|
Egypt Cities
|
Welcome to the famous cities of Egypt.
You can visit Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, Aswan,
Luxor and Alexandria. We bring you specialized package
tours to these beautiful cities of cairo, sharm el-sheikh,
hurghada, aswan, luxor and alexandria.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
About
the Area
:
Cairo,
and the area around it are considered to be the heart of
Egypt, and one may find almost every aspect of Egypt represented
in the area, including some of the most famous Pharaonic,
ancient Christian and Islamic monuments. Cairo
offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure, culture
and nightlife. Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el-Khalili
souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century,
to modern air-conditioned centers displaying the latest
fashions. All the bounty of the East is here - particularly
good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver, carpets, brass
and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya.
Try some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq,
for fabrics, including Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar
for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical
instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy,
the Camel Market makes a fascinating trip.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
View
of Pyramids from the Mena House Hotel
:
When
you need a break from city life, try a round of golf on
the famous Mena House course overlooking the Pyramids,
watch the horse racing at the Gezira Club or visit the Zoo
and the Botanical Gardens. Take a trip on the Nile in a
felucca or ride on horseback from the Giza Pyramids
to Sakkara. For a day trip outside Cairo
visit Haraniyya village and see the beautiful tapestries
and weaving produced by local people. If you wish, you may
get away from it all at the top of the Cairo
Tower, a modern 187 meter-high tower with views of the city
from all sides, topped by a revolving restaurant.
Cairo comes alive at night,
which is the best time to shop, eat delicious Middle Eastern
cuisine, or simply watch the world go by from a pavement
cafe. You can dine in a floating restaurant on the Nile,
sample an apple-flavored shisha waterpipe at a coffee-shop
or see oriental dancers and cabarets at a luxury hotel.
The splendid Opera House complex houses several galleries
(including the Museum of Modern Art), restaurants and concert
halls. Listening to Arabic music under the stars, in the
open-air theater, is a magical experience. At El-Ghuriya,
in the heart of Islamic Cairo
you can watch folk musicians and whirling dervish dancers.
And don't forget the most essential after-dark experience,
the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids,
a dramatic fusion of light and music recounting the story
of antiquity.
Islamic Cairo is not the
oldest section of Cairo,
as that distinction belongs to Old Cairo.
Westerners visiting Cairo
many not wish to think in terms of Islamic here, but rather
medieval. Indeed this area encompasses the medieval history
from beginning to end.
Old Cairo actually predates
Cairo itself to old Babylon
and the Romans. Located here are some of the oldest Christian
Churches in the World, as well as one of the oldest Mosques.
Giza is where the Great Pyramid is located, but there is
more to the west bank of the Nile. Several important districts
are located here, along with wonderful restaurants and great
shopping opportunities.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Hurghada
was founded in the early 20th century, and until a few years
ago, remained a small fishing village. But today, it has gone
on to become the foremost tourist resort of the Red Sea coast
and an international center for aquatic sports. If it takes
place in or on the water you can do it here : windsurfing,
sailing, deep-sea fishing, swimming, but, above all, snorkeling
and diving. The unique underwater gardens offshore are some
of the finest in the world, justifiably famous amongst divers.
The warm waters here are ideal for many varieties of rare
fish and coral reefs, which may also be observed through glass
bottom boats. This area has many fine accommodations, usually
offering warm and efficient service. Restaurants are mostly
along the main road. While in Hurghada,
don't miss the museum and aquarium, with their complete collections
of flora and fauna of the Red Sea.
Today, Hurghada is known as
a party town, particularly among Europeans. Locals and others
will tell you that life begins at night in Hurghada,
with the many, many clubs. They are particularly frequented
by the young, but certainly many others of all ages. One may
often find a rousing party centered around the visitors from
a tour group taking over the action of a particular bar. They
are easy to find along the main street, along with loads of
inexpensive and expensive hotels. |
| |
Small
Pubs, Restaurants and Internet Cafes line the Main Street |
| |
|
It
is also a beach resort, where thousands of older Europeans
and others come with their families to enjoy the sun and
fun of private resort beaches, some all inclusive. Many
of these hotels offer so many activities and facilities
that one may never need to leave the resort. Often, the
larger resorts have zoos, playgrounds, discos, bars, a number
of pools and even small theaters.
