Among the many cultures of ancient history, there are three that stand out above the rest. They are China in the east, Greece at the edge of Europe and Egypt on the edges of the African continent. Among the three countries mentioned, Egypt stands out with its architecture. Although China and Greece have their own architectural masterpieces, nothing quite surpasses the glory of Egypt 's many pyramids and temples.
As a country, Egypt begins its history in 3150 BC with the establishment of the first kingdom ruled by Menes. For three thousand years, Egypt flourished and became a great center of culture that even the Greeks themselves admired. This is also the same period of time where Egyptians started building their pyramids. This culminated in their greatest achievement so far, the Great Pyramid at Giza . All of these man made wonders that made Egypt what it was is largely due to the annual flooding of the Nile River . One of the names of Ancient Egypt was Kemet, meaning “black land”. The black land was the river deposits that the Nile left behind every time it receded.
Just like the Greeks, the Egyptians had their own pantheon of gods starting with Isis and Osiris, Ra, Anubis and Hathor. A proof of this fact is present in the many temples, obelisks, tombs and pyramids that dot the Egyptian landscape. It would be probably safe to label Egypt as one big museum of ancient history and artifacts. That's why its no surprise that millions of people travel to Egypt to be able to gaze at the monuments to man's greatness.
Egypt is an African country situated in North Africa . This country is bordered by countries such as Libya , Sudan , Gaza Strip and Israel . It is 38 th largest country of the world and is regarded as the cultural and political nation of Middle East . The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean via Red Sea .
.Egypt is known to the world for its ancient civilization and legendary monuments such as Giza pyramid complex and Great Sphinx. There are countless interesting places and attractions so it is not possible to complete tour within a week.
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and it is only city where traveling is easy due to the metro system. You can easily go to the Pyramids of Giza by taking a microbus from al-Haram. In other cities, you can travel by taxis and bus. Following are some important attractions of Egypt that are recommended to visit
Opera House : An architectural building design by the team of Japanese and Egyptian architects. Inside the building you will find large hall containing about 1200 seats used for cultural events
The Cairo 's Tower: You can watch the whole city by standing on the Cairo 's Tower. Especially at the time of sunset in the evening and sunrise in the morning, you can see the beauty during lightening.
The Pyramids of Giza : This group of pyramids covers area of 13 acres which is built by a second King of the fourth Dynasty, King Khufu. It is located at the edge of Country's capital, Cairo . These pyramids signify heaven and earth, Gods and humanity and light and dark which suffer every human in their life.
The Zoo at Giza : The most beautiful and popular zoo in the world is “the Zoo at Giza ”. This zoo is run under Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt . You can find different animals and plants species
The Greater Abu Simbel Temple (Ramses II): It is the grandest temple build by Ramses II for his wife, Nefertari. The Egyptian Museum : You will find the collections of artifacts in this famous Museum. Its opening time is 9 am to 5 pm.
The other things you can enjoy in Egypt is “scuba diving” in the Red sea . Red Sea is densely populated with different fishes such as grouper, singray, parrotfish, angelfish, butterfly fish and turtles.
Don't forget to listen to the Egyptian music which is the fusion of African and Western countries. The traditional instruments are flutes and harps. It is important to play folk music of Egypt in weddings, engagements and festivals.
The currency of Egypt is Egyptian Pound (EGP). Travelers are advised to bring cheques in US dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rates. The credit cards are accepted in many reputed hotels and restaurants.
The best time to visit Egypt in the winter season which is from December to February when temperature is about 20 to 25 degree Celsius. The highest temperature in the summer season is about 38 degree Celsius. The summer season is from June to August.
Currency and Shopping
The Egyptian pound is the national currency of Egypt . It is divisible to 100 units of piastres. Money comes in the form of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 pound denominations as well as 50 and 25 piastres notes. Coins are worth 20, 10 and 5 piastres.
Exchanging currencies is made easy. Most hotels will offer this service to their guests but are usually lower in value than local banks. There are also money changers or bureaux de change scattered through out Egypt . Only common international currencies such as the Euro and American dollar are convertible.
Street bazaars are common in Egypt . There is also a scattering of shopping arcades in the more modern districts. Shopping times in Egypt vary depending on the time of year and the observance of Ramadan. During winter, shops are commonly open Mondays and Thursdays at 9 AM to 8 PM and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9 AM to 7 PM . In the summer time, shop schedules are changed thus; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sundays at 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM. Shops hours vary during Ramadan and are usually closed on Sundays.
