Sights Info

Cairo

Cairo, "Al Qahira", is Egypt's capital city, and is a destination in itself: a bustling and crowded metropolis full of intriguing contrasts - old and new; western and oriental; modern hotels next to traditional bazaars and coffee shops; 5,000-year-old pyramids and 19th Century palaces.
Cairo is usually the starting and ending point of all itineraries. The largest city in Africa, Cairo is home to 17 million people. Although today's modern bazaars are but a pale reflection of former worldwide trade, the city remains a crossroads between Africa and Arabia, as well as a meeting ground for Europe and Asia, thereby playing a crucial role in East-West relations. Today the city throbs with ever increasing energy and has a booming western-style nightlife with a wide variety of restaurants and bars, as well as more traditional entertainment such as local coffeehouses and Arabic nightclubs with belly dancers.

KEY ATTRACTIONS IN CAIRO

Pyramids & Sphinx

the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are Egypt's most visited monuments, ranking among the world's greatest tourist attractions. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the only surviving "Wonder of the Ancient World". For centuries the great pyramids have intrigued and puzzled visitors, and even in the 20th century it is difficult to stand before them and not be overwhelmed by their splendor. For 4½ millennia, surviving the rise and fall of great dynasties, and outlasting Egypt's many conquerors, they have shared the desert plateau of Giza with other monuments: smaller attendant pyramids, some for royal wives; rows of mastabas (rectangular mud-brick tombs with a flat roof and sloping sides), the tombs of 2nd and 5th dynasty princes and nobles; and the imposing figure of the enigmatic sphinx.

Memphis & Sakkara

The ancient city of Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara are also not to be missed. At vast Sakkara, you will see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first freestanding stone structure in the world. Your Egyptologist will guide you to some tombs belonging to the nobles of the past. They show the beauty and excellence of Ancient Egyptian art on their walls and give an insight into the daily life of Ancient Egypt. At the site of Memphis, you will see the ancient capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. The place is thickly surrounded by lush palm groves and bushes, isolating the site of the old city from modern civilization.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

Although located in the heart of Cairo, this turn-of-the century museum has a pleasantly calm atmosphere once inside its formal gardens. To enter the museum is to take a tour through over 7,000 years of Egyptian history, starting from the Archaic Pre Dynastic Period to the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. The museum houses the world's most important collection of Egyptian antiquities from 2700 BC to the 6th century AD. There are thousands of statues, jewels and art efacts from nearly every period of ancient Egypt. Admire the amazing treasures of the young king, Tutenkhamun, including his famous mask made out of solid gold and in a perfect state of preservation. There are 12 rooms filled with treasures from King Tut's tomb, which was discovered in 1922 virtually untouched.
A tour of the Museum can also include an optional visit to the Mummies Room, a specially-built area dedicated to the mummies of ancient Royal Kings and Queens, including the mummy of Ancient Egypt's greatest Pharaoh, Ramses II.

Islamic Cairo

The Sultan Hassan Mosque was built between 1356 and 1363 AD, with stones that historians believe were taken from one of the pyramids of Giza. The interior is devoid of decoration to make it easy for worshippers to concentrate on prayers. Hundreds of chains, which once held oil lamps, still hang from the ceiling of each hall.
The Citadel dominates Cairo from it's high vantage point on the Mokattam Hills and was the heart of the city beginning in 1176 for more than 200 years. The Citadel was erected by Salah El Din, the legendary Saladin who conquered the Crusaders in Palestine. This fort was later occupied by Napoleon and the reigning Royal Family. The complex contains other later-built elements and buildings such as palaces and mosques. The last great phase of the Citadel, and its real highlight, is the great Mosque of Mohammed Ali. It was built imitating the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, with two high minarets and numerous domes.

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar

Khan El-Khalili Bazaar , once known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period, was built in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of the Fatimid City and is reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 12nd century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. As you wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets you will find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities. Remember to bargain hard!

