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Travelers have marvelled at Egypt's archaeological wonders
for centuries, ever since the Ancient Greeks visited the pyramids.
Today, the ancient wonders attract millions of tourists each
year to the pyramids, temples, mosques and great monuments of
the Nile Valley, as well as the stunning diving resorts of the
Red Sea.
The life-giving Nile pours across the map, feeding an emerald
ribbon of irrigated fields adjacent to villages shaded by date
palms. Whether on a cruise ship or traditional felucca, life
on the water is a constant visual feast, while the few huge,
dusty cities – Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor – are a babble
of exotic sounds and smells.
Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheik, on the Red Sea coast, are doors
to a magical underwater world of technicolor fish and coral
favored by divers, while other adventurous travelers head inland.
Here, you can discover monasteries amid the arid mountains of
Sinai or the distant desert oases, homes of the hardy nomads
whose camel trains still wander the Saharan sands.
Facts
Area : 1,002,000 sq km
(386,874 sq miles).
Population : 74.9 million (UN,
2005).
Population Density : 74.8 per sq
km.
Capital : Cairo (El Qahira).
Population: 16.7 million (2005
estimate).
Government: Republic
Head of State: President Muhammad
Hosni Mubarak since 1981.
Head of Government: Ahmed Nazif
since 2004.
Language : Arabic is the official
language. English and French are widely spoken.
Religion : According to the 1986
census, over 94 per cent of the population follows Islam; the
majority of the rest is Christian. All types of Christianity
are represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church. There
is also a small Jewish minority.
Major Tourists Destinations
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt, It has an atmosphere
that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern; its ambience
and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country
although it is actually only 225 km. from Cairo. Alexandria
lies northwest of the Nile Delta and adjoins Lake Mariut. It
is linked to Cairo by the Delta Road (231 km.) and the Desert
Road (225 km.). It is one of the most notable summer resorts
in the Middle East, known for its temperate winters and beaches,
with soft sands and magnificent scenery that stretch for 40
km. along the Mediterranean Sea. Founded by Alexander the Great
in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of the Graeco-Roman
Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos
and the setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra
and Mark Antony. The city, immortalizing Alexander's name, flourished,
beyond all expectations, into a prominent cultural, intellectual
and economic metropolis, the remains of which are still evident
to this day.
Major attaractions
The Graeco-Roman Museum
Pompeii's Pillar
The Catacombs of Kom al-Shqafa
The Tombs of Al-Anfushi
Other tourist attractions are:
Al-Shatby Necropolis
The Tombs of Mustafa Kamel (Rushdy)
The Fort of Qait Bay
The Mosque of Mursi Abbas
Al-Montazah Palace
Abu Kir Suburb
Cairo
Known as the greatest city in the Islamic world, Cairo's ancient
monuments and medieval customs thrive in a cosmopolitan, modern
city. A blend of Arab, African and European influences, Africa's
largest city has a population of at least 18 million. Situated
on the Nile, the city is polluted and overcrowded, and getting
around poses many challenges, although it has greatly improved
with the ever-expanding underground Metro system.
In Islamic (or Medieval) Cairo, narrow congested streets are
filled with donkey carts, spice traders and imposing mosques.
A central landmark is Midan Hussain, a large open square with
tea houses around the perimeter, and dominated by the sacred
Mosque of Sayyidna Al-Hussain. Adjacent is the famous Khan-el
Khalili, one of the world's largest bazaars, pulsing with commerce
and crammed with spices, coppersmiths, perfume and trinkets.
Bargaining has been a way of life in these alleyways since the
late 14th century and it is easy to get taken in by silver-tongued
salesmen. Here, Fishawi's tea house has been in business for
over 200 years, and is still a great people-watching venue.
Nearby is Al-Azhar Mosque, containing the oldest university
in the world (AD 970). The pre-Ottoman Madrassa and Mausoleum
of Al-Ghouri, has Sufi dancing, and opposite is Wakala of Al-Ghouri,
an attractively preserved cultural center. Exhibits in the Museum
of Islamic Art bring Islamic Cairo to life, with arts, ceramics,
mosaics and calligraphy.
The Citadel was home to Egypt's rulers for 700 years; an imposing
medieval fortress offering sweeping views of the city. Within
it is the Midan Salah al-Din with the unmissable Sultan Hassan
and Rifai Mosques. The Mohammad Ali Mosque has classic Ottoman
minarets and interior. Within the Citadel, other attractions
include the Military National Museum, Al-Gawhara Palace and
Museum and the National Police Museum.
