EGYPT
LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY
Egypt is located in the north-eastern part of the African continent and southwestern part of the Asian continent. On the north it is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, by Israel on the east and on the south by Sudan. More than 90 % of Egypt is mostly desert land.
CLIMATE
There is not much variety in the Egyptian climate- Egypt, has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. Variations in daytime temperatures and changes in prevailing winds are the only things that set one season apart from the other. Ranging between an average minimum of 14° C in winter and an average maximum of 30° C in summer, in coastal regions the temperatures vary a lot. The days are mostly warm to hot in Egypt and nights are cool.
LANGUAGE
Arabic has been Egypt’s written and spoken language since 13 centuries! However, dialects vary from region to region and even town to town.
Most educated Egyptians, shopkeepers and some others speak English and French.
CAPITAL
The capital of Egypt is Cairo, which is one of the world’s largest urban areas. It is the administrative capital of Egypt and all the ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, are all either within or nearby the city. On the very edge of the city, lie the magnificent Pyramids of Giza. It is a unique city that has retained all its antiquity and also assimilated all the modernity of the world.
CURRENCY
The unit for Egypt currency is the pound (EGP; symbol E£) = 100 piasters. There are two interesting peculiarities of the Egyptian currency- first each note is written in two languages, Arabic and English, and second the smaller the note denomination, the smaller its physical size.
ECONOMY
Egypt's economic spectrum has great diversity, as it is involved with agriculture, textiles as well as some industry. In the recent years, Egypt has had a very strong economic growth, with the growth of 4.5 % in its GDP. In order to facilitate national activities and foreign investments, the bureaucracy has been thinned, so that While exporters earlier had to deal with several state authorities, they now only need to face one.
Despite this, the disparity amongst the rich and the poor is quite substantial due to which it still is counted among the world’s poor nations.
FUN AND FROLIC IN EGYPT
Nile cruise
For the ultimate Nile experience, ply the river between Luxor and Aswan by boat. This would take you three to five days. Along the Nile, egrets flock to the water's edge and Egypt's ancient wonders unfold like a story book along the river bank.
Hot-air ballooning
The view of the Luxor, strewn either side of the Nile, is breath taking from the air. The land of the Pharoahs can be better seen and appreciated in a hot-air balloon, besides it’s an adventure in its own right.
Diving
For an unequaled underwater adventure, there is no place better than the Red Sea in the world. The crystal waters of the Red Sea have in their backdrop, coral and dramatic drop-offs. Want to experience for the underwater world at its best? Plan a visit to the Ras Mohamed National Park.
Snorkeling and swimming
There are two things you can do, either you can access Egypt's spectacular coastline and you wouldn’t need a wetsuit even or alternatively wade out with a mask, snorkel or take a glass-bottomed boat from the shores of Sharm el-Sheik and watch the fish swimming up to you. If you are wary of going into the waters, wait on the shore for the cocktails, while bathing in the luxuriant rays.
Hiking
Mt Sinai has been a pilgrimage since hundreds of years, where pilgrims from the world over have traveled to witness the sun rise and adorn the desert landscape. If you are a keen hiker then you could opt for the three-hour hike or alternatively you could stay overnight at St Catherine Monastery, hire a camel and walk down in leisure.
elive olden days
To take a peek into the almost but extinct Nubian culture, Aswan, the gateway to Africa, is the right place to visit. You could also stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie penned ‘Death on the Nile’ or simply go there for a cup of tea on the terrace.
Golf
While it's not a sport readily associated with Egypt, the country is now making quite a name for itself and offers almost 20 courses. They range from locations within sight of Cairo's Pyramids to settings alongside the Red Sea.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Egypt is home to one of the oldest cities mankind civilized and thus is full of fascinating historical sites. Each city and site has its own flavor, and mostly each serves a different purpose.
Alexandria
The area has a Mediterranean feel about it, and the attraction is the Mediterranean Sea, the people and culture of Cairo and having a somewhat cooler climate it gives respite from the otherwise warmer parts of the country.Cairo
Cairo has a lot to offer. From great hotels, entertainment, restaurants, all manner of monuments from throughout the history of Egypt and it is often the entry point for most people visiting Egypt. The city has several bowling allies and golf courses and you can take your pick. Luxor
Containing vast numbers of ancient Egyptian monuments, Luxor a living museum. On the east bank of Luxor lies the spectacular Temple of Karnak, featuring epic statues, reliefs, obelisks and lotus-columned halls. The town holding so many treasures is a destination in its own right.Aswan
Aswan is probably the least of the super-site tourist areas, but has great hotels, along with the huge Lake Nasser just to the south. Hurghada
with the exception of ancient monuments, this place makes up for with every variety of water sports, several golf courses, casinos and more. Sharm El Sheikh- This place is packed with almost everything any tourist might wish. Christian monuments are situated nearby, and the water sports, like the ones at Hurghada, are all inclusive. Egyptian Museum
It is the country's greatest attractions, housing over Egyptian Museum 130,000 exhibits, including Paranoiac and Byzantine art and sculpture, the Mummy Room and the celebrated Tutankhamen exhibition.
Great Pyramids of Giza
As the world's most visited monuments, the pyramids awe the first time as well as a regular tourist of the country. For a magical introduction, attend the nightly sound and light show there.
Sphinx
The Sphinx is arguably the most bewitching monument, with its head of a woman and body of a lion. Despite being used as target practice by Napoleon Bonaparte's troops, the presence of this enigmatic sculpture still haunts the site at Giza.
Memphis
Few visitors know before arriving in Egypt that the country's Old Kingdom precedes the building of the pyramids by many centuries. Saqqara was the ancient capital's necropolis, crowned by the Step Pyramid. The Bent Pyramid and a huge field of royal tombs are situated nearby in Dashur.
ACCOMODATION
Egypt is one of the most favorite tourist destinations in the world and hence accommodation is not very easy to find. Although it has the entire range of accommodation styles, ranging from some of the world’s finest luxury hotels to budget hotels, it is essential that you make reservations well in advance.
GETTING AROUND
Egypt has a very good system of public and private transport.
Air
Domestic air travel is clearly the quickest way to get around, although it is an expensive option.
Road
Road travel has some very affordable options- buses, trains and boats, and even camels, donkeys and horses.
Buses are a great way to meet local people and get a feel for the culture though they are always mostly crowded. Virtually every town in Egypt has bus services available.
Train
Rail also connects just about every town in the country from Aswan to Alexandria.
Service Taxis
You can also hire service taxis that shunt car loads of passengers between towns and cities. These vehicles are becoming popular as service taxis or micro buses, and they usually congregate at the train and bus stations.
Hired cars
Cars can easily be hired from hotels and airports in most Egyptian towns.
So if Egypt features in your list of holiday destinations, rest assured you will be a busy and entertained tourist because Egypt has plenty on its plate to offer any kind of tourist.
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