Egypt travel
As a
country, Egypt begins its history in 3150 BC with the establishment of the
first kingdom ruled by Menes. For three thousand years, Egypt flourished
and became a great center of culture that even the Greeks themselves
admired. This is also the same period of time where Egyptians started
building their pyramids. This culminated in their greatest achievement so
far, the Great Pyramid at Giza. All of these man made wonders that made
Egypt what it was is largely due to the annual flooding of the Nile River.
One of the names of Ancient Egypt was Kemet, meaning “black land”. The
black land was the river deposits that the Nile left behind every time it
receded.
Just like
the Greeks, the Egyptians had their own pantheon of gods starting with
Isis and Osiris, Ra, Anubis and Hathor. A proof of this fact is present in
the many temples, obelisks, tombs and pyramids that dot the Egyptian
landscape. It would be probably safe to label Egypt as one big museum of
ancient history and artifacts. That's why its no surprise that millions of
people travel to Egypt to be able to gaze at the monuments to man's
greatness.
Egypt is
an African country situated in North Africa. This country is bordered by
countries such as Libya, Sudan, Gaza Strip and Israel. It is 38 th largest
country of the world and is regarded as the cultural and political nation
of Middle East. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and Indian
Ocean via Red Sea .
Egypt is
known to the world for its ancient civilization and legendary monuments
such as Giza pyramid complex and Great Sphinx both found in Cairo. There
are countless interesting places and attractions so it is not possible to
complete a tour within a week.
The other
things you can enjoy in Egypt is scuba diving in Sharm el Sheikh in the
Red sea. Red Sea is densely populated with different fishes such as
grouper, singray, parrotfish, angelfish, butterfly fish and turtles. You
can fly to Egypt with some great deals on Cheap flights now available with
Jet2.com
Don't
forget to listen to the Egyptian music which is the fusion of African and
Western countries. The traditional instruments are flutes and harps. It is
important to play folk music of Egypt in weddings, engagements and
festivals.
The
currency of Egypt is Egyptian Pound (EGP). Travelers are advised to bring
cheques in US dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rates. Credit
cards are accepted in many reputed Egypt hotels and restaurants. You can
review Hotels in Egypt here.
The best
time to visit Egypt in the winter season which is from December to
February when temperature is about 20 to 25 degree Celsius. The highest
temperature in the summer season is about 38 degree Celsius. The summer
season is from June to August.
Cairo is
the capital of Egypt and it is only city where traveling is easy due to
the metro system. You can easily go to the Pyramids of Giza by taking a
microbus from al-Haram. In other cities, you can travel by taxis and bus.
Following are some important attractions of Egypt that are recommended to
visit
The
famous Suez Canal is located next to the Red Coast in Sinai. There are
many beach resorts in this area that cater to the tourists from the elite
down to the lowly backpacker. Pay to swim with dolphins at Nuweiba. Divers
would most likely want to visit the Sharm el_Sheikh which is reputed to be
the best dive resort in town.
Aswan is
a rather laid back town that borders Egypt and Nubia. Dinner will be a
great experience since floating restaurants are all the rage here in Aswan
. Further out, there are two islands that tourists may want to visit. The
first island is home to an active archeological dig where a huge fortress
and several temples are being excavated.
Alexandria was the Egyptian city conquered by Alexander the Great of
Greece. During its golden age, Alexandria was said to be the cultural
capital of Europe . Its affluence from ancient times extends even up to
the now. Unlike Cairo , Alexandria is has a lesser chaotic atmosphere.
Bibliotheka Alexandria is the center for scholarly research. The Graeco-Roman
Museum displays artifacts dating from 300 BC. Diving and swimming are
common pass times in Alexandria . The beaches can get crowded during
summer though.
Luxor 's
ancient name was Thebes , the once great capital of ancient Egypt . It is
now a large town dependent on tourism for most of its income. The town is
peppered with souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants. Within the
boundaries of Luxor is the Karnak Temple complex which covers
approximately 100 acres. The temple complex contains hundreds of statues,
pillars, obelisks and sphinxes. The best temple in Karnak is the Precinct
of Amun. It served as the primary place of worship.