City of the Dead (Northern Cemetery) is a Mamluk necropolis
with hundreds of thousands of tombs dating from the 12th century.
Many thousands more live here in something resembling a shanty
town amongst the ornate mausoleums.
Sharia Talat Harb street and Midan Tahrir (Liberation Square)
are typical of the more modern, commercial center of Cairo –
filled with concrete and cars, and containing countless hotels,
restaurants, office blocks and museums. Here is one of the country's
greatest attractions; the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities housing
over 130,000 exhibits, including Pharaonic and Byzantine art
and sculpture, the Mummy Room and the celebrated Tutankhamun
exhibition.
Oases
Egypt's six oases can provide relief from cities. All have
accommodation and can be accessed by public transport. The desert
forms 94 per cent of the country's area, yet only 1 per cent
of the population lives in it. The largest and most developed
oasis is Kharga, with a Berber community, temples and museums.
Dhakla Oasis has hot springs, and camel rides over the sand
dunes. The nearby village of Bashandi sells handicrafts made
by local girls. The smallest is Farafra, an ancient fort town;
Bahariyya is made up of several small villages, famed for its
olives and dates. Al-Faiyum Oasis is 100km (60 miles) southwest
of Cairo, and the area contains small pyramids, the old city
of Karanis, and temples. Siwa is the furthest west and remote,
but the most picturesque and idyllic. The community is traditional
and Berber-speaking.
The Nile
Many tour operators offer Nile cruises, usually between Luxor
and Aswan, and generally lasting around five days. It is also
possible to get a cruise to Minia (a charming town with Roman,
Greek and Pharaonic ruins, including the Beni Hassan archaeological
area) and/or through to Cairo. Felucca trips offer the same
route – with more basic facilities. For further information,
see the Activities section.
Luxor
Once the ancient city of Thebes and powerhouse of upper Egypt,
Luxor has grown into a large town, awash with hotels, restaurants
and souvenir shops, with most of its economy coming from tourism.
A highlight is the Karnak Temple, covering an immense 100
acres (40.5 hectares). Of the three temple enclosures, the grandest
is the Precinct of Amun, the main place of worship. The Great
Hypostyle Hall is 6000 sq m (64,584 sq ft) and filled with immense
stone pillars. The whole site has colossal statues, reliefs,
obelisks and halls and, of course, the Avenue of the Sphinxes.
There are nightly son et lumière shows.
Along the riverbank, Luxor Temple is guarded by a huge statue
of Ramses II, and although a fraction of the area of Karnak,
it also contains countless columns, statues and sphinxes. A
pleasant walk north along the corniche brings you to the Luxor
Museum where a small, interesting collection of relics from
the Theban Temples and Necropolis can be viewed. The recently
opened Mummification Museum has exhibits of human, reptile and
bird mummies, as well as explanations of how they are made.
On the West Bank of the Nile is the vast Theban Necropolis,
containing some of the world's finest tombs: the Valley of the
Kings; Valley of the Queens; and Tombs of the Nobles. Highlights
include the Tomb of Tutankhamun; Ramses II; and the Tomb of
Nefertari, reputed to be the country's finest, which is newly
restored and allows only 150 visitors a day for 10 minutes.
Nearby is Deir el-Bahri (Northern Monastery), a picturesque
temple set amidst the amphitheater of the Theban Hills.
Along the Nile, felucca owners tout for custom, and it is
possible to hire one for a brief sunset cruise to Banana Island,
or even to organize a trip upriver to Aswan. Hot-air balloon
trips are also available, offering the best views of Luxor.
Around Luxor Temple, shopping is dominated by tourist bazaars
with enthusiastic salesmen. The more traditional souk, with
household goods, spices and clothes, is on Sharia el-Birka.
Cafes and stalls sell hot Time, and there are rooftop terraces
overlooking the river. A livestock market is held every Tuesday
morning at El-Hebel, a village 4km (2.4 miles) from Luxor.
Aswan
A beautiful winter resort, relaxing Aswan is the southernmost
city in the country; the gateway to Africa, and steeped in Nubian
culture. Although the sights are not the country's finest, the
town's riverside location is picturesque and peaceful. It has
a busy tourism scene although it is less aggressive than Luxor.
