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Tour Highlights

About Egypt Travel

Cairo:  Africa’s most populous city, Cairo was founded in 969 A.D.  The timeless and energetic city occupies the banks and islands of the Nile River in northern Egypt.  The oldest section of the city is east of the river, and has grown haphazardly over the centuries, creating small, crowded lanes, curio shops, many old mosques and tenements.  Using Paris as a model, western Cairo was built in the mid-19th century, with wide boulevards, public gardens, and grand open spaces.  In the desert west of Giza, the ancient necropolis of Memphis encompasses three of the most remarkable structures man has ever build… the pyramids of Giza.  The wealth of pharaohs is part of the vast collection at the renowned Egyptian Museum, which also includes a fascinating collection of mummies.  Khan el Khalili bazaar is a shopping adventure extraordinaire.  Sakkara Step Pyramid of Zoser is the oldest known pyramid in the world.  In the company of a professional guide, travelers explore the many facets of Cairo.

Aswan:  Aswan, Egypt’s southernmost city, has among its many sites Temple of Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk, intriguing tombs and the famous High Dam.  Aswan has become a popular winter resort for people in the region.

Luxor:  Luxor, ancient Thebes, was the seat of the Middle Kingdom and the site of the pharaohs’ glorious temples and tombs.  Its importance began in the early 11th Dynasty as it became a prosperous city known for its high social status and luxury.  It was also a center for art, and religious and political supremacy.  Ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor are across the Nile River from the monuments, temples and tombs of the West Bank Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.  Luxor and Karnak Temples are two of Luxor’s crowning architectural achievements.  Karnak Temple is the site of the massive Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns.  On the West Bank, the Colossi of Memnon, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Valleys of Kings and Queens sport richly decorated edifices once hidden beneath desert sands.

Alexandria:  This ancient port city, the second largest city in Egypt, is called “The Pearl of the Mediterranean” for its warm ambiance.  As the center of learning in the ancient world, the city was once home to the legendary Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an ancient library founded by a pupil of Aristotle in the 4th century B.C.  By the middle of the 1st century B.C., the library is said to have contained 700,000 manuscripts on papyrus.  Pompey’s Pillar rests in a small park about a mile and a half southwest of the city center.  The largest known Roman burial site in Egypt is the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.  Three tiers of tombs and chambers cut into rock date from the 2nd century A.D.  Later, they were expanded to hold more than 300 individual tombs, and included a banquet hall where relatives staged funeral feasts.  The Roman Amphitheater also dates back to that time.  Its well-preserved terraces were only rediscovered in 1963.  Fortress of Qait Bay is located on the Island of Pharos.  This impressive 15th-century fortress stands on the site where once stood the Great Lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).  Recent discoveries around the fortress have revealed many more artifacts; some of what experts believe may be parts of the ancient lighthouse.

Hurghada:  Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century, quite new by Egyptian standards, and until a few years ago, remained a small fishing village.  Hurghada today is tourist resort on the Red Sea coast.  The recreational focus here is all things water…windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, swimming, snorkeling and diving.  The unique underwater gardens offshore are well known to divers.  The warm waters here are ideal for many varieties of rare fish and coral reefs, which non-swimmers can observe through glass bottom boats.  The town has a bazaar, museum and aquarium as well as a fine selection of resorts, restaurants and activities for a delightful vacation experience.

Sharm El Sheik:  Sharm el Sheikh is a city on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.  It sits on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai.  This is another stand-out resort area that features diving, snorkeling and other water sports.  The coral reefs here are home to tropical fish such as Napoleon fish, reef shark, manta ray and green turtle.  Ras Mohamed, once an important city for travelers heading for Mecca, became a national park in the 1980s to protect the region’s marine and desert life.  Foxes and gazelles were reintroduced.  This is also the northern site in the Northern Hemisphere where mangroves flourish.  A number of international hotels and noted restaurants are clustered around the center of Sharm, known as Naama Bay, with golf courses and other leisure facilities further up the coast.

Best Times to Travel to Egypt
Festivals and Special Events

• In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, the climate is hot desert, but often with high humidity due to the Nile River Valley’s effects.  Wind storms can be frequent, bringing Saharan dust into the city during the months of March and April.
• High temperatures in winter range from the 55°F to the low 70°Fs, while nighttime lows drop to below 40°Fs.  In summer, the highs often surpass 104°F, and lows drop to about 68°F.  Rainfall is sparse, but sudden showers can cause flooding.
• Cairo International Book Fair was first held in 1969, the annual Cairo International Book Fair is one of the biggest events of its kind in the Middle East.  In addition to the exhibition, there is also a program of cultural events which includes lectures, seminars and special displays.
• Sun Festival in Abu Simbel.  The festivals of Abu Simbel, take place twice every year here in one of the most dazzling temples in Egypt.  The sun slowly creeps into the inner sanctum of the greater temple at Abu Simbel, illuminating the prodigious statues of King Ramses II and the two sun gods.  After that spectacular sight, there is festive dancing and music.
• Ramadan is a Muslim holy time that takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.  It is the month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and doing anything to excess from dawn to sunset.  The dates of Ramadan are tied to the new moon.  If you are vacationing during this time in a Muslim region, please be sensitive to this.