Activities in Egypt
Diving:
Does diving in Egypt surprise you somewhat? If so, we've got good news for divers. Egypt is not all sand and hot desert. The Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea are very popular destinations for divers because of the presence of varied marine life. Divers can even experience the thrill of exploring the wrecked Thistlegorm in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Straits of Tirian has a couple of sunken ships and some great coral formations. Of course, with coral present, you expect fish as well. There are plenty of them here. You can see anything from turtles to small finish and sharks and lots of manta rays during February and March.
Nile Cruise:
While you're near the water, you might want to consider hopping on board a cruise ship to go up and down the river Nile . Since the Nile itself is a famous tourist destination, there are plenty of steam ships and other vessels that carry passengers who want to see and experience this famous river.
Sports:
Egypt also has good facilities for sports activities such as tennis, golf, horse clubs and croquet. These sports venues are usually attached to or near to an existing hotel. If you want to take advantage of having a sport facility near you, check to see if the hotel you are staying in has the facility you need.
Places to See
Where to start? There are many choices, really, so you need to plan your itinerary to get the most out of your vacation. Let's begin with Cairo .
Cairo :
Cairo is a city where you can spot ancient structures sitting side by side with urban buildings. Cairo , due to Egypt 's historical fame, has become a merging point for different nationalities of Arabic, European and African descent. Still, the practice of traditional customs is very apparent on the streets of Cairo . Fortunately for everyone, Cairo has an underground metro that provides some relief from Cairo 's crowded streets and polluted air. Since Cairo sits along the banks of the Nile , you can also travel by hiring river taxis and sail boats as an alternative to the underground metro and other regular modes of land transport.
If you want to experience Cairo as it may have been hundreds of years ago, plan a visit to “Medieval Cairo” where narrow streets are home to spice peddlers, donkeys with their carts and are bordered by a lot of mosques. A central point in medieval Cairo is Midan Hussein Square where you can see the Mosque of Sayyidna Al-Hussain. The square is surrounded by tea houses and is bordered by a bazaar on one side.
Near this area, you can find a university established in 970 AD. The oldest university in the world is housed inside the Al-Azhar mosque. The nearby Museum of Islamic arts regularly exhibits calligraphy, ceramics and mosaics.
For 700 years, Egypt was ruled from the Citadel. Looking out from the Citadel will reward you with sweeping, panoramic views of the city. Contained within the huge area of the Citadel are four mosques, a cemetery and two museums. One of them, the Mohammad Ali Mosque, exhibits classic Ottoman architecture. The City of the Dead is a cemetery where thousands upon thousands of tombs hold Mamluks in rest. The cemetery has been in existence for close to 900 years. Living side by side with the dead are people housed in poor shanties that crowd around the ironically splendid mausoleums of the dead.
The Museum of Egyptian antiquities is the foremost museum in Egypt . The museum has a huge collection of more than 100,000 exhibits that include the Mummy Room, Byzantine artifacts and the Tutankhamun exhibit among many others. The museum can be found in the more modern part of urban Cairo at Midan Tahrir or Liberation Square . In this same area, cars abound on paved streets that border hotels, office buildings and restaurants.
Sinai:
The famous Suez Canal is located next to the Red Coast in Sinai. There are many beach resorts in this area that cater to the tourists from the elite down to the lowly backpacker. Pay to swim with dolphins at Nuweiba. Divers would most likely want to visit the Sharm el_Sheikh which is reputed to be the best dive resort in town. Solitude can be attained at Na'ama bay which is an upscale resort town with a lot of private beaches. In land safaris can be arranged to travel around Sinai's rocky interior. Travel is mostly done by jeep or camel. One stop in the inland safari is at the St. Catherine's Monastery where Moses' burning bush is reputedly housed. Mountain climbers and trekkers will also be glad of the opportunity to retrace the steps of Moses by climbing Mt. Sinai 's rugged and steep slopes.
Aswan :
Aswan is a rather laid back town that borders Egypt and Nubia . Dinner will be a great experience since floating restaurants are all the rage here in Aswan . Further out, there are two islands that tourists may want to visit. The first island is home to an active archeological dig where a huge fortress and several temples are being excavated. The Aswan museum can also be found here on Elephantine Island . They exhibit artifacts mostly found in Nubia and Aswan . After fully satisfying your adventurous spirit, hop on next to the Island of Plants which was given to Lord Horatio Kitchener for his exemplary military service. During his residency on the island, Lord Kitchener created a botanical garden and imported most of his plants from Asia . Two more points of interest are the St. Simeon Monastery and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan.
