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Tours & Safaris
The Great Pyramid at Giza: Travelers have been marveling at Egypt's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years -- even the ancient Greeks and Romans were awed by them. But today, a visit to Egypt is more than an immersion into past glories -- mud-brick villages sprout TV antennae, stone and glass high-rises tower over ancient monuments and pop music blaring from radios counterpoints the call to prayer. Although modern life coexists with the legacies of the past, it has also opened up possibilities for exploring a wider area of Egypt. In addition to the great monuments of the Nile Valley, an Egyptian itinerary could also include diving along the Red Sea coast, a desert trek to remote oases or a visit to the Sinai Peninsula. The hub of transportation -- and most likely your first and last stop in the country -- remains Cairo, a city that never fails to make a strong impression.
Egyptian Museum: Founded in 1858 by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette (whose tomb is in the museum's garden), the giant salmon-colored building was built in 1902 under Khedive Abbas II Helmi. Housing one of the world's greatest collections of Egyptian artifacts, it boasts more than 136,000 artifacts from every period of pre-Islamic Egyptian history. It would be impossible to see everything in one go (allowing 60 seconds at each exhibit it would take nine months to see them all), so it is best to plan several visits if time allows. The exhibits on the ground floor are arranged more or less chronologically running clockwise with an ecclectic sample of Pharaonic highlights in the atrium. Don't miss the highly-lauded Amarna collection tucked away at the back. Upstairs are priceless treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun, the museum's crowning glory. Also on the top floor is the Mummy Room, which reopened in 1994 after years of controversy and contains the mummies of Egypt's mightiest Pharaohs.
Pyramids Sound and Light Show: The commentary might not impress you, but the dazzling light show and awe-inspiring backdrop of the Sphinx and Pyramids surely will. Three times a night in three different languages, the Sphinx plays the role of storyteller, narrating the history of ancient Egypt. Shows are held in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Arabic. Call ahead to check the time of the performance you want to attend; private viewing times can be arranged. Admission: 44EGP for foreign translation shows. Bring a sweater in the winter.
Coptic Museum : Established in 1908 to preserve Coptic Christian artifacts from destruction, this renovated old building houses the world's largest collection of Coptic art. Its two wings contain fabulous artifacts (both secular and religious) produced by Copts throughout the ages. Exhibits are arranged roughly in chronological order, with the upper floor housing an exhibition of Nubian paintings salvaged from villages before they were flooded by the Aswan High Dam in the 1950s and 60s. Worth a look are the wonderful examples of paintings and textiles, as well as metal, wood, glass and ivory craftsmanship. If you're a history buff, check out the Nag Hammadi documents on the top floor. A nominal fee is charge.
The Citadel : One of Cairo's major attractions, the massive Citadel complex dominates the city skyline. Built on a limestone spur by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in the 12th century, most of its features are associated with Mohammed Ali, the early 19th century leader who freed Egypt of the Mameluke yoke. The Citadel offers fantastic panoramic views of Islamic Cairo in a castle setting rich in history. Perhaps its most famous tale is of Mohammed Ali inviting 470 Mameluke leaders to a feast in the Citadel palace, only to have them trapped in a narrow passageway upon leaving and slaughtered by his men. Legend says only one Mameluke escaped by leaping the walls on his horse. Within the Citadel complex are the following attractions: Al-Gawhara (Jewel) Palace, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Police Museum, Sultan Al-Nasir Mosque, Military Museum, Carriage Museum, Archaeological Museum, Suleyman Pasha Mosque and Bab el-Azab.
Townhouse Gallery Exhibits : Arguably the best private gallery in the city, owner William Wells is a leading figure in Cairo's art community. Exhibitions change frequently and many feature area display installations. Wells is a driving force behind Al-Nitaq, the annual Cairo art festival, and a visit to the gallery is a must during that event.
Step Pyramid of Saqqara: Designed by Imhotep, chief architect of the III Dynasty pharaoh Djoser, this six-tiered funerary chamber was the first pyramid. Prior to its construction, pharaohs were buried beneath rectangular mastabas. Imhotep created a pyramid by stacking six increasingly smaller mastabas on top of each other. Later pharaohs took it a step further to create the pyramids seen at Giza and elsewhere. An extensive funerary complex surrounds the pyramid. It is a very atmospheric place and the highlight for many is wandering through the hypostyle hall and Great South Court, part of which has been rebuilt. Special permission is needed to enter the pyramid.
Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu): The most famous site in Egypt, and the one that appears on almost every tour package, this is the oldest and largest of the pyramids on the Giza Plateau. Built by the IV Dynasty pharaoh Khufu (better known as Cheops) around B.C. 2570, this 140-meter-high monument contains an estimated 2.3 million blocks averaging 2.5 tons. Its purpose is controversial: Many believe it was the ancient burial chamber of the pharaoh and his queen, while others suggest it had astronomical functions. As no inscriptions or mummies were found inside, speculation continues. It is now illegal to climb the pyramid, but you can go inside. After a descent at a crouch, a steep ascending passage leads to the Grand Gallery and two chambers. The King's Chamber contains a lidless granite sarcophagus while the so-called Queens Chamber was found empty. The ticket for the Giza Plateau (about USD6) covers entrance to the site. A separate ticket is required to enter each pyramid and the Solar Boat Museum.
Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa: At the mouth of the Creek, Shindagha is the original site from which Dubai grew. Sheikh Saeed's house, the former home of the ruling Maktoum family, has been carefully restored here. Open daily from 8:30am - 8:30pm, except Fridays: 3pm - 8:30pm.