Egypt has
6 oases that are worth visiting. All of them can be reached by public
transportation and have accommodations for those wishing to spend a couple
of days in relative isolation. The Kharga oasis is more developed than
most. It has a museum and a Berber community within its boundaries. For
desert safaris on camels and hot springs , the best oasis to go to would
be Dhakla. Siwa is also a Berber community but they are more traditional
in manner and language.
Egypt
tourist information
Currency
The Egyptian pound is the national currency of Egypt . It is divisible to
100 units of piastres. Money comes in the form of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1
pound denominations as well as 50 and 25 piastres notes. Coins are worth
20, 10 and 5 piastres.
Exchanging currencies is made easy. Most hotels will offer this service to
their guests but are usually lower in value than local banks. There are
also money changers or bureaux de change scattered through out Egypt .
Only common international currencies such as the Euro and American dollar
are convertible.
Shopping
Street bazaars are common in Egypt . There is also a scattering of
shopping arcades in the more modern districts. Shopping times in Egypt
vary depending on the time of year and the observance of Ramadan. During
winter, shops are commonly open Mondays and Thursdays at 9 AM to 8 PM and
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9 AM to 7 PM . In the
summer time, shop schedules are changed thus; Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, Saturday and Sundays at 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM. Shops
hours vary during Ramadan and are usually closed on Sundays.
Egypt
Visas
To enter Egypt , visas are required from most foreign nationals including
American, European, Canadian and Australian citizens. Furthermore, all
visitors with the exception of American and European citizens are required
to register their presence with the police within one week of arrival in
Egypt .
Visa
Applications
Foreign
nationals wishing to apply for Egyptian visas may do so at the closest
Egyptian consulate in their localities. You may also apply for an Egyptian
entry visa directly from international ports of entry. Please confer with
the local Egyptian consulate to confirm availability of this service for
your nationality as well as learn the exact ports of entry where this
service is available.
Visa
Exceptions
European Union citizens may enter the country without visas if the point
of destination is Taba, Sharm El-Sheikh, Newiba or Dahab for a duration of
not more than 14 days.
Travelers passing thru may stay in Egypt for a maximum of 24 hours.
Tickets to final destination must be produced to get a 24 hour entry
stamp.
Cruise passengers with a maximum stay of three days may also enter Egypt
without visas.
Validity
Period
Standard Egyptian tourist visas are valid for six months starting from the
issue date. Tourists may stay up to a maximum of 3 months with a valid
tourist visa. Tourists may opt to extend their stay in Egypt by extending
the validity of their visas. The extension must be done at an immigration
center one week before the original visa expires.
Egypt
activities
Egypt
diving
Does diving in Egypt surprise you somewhat? If so, we've got good news for
divers. Egypt is not all sand and hot desert. The Gulf of Aqaba and the
Red Sea are very popular destinations for divers because of the presence
of varied marine life. Divers can even experience the thrill of exploring
the wrecked Thistlegorm in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Straits of Tirian has a
couple of sunken ships and some great coral formations. Of course, with
coral present, you expect fish as well. There are plenty of them here. You
can see anything from turtles to small finish and sharks and lots of manta
rays during February and March.
Nile
Cruise
While you're near the water, you might want to consider hopping on board a
cruise ship to go up and down the river Nile . Since the Nile itself is a
famous tourist destination, there are plenty of steam ships and other
vessels that carry passengers who want to see and experience this famous
river.
Egypt
sports
Egypt also has good facilities for sports activities such as tennis, golf,
horse clubs and croquet. These sports venues are usually attached to or
near to an existing hotel. If you want to take advantage of having a sport
facility near you, check to see if the hotel you are staying in has the
facility you need.
