Cruises - Azores Cruise Club

CAiro (from Port Said & Port Sokhna), Egypt
Nowhere on earth launches an all-out assault on the senses quite like Cairo. It’s big,
it’s bustling and it’s filled to bursting with age-old treasures from the times of the
pharaohs. The first thing that’ll strike you about Egypt’s capital is the chaos – fastmoving
traffic, beeping car horns, calls to prayer, haggling merchants. Everything’s a
blur, albeit an exciting one. The other thing you’ll notice is the fusion of old with
new. Traditional bazaars hung with copper-beaten lamps rub shoulders with glitzy,
neon-lit shopping malls. There’s nowhere like it.
• It’s Cairo’s ancient history that sprinkles it with stardust. Venture to the outskirts to
marvel at the deeply poignant Giza pyramids. These colossal man-made mountains
will leave you with one question – how on earth did they build them?
• Save some room on your camera for snaps of the Sphinx. Carved from a single
ridge of stone, this massive sculpture has stood guard since 2500BC.
• Explore the warren-like Egyptian Museum to see dust-caked antiquities, age-old
mummies and the glorious treasures of Tutankhamun.
• Finally, enjoy a cool drink overlooking the slow-moving waters of the Nile, watching
as they idly follow their millennia-old course.
SAfAgA (for Luxor & Hurghada), Egypt
Built on the 4,000-year-old site of Thebes – Egypt’s ancient capital – Luxor stands
on the east bank of the felucca-flecked Nile. Imagine an outdoor museum and this
place more than measures up to the vision. Hurghada, meanwhile, is a diver’s
sun-drenched dream.
• Your first must-see in Luxor is the incredible Temple of Luxor in the heart of the
modern town. Gaze wide-eyed at the incredible obelisks built by Ramses II and
wonder at an unimaginably long-ago world. And then finish up with a tour of the
city’s unmissable mummy-filled museums.
• Luxor’s two other highpoints lie outside the city. Head north to gawp at the Temple
of Karnak, a jaw-dropping series of vast shrines and pillars. Then head across the
Nile to see the legendary Valley of the Kings, with its 62 hill-carved tombs,
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Pyramids, Cairo
Luxor, Egypt Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Egyptian Museum, Cairo Coral fish, Red Sea
including those of Tutankhamun and Ramses II. Descend into the eerie
hieroglyphic-inscribed burial chambers and you’ll feel totally humbled.
• Fancy a break from sightseeing? Then head for the gold-dust beaches of
Hurghada. The diving here is out of this world. Fish in garish orange, translucent
greens and iridescent blues flash across the coral in brilliant shoals.
• Find out more about the Red Sea’s coral reefs. If you don’t like the idea of suiting
up in scuba gear, you can go on the Seascope instead. This semi-submarine will
take you three metres beneath the surface of the water, where you can get a good
look at the wildlife and coral through panoramic windows.
ShArm El ShEikh, Egypt
Thanks to its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches and soaring temperatures, Sharm El
Sheikh has fast-become Egypt’s most popular resort. It’s best known for its first-class
underwater scene. With their beautiful coral gardens and tropical marine life, the
waters here offer up some of the best diving opportunities in the world.
• If you want to check out the underwater world without getting wet, go for the
glass-bottom boat option. It's like peering into a giant aquarium, only this is the
real thing. And when you've had enough of life beneath the waves, head out on
deck and soak up some of that sun.
• Bump up and down the desert dunes on a quad bike. A guide will lead you
through the sand, and you can stop at a traditional Bedouin tent to meet some of
the locals.
• See the coral reefs of Ras Mohamed in all their glory. They’re home to more than
1,000 species of tropical fish, not to mention hordes of sea turtles, sea urchins,
crabs and lobsters.
• Check out Sharm El Sheikh's shopping scene in lively Naama Bay. You'll find
everything from boutiques to craft stalls. And when you're all shopped out, choose
one of the bars and restaurants and recharge your batteries.
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