Hurghada
is also a city under development. Many new hotels and construction
are taking place, and we can expect to see some great new
hotels, restaurants and other facilities in the near future.
Actually this is a busy section of the Red Sea in general.
Safaga is just south of Hurghada,
and Soma Bay with its beautiful Sheraton is even closer
to the South. To the North is El Gouna, a highly organized
resort community. Together, these communities and resort
areas offer just about everything a visitor might wish for,
from raucous parties to isolated scuba diving, with golf,
bowling and fishing in between.
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Islands
near Hurghada offer all kinds
of fun and excitement. Take a day trip to Giftun Island for
snorkeling and a fish barbecue, or view the Red Sea from a
submarine! When you're not in the sea you can shop in the
boutiques, relax in the luxury holiday villages or visit the
Roman Mons Porphyrites (mountain of porphyry) remains at nearby
Gebel Abu Dukhan (Father of Smoke). Day-trips or safaris to
explore the Red Sea Mountains by camel or jeep are also available.
Other nearby islands and destinations include the Shadwan
Island (Diving, snorkeling, fishing but no swimming), Shaab
Abu Shiban (Diving, snorkeling and swimming), Shaab el-Erg
(Diving, fishing and snorkeling), Umm Gammar Island (Diving
and snorkeling), Shasb Saghir Umm Gammae (Diving), Careless
Reef (Diving), Abu Ramada Island (Diving), Shaab Abu Ramada
(Fishing), Dishet el-Dhaba (Beaches and swimming), Shaab Abu
Hashish (Beaches, diving, snorkeling, swimming and fishing),
Sharm el-Arab (Diving, swimming and fishing and Abu Minqar
Island (Beaches and swimming). |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Luxor
has often been called the worlds greatest open air museum,
as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation
of the monuments in the Luxor
area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world that know
of. Actually, what most people think of as Luxor
is really three different areas, consisting of the City of
Luxor on the East side of
the Nile, the town of Karnak
just north of Luxor and
Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, which is
on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.
Right - The west bank across the Nile from Luxor.
To say that the Luxor area
is a major attraction for tourists in Egypt would be an understatement.
It has been a tourist destination since the beginning of tourism.
Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek
and Roman periods, the area drew tourists, and has been doing
so ever since. Today Luxor
is well equipped to accommodate tourists with many hotels
and in general a tourist industry ready and willing to serve
the people from many countries that descend on this area of
the Nile Valley every year.
Within Luxor, there are
only three main streets consisting of Sharia al-Mahatta, |
 Sharia
al-Karnak and the Corniched,
next to the Nile. The street in front of the train station
is Sharia al-Mahatta and runs away from the Nile where it
meets the gardens of Luxor
Temple. Sharia al-Karnak,
or Maabad al-Karnak
which means Karnak
Temple Street runs along the Nile from Luxor
Temple to Karnak Temple.
However, Sharia al-Karnak
is known as Sharia al-Markaz where it meets Sharia al-Mahatta
street, and to the south
around the temple it is known as Sharia al-Lokanda. Along
this street one will find the colorful signs of restaurants
and cafes, as well as bazaars where the usual variety of Egyptian
souvenirs can be found. Of interest is the alabaster, which
is plentiful along the west bank and miled not far from here.
Also look for the clay pots used by the locals for cooking,
which are more unusual. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Luxor
at the Nile
Luxor
today is a city of some 150,000 people and is governed by
special statues that allow it more autonomy then other political
areas of Egypt. One thing you might notice is that various
government and other buildings confirm to an 'ancient' building
code. Particularly, the National bank of Egypt (located
near the winter palace), the spa south of the police station,
and the railway station are all designed to appear as pharaonic
constructs. All of this occurred after the Egyptianization
of the modern town resulting mostly from the mania that
resulted from Howard Carter's discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
As one might think, the city has all the amenities tourists
might expect, including a variety of hotels, bars, nightclubs
and restaurants.
|
 In
Luxor proper on the East
Bank, one of the first stops must be the Temple
of Luxor built by Amenophis
III. Head south on Sharia al-Karnak
to reach the temple, which was connected to the Karnak
Temple via a long stone processional street called a dromos.