Cairo
Cairo is a city where you can spot ancient structures sitting side by side
with urban buildings. Cairo , due to Egypt 's historical fame, has become
a merging point for different nationalities of Arabic, European and
African descent. Still, the practice of traditional customs is very
apparent on the streets of Cairo . Fortunately for everyone, Cairo has an
underground metro that provides some relief from Cairo 's crowded streets
and polluted air. Since Cairo sits along the banks of the Nile , you can
also travel by hiring river taxis and sail boats as an alternative to the
underground metro and other regular modes of land transport.
If you
want to experience Cairo as it may have been hundreds of years ago, plan a
visit to “Medieval Cairo” where narrow streets are home to spice peddlers,
donkeys with their carts and are bordered by a lot of mosques. A central
point in medieval Cairo is Midan Hussein Square where you can see the
Mosque of Sayyidna Al-Hussain. The square is surrounded by tea houses and
is bordered by a bazaar on one side.
Near this
area, you can find a university established in 970 AD. The oldest
university in the world is housed inside the Al-Azhar mosque. The nearby
Museum of Islamic arts regularly exhibits calligraphy, ceramics and
mosaics.
For 700
years, Egypt was ruled from the Citadel. Looking out from the Citadel will
reward you with sweeping, panoramic views of the city. Contained within
the huge area of the Citadel are four mosques, a cemetery and two museums.
One of them, the Mohammad Ali Mosque, exhibits classic Ottoman
architecture. The City of the Dead is a cemetery where thousands upon
thousands of tombs hold Mamluks in rest. The cemetery has been in
existence for close to 900 years. Living side by side with the dead are
people housed in poor shanties that crowd around the ironically splendid
mausoleums of the dead.
The
Museum of Egyptian antiquities is the foremost museum in Egypt . The
museum has a huge collection of more than 100,000 exhibits that include
the Mummy Room, Byzantine artifacts and the Tutankhamun exhibit among many
others. The museum can be found in the more modern part of urban Cairo at
Midan Tahrir or Liberation Square . In this same area, cars abound on
paved streets that border hotels, office buildings and restaurants.
Opera
House : An architectural building design by the team of Japanese and
Egyptian architects. Inside the building you will find large hall
containing about 1200 seats used for cultural events
The Cairo
's Tower: You can watch the whole city by standing on the Cairo 's Tower.
Especially at the time of sunset in the evening and sunrise in the
morning, you can see the beauty during lightening.
The
Pyramids of Giza : This group of pyramids covers area of 13 acres which is
built by a second King of the fourth Dynasty, King Khufu. It is located at
the edge of Country's capital, Cairo . These pyramids signify heaven and
earth, Gods and humanity and light and dark which suffer every human in
their life.
The Zoo
at Giza : The most beautiful and popular zoo in the world is “the Zoo at
Giza ”. This zoo is run under Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt . You can
find different animals and plants species
The
Greater Abu Simbel Temple (Ramses II): It is the grandest temple build by
Ramses II for his wife, Nefertari. The Egyptian Museum : You will find the
collections of artifacts in this famous Museum. Its opening time is 9 am
to 5 pm.
Alexandria
Alexandria was the Egyptian city conquered by Alexander the Great of
Greece. During its golden age, Alexandria was said to be the cultural
capital of Europe. Its affluence from ancient times extends even up to the
now.
Unlike
Cairo, Alexandria is has a lesser chaotic atmosphere. Bibliotheka
Alexandria is the center for scholarly research. The Graeco-Roman Museum
displays artifacts dating from 300 BC.
Aswan
The Aswan museum can also be found here on Elephantine Island . They
exhibit artifacts mostly found in Nubia and Aswan . After fully satisfying
your adventurous spirit, hop on next to the Island of Plants which was
given to Lord Horatio Kitchener for his exemplary military service. During
his residency on the island, Lord Kitchener created a botanical garden and
imported most of his plants from Asia. Two more points of interest are the
St. Simeon Monastery and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan.
