Egypt is a fusion of the ancient past and the contemporary present

Cairo

Cairo city

Cairo is the main gateway into Egypt and one of the main reasons people visit is to see the Great Pyramids of Giza.  But Cairo is more than just about the pyramids it is a source of amazement to travelers even at the time of the Mameluks. But the indomitable city of Cairo is still in the eyes of the Egyptians "The Victorious", "Mother of the world" or simply "Misr", the name for Egypt as a whole. As long as the visitor is willing to lose their way then they too can discover the sweetness of Cairo nights lit by green neon illuminated mosques, the warmth of small, everyday cafes, the pleasure of strolling along narrow streets and the smiling good humor of the city's people.

Other must see places in Cairo include the Egyptian Museum with more than 100,000 antiquities, the Old Cairo known as Coptic Cairo where you will find ancient religious buildings and visiting the many souqs (markets).

Luxor

Luxor

Luxor possesses undeniable charm. Here and there among the palace halls and gardens and on facades of nineteenth-century buildings with corbelled balconies there is a glimpse of the past and of a time of British colonials and Egyptian monarchs, of wealthy English, and of beys and pashas.

Considered the world's greatest outdoor museum it is filled with the awe-inspiring monuments of this ancient civilisation.  It was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom.  Originally called MACE, the name was changed to Thebes and Homer described it as the City of one hundred gates.  The Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak Temple all make Luxor one of the most fascinating areas on the planet!

Aswan and Abu Simbel

Aswan Philae Temple

In the region known as "Upper Egypt" are two of the most incredible constructions in the world - the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel and the awe inspiring Aswan Dam, both are considered monumental engineering feats.

Aswan is the nexus for the expansive Lake Nasser and Egypt's lifeline, The Nile.  Situated on a beautiful stretch of the river and decorated with palm-fringed islands, flotillas of multi coloured sailed feluccas gently criss-crossing the river as they have done for a thousand year.  Aswan is also home to the Nubian people, a distinct ethnic group with their own language and customs, the town is more African in character than the cities of the north.

However, it is the Temples of Abu Simbel that make this region a "do not miss" experience. When the Temples were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a world wide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain.