Egypt Tourism & Travel Guide - Places to See in Egypt

Egypt Tour & Travel Guide - Places to See in Egypt

But of course. The most publicized image of Egyptian tourism, the pyramids guarded by the Sphinx are still guaranteed to produce that take-my-breath-away sensation in your tummy. Incongruously placed in the crowded suburb of Giza, the Pyramids still manage to convey a sense of magnificence as they should – after all these were the stairways on which the Pharaohs ascended to the Sun. Sunset at Giza with the Sphinx and the three Pyramids backlit by the setting sun is the stuff of photographic dreams. The best way to get here is by bus from Cairo through the Pyramids Road or by private taxi. There is also a Sound and Light show by night and it’s worth sitting through the cheesy script to see the Pyramids lit up in vivid yellows and pinks.

The Egyptian Museum

A treasure trove of history that resembles a crowded antiquarian shop more than a museum, such are the sheer numbers of objects. Like an Egyptian version of the Mona Lisa, most visitors can be seen gawping (and justifiably so) at the incredibly beautiful Nefertiti head. However, the place is filled with other,equally lovely relics like the gigantic statue of Khefre (the owner and presumably the inhabitant) of the second pyramid at Giza, the statue of Zoser, the Mummy Rooms and of course the legendary contents of King Tut’s tomb – the Tutankhamen Galleries. Photography is not allowed and the guards are rather unpleasant to anyone caught clicking. Security is tight and it takes a while to get in with all the body and bag checks. Early mornings are best unless you’re going in a large tour group where tickets are pre-arranged. The grounds of the Museum are shady and large and many people can be seen resting or looking at the odd 4000-year-old sphinx lying casually in the grass. There is also a small café upstairs.

Step Pyramids of Saqqara

Among all the secrets that the Pyramids hide, the riddle of how they were built is an enduring one. Saqarra comes a step closer to answering the question and the Step Pyramid is clearly a blueprint from which the later pyramids took their shape. Designed by Imhotep for Pharaoh Zoser (he of the Egyptian Museum fame), the Pyramid is a built as a series of layers or steps and is the world’s oldest pyramid as we know it. The site also boasts of a huge funerary complex, a small museum that also shows a film on the building of the Pyramids and a cellar where a copy of the Zoser statue resides. Very close to Saqqara, in Dahshur, other prototypes of the pyramid exist in the shape of the Bent Pyramid (it really is bent) and the Red and Black Pyramids. Memphis with its open air museum is also worth combining in the same day trip. The best way to get here is by taxi from Cairo (a car can be hired for seven-eight hours) or in a tour group.

Luxor

The Egyptian tourism authorities advertise it as the world’s largest open air museum but it could equally well be called the world’s largest necropolis with nothing less than sixty three tombs. Either way, Luxor or Thebes as it was called in ancient times, is magical. From the magnificent temples of Karnak and Luxor to the Memnon Colossi and the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is an experience that cannot be seen in a day or two. And as if this weren’t enough, the setting is simply spectacular. The Nile winds its way between the East and West Banks and provides backdrops of rose-pink dawns or Technicolor sunsets against which to view the Valley. The best way to get to Luxor is by the comfortable overnight sleeper train from Cairo but there are a host of options including buses from Cairo (eleven hours) or by air, or if you’re in the mood to splurge, a Nile cruise.

Abu Simbel and Aswan

The temples of Abu Simbel dedicated to Ramses II and Hathor now overlook Lake Nasser after their disassembling and reconstruction and the four statues of Ramses guarding the entrance are easily recognizable. If you’re lucky enough to travel to Abu Simbel in February, make sure you go on the twenty-second. The temple is oriented so that only twice every year, on 22 February and 22 October, the first rays of the sun illuminate the innermost shrine and shine on three of the four gods seated there. By a miracle of engineering, Ptah or the God of Darkness is left unilluminated. The town of Aswan itself is worth a visit along with Elephantine Island. Aswan and Abu Simbel can be easily visited along with Luxor (thirty minutes by bus). Alternatively, there are flights available from Luxor and Cairo as well.

The Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh

Monuments leaving you cold? If diving and beaches are your thing, then Sharm el Sheik with the Red Sea on one side and the mountains of Mount Sinai on the other is an exotic if relatively expensive retreat. Accommodation is modeled on the Riviera and not as low-cost as the rest of Egypt but then the dives are also world-class. Not only can you see the rich coral and marine life of the Red Sea but also explore the famous Thistlegorm and Louilla shipwrecks as well. There are direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Cairo or even from neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.

Cairo

Umm-ad-Dunya (mother of the world), al Qahira or Cairo – whatever you choose to call it, the city has enough to occupy you for the whole of that Egyptian sojourn. The centre of the city is Tahrir Square, recently in the news as the centre of the protests and north-east lies Cairo Downtown.Go shopping for souvenirs at Khan el Khalili, explore the minarets and kahwa houses of Islamic Cairo, stroll along boulevards at Garden City and predict the annual harvest at the Nilometer. Or just escape from the hustle and crowds and enter the tranquil world of Coptic Cairo. The Metro is a great albeit slightly restricted way to get around. Taxis are cheap and plentiful and if you really fancy immersing yourself in the local experience (and populace), take a micro-bus (meekro) to anywhere you may fancy.

Alexandria

If Cairo is frenziedly vibrant and crowded, Alexandria is laid-back and relatively deserted. With parts of it that look like a classic Mediterranean seaside town, Alex offers pristine beaches, period cafes, a lovely corniche and marina and a general relaxed holiday air. The Alexandria Museum, the Corniche, Fort Qait Bey and the new Alexandria Library are all worth a visit. Period hotels line the Corniche including the famous Cecil (Christie and Churchill both stayed) as well as the Windsor Palace hotel that boasts a gilded cage lift.