Luxor
The second temple is the Great Hypostyle Hall which contains numerous
columns. 2 huge statues of Ramses II guard the Luxor temple which is
surrounded by bazaars dedicated to the tourism trade. The famous Avenue of
Sphinxes is also situated within the Karnak Temple complex. Outside Karnak,
the Luxor Museum houses exhibits from Theban temples and the Necropolis.
Oases
You can find ancient temples and other structures at Al-Faiyum. Its
definitely a good alternative to the more crowded Luxor , Cairo and
Alexandria . If you want to buy souvenirs, Bashandi is a small oasis town
where the local women make novelty items with their bare hands. Olives and
dates come from the town of Bahariyya . The smallest oasis is Farafra.
Sinai
Solitude can be attained at Na'ama bay which is an upscale resort town
with a lot of private beaches. In land safaris can be arranged to travel
around Sinai's rocky interior. Travel is mostly done by jeep or camel. One
stop in the inland safari is at the St. Catherine's Monastery where Moses'
burning bush is reputedly housed. Mountain climbers and trekkers will also
be glad of the opportunity to retrace the steps of Moses by climbing Mt.
Sinai 's rugged and steep slopes.
|
Ancient Egypt
Treat your family and friends to an
all inclusive holidays to Egypt and experience a one of a kind
getaway in this stunning place. You and your loved ones will surely enjoy
visiting the various holiday attractions and destinations here. Both
families and couples who want to experience a relaxing getaway will surely
find Egypt as an ideal destination. Read on below to know more about this
beautiful travel destination.
Even today, Egypt is still synonymous with the legends of the Pharaohs,
the Great Pyramids, treasure-laden tombs and undeciphered hieroglyphs.
Even today, Egypt is still synonymous with the legends of
the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids, treasure-laden tombs and undeciphered
hieroglyphs.
Names like Ramses, Cleopatra, Tutankhamun and Nefertiti,
echo through the art and literature of so many different cultures.
Religion was the backbone of life in Ancient Egypt and mythology its
bloodline. Death and the afterlife were essential to Ancient Egyptian
society.
It was their sophisticated system of bureaucracy that
enabled the construction of Egypt's
greatest monuments, the pyramids of course and also the tombs in the
Valley of the Kings, the great temples of Karnak, the ruins of Thebes not
forgetting the Sphinx at Giza.
The relics of Ancient Egypt still survive to bear witness
to the refinement and beauty of many golden ages.
The
Pyramids
Although
the construction of the pyramids was only an episode in the long history
of the pharaohs, this period has left us some of the most impressive
monuments that can be seen. Besides the three giants of Gizeh, more than
70 pyramids can be counted along the Nile.
Al Giza Pyramids
Guarded by the familiar lone lion-bodied Sphinx are the
three Great Pyramids of Giza. Over 4,000 years ago, the mummified bodies
of Kings Cheops, Kefren and Mykerinos were ferried down the Nile to be
buried and prepared for the journey to the afterlife within these
massive monuments
The
largest, oldest and finest of all three is Cheop's Pyramid, simply known
as the "Great Pyramid". It was the tallest structure in the world until
the end of the nineteenth century (145 meters). But Kefren's Pyramid,
Cheop's son and successor, makes a bigger first impression. On higher
ground with its limestone cap still intact, it looks loftier even though
it's 4 meters shorter.
The smallest of the three, Mykerinos' Pyramid, makes up for its size with
its fine funerary and valley temples
But the Giza necropolis is also the final resting place of the Pharaoh's
family and high officials. Buried inside the mastabas and minor pyramids
which dot the plateau are queens and royal courtiers. There are also tombs
of the craftsmen and engineers who toiled over these epic edifices.
Saqqara Pyramids
Time has all but erased the once mighty Memphis from the
Egyptian landscape, however, the city of the dead has been excavated and
exhumed from the desert sands, the vast necropolis of Saqqara. Memphis
is some 23km south of central Cairo, in the center of the floodplain on
the western side of the Nile. Memphis was traditionally founded in 3000
BC by Menes, the legendary figure credited with the creation of a
politically unified Egypt. Memphis served as the effective
administrative capital of the country during the Old Kingdom and partly
in later times.
