11 Days Highlights of Egypt

About the destination: Cairo, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East, is the capital of Egypt. Cairo has been a centre of great importance to many civilisations, cultures and religions. From Pharaonic and Greco-Roman to Ottoman and European, and passing by Jewish, Christian, and Islamic, each of its identities has left a strong imprint on Cairo, thus making it one of the most fascinating cities in the world. The Giza Plateau, that includes the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, is the only remaining monuments of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the country's most famous tourist attraction. The sheer mass of the pyramids is awe inspiring. Islamic Cairo, the centre of historic Cairo, is best done on foot. Located east of downtown, it is full of charming little mosques and water fountains. The most important sites to visit are the Citadel, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Khan el Khalili, the main bazaar, some historic mosques and displays of medieval architecture, as well as some of Cairo's Turkish baths or Hammams. No visit to Cairo is complete without seeing the Egyptian Museum. Exotic atmosphere, chaotic traffic, thousands of minarets, noise, charming people, Cairo is a fascinating city. Few cities in the world surpass Cairo in number of monuments or architectural styles. Cairo is not an ordinary city, Cairo is a whole world.

About the destination: Luxor is the premier travel destination in Upper Egypt and the Nile Valley. The dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt, Luxor has much for travellers to enjoy: vast temples, ancient royal tombs, spectacular desert and river scenery and a bustling modern life. Numerous architectural monuments of Luxor are entered into the List of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO. Luxor consists of the City of Luxor on the East side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. The Valley of Kings is one of the main reason why tourists come to Luxor. It is an enormous place full of various different sized tombs, which were lavishly constructed for the powerful Pharaohs, queens, and nobles. King Tutankhamen tomb was found here in the 1920's almost untouched. Other major attractions in Luxor are: the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak, Medinet Habu, the Tombs of the Nobles, The Ramesseum Temple and the Valley of the Queens.Beautiful and ancient, Luxor is the world's best collection of antiquities.

About the destination: Aswan is a city in the south of Egypt, some 680km south of Cairo, just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, with a population of 275,000. Aswan is far more relaxed and smaller than Cairo and Luxor. Aswan is the smallest of the three major tourist cities on the Nile. Aswan is calming and relaxing and has a laid-back feel to it. Aswan has some unique gems. Rock cut monument Abu Simbel, to the south is one of Egypt's most daring symbols of Egyptian power. The sanctuary temples of Philae and Kalabsha present excursions reminiscent of Greece. Other places worth visiting in Aswan include: The dual temples of sobek and horus at Kwam Umbu, and the well preserved temple of horus at Idfu. Aswan is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Nile.

About the destination: Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city, its largest seaport and the country's window onto the Mediterranean Sea. It's a faded shade of its former glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and still-palpable glimpses of its past. The most important sites to see in Alexandria are: • Qaitbay Citadel, Ras el-Tin: One of the icons of the city, the fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city itself. This citadel was built in 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos lighthouse, to protect the city from the crusaders who used to attack the city by sea. It was erected on the exact site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria. • Mostafa Kamel Cemetery: The cemetery includes four tombs dating from the second century BC, which are in excellent condition and very well decorated. • Kom el-Shouqafa, Karmou: Kom el-Shouqafa is the Arabic translation of ancient Greek name, Lofus Kiramaikos, which means "mound of fragments" or "pots". • Pompey's Pillar, Karmouz: An ancient monument, this column of 25 meters of granite was built in honor of Emperor Diocletian in the year 297. The confined area where the column is, has also other ruins and sculptures as the oracle Serapium. • Roman Theatre, Kom El-Dikka: Built in the second century AD. In Ptolemaic times this area was the Park of Pan, a garden of pleasure surrounded by Roman villas and baths. • Montazah Palace: Built in 1892 by Abbas II of Egypt Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the last Khedive of Egypt. One of the palace buildings, the Haramlek, now contains a casino on the ground floor and a museum of royal relics on the upper levels. • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Mansheya: Egypt has a Tomb of this Unknown Soldier. • Presidential Palace, Montazah. • Alexandria National Museum: historical museum with more than 1,800 archaeological pieces. • Greco-Roman Museum: A history museum with a vast collection mostly dating from the 3rd century BC, spanning the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.