LET YOUR SELF GO TO EGYPT

Highlights

Egypt may have more ancient artefacts still buried beneath its sands than have so far been uncovered above them

Cairo

A stir to the senses, this chaotic, noisy and intoxicating city on the River Nile is home to 16 million people. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cities in the Islamic world, its old quarter features one of the world’s largest bazaars, Khan-el Khalili, a place crammed with spices, perfume and trinkets. Don’t miss the superb museums, and of course the nearby Great Pyramids.

River Nile

Travel the way Egypt should be seen, be it on a traditional felucca or an ultra-modern cruise boat. Sail through the land of the pharoahs, passing historic sites, spotting birds andwatching ancient villages on the river banks.

Sinai & the Red Sea

Busy tourist resorts line the Sinai coast, which has fine beaches and offers some of the world’s best scuba diving and snorkelling. Inland it’s all vast desert – a fun place to explore by jeep or camel. A highlight is St Catherine’s Monastery.

Aswan

Relaxing market city located on ancient caravan routes and steeped in Nubian culture. The Nile here is truly wonderful, as feluccas glide down from the High Dam and Lake Nasser.

Luxor

Buzzing tourist hub, built on the site of the ancient city of Thebes. Famous for its magnificent monuments of Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut and Ramses III. The Valley of the Kings includes the tombs of Nefertari and the boy-king Tutankhamun.

Being there

Etiquette

As a Muslim country, dress should be conservative. Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants and hotels in Cairo, Alexandria and tourist resorts. Visitors to ancient sites may have to pay fees to take photographs.

Food and Drink

Foul (bean) based dishes, kebabs and seasoned chickpeas are popular. As are stuffed vine leaves, roast pigeon, grilled aubergines and humus (chickpeas).

Shopping and Souvenirs

In Cairo go to Khan-el-Khalili where reproduction antiques, jewellery, spices, copper items

and Coptic cloth can be found.