The corniche provides attractive riverside walks, and a stop-off
for many cruise ships. In the evenings, floating restaurants
provide a lively gathering place, and the world-famous folkloric
dance troupe performs nightly during winter months at the Cultural
Center. Southernmost is the Old Cataract Hotel (famous as the
location of the film 'Death on the Nile'). Sharia el-Souq is
the atmospheric market stretching for streets, with spices,
Time and clothes, as well as predictable tourist souvenirs.
Elephantine Island is easily accessible by river taxi. Formerly
Egypt's frontier town, recent excavations of this ancient site
have revealed temples and a fortress. Aswan Museum contains
exhibits found in Nubia and Aswan. The Nilometer on the south
of the island, dating back to Pharaonic Times, was used to measure
the height of the Nile.
Further south is the tiny Island of Plants, presented to Lord
Horatio Kitchener in the 1890s in recognition of his military
services. Importing exotic flowers and plants from India and
Malaysia, he created a beautiful botanical garden, open daily
to the public, attracting a wide variety of birds.
On the West Bank of the Nile lies the Monastery of St Simeon,
which resembles a fortress. Nearby is the domed granite and
sandstone Mausoleum of Aga Khan.
Beyond Aswan
Outside the city are the Aswan Dam, built by the British at
the beginning of the century, and the Temple of Philae, on the
Island of Philae. The Temple is one of Egypt's most famous attractions,
and after being under threat from flooding from the High Dam,
UNESCO moved it stone by stone to a higher point on the island.
Further afield is Abu Simbel, the magnificent Sun Temple of
Ramses II, also rescued from flooding by UNESCO. Ramses had
four gigantic statues of himself built in order to intimidate
travelers entering Egypt from Africa, especially the Nubians.
Kom Ombo, 30km (18 miles) north of Aswan, is a largely Nubian
settlement, known for its Temple of Haroeris and Sobek. Nearby
is the Darow Camel Market, held every Tuesday morning and mainly
frequented by tribesmen from the northern Sudanese deserts.
Edfu is famed for the largest and best preserved Pharaoronic
Temple in Egypt, the Temple of Horus. It is a favored starting/stopping
point for felucca trips to and from Luxor.
Sinai & The Red Sea Coast
A great example of modern engineering, the Suez Canal links
the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. Completed in 1869, it has
repeatedly been the cause of dispute, most recently when blocked
during the 1967 war with Israel. Port Said is the main city.
Anyone traveling to Sinai by road would cross the Suez on a
small shuttle boat, or under the tunnel.
The Red Sea Coast sits strategically between Africa and Asia,
rich in mineral wealth and revered as the place of miracles
and prophets in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. God is said
to have appeared to Moses here, and thought to have delivered
the Israelites from the Egyptian army into the Red Sea. These
days, the region is revered for its spectacular diving resorts,
beaches, stunning coastline and vast deserts. This area has
some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world, and has
a more liberal atmosphere than the rest of Egypt.
The coastline attracts tourists ranging from top-class package
deals, to backpackers in campsites: Sharm el-Sheikh is a large
resort, and is best for diving. Na'ama Bay is much better developed
and upmarket, with private beaches. A few kilometers north is
Shark Bay, a quieter resort camp. The beaches at Dahab are spectacularly
framed by jagged mountains. Holiday villages within a Bedouin
settlement are close by. Nuweiba is a port city, with a plethora
of resorts, and is famous for Olin the dolphin, with which people
can pay to swim. Local Bedouins offer jeep safaris into the
interior. Between here and Taba, there are many small, quiet
resorts that threaten to be overshadowed by a huge new tourist
development, Taba Heights. On the west of the Red Sea Coast,
the biggest diving resort is Hurghada, once a fishing village
and now a major commercial tourist center. Ras Muhammed is the
southernmost point on the peninsula, fringed with lagoons and
reefs, and is now a National Park.
Little is accessible in Sinai's interior, a barren area with
rocks and sands, and the best way to explore this is by treks
or safari by camel or jeep. One of the highlights is St Catherine's
Monastery, now home to Greek Orthodox monks. St Catherine was
the legendary martyr of Alexandria, who was tortured and beheaded
for her Christianity. It has been a place of pilgrimage since
the 4th century. Within the monastery is the 'burning bush'
from which God is said to have appeared to speak to Moses. Mount
Sinai, revered as the site of God's revelation of the Ten Commandments,
is a craggy and sheer-faced mount of grey and red, dramatic
and steep. Care should be taken when ascending. Other places
to visit in this region include Oyun Musa ('Springs of Moses'),
Qalat al-Gindi, an 800-year-old fortress, and Hammam Fara'un's
hot springs and isolated beach.
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