Coptic Cairo

The area of Cairo known as Coptic Cairo contains the remains of the old Fortress of Babylon, built at the time of the Romans in Egypt to protect the country from invading enemies. The walls of the fortress enclose the Church of St. Sergius, which is built on a crypt considered to be one of the resting places of the Holy Family during their flight to Egypt 2000 years ago.
The area is also home to the Synagogue of Ben Ezra, from the time of the once thriving Jewish community in Egypt under the leadership of Rabbi Ben Ezra. Inside were discovered the so-called "Geniza Documents", which showed an unparalleled source of information about life of the Jews in Egypt's past. The Coptic Museum in the same area displays a wonderful collection of medieval statues, bells, bone carvings, frescoes, icons and colourful textiles.

Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids

The Sound and Light Show at the foot of the Great Pyramids is an incredible spectacle. Narrated by the enigmatic Sphinx, the show will lead you on a fascinating tour through the history of the Pyramids. An unforgettable experience!

Dinner cruises on the nile

Cairo has a range of high quality river boats available for dinner cruises - or for larger groups, charters for either breakfast or lunch. Admire the lights and sights of Cairo by night as you cruise gently down the river and enjoy a 5-star meal. After dinner, you will be entertained by a spectacular mix of Egyptian folkloric music and dancing, and an expert oriental belly dancer.

Alexandria

he second largest city in Egypt, lexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", 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.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village.
Today Alexandria took a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion.
it is a city to explore at random. It is as important to enjoy the atmosphere as it is to see the sights.

KEY ATTRACTIONS IN ALEXANDRIA

Greco-Roman Museum

The Graeco-Roman Museum houses a collection that includes mummies, sculptures, sarcophagi, pottery, coins and tapestries from as early as the 2nd century BC.

Catacombs of Kom El-Shokafa

The Catacombs are the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, consisting of three tiers of tombs and chambers cut into the rock to a depth of about 35 meters. Constructed in the subtitle century AD, probably as a family crypt, they were later expanded to hold more than 300 individual tombs. There is even a banquet hall where grieving relatives paid their last respects with a funeral feast.

Pompey's Pillar

Pompey's Pillar is a 27 meter high and 2 meter thick column of polished Aswan rose granite, which stands before the scant remains of the splendid Temple of Serapis, one of ancient Alexandria's most important buildings. Erroneously named by the Crusaders, the pillar was actually raised in honor of Diocletian in the 4th century AD, and it probably supported a statue of the emperor.

Roman Amphitheatre

This is the only Roman amphitheatre in Egypt, discovered quite recently, when the foundations for a new apartment building were being dug. The terraces, arranged in a semicircle around the arena, are extremely well preserved. Recent excavations in the area have uncovered incredible examples of Roman mosaic floors with beautiful designs including birds and animals, which are now preserved under cover in a special miniature museum.

Qait Bay Fort

This 15th century Mamluk fort overlooks the entrance to the Eastern Harbour in Alexandria. It is built on the foundations of thePharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and incorporates both a castle and a mosque within its walls. From the top of the fort, visitors have a beautiful vista of the entire coastline of Alexandria, and can also see the area where recent underwater excavations have uncovered incredible archaeological finds including the lost city of Cleopatra, and Napoleon's sunken fleet.

Montaza Palace & Gardens

Montaza Palace was built by Khedive Abbas II. It was the summer residence of the royal family before the 1952 Revolution and King Farouk's abdication. It overlooks magnificent gardens and groves. The adjacent Salamlek Hotel, also built by Abbas II, was designed in the style of a chalet to please his Austrian mistress. The palace and its museum are not open to the general public, but the gardens can be explored at leisure.

El Alamein Cemeteries and War Museum

The famous battlegrounds of El-Alamein, 105km west of Alexandria, played host to one of the key battles of WWII. Winston Churchill wrote of the battle: "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat." The town has a Military Museum that contains a collection of uniforms, memorabilia and pictorial material relating to the Battle of El-Alamein and the North African campaigns in general. It is also possible to visit the nearby British, Italian and German war cemeteries, which hold the bodies of some of the 11,000 soldiers killed during the battle.

Bibliotheca Alexandria

Another place of interest is the new Bibliotheca Alexandria, an integrated cultural complex, housed in a spectacular building of disc-like design, overlooking the sea, and partly submerged in a pool of water - symbolizing the image of the sun illuminating the world. The building is surrounded by a wall clad in Aswan granite, engraved with calligraphy and representative inscriptions from all the worlds' civilizations.