It's eleven pyramids, countless mastabas and lone Coptic monastery
stretch over 7km from north to south, and span three and a half thousand
years of Egyptian civilisation. At its centre sits King Djoser's
"Stepped" Pyramid, the very first pyramid and the first great stone
structure in the world. North of the pyramid, inside a stone "serdab",
sits the Ancient Pharaoh himself.
Monuments
Most of
the Egyptian monuments are from the pharaohic era, but are also
complemented by expressions of other cultures. Colossi and Sphinxes exist
alongside amphitheatres, temples and Greco-Roman columns. A history book
open to the heavens …
The Great Sphinx ( Giza )
Like the broken arms of the Venus de Milo, the Great
Sphinx's long lost nose has made it all the more iconic. Standing guard
at the hallowed entrance to the Great Pyramids of Giza, the
human-headed, lion-bodied Sphinx is the oldest of all Egypt's superhuman
stone sculptures. It is also the most instantly recognizable. Originally
hewn from a gigantic piece of limestone bedrock, it was covered in
plaster and paint in its youth. But the winds, waters and sands of the
Giza Plateau have taken their toll. Once upon a time, the Great Sphinx
also wore a Pharaoh's royal beard. Part of it is in the Egyptian Museum
in Cairo and the other part is in the British Museum in London.
Though named by the Greeks after their riddle-loving mythological
character, the Sphinx was actually built by the Pharaoh Kefren in his
own image.
Temples
Life in
Ancient Egypt revolved around religion. The pharaohs traced their ancestry
back to the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Different pharaohs allied
themselves to different cults, and the elaborate temples they built
cemented their own political status. With intricately painted walls, vast
colonnaded courts and columned hypostyle halls, the temples of Ancient
Egypt are among its greatest
The Temples of Abu Simbel (Nubia)
Of all the pharaohs, Ramses II was the most prolific
builder of monuments and temples. Two of his greatest temples, the Great
Temple of Abu Simbel and its smaller cousin, the Temple of Hathor are at
Abu Simbel. Both temples originally sat some sixty metres below where
you find them today. They were part of a massive UNESCO operation to
save Egypt's Great Temples from Lake Nasser's rising waters. Embedded
into the mountain itself, the temples had to be cut free from the rock
and painstakingly dismantled and rebuilt.
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Thebes)
At the base of a lofty limestone mountain in the desert
at Thebes nestles Queen Hatshepsut's astonishing terraced temple.
Hatshepsut was Egypt's greatest female Pharaoh. She fought off male
pretenders to her throne for over 20 prosperous and peaceful years.
Partly embedded into the mountain itself, the temple is almost forty
metres wide. Its honeycomb colonnades pick up the natural lines and
recesses of its mountainous backdrop. Hatshepsut's temple is essentially
an extension of Mentuhotep II's temple, though several times its size.
The two blend in so well together, they are indistinguishable from a
distance.
The Temple of Luxor
Though Ramses II's triumphant twin statues stand sentry
at its entrance, it was Amenhotep III who built the bewildering Temple
of Luxor.
Over the years, several of Egypt's legendary rulers
added to the glory of the Temple of Luxor, from Tutankhamun to Alexander
the Great.
The Temple of Karnak
The most important place of worship in all Egypt during
Theban power. It was built, dismantled, restored, enlarged and decorated
by several pharaohs. It's a complex of sanctuaries, obelisks and pylons,
dedicated to the glory of the pharaohs. It's a gigantic site : 1.5km by
800m. Impossible to describe, this immense monument has to be seen, to
be believed.
