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The Magnificent Land of
Pharoahs, Scarabs
& Heiroglyphs
Egypt is the land of the magnificent pyramids. It is synonymous with Pharoahs, temples and antiquities from ancient civilizations. The Nile River has greatly influenced the social, political, and religious life of the people. The area around the Nile Valley is the only really habitable part of Egypt, the other 96% comprises of desert area.
From desert landscapes and dry, rugged mountains, dusty cities full of exotic sounds and smells to unforgettable diving experience in the Red Sea, to unique experiences like riding on the back of a camel in the desert or taking a jeep safari to the inner oasis, or felucca cruises on the Nile River, Egypt has something to offer each and every visitor who arrives on its magnificent shores. The country is an exotic combination of history and pleasure. Egyptians are hospitable, warm and friendly. This probably explains why tourism is the second highest source of income for the country.
Where to go
Cairo (the capital of Egypt) is just like any other teeming metropolis-polluted, grimy and crowded. But nevertheless, the city is charming and there is a great deal to explore and enjoy in terms of the Egyptian customs, traditions, lifestyle and food, especially the amazing variety of sweets!
The Giza pyramids
Located in the plateau of Giza, in Cairo, there are three pyramids built by three powerful Pharaohs- the great Pyramid of ‘Khufu’, the smaller one called ‘Khafre’ and the still smaller one ‘Menkaure’. Pyramids are tombs for the Pharaohs. The mummified body of Pharaoh is kept in a decorated sarcophagus (coffin) deep inside the pyramid.
Islamic Cairo
A fascinating maze of little streets, filled with numerous old monuments and mosques from Cairo's Islamic past.
Suez Canal
The canal serves as a two-way water transport route between Europe and Asia. It supports approximately 14% of the world’s shipping traffic with almost sixty five vessels traveling through it daily.
Papyrus museum
The museum has a beautiful collection of Egyptian paintings done on papyrus scrolls. There are live demonstrations on how a papyrus scroll is made.
Egyptian Museum
This museum is hundred years old. There are more than 1, 20,000 relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history.
The other cities in Egypt which are major
tourist attractions:
Aswan
The Nile cruises begin here. The promenade is dotted with many cruise ships which have all the trappings of a star hotel.
Must see:
The temples of Ramses II and his queen Nefertiti at Abu Simbel
The Aswan Dam
A visit to the perfumery
Edfu
Must see:
Luxor
The adventurous can take a ride on the hot air balloon on the west bank. The thrilling ride is worth every penny.
Must see:
Hurghada
The resort city of Hurghada is a good relief to the many historical sites that the country has. For those of you who enjoy water sports; you can take your pick here, as there is a wide choice of aquatic sports to choose from.
Must see:
A submarine ride into the red sea will let you get a glimpse of the amazing variety of marine life breeding in the clear waters.
Alexandria
Must see:
- Pompeii’s Pillar
- The Roman Catacombs
GETTING THERE
There are many options available-Gulf Air, Emirates, Air Cairo, etc. A stopover at Dubai/Muscat with connecting flights is cheaper and more comfortable.
Shopping
Visit the Khan-el-Khalili market in Cairo. There are innumerable tiny shops in narrow alleys selling wares ranging from perfumes, clothes, handicrafts, souvenirs, copperware, antiques, spices, leatherwork, glass and more.
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The highlight of the Egyptian museum is the world famous Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus (a large stone box that encloses a mummy’s coffin). Egyptians believed in life after death. They preserved the same body through ‘Mummification’. Egypt has more than a hundred pyramids. The great pyramid has 3.3 million cubic yards of rock.
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