Aswan

Aswan is the southern-most city in Egypt, located 800 km south of Cairo at the first of six cataracts on the Nile. The city is an old commercial town and in antiquity it was known under the name of Syene.
Since construction of the Aswan Dam the city has become an important industrial centre with steel, aluminium and chemical industries based on the electrical power drawn from the turbines of the Dam.
During the winter season the city is a junction for tourist voyages on the Nile and the starting point for tours to the Abu Simpel temple. The climate is warm and dry all year through. During winter the daily temperatures reaches 23-30 C, during summer they easily reach 28-50 C.
As a vacation destination, Aswan has been a favourite winter resort since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and it is still a perfect place to get away from it all.
The Monastery of St. Simeon Ride a camel or climb to the ruins of the Coptic Monastery of St. Simeon, originally founded in the 7th century AD.

The Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk Much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from quarries in the Aswan area.

The Unfinished Obelisk still lies where a crack was discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. Possibly intended as a companion to the Lateran obelisk, originally at the Karnak Temple, now in Rome, it would have measured 120 ft and weighed over 1150 tons when complete.

The site has recently been renovated and equipped with tourist facilities the remains of the many temples that were built here can still be seen, including the Temple of Khnum, originally erected during the Old Kingdom, a Graeco-Roman Necropolis and the Temple of Satet, built by Queen Hatshepsut.

Kalabsha Temple

Kalabsha Temple was moved to its present location in 1970, together with other attractions from Nubia.

Reachable by taxi or by boat, depending on the water level, the sandstone edifice was built by the Roman Emperor Octavius Augustus and dedicated to the fertilitiy god Mandulis.
The Kiosk of Qertassi, with its two Hathor-headed columns, was moved at the same time and now stands near the water commanding fine views over Lake Nasser.

Nearby, dug into the hillside, is another of Ramses II's Nubian monuments to military might; Beit al-Wali celebrates his victories over the Nubian, Ethiopians, Asiatics and Libyans and brightly-coloured scenes inside the temple show Ramsees making offerings to the gods.

Philae Temple

Philae Temple was dismantled and reassembled (on Agilika lsland about 500m. from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of the High Dam.

The temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting which has been landscaped to match its original site. Its various shrines and sanctuaries, which include a temple of Hathor, a Birth House and two pylons, celebrate all the deities involved in the Isis and Osiris myth.
At night, one should visit the Sound and Light Show, a magical experience as floodlit buildings are silhouetted against the volcanic rocks and water surrounding them.

Aswan also have modern attractions for the interested traveler to explore.
Aswan Cultural Centre One of Aswan's attractions is it's Cultural Centre. Every night Nubian dancers and musicians give performance just off the corniche. Folklore troupes recreate from village life and perform the famous Nubian mock stick-fight dances.
The Aga Khan Mausoleum Take a felucca to the Aga Khan Mausoleum, atop a hill at the southern end of the west bank.

Kitchener Island

The Island was given to General-Consul Horatio Kitchener, the leader of the Egyptian army in the 1890s. The botanically-interested Consul brought vegetation from India, Malaysia and other eastern countries to plant on the Island.

It's a lovely place to spend a quiet afternoon. The only means of transportation is on a felukka or a motor boat.

The High Dam

The world-famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam, 6 km downriver, it is a wonderful view for visitors

Luxor

Lying 420 miles south of Cairo, Luxor is the most important and dramatic historical site in all Egypt, and has often been called the world's greatest open-air museum. Luxor is the modern name for Thebes, ancient capital city of the New Kingdom Pharaohs (1550 BC - 1070 BC) whose glory still glowed in the memories of classical writers a thousand years after its decline. Here the booty of foreign wars, tributes, and taxes poured into the coffers of the 18th and 19th dynasty Pharaohs, each of whom surpassed his predecessor in the construction of incredible temples and tombs, creating a concentration of monuments that rivals that of any imperial city before or since.
Today, Luxor is home to more than half of all of Egypt's antiquities and is a must-see highlight on the itinerary of almost every visitor to Egypt. The town has a village atmosphere and a bustling local market, and one of the most pleasant ways to get around town is horse carriages, that run along the Corniche.

