Worldwide 2024-25

NORTH AFRICA • EGYPT
Discover Egypt
Egypt has been a magnet for cultural
travellers since the 19th century. Today,
anyone with a keen interest in ancient
history will be just as enthralled by a country
that is blessed with an extraordinary
number of spectacular archaeological sites.
After a stay in Cairo, many visitors take a
relaxing multi-night Nile cruise, as most of
the country’s historic sites are spread along
the river’s banks. Cruises usually depart
from Aswan or Luxor, and there is a wide
variety of cruising vessels available; the
larger boats have up to 60 cabins, while
the smallest and most intimate vessel, the
dahabeya, is powered by sails and has just
six cabins.
IMAGE
Cairo
Pyramids and the Great Sphinx at Giza •
Ancient Khan el-Khalili souk
No visit to Egypt would be complete without a
stay in its capital, Cairo. On its east side stands
the evidence of 2,000 years of Islamic, Christian
Coptic and Jewish culture. On its west side lies
the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis (Giza),
capital of the old kingdom; the Great Sphinx;
and the Pyramids.
Luxor
East Bank temples of Karnak & Luxor • Valley
of the Kings & Queens on the West Bank
Pyramids and the Great Sphinx at Giza
Among the city’s many attractions are the
ancient Khan el-Khalili souk, the towering
citadel, and the many mosques, minarets and
tombs of the old city. The Egyptian Museum is
home to more than 120,000 ancient artefacts,
including Tutankhamun’s burial mask, while the
vast, highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum
is expected to open in 2024.
Luxor is a modern city with ancient
monuments nearby, including two large temple
complexes. The Karnak temples are among
the most historically significant in Egypt, while
in the heart of the new town lies the smaller
Luxor (Thebes) Temple.
Across the Nile on the West Bank is one of
the most important archaeological sites in
the world. This area, the necropolis, includes
the world-renowned Valley of the Kings.
Thousands of elaborately decorated tombs
are found here, the most significant of which
were built for the pharaohs. The Valley of the
Queens is an equally important but lesserfrequented
archaeological site.
Karnak Temple, Luxor
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