Museums
The most
enduring images of Egypt are its pharaonic treasures and its history, such
as the relics and artefacts that live in Cairo's Egyptian Museum. But with
a written history stretching back to 3,100 BC, at the time of Greek,
Roman, Coptic and Islamic empires, every age and culture demands a museum
of its own.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Sitting in the shadows of Cairo's modern town hall, the
elegant coral-pink and copper-domed Egyptian Museum strikes a gentle
pose. The restrained neo-classical French exterior is little preparation
for the awesome array of treasures and ancient wonders that wait
silently behind it's arched windows.
Stepping
through the entrance into the grand central atrium, monumental statues
tower overhead from the imposing Colossus of Amenhotep III to King
Djoser's life-size sculpture. The ground floor galleries take you on a
trip through time, each room filled with the splendours of a great
kingdom. King Narmer's 5,000 year old palette is an item of major artistic
and historical importance.
Ancient
Egypt's cultural wealth is also shown in many other artefacts that reveal
the skill of ancient artisans
But it's
the upper floor that holds the greatest allure. The Tutankhamun Galleries
house over 1,700 items including Tutankhamun's famous tomb, discovered in
the Valley of the Kings in West-Thebes, opposite modern Luxor.
The
Egyptian Museum is just simply unrivalled with over 136,000 items on
display, not mentioning the hundreds of thousands in the basement. These
items date back to the very origins of a united Egypt in 3,100 BC. The
museum is renowned for holding the finest collection of Egyptian
antiquities in the world.
As Egypt has such an old civilization, the museums of this country are
very numerous and cover all the ages through which Egypt passed over the
time.
Cairo is the city with many museums, from which the most important is the
Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, also known as Cairo Museum.
Twenty seven royal mummies, 120,000 ancient items from Egypt and the
Tutankhamun's tomb are the main attractions of the Cairo Museum.
Royal Jewelry Museum is placed in Alexandria, has rare decorations,
statues and paintings and is considered a masterpiece of architecture.
An impressive collection of jewelry that belonged to the dynasty of
Mohammad Ali can be seen by this museum visitors.
The Coptic Museum from Cairo, is the host of the world's biggest
collection of Egyptian Christian artifacts as well as Ottoman, Greek,
Byzantine and Roman monuments. Inside the museum has a library with Nag
Hammadi manuscripts accessible to the specialists only.
Gayer-Anderson Museum is situated in Cairo, on the Sayyida Zeinab area,
close to the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun. In this museum you can see a rich
collection of objects that belonged to Major Gayer-Anderson pasha, such as
curio, carpets and furniture.
The Mummification Museum in Luxor contents a hall of artifacts, a video
room, a hall for lecture and a cafeteria.
Egypt Museums
Organic materials, amulets, tools used for mummification, the coffin of
Padiamun, mummified animals (fish, crocodiles, cats) and the mummy of
Masaherta, are present in the museum.
In Egypt`s capital is also situated the Museum of Islamic Art, hosts a
rare collection of 102,000 objects from plaster, wood, ceramic, crystal
and glass as well as textile objects from the whole Islamic world and from
all periods of time.
The Gezira Museum is dedicated to the Egyptian modern art having more than
10,000 sculptures and pictures representing the evolution of the Egyptian
art of the twenty's and twenty one century.
In the Museum of the Egyptian People's Assembly the visitors can see the
oldest documents of treaties, of legislation and of laws. There are also
exposed statues and paintings of the Egyptians rulers, and the Royal Coach
which the Kings of Egypt used to be transported with.
The Graeco-Roman Museum from Alexandria is the place of numerous and
priceless antiques such as: sarcophagi, mummies, statues of Isis and
Marcus Aurelius made from white marble, potteries, a mode of an ancient
system for cooling the water, ancient jewelries, and many more.