WEST BANK OF LUXOR

Valley of the Kings

The famous Valley of the Kings, where 62 Pharaohs are buried in rock-cut tombs, where they were adorned with gold and jewels and surrounded with treasures and replicas of all they would need in the afterlife. Frustrated by the pillage of earlier more visible tombs, they cut their tombs deep into the sandstone, away from the public view and separated from their mortuary temples.

The famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun was discovered here in 1922, with over 5,000 precious items inside. Although the mummy of the young king and his treasures now lie in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, visitors can still look inside the tomb itself and marvel at the wall-paintings, and the stone sarcophagus in which King Tut's golden mummy-case was laid.

Valley of the Queens

The Valley of the Queens is where royal wives and royal princes were buried. There are at least 75 tombs in the Valley of the Queens. They belonged to queens of the 19th and 20th dynasties and other members of the royal families, including princesses and the Ramessid princes.
The highlight of the Valley of the Queens is the Tomb of Queen Nefertari. Long praised as the most beautifully decorated of all the tombs on the West Bank of Luxor, this masterpiece of Egyptian art was restored by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority and the Getty Conservation institute in the USA. Specialists worked for 6 years to clean the paintings and re-affix them to the plaster walls from where they had been flaking, and today it is hardly conceivable that such vibrant colours have actually not been retouched since they were first laid thousands of years ago.

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Rising out of the desert plain, in a series of terraces, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut merges with the sheer limestone cliffs of the eastern face of the Theban Mountain as if nature herself had built this extraordinary monument. The partly rock-cut, partly free-standing structure is one of the finest monuments of ancient Egypt, although its original appearance, surrounded by myrrh trees, garden beds and approached by a grand sphinx-lined causeway, must have been even more spectacular.

Colossi of Memnon

The massive pair of statues known as the Colossi of Memnon are all that remain of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III. Rising about 18 meters from the surrounding plain, the enthroned, faceless statues of Amenophis have kept a lonely vigil on the changing landscape around them for centuries, surviving the rising floodwaters of the Nile which gradually destroyed the temple buildings behind them.

Medinet Habu

The magnificent Medinet Habu is a series of temples second only to Karnak in size and complexity, built by the Pharaoh Ramses III. Ramses, who ruled between 1182 and 1151 BC, built the Great Temple first and then settled numerous war prisoners around it. With its enclosing wall and massive storage magazines, the area grew into a city that maintained its population well into Coptic times, when it was known as Djeme. The many temples, enclosures, palaces and courtyards of Medinet Habu are carved with incredible reliefs.

The Ramesseum

Ramses II built his fabulous mortuary temple on the site of Seti I's ruined temple. This great temple reportedly rivalled the wonders of the temple at Abu Simbel. However, Ramses built the temple too close to the Nile and the floodwaters took their toll; only a single colonnade remains of the First Courtyard. In front of the ruins is the base of the colossus of Ramses that once stood 17m high, and would have weighed more than 1,000 tons. The statue fell into the Second Courtyard and the head and torso remain there (the famous "Ozymandias" of Shelley's poem), but other broken pieces are in museums all over the world.

EAST BANK OF LUXOR

The Temple of Karnak

In the New Kingdom, Amun-Ra was worshipped as the most important state god, and the immense wealth of Thebes was spent embellishing and building temples in his honour. The most famous and magnificent of these is the Temple of Karnak, where 13 centuries of successive Pharaohs have contributed to over 100 acres of majestic pylons, hypostyle halls, and sacred temples. The scale of Karnak surpasses every other temple complex in the entire ancient world.

The Temple of Luxor

Luxor Temple was built over several centuries by Amenhopis III, Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Alexander the Great. The temple is a graceful piece of architecture preceded by an avenue of sphinxes, containing impressive statuary of Ramses II, the Great Court of Ramses II, the colonnade and court of Amenophis III, the hypostyle hall, and the temple of Amun.

Luxor Museum

This wonderful little museum on the Corniche, about half way between the Luxor and Karnak temples, has a small but well-chosen collection of relics from the Theban temples and necropolis. The displays, which include pottery, jewellery, furniture, status and stelae, were arranged by the Brooklyn Museum of New York.

