Introducing Egypt
The land that gave birth to the first great civilisation needs little introduction. The pyramids, the minarets, the Nile – the scope of Egypt is magnificent.
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Visitors are surprised to discover that those legendary pyramids are merely the tip of the archaeological iceberg. Pharaonic nations, ancient Greeks, Romans, Christians and Arab dynasties have all played their part in fashioning Egypt’s embarrassment of architectural wealth.
Cairo’s chaos whirrs around a medieval core that has remained unchanged since the founding days of Islam. Upriver, Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes, is lined with warrens of opulent burial chambers and boasts some of the most formidable monuments in all antiquity. Further south at Aswan, even more geometrically imposing temples write a testament to the power of archaic gods and omnipotent pharaohs. It is here that the Nile is best explored by ancient sail, on a felucca (Egyptian sailing boat) at the hands of the prevailing currents and winds.
Out west, Egypt’s ocean of sand stretches infinitely to the Sahara, with a handful of oases feeding solitary islands of green. Hivelike, medieval fortresses cower out here, interspersed with bubbling springs and ghostly rock formations. Meanwhile, the deep, crystal waters of the Red Sea lie brilliantly awash in coral, surrounded by an aquatic frenzy of underwater life. In the deserts of Sinai’s interior, visitors can climb the mount where God had word with Moses, and spend their remaining days in halcyon bliss at coastal Dahab’s backpacker Shangri-La.
Though it is one of the more politically stable countries in the region, modern-day Egypt is not without strife. Thirty years of authoritarian rule, an erratic economy and rising living costs fan the flames of social unrest. Still, Egyptians are a resilient lot, and visitors making the journey here will find as much ancient history as they will modern hospitality.
Make it happen
- Book author reviewed and recommended hotels in Egypt
- Take a luxurious Nile cruise
- Travel from the Pyramids to Petra
Last updated: 15-Jul-2010
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Egypt
Our Top Picks For Egypt
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1 Cairo
For a glimpse of the more recent past, wander through the dusty, decrepit glamour of Garden City, a labyrinth of crumbling 19th and early-20th-century mansions
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2 Alexandria
Sip coffee, smoke sheesha (water pipe), or join in on the heated debates that take place in the many antique coffee houses that dot this hip metropolis
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3 Pyramids of Giza
You haven't been to Egypt unless you've stood at the base of these megaton monuments
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4 Abydos
Make a pilgrimage to the supposed burial site of the god Osiris, one of the most revered sites in antiquity, and now one of the best-preserved temples
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5 Great Sand Sea
Skirt the edge of the vast sand dunes that make up one of the most impenetrable deserts in the world
Fast Facts about Egypt
- Area
997,739 sq km
- Capital
- Country code
20
- Population
81.7 million
- Money
Egyptian pound (E£); US$1 = E£5.55; €1 = E£7.81
- Official name
Arab Republic of Egypt
Related Groups
Our favourite Egypt Blogs (beta)
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Daily Travel Photo – Cairo, Egypt
Blog: Everything Everywhere - 27 August 2010
Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Discover great travel photos. Related posts:Daily Travel Photo – Mohamed Ali Mosque, Cairo Daily Travel Photo – Cairo, Egypt Daily Travel Photo – Cairo, Egypt
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Dahab, Egypt: Incense And Squirt Bottles
Blog: AlpacaSuitcase - 21 August 2010
We arrived in Dahab after a long 18 hour overnight bus ride from Luxor and the difference between this seaside scuba haven and the rest of Egypt was immediately apparent. The sea breeze was a welcome respite from the dry desert heat, the men wore T-shirts, shorts and sandals instead of dark-colored robes and skull caps and for the first time we met a woman who was actually in charge of something. Dahab sits on the Gulf of Aqaba directly across from Saudi Arabia and is a laid back corner of Egypt, a virtual paradise…except for the flies and the cats.
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Sinai, Egypt: Only Four Camels For Our Daughter?
Blog: AlpacaSuitcase - 14 August 2010
After Abdul asked my daughter’s age, he was quiet for a minute. The sun was going down over the rough craggy hills of the Sinai, washing them in a dark reddish hue. Abdul continued, “Your daughter is very pretty. I can pay four camels.” My first response was Marriage? She’s only 12 years old! but I collected my composure and asked, “Why only four?” “Four is a good price,” he said, “I am poor Bedouin man.” I wasn’t sure if Abdul was serious or just playing with me, nevertheless, I countered with ten camels, not having any idea if his initial “bride price” was fair or not.