Other Museums Egypt Cairo
Other museums in Egypt are: the Taha Hussein Museum, the Manyal Palace,
the museum of Islamic Ceramics, the Egyptian Geological Museum, the
Mukhtar Museum, the Child Museum, the Agriculture Museum, Postal Museum,
the Bayt Al-Suhaymi, the Beshtak Palace-all of these museums being
situated in Cairo. In Alexandria you can also visit the Library of
Alexandra Museum, Alexandria National Museum and Al-Alemein War Museum
(situated at 105 kilometers from the west of Alexandria). In Port Said are
the Military Museum, the National Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. In
Fayoum the tourists can visit the Karanis Site Museum.
Egypt History
Egypt is the proud “owner” of the oldest and richest civilization in the
world. The history of this country continues to fascinate the entire
world. Archeological researches discovered proves of life, on the Nile`s
Valley dating from 700,000 years ago.
There are eight significant periods in the history of beautiful Egypt:
Between 3100 BC and 525 BC – The ancient Egypt
Between 525 BC and 332 BC – The Achaemenid Egypt
Between 332 BC and 30 BC – The Ptolemaic Egypt
Between 30 BC and 639 AD – The Roman Egypt
Between 639 and 1517 – The Arab Egypt
Between 1517 and 1805 – The Ottoman Egypt
Between 1805 and 1882 – The Mohammad Ali dynasty Egypt
From 1882 till today – The Modern Egypt
In fact, Egypt`s history started long ago before the Pharaohs, when,
almost eight thousands years ago, the proto-berbers pastors, which were
running from the droughty Sahara, found a refuge on the Nil`s Valley,
where they set, merging with the old inhabitants.
Three millennia later the Pharaohnic Egypt was born, from the unification
of the firsts proto-states. It seems that the King Menes is the one who
made the first kingdom, in 3150 BC, by unifying the Upper Egypt with the
Lower Egypt.
For almost three thousands of years, over thirty dynasties will succeed in
the will of a glorious history, that will see the Egypt master of a part
of the Orient, or the will of a decadent history, when Egypt will be
invaded. Beginning with 332 BC, Egypt will get under the control of the
Greek dynasty of Ptolemies, then, the country became a Roman colony. In
632, conquered by Arabs, Egypt constitutes the Fatimid`s Empire`s heart.
The Muslim world`s first power, during the Mamluks, starting with 1260,
Egypt is integrated in the Ottoman`s Empire in 1517. Napoleon Bonaparte
marks then the country with his powerful print, opening it to the
Occident. This is considered to be the beginning of the Egypt`s modern
history.
In the 19th century, under the rule of Mohammed Ali, who ruled Egypt
between 1805 and 1848, Egypt attempted a vast expansion move in the black
Africa, in Arabia, in Syria and in Turkey. Transformed into a strategic
punt, primordial once the Suez Chanel was inaugurated in 1869, Egypt
passes in 1882 under the Great Britain`s control. In 1922, under the
pressure of a powerful nationalist current, Egypt got its independency.
In 1952, the monarchy is abolished and in 1954 the Nasser colonel takes
the power. Under his rule, Egypt become the Arab nationalism`s lighthouse,
before making peace, after numerous conflicts, with the Jewish state.
In 1981, on October 14, the Egypt`s ex vice-president Hosni Mubarak became
the president of the country, after the former president Anwar Al Sadat
was killed in Cairo, eight days before, in a terrorist attack. Hosni
Mubarak was also injured in this incident. During his presidency, the
economic reforms were made, money capital was invested in agriculture and
industry, and an agreement with the World Bank was signed.
When to Travel to Egypt
If you don't know when to travel to Egypt maybe will help you to know that
the springs and the winters are the periods when the most tourists come in
Egypt, when the prices are higher and when it is better to make a hotel
reservation before coming to Egypt since it is such a crowed time.
The summer is a quite and peaceful time to travel to Egypt, because you
can visit the sites and to make pictures without being disturbed by the
tourists or by the pupils.
But there are some disadvantages when travelling to Egypt from May to
October, such as the temperatures that can be high or very high in the
Egypt's South or in Luxor.
In the summer, numerous Arab people come to Egypt to avoid the hotter
weather from their countries.
