Egypt

Egypt, the land of the pharaohs. Take a trip down the Nile River, or visit the Valley of the Kings.The Egyptian culture has six thousand years of recorded history being one of the earliest civilizations. Cairo, Egypt's capital, is Africa's largest city and has been renowned for centuries as a center of learning, culture and commerce. Did you know that Egypt has the highest number of Nobel Laureates in Africa and the Arab World?

Egypt and the Egyptians have always been renowned for art and architecture. This is evidenced in the wall paintings found in the Pharaohs tombs. They show that the Egyptians followed a rigid code of visual rules and meanings. Who would not want to visit the colossal pyramids, colonnades and monumental tombs? Well-known examples are the Pyramid of Djoser designed by ancient architect and engineer Imhotep, the Sphinx, and the temple of Abu Simbel.

If you are looking for art of another kind, then The Cairo Opera House serves as the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. Cairo even boasts being known as the "Hollywood of the Middle East;" with its annual film festival, the Cairo International Film Festival, been rated as one of 11 festivals with a top class rating worldwide by the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations.Egypt is also one of the boldest countries in the Middle East as far as music goes, with different genres of music, including Rock And Metal music prevailing.

Egypt is famous for its many festivals and religious carnivals, also known as mulid. They are usually associated with a particular Coptic or Sufi saint, but are often celebrated by all Egyptians irrespective of creed or religion.Ramadan has a special flavor in Egypt, celebrated with sounds, lights (local lanterns known as fawanees) and much flare that many Muslim tourists from the region flock to Egypt during Ramadan to witness the spectacle. The ancient spring festival of Sham en Nisim has been celebrated by Egyptians for thousands of years, typically between the Egyptian months of Paremoude (April) and Pashons (May), following Easter Sunday.

The main religion of Egypt is Muslim with an estimated 94% of Egyptians being Muslim. The rest of population is Coptic, Christians, Jews, Hindu and others. According to the Constitution of Egypt, any new legislation must at least implicitly agree with Islamic law Religion. Arabic is the National language and most commonly used in Egypt, whilst English and French are also spoken.

Although there are too many places to mention, here are some of the highlights to visit in Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Sphinx, The Solar Boat Museum, The Pharaonic Village, The Cairo Opera House, The Egyptian Museum,Dreamland Park, Golf at the pyramids, Khan El Khalili Souq, City Stars Complex, The Pyramids at Dashurthe Citadel,Cairo Tower,Nile Dinner Cruise and much, much more.

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. If it takes place in or on the water, then you can do it here. Windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, swimming, but, above all, snorkeling and diving. Places to visit include Hurghada Casino, Diving Ocean, Makadi Bay, Omo Gamaar, El Dahar Sharm El Naga, Shaab Abu Ramada Aquarium, Dolphin Dancers, Sindbad Aqua Park, Sahara Desert, Diamond Red Sea, Makadi Water World, New Marina and many more

Luxor is one of the ancient city's in the world. Luxor has often been called the world's greatest open air museum, as indeed it is. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. What most people think of as Luxor is really three different areas, consisting of the city of Luxor on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor, and Thebes, which is on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor. Places to visit include Temple of Karnak, Temple of Medinat Habu, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Artisans (Deir el-Medina), Valley of the Kings, Luxor Museum, Valley of the Nobles, Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, Tomb of Sennedjem, Tomb of Ramses VI, Tomb of Ramses III, Avenue of Sphinxes Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramses II), Karnak Open Air Museum, Temple of Seti I, Tomb of King Tutankhamun (Tut), Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Amun, Pharaoh's Stables

Sharm-El-Sheikh overlooks the island of Tiran and the narrow straits between the mainlands. For many years Sharm-El-Sheik was part of Israel. In 1982 the area was handed back to Egypt in exchange for a peace treaty under the Camp David Accords. Places to visit include Ras Mohamed National Park, Sinai, Tiran, Ras um Sid, Coptic Church, Shark's Bay Fantasia – Alf Leila Wa Leila Edelweiss, Equestrian Center,Terrazzina Beach Casino, Royale Jolie Ville Golf Course, Al Musterfa Mosque.

Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. Alexandria became the capital of the Graeco-Roman Egypt. It is also know for it's culture, symbolized by Pharos. The famous lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World was built in the Alexandria .Witness of stormy relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Alexandria is a beautiful city to explore. Places to visit include Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, Stanley Bridge, Corniche Alexandria National Museum, Fort Qaitbey, Roman Amphitheatre, Deir Mar Mina (St. Mina Monastery), El-Salamlek Palace, King Farouk Palace, Pompey's Pillar, Ahmad Salem Mosque, Mustafa Kamel Necropolis, El Qaed Ibrahim Mosque, Ruins of Caesareum, The Fine Arts Museum

The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples in Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt. They are situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan (about 300 km by road). The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan).

Aswan is a busy market and tourist center located just north of the Aswan Dams on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract also known antiquely as Swentet. The modern city has expanded and includes the formerly separate community on the island of Elephantine. One of the popular tourist attractions in the Egypt. Places to visit in Aswan include the Aswan Sculpture Park, Qubbet el-Hawa, Mausoleum of Aga Khan, Feryal Garden, Aswan Botanical Garden, Monastery of St. Simeon, Elephantine Island, Sound and Light Show – Philae, Nubian Museum, Philae Island and many more.

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