The dromos (Picture at right) was built by Nectanebo I, and
originally was lined on either side by sphinxes.
In front of the Luxor temple,
the dromos is well preserved, and on the way to the entrance
one passes by a Roman chapel of burnt brick dedicated to the
god Serapis, which was built during the rule of Hadrian. There
is a path that leads to the Nile side of the Temple where
one enters the complex. |
| |
After
leaving Luxor, head back
to Sharia al-Karnak
and go north towards Karnak.
Down the road, near the police station which is near the tomb
is the oldest mosque in Luxor,
the El-Mekashkesh Mosque. It contains the remains of a 10th
century Islamic saint who rumor has it was a monk prior to
converting to Islam. The mosque is a popular pilgrimage destination.
Here also is the Franciscan Church and its schools, one for
boys and the other girls. Beyond this lies a great Coptic
basilica.
At the Police station, head towards the Nile Corniche. Here,
opposite the Mina Palace Hotel you will find the Mummification
Museum, which has most anything you would ever want to know
about mummifications. From here, head north towards Karnak. |
| |
 About
halfway to Karnak,
you will discover the Luxor
Museum. (The image at left is a Block Statue of Iamu Negh
from the Luxor Museum).
It should certainly be visited if you plan a well rounded
and educated experience. While this is a small museum, most
of the relics are from the surrounding area and provide considerable
insight to the monuments you will visit. From the Museum,
head back to Sharia al-Karnak
and continue north towards Karnak.
After crossing a small bridge one will begin to see the excavated
dromos off the road and running through a small village. A
little further on you will pass the ruins of the Temple of
Mut where another dromos leads to the gateway of the tenth
pylon. The road finally arrives at the domed tombs of two
saints, Sidi Ahmed and Sidi Ali, where a road leads past the
Department of Antiquities leads to the main Temple of Karnak
entrance. This road is built along a canal that once connected
the Nile to the Temple. There was a dock in ancient times,
but now all that is left is the quay and the raised dais.
Just past that is a red brick Roman dock and past that two
paved ramps led to the river bank. They are bordered by stone
parapets, and were built during the rule of Taharqa. Past
these is the Chapel of Achoris, which received the sacred
boat of Amun when it was used in ceremonies. |
| |
 To
arrive at the entrance one follows the dromos with its
crio-sphinxes.
They have the head of a Ram and the body of a lion and
are symbolic of the God Amun. Arriving at the temple,
there is a statue of Ramesses II with his son between
his feet.
To the right is a structure that has red steps, a red
front colonnade and red brick walls. Inside there are
pedestals. inscribed with the names of Roman emperors,
that once held their statues. This was a Roman chapel
dedicated to imperial worship. After leaving the Temple
complex on the left is the Franco-Egyptian Center which
has managed the temple complex since 1967. Down on the
shore of the Nile is the Centre National dl la Recherche
Scientifque, or CNRS, which houses the French and the
Chicago House, a project of the University of Chicago
is near by. After this, you will wish to take a boat
trip over to the West bank. This trip had a special
meaning to the Egyptians, for they were more crossing
the way to the West and life, then to a necropolis.
The Valley of the Kings
is as good as any to try first, with tombs from the
18th and 19th Dynasties. Outside the Valley
of the Kings, the road leads past Antef, named for
the 11th Dynasty prices who were buried here. Some tombs
can still be seen as one heads towards the Temple of
Seti I. Most of what is left of Seti's Temple is the
view. The court is entered by the ruined gate of a pylon
The court has what is left of a palace on the south
side. The road continues south passing Dra-Abu el-Naga
necropolis. |
|
| |
Luxor Sound and Light Show
|
| |
|
| |
|
Population
Total
population 3,341,000
male 51.15 %
female 48.85 %
Tourism
54
hotels
4,041 rooms
Worship
places
1,819
mosques
36 churches
|
|
|
|
|