Sharm El Shiekh

The Sinai Peninsula is a triangle of land that separates the Gulf of Suez from the Gulf of Aqaba, and is actually closer to the East Coast of the USA than Hawaii. Its crystal clear waters are home to some of the richest coral reefs in the world, and the area has long been a haven for divers.
However, the Sinai is much more than its coastline. Comprised mostly of barren desert mountains, the incredible stark scenery of the region is punctuated by lush oases, and is home to a rich variety of birds and wildlife, as well as local Bedouins who still live simple lives in the heart of the desert, with their traditional customs mostly intact. The region has a rich Biblical heritage from the time of Moses, and dozens of local Bedouin legends recall the stories of the Old Testament and offer clues as to the possible locations of key Exodus encampments. Lawrence of Arabia once trekked through the Sinai mountains. A desert safari is a true highlight of any visit to the Sinai, combining stunning views of mountains and barren valleys with the surprise of stumbling across hidden oases or waterfalls, or reaching secluded beaches and Red Sea vistas inaccessible except by camel.
Today, the Sinai is both the ideal place for a beach holiday, and also the natural home for adventure vacations in Egypt, offering an endless variety of walking, biking and climbing opportunities, as well as camel trekking or 4x4 safaris.
SHARM EL-SHEIKH
While many small towns and resorts dot the eastern coastline, most visitors will stay in Sharm El-Sheikh on the southernmost tip of the peninsula. With its combination of pristine sandy beaches, lively nightlife and wide range of hotels, Sharm El-Sheikh offers the perfect starting point for almost all tours in the Sinai. The centre of the resort area is Naama Bay, where most of the early hotels were built; however, today there are many superb hotels all along the coast between the airport and the small town of Sharm El-Moya, most with private beaches and excellent facilities.

St. Catherine's Monastery & Mount Moses

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Moses, in the heart of the Sinai, St Catherine's Monastery was constructed by order of the Emperor Justinian between 527 and 565AD, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world. The central chapel is dedicated to St. Catherine, the legendary martyr of Alexandria, who was tortured for her faith. The monastery's spiritual heart is the Chapel of the Burning Bush, an unassuming structure of tremendous religious significance. According to the oldest monastic tradition, this chapel sits atop the roots of the same Biblical bush that burned when God spoke to Moses for the first time. The reputed bush itself is a rare species of the rose family called Rubus Sanctus. This species is endemic to Sinai and extremely long-lived, a fact that lends scientific credence to the site. The sprawling bush is said to have been transplanted in the 10th century, when the chapel was given a roof. Today it is very large in size, and many monks and scholars agree that the bush's presence is the very reason St. Catherine's Monastery developed in the first place. For energetic visitors, Mount Moses itself can be climbed from St. Catherine's to the summit, with part of the way accessible to camels but the last section, comprised of more than 700 stone steps carved into the mountain, needing to be climbed on foot. An overnight climb to watch the sun rise from the summit is a truly exhilarating experience.

The Coloured Canyon

The Coloured Canyon is an incredible natural desert valley of layered, multicolored rocks, reminiscent of the famed valley of Petra in Jordan. Situated in northeastern Sinai, it can be visited in a day-trip from Sharm El-Sheikh. The strange rock formations and deep canyon walls are dramatic, and a walk through the canyon itself is one of the most stunning of desert safari options available in the Sinai.

Ras Mohamed National Park

Declared a National Park in 1983, the Ras Mohamed protected area includes both a desert peninsula and underwater coral reefs. The Egypt Protectorates Programme seeks to establish equilibrium between development activities, tourism and the natural resource conservation measures needed to achieve sustainable economic development.

Coral reef ecosystems found in the National Park are recognized internationally as among the world's best, due to their diversity of flora and fauna, clear, warm water devoid of pollutants, their proximity to shorelines and their spectacular vertical profile. The reef exists as an explosion of colour and life in stark contrast to the seemingly barren desert adjacent to it. In reality, the desert itself is rich in fauna such as desert foxes and the Nubian Ibex, as well as birdlife such as white storks, herons, gulls, terns and osprey.

Nabq Protectorate

Nabq is the largest coastal Protectorate on the Gulf of Aqaba, extending over an area of 600km2. Here, a natural desert "wadi", or watercourse, joins the Red Sea in a fan of sand dunes and beaches, creating a unique environment where clusters of mangrove trees flourish and wildlife abounds. Foxes and even gazelles can be spotted here.