Military Museum : With more space devoted to ceremonial equipment and costumes than the brutal realities of war, pacifists should not be deterred by the name of this museum. Scale models and life-size simulations depict several of Egypt's key battles, and visitors can actually step into the scene in which Egyptian soldiers cleverly blasted the "impregnable" sand Bar-Lev line with water cannons.
The Colonnades: One of the glories of the ancient Egyptian temple of Luxor is a majestic colonnade dating to the reign of Amenophis III, with 14 columns with papyrus-shaped capitals standing 18 m (60 ft) tall, and almost 10 m (33 ft) in circumference. The colonnade is enclosed on both sides by a masonry curtain wall, with reliefs depicting various phases of the Festival of Opet, completed and decorated during the reigns of Tutankhamun and Horemheb. A magnificent courtyard follows; it is lined with a double row of columns, and bordered to the south by the hypostyle hall, which itself contains 32 gigantic columns. From here, the visitor passes on to the inner section of the attraction where there is a series of four antechambers and ancillary rooms, as well as the Sanctuary of the Sacred Barque, situated in the innermost room. The chapel was rebuilt by Alexander the Great. The ceremonies that took place in the temple of Luxor were of great importance, and their religious symbolism complex. During the Festival of Opet, the feast of the royal jubilee, the divine rebirth of the pharaoh, son of Amun, was celebrated, reaffirming in this way his power. The ancient Egyptian temple of Luxor also served as a shrine for the worship of the divine and immortal portion of the pharaoh, the royal "ka", symbol of the legitimacy of the pharaoh's power, which was universal and not restricted to any individual pharaoh. In terms of purity of structural design and the elegance of its columns, the temple is one of the most remarkable architectural achievements of the New Kingdom.
The courtyard of Ramsees II: is surrounded by a peristyle of 74 papyrus columns arranged in a double row and adorned with 16 statues of the pharaoh, and incorporates a three-part chapel on the northern side, also dedicated to the Theban triad and dating to Hatshepsut's reign.
The Monastery of St. Simeon: Ride a camel or climb to the ruins of the Coptic Monastery of St. Simeon, originally founded in the 7th century A.D. Rebuilt in the 10th century and eventually destroyed by Salah al-Din in 1173, the monastery was a base for missionary monks who converted the Nubians to Christianity. Frescoes of the Apostles still remain in the roofless Basilica.
Elephantine Island: The ancient Aswan stronghold of Elephantine lsland separates the Nile into two channels opposite Aswan. Walk through Nubian villages to the small museum, set in shady gardens. Nearby is the ruins of Abu, settled by ancient Egyptians who believed it important to be near the source of the Nile. The remains of the many ancient Aswan temples that were built here can still be seen, including the Temple of Khnum, originally erected during the Old Kingdom, a Graeco-Roman Necropolis and the Temple of Satet, built by Queen Hatshepsut.
The Nile River Cruise: For years, cruising the Nile was the best and virtually the only way to visit southern Egypt, see the classical sites there, and visit the temples and tombs located along this stretch of the Nile River. Sure, nowadays one can travel there via airliner, but there is still something magical about seeing old Egypt the old way - a Nile cruise. It is also still a great way to visit Upper Egypt, and has certain advantages to more pedestrian means of travel. One obvious advantage is that when cruising you don't have to constantly pack, unpack and pack. Move your baggage aboard, set up your quarters, and off you go. Your "hotel" travels with you. You can relax. Another advantage to the tourist is the opportunity to stop and spend some time at various local attractions, the ones airplanes simply fly over and bypass. One can gain an appreciation of the realities of life in rural Egypt, as well as the antiquities to be found there.
Tomb - Valley of the Kings Egypt : In an effort to save the royal mummies of these attractions from destruction, and to salvage the remaining treasures of the royal tombs, the priests of the end of the 20th and the 21st Dynasty opened the tombs, collected the mummies and buried them in two or more "caches". The first "cache" was a rock tomb high up in the mountains of Deir el-Bahri that was probably intended as the family tomb of the 21st Dynasty king-priests. The second "cache" was the tomb of 18th Dynasty king Amenhotep II. Not every royal mummy of the New Kingdom has been found, so there is room for the hypothesis that there may have been a third "cache" which has not yet been identified as such or which has not yet been discovered. The only royal mummies to have been found in their own tombs were those of Amenhotep II, who was re-buried in his own tomb by the 21st Dynasty priests, and Tutankhamun, whose tomb lay undisturbed from the middle of the 20th Dynasty on.
The Montazah Palace Gardens: These gardens cover an area of 370 feddans and contain trees, palms, and flowers. There is also a museum, several natural bays and beaches, as well as a complete tourist centre, a hotel, restaurants, bungalows and a children's park 4.5 feddans in area.
National Cultural Center (The Opera): The new 7-story opera house at the Gezira Exhibition Grounds was inaugurated on March 10, 1988. Designed by a team of Japanese and Egyptian architects, it is an architectural masterpiece of Islamic design. The Opera is equipped with the most sophisticated audio-visual system and comprises: The Main Theatre, a closed hall comprising 1200 seats, used for opera, ballet and classical music performances. The Second Theatre is also a closed hall comprising 500 seats, and is used for various purposes including film festivals and conferences. The Third Theatre is an open one comprising 1000 seats. There are other halls, some of which are used for training and rehearsals, in addition to the Museum and the Library, containing references pertaining to the most significant artistic works.