the exotic and the spectacular. Egypt’s ancient antiquities reveal life during the reign of the pharaohs and royalty like the legendary Queen Cleopatra. Travel back in time along the Nile to cities with a living history, combining contemporary cultures with those dating back thousands of years. More than 70 pyramids can be spotted along this important waterway. Luxor, Cairo, Aswan and Alexandria are home to the richest treasures in archaeology.

 

Cairo is the gateway to all of Egypt’s most important attractions and has many of its own too. The Egyptian Museum is a must-see, showcasing more than 136,000 items, including 1,700 excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Not far from the bustle of Cairo are the Great Pyramids of Giza, guarded for 4,000 years by the famous, lion-bodied Sphinx. In your travels, you’ll also come across fantastic monuments and temples, preserved by the dry desert climate. Ramses II was a prolific builder as can been seen by the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, a site that was saved by a massive UNESCO-funded operation to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The pharaoh was also the mastermind of the Temple of Luxor, another must-see site.

 

Along with its fabulous archaeological history, a holiday in Egypt holds many surprises. Here you’ll find world-class golf courses, stellar diving in the Red Sea, uncrowded beaches and tempting cuisine. Do spend some time just lingering and soaking up Egypt as it is today at a traditional coffee house. This is where locals gather to swap stories, play backgammon and smoke sweet, fruity tobacco from a shisha pipe. At every turn, Egypt is a fascinating holiday destination.

 

The Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is the biggest bazaar in Egypt and the Middle East. It’s a maze of stalls and shops, offering everything from hibiscus tea to mother of pearl jewelry boxes.

 

A Jeep safari through the desert gives visitors a close-up look at an environment that is beautiful and stark.

 

Trekking to lush, green oases and mountainous peaks showcases the geographic diversity of Egypt. It has so much more than just sand.