Long known for its pyramids and ancient civilization, it is also the home of the ancient Pharaohs.
Long known for its pyramids and ancient civilization, it is also the home of the ancient Pharaohs. With vast tracts of desert, superb scuba diving, and the famed Nile River there's something for everyone here.
Egypt has so much for travelers to see and do; it's the perfect country for a mix of activities combining culture, adventure, and relaxation.
1. Pyramids of Giza – This is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest and the last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.
Built as tombs for the mighty Pharaohs and guarded by the enigmatic Sphinx, Giza's pyramid complex has awed travelers down through the ages and had archaeologists (and a fair few conspiracy theorists) scratching their heads over how they were built for centuries.
Today, these megalithic memorials to dead kings are still as wondrous a sight as they ever were. An undeniable highlight of any Egypt trip, Giza's pyramids should not be missed.
2. Luxor's Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings – Famed for the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the Memorial Temple of Hatshepsut, the Nile-side town of Luxor in Upper Egypt has a glut of tourist attractions.
The Temples of Luxor and Karnak continue to dominate the city, exuding ruined grandeur with their massive statues, elaborately ornamented walls, and towering pillars designed to showcase the power of the pharaoh. This is ancient Thebes, powerbase of the New Kingdom pharaohs, and home to more sights than most can see on one visit.
While the East Bank brims with vibrant souk action, the quieter West Bank is home to a bundle of tombs and temples that has been called the biggest open air museum in the world.
3. Abu Simbel – Also known as the site of two temples, it is an enormous rock temple complex located on Egypt's border with Sudan. The two temples of this complex were built in the 13th century BC, during the reign of the great and powerful Ramesses II.
This temple is adorned with a colossal statuary standing guard outside, and with an interior sumptuously decorated with wall paintings. It is said that it took twenty years to create the complex and that the temples are dedicated to the gods Ra-Horakty, Ptah, and the deified Ramesses II (The Great Temple) and the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, Ramesses' favourite wife (The Small Temple).
4. White Desert – For unique and spectacular formations, the White Desert is the place to be. People who have visited white desert say it’s a truly magical place that’s hard to leave.
It’s one of the more recently declared protected areas of Egypt which lies totally within the depression of Farafra. The white chalk of the depression is dotted with inselbergs embedded with numerous fossil seashells.
Also the ground here is scattered with thousands of oxidized iron pyrites concretions. Egypt's kookiest natural wonder is the White Desert where surreally shaped chalk mountains have created what looks like a snowy wonderland in the middle of the arid sand.
The landscapes here look like something out of a science fiction movie with blindingly white boulders and iceberg-like pinnacles. For desert fans and adventurers, this is the ultimate weird playground, while anybody who's had their fill of temples and tombs will enjoy this spectacular natural scenery.
Article by Titi Dokubo