Diving & Snorkelling

The Sinai is home to an extensive range of dive sites, with literally scores of spectacular dives to be made. The coastline is home to not only an abundance of reef life but also hundreds of wrecks, including the famed WWII army boat, the Thistlegorm. One of the most beautiful of all dive sites is the area of Ras Mohamed National Park, where Manta Rays, sharks and turtles can sometimes be seen. Dozens of boats set out to various dive sites every morning.

Quadrunner excursions

For adventurous visitors wanting a more active experience of the desert, quadrunners are available for rent at every major hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh. A guide normally accompanies guests out into the desert to ensure they don't get lost on the desert paths.

Watersports Activities

Sharm El-Sheikh offers a wide range of watersports including parasailing, windsurfing, banana boating, and more. All 5-star hotels have their own watersports centres, and activities can be booked on the spot.

Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is probably the most stunning monument in all of Egypt. It is here that Ramses II, the most powerful and longest-ruling Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, ordered two temples to be carved from the limestone mountains at Abu Simbel. In modern times the two temples of Abu Simbel were threatened by the waters that would rise with the completion of the High Dam. A campaign to save them was organized by UNESCO. The plan was to cut the temples into blocks, raise them piece-by-piece, and reassemble them in their new position on the banks of Lake Nasser. The job was massive and took two years to complete.

Lake Nasser

As the worlds largest man-made lake, Lake Nasser is approximately 310 miles in length (1550 square miles) and, in places, can reach a depth of 600 feet. The lake was created in the 1960s when the world famous High Dam was built.
Together with the old Aswan Dam (built by the British between 1898 and 1902) it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt. It is named for Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of Egypt from 1956-1970. The southern third of the lake is in Sudan and is called Lake Nubia.
The lake is 312 miles (480 meters) long and covers an area of 2026 square miles (5,248 km2). It has a maximum depth of 426.5 ft (130 m) but its mean depth is 82.6 ft (25.2 m). The Egyptian portion is 202 miles (324 km) long and has a shoreline of 4,875 miles (7,844 km).
Part of the area Lake Nasser covers today was once the site of the temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II around 1200 B.C. The temple was moved . Thirty-two species of fish, as well as Nile River crocodiles, are found in the lake. 80,000 tons of fish a year are caught.

The shoreline is a variety of desert landscapes, hilly and rugged, or flat and sandy with clean freshwater beaches. The lake is remote and thinly populated by peasant fishermen, the local residents are Bedouin camel and sheep herdsmen who are occasionally seen grazing their flocks on the sparse vegetation at the edge of the lake.

Port Said

The origins of Port Said is that of a working camp founded in 1859 by Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal. By the late 19th century, it was an important port where all the major maritime powers had consulates. Much of the city was built on a section of Lake Manzala which was reclaimed by landfill.
The City was damaged during the Suez Crisis, and again during the wars of 1967 and 1973, but the city has largely been rebuilt and today is a pleasant city of 400,00 people. It is also considered a summer resort by Egyptians and the beach is lined with vacation bungalows. The main street, with most commercial enterprises, is Sharia Palestine.
This is where the huge ships wait to enter the Suez Canal, and it can be a sight to behold. But also often missed, but of interest is the colonial architecture of the 19th century in the town center.
There is a National Museum in Port Said, which houses artifacts from most periods of Egypt's past, including pharaonic and prehistoric. Located on Sharia Palestine, the museum also houses Islamic and Coptic exhibits, including textiles, manuscripts and coins. There is a also a room devoted to artifacts of the Khedival family.

Taba

Taba is located in Sinai a few kilometres from the Gaza border. The border can be crossed on foot, and there is direct bus service to Eilat, Israel. Taba currently boasts 5-star hotels, great restaurants and quaint, cozy beach cafes. And there is a brand new beach comunity, Taba Heights, nearing completion, which will offer a wide variety of fun and interesting activities.

It currently boasts 5-star hotels, great restaurants and quaint, cozy beach cafes. The border can be crossed on foot, and there is direct bus service to Eilat, Israel. And there is a brand new beach comunity, Taba Heights, nearing completion, which will offer a wide variety of fun and interesting activities.

