Egypt Travel Guide
YACHT CARPE DIEM
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Egypt Travel Guide Overview
Some historians say that tourism began in Egypt. Long before the birth of Christ, Roman and Greek travelers would visit mystical Egypt to witness the grandeur of the Sphinx & Pyramids, ride a river boat down the longest river in the world, and visit ancient Luxor - much like modern-day travelers.
What's the big fuss about Egypt? If you weren't paying too much attention in history class, Egypt is perhaps home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world - and has the most impressive antiquities, tombs, and historical sights to make a Louvre in Paris look like it got the leftovers. Historical city-states, such as Thebes and Babylon, have become modern day Luxor and Cairo. Distinguished rulers like King Tutankhamen, Queen Nefertari, and Cleopatra all have left impressive marks on Egypt. And, even places such as the Nile River and Valley of the Kings still hold the allure it did centuries ago.
Egypt is not always the easiest of places for westerners to travel and as you know this has sometimes led to tragedy. The Egyptian government, however, is eager to have your business and the vast majority of Egyptians will welcome you with open arms. One thing is for sure about Egypt - you won't be bored. If you can stand the heat and chaos, Egypt is a visual feast not to be missed.
What to do
Cairo is not to be missed by anyone visiting Egypt. It's chaotic and well worn, but it's also home to the Egyptian Museum, which is home to some of the world's finest antiquities. Just across the Nile from downtown Cairo is the city of Giza, and the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphynx are just on the outskirts of town, strangely visible from the freeway in a view you never see on postcards.
The Nile Valley to the south is the other thing not to miss. The city of Luxor is home to some amazing ancient monuments, and a multi-day Nile cruise back toward Cairo is an unforgettable journey and quite affordable as well. The Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria was once home to Cleopatra, and now it's an interesting resort for Egyptians with still quite a few worthwhile landmarks to see.
Getting there
The most common and cheapest way for most people to enter Egypt is to book a flight into Cairo. From there you can take an overnight train to Luxor or catch a domestic flight if you are in a hurry. Getting from the airport to Cairo can be stressful since few taxi drivers speak any English and buses would take hours. Try to get the name of your hotel written in Arabic before getting in the cab.
Where to stay
There are a lot of options when it comes to places to stay in Egypt. You can do some comparison shopping for both hostels and hotels.
If you want to travel to Egypt but would prefer to do so in the company of other like minded independent travelers, you will most certainly want to give our adventure trips section a gander. There are some great trips available for great prices.