Egypt

Location – North Africa
Capital – Cairo
Population – 76 million
Language – Arabic, English, French
Religion - Sunni Muslim, Coptic Christian
Calling Code - +20
Time Zone – UTC +2, Daylight Saving Time – UTC +3
Climate – Arid climate
Currency – Egyptian pound (EGP)
Best time visit – October To May

Pyramids of Giza - Cairo
There are in all three pyramids in Giza Necropolis which together are called the Pyramids of Giza. These are the most important of nearly 100 pyramids scattered all over Egypt. Pyramids are triangular shaped structure built of stones stacked one over other. Lying on the border of capital city Cairo, Pyramids of Giza are the most popular attractions of Egypt.

Among the three pyramids of Giza, the Pyramid of Khufu, also called the Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest and oldest. It retained the position of the tallest man made structure for nearly 4,000 years, It is believed that the pyramid was constructed as the tomb of Egyptian King Khufu and was completed around 2560 BC after 20 years of construction. What you see today is the inner structure of the original building. There was a layer of casing stones over it which were lost in the course of time.

The Sphinx - Cairo
The Great Sphinx at Giza represents a mythological figure with body of a lion and head of a man. This huge statue which is situated near to the Pyramids of Giza, is the national symbol for the modern as well as ancient Egypt. With 73.5 meters in length, 6 m in width and 20 m in height, Great Sphinx of Giza is the largest monolith statue in the world. The statue is believed to have been made way before the pyramids and is the oldest known structure in Egypt. The structure has suffered a lot of damage. The nose of the Sphinx and the beard are missing from the statue. There have been many restoration works done on the Sphinx. There are ruins of a small temple built between the front paws of the statue.

Abu Simbel
This is one of the most important archaeological sites which consists of two huge temples dedicated to Pharaoh Ramasses II and queen Nefertari. Situated by the banks of River Nile, the original location of Abu Simbel was below the present location which is under the water today. In the year 1959, the entire temple was moved to its present location after a threat to the original temple of being submerged arose.

The construction of the temples is believed to have been completed in the year 1224 BC, 20 years after it was started. The temple was rediscovered only in the year 1813 and since then has been of great fascination for archaeologists and tourists. The Great Temple which is dedicated to gods Amen Re, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah, is also dedicated to Pharaoh Ramesses II as well. The main attraction of the temple are the 4 huge 20 meter statues of the Pharaoh with double crown of upper and lower Egypt. The smaller temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II's main wife, Nefertari. The façade of this temple too has breathtaking statues of Pharaoh Ramesses and wife Nefertari.

Temples of Karnak - Luxor
The Karnak Temple Complex was one of the most important religious sites of Ancient Egypt and today is one of the most visited tourist attractions of Modern Egypt. Situated near Luxor, the complex is divided into four precincts. The largest of them all is the Precinct of Amun-Re. It is also the only portion that is opened to general public. The other three parts namely Precinct of Montu, Precinct of Mut, and Temple of Amenhotep IV are not accessible by public. It is the largest temple complex anywhere in the world. The most fascinating attraction of Karnak Complex is the Hypostyle Hall. With 134 gigantic columns, the hall is the largest room in a religious place anywhere in the world.

Abdeen Palace - Cairo
Abdeen Palace is one of the very few modern day buildings that even come close to the grandeur and exquisiteness of ancient Egypt structures. Completed in the year 1873, this is one of the official residence of President of Egypt. There are nearly 500 rooms in the palace, each of which is lavishly decorated with paintings, antique clocks, some of which have gold adornments. A section of the palace is made into a museum which is further divided into Silver Museum, Arms Museum, Presidential Gift Museum and Royal Family Museum.

Egyptian Museum - Cairo
Egyptian Museum for its extremely unique collections has become a noted attraction of Cairo. It surely is a big feat when one looks at the other heavyweight attractions that are here in Cairo. With more than 120,000 items, Egyptian museum has the largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. The Royal Mummy Room, which was recently opened after being closed in 1981, contains mummies of 27 royal people from the ear of ancient Egypt. The most famous of them all is the Tomb of King Tutankhamun as it was the most intact tomb of all. A golden mask covered the face of the mummy which weighed nearly 24 pound. Other items that can be seen here are coins made of different materials, weapons and statues.

Dive to Watch the Marine Life
It is the visibility in the water that makes Red Sea on the Egyptian side one of the most popular destinations in the world for diving. The water is crystal clear here and makes the experience of watching marine life and coral life a real treat. The resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh is the most popular diving resorts in Egypt that offers facilities for shallow sea diving as well as deep sea diving. One can indulge in water sports throughout the year. The best spots for diving in Egypt are Ras Mohammed National Park and Straits of Tiran.

Cruise Down the Nile River
No matter how many times one takes a cruise down Nile River, it always has something new to offer, something interesting that will keep you fascinated. Most of the ancient attractions of Egypt like Temple of Karnak, Valley of Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple are situated on the banks of Nile River. The cruise is truly a luxurious experience as the vessels that are used for the cruise are full of amenities, The ship docks at many important tourist destinations where you can disembark and explore the local markets, villages and the lifestyle of the people. You will find many cruise operators offering different cruise packages designed to meet the requirements of different tourists.

Shop For Traditional Items
In a country which is so rich in culture and traditions, it is not difficult to find a number of unique items for purchase. Walk through the narrow lanes exploring the colorful street markets that are full of unique shops selling fascinating items. One can shop for anything in Egypt ranging from garments to antique items, and at a very reasonable price. However, you have to be pretty good at bargaining in some stores. There are fixed price shops as well where the prices are set. Also look at the ultimate jewelery collections and handicraft items in pottery and glass works. Khan Al Khalili Bazaar in Cairo is the most famous market in Egypt known for its jewelery shops.

Climbing Mt. Sinai
Commonly referred as 'Mosses Mountain' by the locales, it is so called because it is believed that it was here that Mosses received the Ten Commandments directly from God. More than tourist trekking to the top of the mountain to see the wonderful sunrise, Mt. Sinai is traversed by pilgrims who come here to visit Monastery of St. Catherine, which has constructed in the 6th century B.C. There are two routes to climb Mt. Sinai. They are not very well marked so it is advised that you take a guide along, especially when traveling at night, which probably will be the case. At the top of the mountain, you will see a chapel dedicated to Holy Trinity. Do not miss the sunrise.