You can plan your travel to Egypt in the springtime when the temperatures
are moderate excepting the sirocco, the spring wind that can make a lot of
damages if it appears.
But if you want to travel to Egypt during the Ramadan month, you should
know that in this period the alcohol is totally forbidden and the sites
have a shorter program for visitors. Also, the restaurants are not opened
in the month of Ramadan.
But Ramadan period is a nice time to travel to Egypt, a month full of joy
and love, with festivals and coffee shops opened at night when a lot of
people gather here and spend the entire night chatting or enjoying the
beautiful view of the night. You will see happy people willing to have fun
all the time.
Another thing that you should know is that in Egypt are some areas where
is not indicate to walk alone; zones such as the sites situated in the
Nile Valley's centre (like Sohag, Asyout and Minia). Although these zones
have beautiful and interesting touristic attractions (monasteries of
Asyout, the Temple of Abydos and tombs at Bani Hassan), the tourists are
not advice to travel these places. And this is because in the `80 and `90,
the Islamic fundamentalists tried to attack some tourists with the purpose
of destroying the Egypt's economy and especially the touristic industry of
this country. The world press exaggerated the facts and those zones were
no more indicated for tourists.
The Egypt's government assure the tourists that the authorities o their
best to make these zones secure again and to prevent any attempt of
violence. It is no problem if you want to travel to these zones; the
police won't allow you to travel by yourself on this areas but will give
you a police escort to accompany you and to assure your security.
You can also take a travel agent to come with you while visiting these
sites.
In spite of the press` exaggerations, Egypt is a safe and very hospitable
country with friendly and warm people who are willing to share with you
the wonderful places of their country.
When
to visit Egypt is not a difficult question since this country offers
amazing attractions in every season.
If you like the high temperatures and maybe some crowed places you can
choose to visit Egypt in the summer time. Or, if you prefer a temperate
clime, the springtime or the winter time is the best choice for your
visit.
In case that you choose to visit Egypt in the summer, you should wear
casual cloths from cotton, in light colors. But also can go to bazaars to
buy some Egyptian cloths; it will combine the practical thing with the
pleasant one, since shopping in an Egyptian bazaar is always fun.
You should have with you enough water with you, a hat or something else to
cover your head and sunglasses, too. The dust may disturb your eyes so
some eyes drops will be welcome. Since Egypt is a Muslim country try not
to offend its citizens with your extravagant cloths. Women should not wear
short cloths, especially in a mosque or church. Of course, women can wear
short cloths when they are on a beach or at a pool. Men too should not
wear short when visiting mosques or churches. And everybody who visits
such places must live their shoes at the entrance.
Visit Egypt
If you want to offer something to the Egyptian kids that play on the
streets you can offer to them pens, it is a real joy for them to receive
something like this.
There are things in Egypt that you can do in any period of the year, like
diving, snorkeling, in some warm and pleasant places like Hurghada. In the
winter this place is perfect for kiting and windsurfing as the wind blows
a little bit fast. Desert safari is also something that you can do in
Egypt no matter the season, except the winter (from November to February)
when is colder.
When to Visit Egypt
The best place for a safari adventure is the Western Desert, an amazing
place with so many beauties to discover. If you want to visit Sharm el
Sheikh maybe is better to do it while is winter (from October to the
beginning of March) because during the summer the temperatures are very
high. In Sharm el Sheikh are only two seasons, summer and winter, opposite
to Cairo where are four seasons. A special time to visit Egypt is the
winter holidays; spending the Christmas and the New Year in Egypt is
definitely an unforgettable experience. It doesn't matter if the weather
is cooler in December and January as long as in Egypt are so many things
to do and so many places to see.
The conclusion is that choosing the period of the year when to visit Egypt
is only up to your decision; the amazing country of Egypt waits for you
with the fascinating pyramids, tombs and mummies, with the agitated and
rich bazaars, with the ancient mosques, churches and mausoleums, with
views that will remain in your heart, and many more.
|
|