On a historic note, not far from Taba Egypt, in the Gulf of Aqba, lies Pharaohs Island, one of the least known of the many major forts in Egypt. This fortress, built at the time of the Crusades, would no doubt attract much larger crowds were it located in more of a mainstream tourist destination, but those tourists (like you?) who make an effort to visit the fort will not only find it fascinating, but probably have the island mostly to themselves.
Also known as Coral Island, Pharaoh's Island is where Naldwin I, King of Jerusalem, built the fortress, from which one can see into four countries (see above). It is thought work on the fort began around 1116 AD. It was constructed for three main reasons:

It was in the center of a huge trade route between the Far East and Europe.
It was defended easily, being out of range of land-based catapults and was on high ground.
It was in the narrowest section of the Gulf of Aqaba.

The fortress was originally called Ile De Graye Castle. While still in the hands of the Crusaders, it was used to collect taxes on Arab merchants and occasionally to attack Arab shipping. Meanwhile it also served its main purpose, which was to protect pilgrims traveling between Jerusalem and St. Catherine's Monastery.

However, in 1170 the castle was captured by Salah ad-Din. There is confusion as to what happened thereafter; some say he abandoned the fortress only a short time later, in about 1183, while other scholars indicate that he expanded the fortress considerably, and possibly retained it until the 13th century. There is little doubt that he did, indeed, expand the fortress considerably, and that later the Ottomans and the Mamelukes further enlarged and enhanced it.

Now completely renovated, the fortress has many smaller rooms - some with arched doorways and others without. These include what were the sleeping quarters for the troops, bathhouses, and kitchens complete with huge ovens. There are towers in which carrier pigeons were housed, and circular towers for archers.

Interestingly, it is a fact that Lawrence of Arabia made an unauthorized and downright daring visit to the island during while on his famous Wilderness of Zin survey in June, 1914. Unfortunately we know little else of the history of this fascinating place, Taba Egypt.

Though, obviously, we do know that at least one important battle did take place there; that was when Salah ad-Din took the fortress from the Crusaders. Beyond that, however, what we know is really very little. There seem to have been no other major battles.

Siwa Oasis

The area is famous for its dates and olives, and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Egpt. Olives oil is still made in the area by crushing the olives from the 70,000 olive trees in the area with stones. The dates are gathered by zaggala (stick bearers), who must remain celibate until the age of forty, and the area boasts some 300,000 date trees.

It is located on the old date caravan route, yet until recently, it received few other visitors and retained much of its heritage. In fact, until the battles which took place around the oasis in World War II, it was hardly governed by Egypt, and remained mostly a Berber (Zenatiya) community for the prior thirteen centuries. Siwans continue to have their own culture and customs and they speak a Berber language, called Siwi, rather than Arabic. Interestingly, each October there is a three-day festival during which Siwans must settle all of their past year's disputes.
The area is also famous for its springs, of which there are approximately 1,000. The water is sweet, and is said to have medical properties.

Though relaxing and certainly now a part of the tourist community in Egypt, it is very traditional, and visitors should keep this in mind when traveling to the area. Girls of the area are often married by the age of 14, and afterward where completely covering clothing, and allowed little communications with the world outside their immediate family. Many women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewelry like those displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the town center. In fact, the area is also well known for its crafts, particularly woven cloth, which is unique in Egypt.

Bahariya Oasis

Set in a depression covering over 2000 sq. km., Bahariya Oasis is surrounded by black hills made up of ferruginous quartzite and dolorite. Most of the villages and cultivated land can be viewed from the top of the 50-meter-high Jebel al-Mi'ysrah, together with the massive dunes which threaten to engulf some of the older settlements.

The Oasis was a major agricultural center during the Pharaonic era, and has been famous for its wine as far back as the Middle Kingdom. During the fourth century, the absence of Roman rule and violent tribes in the area caused a decline as some of the oasis was reclaimed by the sand.
Wildlife is plentiful, especially birds such as wheatears; crops (which only cover a small percentage of the total area) include dates, olives, apricots, rice and corn.

There are a number of springs in the area, some very hot, such as Bir ar-Ramla but probably the best is Bir al-Ghaba, about 10 miles north east of Bawiti. There is also Bir al-Mattar, a cold springs which poors into a concrete pool Otherwise near the Oasis is the Black and White deserts, though traveling to the White desert seems not practical from the oasis.
The Black Desert was formed through wind erosion as the nearby volcanic mountains were spewed over the desert floor.

