Egypt has all the ingredients of a perfect holiday: rich cultural and historical heritage including the world’s most iconic landmarks, a dry, sunny and hot climate, pristine beaches, world-class scuba diving and snorkelling a plethora of water sports to choose from and a bustling capital filled with markets and bazaars. So, with so much to see and do, how do you narrow you to-do list down to just five things? Here’s a good place to start.
The Valley of the Kings
On the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor you’ll find the Valley of the Kings. This is one of the most important archaeological finds in the world. This is the burial site of almost every king of the Ancient Egyptian civilization, including its most famous, Tutankhamen.
The Temples of Luxor
On the East Bank of the Nile are a series of temples focusing around the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak. This was the main settlement throughout the Ancient Egyptian era.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Just outside of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo are perhaps Egypt’s most famous landmarks, the Pyramids. Located on a plateau, guarded by the also famous Sphinx, the Pyramids date all the way back to the third millennia BC, the fourth Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptians.
Cairo and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
Cairo is vast and offers much to see and do from the medieval Islamic city to the Coptic sites in the Old Town area as well as numerous night bazaars and food markets. Felucca rides along the Nile and sipping coffee and smoking sheesha are popular evening attractions. The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is a must-do. This is one of the world’s greatest museums and its collection of Egyptian antiquities, is, without doubt, the best preserved and most extensive in the world, with more than 136,000 items on display including Tutankhamen’s treasures.
Snorkelling or scuba diving in the red sea
Away from all that history is another side to Egypt, this one is found not on land, but underwater. The Red Sea is teeming with life and boasts some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. There are shipwrecks, colourful corals, schools of fish of all kinds, sharks, rays and all manner of sea life, large and small. It’s also a great place to learn to scuba dive as the waters are calm and clear.
Enticed yet? Egypt holidays from Thomas Cook offer something for everyone, especially if you decide to go for one of the Nile Cruise and beach stay packages.