Alexandria :
Alexandria was the Egyptian city conquered by Alexander the Great of Greece. During its golden age, Alexandria was said to be the cultural capital of Europe . Its affluence from ancient times extends even up to the now. Unlike Cairo , Alexandria is has a lesser chaotic atmosphere. Bibliotheka Alexandria is the center for scholarly research. The Graeco-Roman Museum displays artifacts dating from 300 BC. Diving and swimming are common pass times in Alexandria . The beaches can get crowded during summer though.
Luxor :
Luxor 's ancient name was Thebes , the once great capital of ancient Egypt . It is now a large town dependent on tourism for most of its income. The town is peppered with souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants. Within the boundaries of Luxor is the Karnak Temple complex which covers approximately 100 acres. The temple complex contains hundreds of statues, pillars, obelisks and sphinxes. The best temple in Karnak is the Precinct of Amun. It served as the primary place of worship. The second temple is the Great Hypostyle Hall which contains numerous columns. 2 huge statues of Ramses II guard the Luxor temple which is surrounded by bazaars dedicated to the tourism trade. The famous Avenue of Sphinxes is also situated within the Karnak Temple complex. Outside Karnak, the Luxor Museum houses exhibits from Theban temples and the Necropolis. The Necropolis itself is located on the western banks of the Nile . The Tombs of the Nobles, the Valle of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings can al be found in the Necropolis. The most obvious points of reference within this vast complex are the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Queen Nefertari.
Oases:
Egypt has 6 oases that are worth visiting. All of them can be reached by public transportation and have accommodations for those wishing to spend a couple of days in relative isolation. The Kharga oasis is more developed than most. It has a museum and a Berber community within its boundaries. For desert safaris on camels and hot springs , the best oasis to go to would be Dhakla. Siwa is also a Berber community but they are more traditional in manner and language. You can find ancient temples and other structures at Al-Faiyum. Its definitely a good alternative to the more crowded Luxor , Cairo and Alexandria . If you want to buy souvenirs, Bashandi is a small oasis town where the local women make novelty items with their bare hands. Olives and dates come from the town of Bahariyya . The smallest oasis is Farafra.
Events in Egypt
Those of you who prefer to visit place when annual festivities occur, be not discouraged. Egypt has its own annual calendar of events. Leading the list is the Cairo International Film Festival where international films, directors, producers and writers meet up and celebrate the tradition that is the film industry. The event is organized by the Cairo Film Festival office. You can browse their website at http://www.cairofilmfest.com.
For the avid racer, the Pharaohs Rally of Egypt provides a seven day spectacle of cross country racing stretching a distance of 1,850 miles across the sandy Saharan desert. The rally's website is at http://www.rallyedespharaons.it; or you can get in touch with the organizers at JDV International.
The Egyptian Tourism Board runs the annual Arabic Music Festival. Here, you can experience traditional Arab music as performed by the best artists in the Arab world. You can get more information at http://www.touregypt.net.
Egyptian Cuisine
Egypt 's culinary landscape is a blend of all Arabic specialty foods. They can be found most anywhere you are in Egypt . The best places to dine on Egyptian cuisine would be at specialty restaurants or hotels. Egyptians specially like cooking roast pigeon, kebabs, bean dishes or “foul” and chickpeas. Of course, cuisine comes hand-in-hand with beverages. Egyptians start most of their day with Kahwa. Its another word for coffee but strongly blended and rather thick. They also like mint tea and Aswanli, which is a dark beer brewed in Aswan . The more exotic drinks are Zibib which is a beverage flavored with aniseed and Karkaday which exhibits a bright red, clear texture that is made from hibiscus flowers.
Hotels in Egypt
InterContinental Pyramids Park Resort
The InterContinental has 470 rooms and a host of duplex suites appointed with all the amenities of a modern 5 star hotel. Meetings and conferences are accomodated in the hotel's 8 function rooms. A variety of restaurants and bars are present within the hotel premises. The hotel also provides babysitting to help you indulge yourself should you want to play tennis, steam in the sauna, work out or soak in a Jacuzzi. Alternatively, you and your children can visit the hotel's magnificent swimming pool together. Check in and check out times are 2 PM and 12 NN respectively.
