Travel Guide and Best Places to visit in Egypt
By Masha Lukovenko / Arab America Contributing Writer
Photo image credit: Wikicommons.
Egypt always was and remains a mysterious, mesmerizing country with rich history, world famous traditions that after centuries of mystique around it, turned to one of the most popular and famous tourist places to visit and travel destinations and one of the best vacation countries and spots. I was there myself 3 times and loved it every time. Let’s take a look at best places to go and see there to fullfill your unforgettable dream vacation.
Egypt always been and is a magnificent country and a great travel destination. The ancient structures in the Nile Valley are a popular tourist destination. The most notable ones include the Great Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza, the Karnak Temple Complex and Valley of the Kings close to Luxor, and the Abu Simbel temples south of Aswan. The Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque and the Cairo Museum are two of the city’s attractions. Along with Hurghada City on the Red Sea coast and the renowned El Gouna Resort, 25 kilometers from Hurghada, the Sinai Peninsula’s coast is home to many popular beach resorts.
Many of the temples and monuments left by the ancient Egyptian civilization are now popular tourist destinations in Egypt. Among them are:
Giza, located 20 km southwest of Cairo, is home to numerous 26th-century BC artifacts, including pharaonic buildings and temples, such as the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Saqqara, a massive ancient burial cemetery located 30 km south of Cairo, was the necropolis of Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital. It has many pyramids, including the oldest standing step pyramid in the world, and several mastabas.
The location of the ancient city of Thebes is Luxor, which is 500 kilometers south of Cairo. It comprises the remnants of the temple complexes located inside the contemporary city of Luxor and Karnak. The West Bank’s monuments, temples, and tombs are located across the Nile River, which include the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.
More than 70 pyramids can be found along the Nile, the most well-known of which being the three pyramids at Giza. In Giza, the Sphinx, a guardian lion, is positioned next to pyramids. During the reigns of Kings Cheops, Kefren, and Mykerinos, more than 4,000 years ago, the pyramids were constructed. The remains of these three monarchs were interred inside the pyramids. Standing at 145 meters tall, the largest pyramid belongs to Cheops and is known as the Great Pyramid.
Saqqara Complex: Situated 24 kilometers south of central Cairo lies the huge necropolis of Saqqara, which includes Memphis.
Around 3000 BC, Menes established Memphis and eleven other pyramids. Ancient Egypt’s administrative capital was Memphis. Zoser’s burial complex, Mereruka’s tomb, and the Serapeum, a network of underground vaults containing mummified Apis bulls—some of which were stored in enormous granite coffins—are all located in Saqqara.
The Kings’ Valley
The Valley of the Kings in Thebes: 26 pharaohs from the eighteenth to twentieth dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great, and Tuthmosis III, had their graves carved into the rock of the Valley of Kings due to theft from tombs within pyramids. The Valley of the Queens contains other tombs.
Abu Simbel is an archaeological site that consists of two enormous rock temples that were initially cut out of a mountainside during the time of Pharaoh Ramesses II (13th century BC). It is located around 850 kilometers south of Cairo, close to the Egypt–Sudan border. The entire complex was moved in the 1960s to escape being flooded when Lake Nasser was being created. They are currently perched above the reservoir of the Aswan High Dam on an artificial hill formed of a domed construction.
Alexandria’s beaches, historical significance, and museums—particularly the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a contemporary endeavor aimed at restoring the ancient Library of Alexandria—make it a popular summertime destination.
Sinai Peninsula: In addition to the places above, Sinai is home to the seaside resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba.Sinai Peninsula: The Sinai contains biblical sites such Mount Sinai (“Jabal Musa”) and the seaside resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba. It’s possible that Saint Catherine’s Monastery is the world’s oldest operating Christian monastery. Many beach resorts can be found in Ain Sukhna, which is located roughly 110 km east of Cairo. Ancient mosques and pharaonic buildings can be found in Assiut, a region in southern Egypt. Located 25 km from Hurghada International Airport, the Red Sea Coast resorts of Hurghada and El Gouna are well-known for their beaches, diving, and snorkeling, but El Gouna is more well-known for its nightlife.
Egypt is a marvel and a pearl of the Arab World that is definitely worth visiting and returning to again and again. Explore its marvels and discover the ancient rich history traditions and culture of this great country.
