With a fascinating history that reaches backto the dawn of civilization, Egypt is considered the oldest travel destination on earth.
The African nation’s awe-inspiring templesand pyramids have captured the imagination of travelers for thousands of years.
Although most people come to Egypt to viewits ancient monuments, natural attractions beckon travelers too.
The Red Sea coast is known for its coral reefsand beach resorts while a trek through the Sahara can lead visitors to a refreshing oasis.
Here’s a look at the best places to visitin Egypt: Number 10.
Hurghada Hurghada was once a fairly small and unimposingfishing village, located next to the Red Sea and boasting a number of sandy beaches.
Today, the resort town is almost unrecognizablefrom its past life and has grown to become one of the most visited tourist destinationin Egypt, with more than 100 different hotels, many of which line the shoreline.
Hurghada is especially popular for its divingopportunities.
Number 9.
Alexandria Located on the coast of the Mediterraneansea, Alexandria is Egypt’s leading port and transportation hub.
Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, the city was once considered the crossroads of the world.
Many of Alexandria’s most famous historicsites, including a library that housed more than 500, 000 books, were destroyed by devastatingearthquakes.
Today the city is a faded shade of its formerglorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractionsand glimpses of its past.
Number 8.
Mount Sinai Located in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula, Mount Sinai is said to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
While there is very little archaeologicalevidence to support this assertion, the mountain is still a popular pilgrimage site and hometo the Monastery of Saint Catherine.
Founded in the 6th century, the Greek Orthodoxmonastery is one of the longest-running monasteries in the world.
Number 7.
Siwa Oasis Located near Egypt’s western border, SiwaOasis remained culturally isolated from the rest of the country until late in the 19thcentury.
Today, Siwa Oasis is an increasingly populartravel destination.
Vacationers come to the city to enjoy thetown’s many freshwater springs, to stroll through acres of palm groves and to exploreancient mud-built fortresses and remnants of Siwa’s Greco-Roman past.
Number 6.
Sharm el-Sheikh Sharm el-Sheikh is a well-known beach resortat the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, popular with package holiday makers and divers.
It is one of the finest diving spots in theworld.
Hotels and travel agencies in Sharm el-Sheikhcan also arrange tours by jeep, camel or quad bike.
Some of the most popular day excursions includesnorkeling visits to Nabeq, jeep trips to the Coloured Canyon and overnight trips toSaint Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai.
Number 5.
Dahshur Dahshur is a necropolis located in the deserton the west bank of the Nile River approximately 25 miles south of Cairo.
Compared to Giza, it is a more tranquil andisolated location to see some very large pyramids.
Visitor numbers are much smaller, queues areway shorter and there is far less hassle.
Pyramids at Dahshur include the Bent Pyramidand the Red Pyramid, constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu.
Number 4.
Aswan Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is a mid-sizedcity located north of Lake Nasser.
Although its own monuments are minor comparedto Luxor’s, Aswan is the base for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and tothe Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, to the south.
It is also the best starting point for excursionsto the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, between Aswan and Luxor.
Number 3.
Cairo Located near the mouth of Nile River delta, Egypt’s modern capital is a busy, bustling metropolis with a long and turbulent history.
Built near the ancient capital city of Memphis, modern Cairo is a popular starting point for cruises up the Nile and for explorations ofthe Pyramids at Giza just outside the city’s limits.
At the world-renowned Egyptian Museum of TahrirSquare, visitors can get a close-up view of the treasure of Tutankhamun as well as mummiesand other artifacts from Egypt’s ancient past.
Number 2.
Luxor Luxor’s lush landscape is the setting forincredible ancient monuments.
The Nile slowly snakes its way through thearea, with the modern day city of Luxor sitting on the East Bank and the ancient capital ofThebes on the West Bank.
The once resplendent city of the ancient worldis like a modern-day, open-air museum for visitors.
You can find the famous temples of Karnakand Luxor on the East Bank while the Valleys of the Kings and Queens are situated on theWest Bank.
Number 1.
Giza The Giza necropolis, situated in the immediatevicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo is probably the most famous ancient site inthe world.
The pyramids, together with the Sphinx atthe base of the Giza plateau, are the iconic image of Egypt.
They were built over the span of three generations– by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure.
Along with these major monuments are a numberof smaller satellite structures, known as queen pyramids, causeways and temples.
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