Finally, there are the ruins of a 17th Dynasty temple and settlement, and nearby tombs where birds were buried.

Esna-Kom ombo-Edfu

ESNA: Temple of Khnum
The small town of Esna is home to the Graeco-Roman Temple dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god who was worshipped throughout this area. The beautifully preserved temple was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius; it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods and is about nine meters below present-day street level. The is reached by a short walk through the bustling local market - a perfect place for visitors to try out their bargaining skills buying traditional Egyptian robes or "galabeyyas".

EDFU: Temple of Horus
Edfu was the Greek city of Apollinopolis, and during Pharaonic times was the region's capital. The main attraction for visitors to Edfu is the extraordinary - the best-preserved Pharaonic temple in Egypt, thanks to the fact that it lay most of this millennium covered by sand, only being rediscovered by the French explorer Mariette in 1860. The temple was built during the Greek era, over the course of the reign of six Ptolemies. Standing in its outer courtyard, one can vividly imagine the hordes that used to gather here to worship and celebrate.

KOM OMBO: Temple of Sobek
Kom Ombo has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times. Its main attraction is the elegant temple, unusually dedicated to two gods - the crocodile-god , and the falcon-headed sky god, . Everything is duplicated along the main axis: there are two entrances, two courts, two colonnades, two hypostyle halls and two sanctuaries - in the temple's heyday, there were probably even two sets of priests. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.

Hurghada

The Red Sea coast on the eastern side of Egypt offers another excellent beach destination in addition to the Sinai. The Eastern Desert is not nearly as rich as the Sinai in its potential for safaris, but still offers some opportunity for desert excursions and Bedouin dinners. One of the main advantages of this coastal region over the Sinai is its proximity to the Nile - just 3 hours' drive from Luxor - which makes it ideal for a beach extension after a Nile cruise without the need for extra domestic flights.

MAJOR RESORTS ON THE EAST COAST

Hurghada
Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century, and until a few years ago remained a small fishing village. Today, it has become the foremost tourist resort of the Red Sea coast and an international center for aquatic sports, fishing and diving. Scores of resort hotels to suit all budgets line the coast, and the area is still under development. The nearby local town has shopping malls, traditional souks and internet cafés. Hurghada has a busy nightlife, with discos and bars in all the major hotels, as well as "Arabian Nights" style restaurants and nightclubs.

El-Gouna
El-Gouna is a sophisticated resort town around 40 minutes north of Hurghada, with excellent 5-star hotels and some characterful 3-star and 4-star properties, as well as a PGA-standard golf course. A yachting marina and central district with bars and restaurants ("El-Kafr") form part of the development. is a sophisticated resort town around 40 minutes north of Hurghada, with excellent 5-star hotels and some characterful 3-star and 4-star properties, as well as a PGA-standard golf course. A yachting marina and central district with bars and restaurants ("") form part of the development.

Sahl Hashish and Soma Bay
Just south of Hurghada are two large and beautiful bays, Sahl Hashish and Soma Bay, home to several excellent hotels. In Soma Bay is the best links golf course in Egypt. Just south of Hurghada are two large and beautiful bays, and , home to several excellent hotels. In Soma Bay is the best links golf course in Egypt.

KEY ATTRACTIONS ON THE RED SEA COAST

Desert Excursions
4x4 excursions and camel rides can be arranged from any of the East Coast resorts, as well asBedouin teas or dinners in the desert.

Diving & Snorkelling
Prolonged over-development of the coastline in Hurghada has permanently damaged some of the reef. However, good areas for snorkelling and diving can be found further out from the coast towards areas such as Giftun Island, or to each side of Hurghada in El-Gouna and Soma Bay.

Watersports Activities
Hurghada, El-Gouna and the other major Red Sea resorts offer a full range of watersports including jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, catamaran, water-skiing, and more. All 5-star hotels have their own watersports centres, and activities can be booked on the spot.

Golfing
Egypt's east coast boasts two superb championship links courses, one in El-Gouna and one in Soma Bay - both around 40 minutes' drive from Hurghada.

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