Le Meridien Heliopolis Cairo Hotel
This 5 star hotel is located in the heart of Heliopolis ' exclusive residential area. Nearby are the Presidential Palace and the Cairo International Conference Center . Babysitting is available as well as currency exchange, conference rooms, a business center, pool, spa and a few restaurants and bars. Le Meridian is reputedly the best hotel in Heliopolis . People checking in here can do so at 3 PM and check out at 12 NN.
Moevenpick Hotel Cairo Media City
The architecture of this hotel makes it a unique blend of a resort type hotel and the architects rendering of a desert oasis. Standard 5 star amenities are available to the guest together with a more than average list of sports and leisure activities. Check in time at the Moevenpick is 2 PM while checkout time is at 12 NN.
Sheraton Montaza Hotel Alexandria
The Sheraton Montaza Alexandria is ideally located next to the beaches of the Mediterranean . A few minutes walk will bring you to the Montaza Palace and Gardens while a short taxi ride will get you to the Roayl Jewelry Museum . Like any 5 star hotel, the Sheraton Montaza offers a host of room amenities and guest services including a private beach. You may check in at 3 PM and check out at 12 NN.
El Salamlek Palace Hotel
The El Salamlek Palace is a small 5 star hotel with a meager 14 suites and 6 rooms. This is the perfect place to stay in if you want to avoid the crowds of the bigger 5 star hotels. The hotel sits on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean in the Montaza Gardens . The hotel boasts of excellent, personalized service that stands a cut above the rest. You can check into this friendly hotel at 2 PM and check out at 12 NN.
Points of Interest for Tourists
Egypt is mainly an Islamic country. Women are expected to dress conservatively most especially when visiting or touring religious establishments such as mosques and traditional townships. The general population is respectful and courteous towards visitors. While touring, you may happily click away on your digital cameras inside most of the major tourist attractions for a small fee.
Airports and Airlines
The national airline of Egypt is Egypt Air.
By air, Egypt has three main ports of entry. The Cairo International is located approximately one hour from Heliopolis . Taxis, buses, private cars for rent and hotel limousines, are all available as transport to and from the airport.
The Luxor International is 3.5 miles away from the city of Luxor . Like the Cairo International, Luxor International has a wide variety of transport services that will convey you to the city of Luxor and vice versa.
In Alexandria , the Borg El Arab airport serves incoming and outgoing travelers.
Domestic flights also travel to and from the different major cities and towns of Egypt .
Water Ports
Alexandria , Suez , Port Said and Nuweiba have port facilities that accept international cruise tours. There are also plenty of ferries and private boats that ply their trades up and down the river Nile .
Rail
Egypt operates an excellent railway that traverses the country from the Libyan border to the city of Alexandria . The railway also stretches towards Suez and Port Said . Overnight train tickets must be booked a week in advance.
Driving and Car Rentals
An international drivers license is required for foreign nationals who wish to drive themselves in and around Egypt .
Airports and sea ports have plenty of on site car for hire offices. You may also pre-arrange limousine service with your hotel to convey you to and from your port of entry and departure. This will make things more convenient for you. It also provides you an opportunity to see how the locals drive. You can always arrange for a rental car at anytime during your stay.
Legal Issues
Visas:
To enter Egypt , visas are required from most foreign nationals including American, European, Canadian and Australian citizens. Furthermore, all visitors with the exception of American and European citizens are required to register their presence with the police within one week of arrival in Egypt .
Visa Applications:
Foreign nationals wishing to apply for Egyptian visas may do so at the closest Egyptian consulate in their localities. You may also apply for an Egyptian entry visa directly from international ports of entry. Please confer with the local Egyptian consulate to confirm availability of this service for your nationality as well as learn the exact ports of entry where this service is available.
Visa Exceptions:
European Union citizens may enter the country without visas if the point of destination is Taba, Sharm El-Sheikh, Newiba or Dahab for a duration of not more than 14 days.
Travelers passing thru may stay in Egypt for a maximum of 24 hours. Tickets to final destination must be produced to get a 24 hour entry stamp.
Cruise passengers with a maximum stay of three days may also enter Egypt without visas.
Validity Period:
Standard Egyptian tourist visas are valid for six months starting from the issue date. Tourists may stay up to a maximum of 3 months with a valid tourist visa. Tourists may opt to extend their stay in Egypt by extending the validity of their visas. The extension must be done at an immigration center one week before the original visa expires.
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