September 2007
The sun is shining brightly down onto those famous monuments in Egypt, so prolong summer catching some rays and some culture.
Arrive
The national airline is EgyptAir (website: www.egyptair.com.eg). The main airports are at Cairo and Luxor.
Why now?
The hot summer temperatures are starting to dip to a more comfortable level, while the resorts and attractions will offer room to breathe as kids go back to school.
See
• Be amazed by the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. Of the three main pyramids (Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus), the largest is 137m (449ft) high and contains some 3 million blocks of stone. Explore the interiors via labyrinthine tunnels and staircases.
• Don't miss Abu Simbel, the magnificent Sun Temple of Ramses II, also rescued from flooding by UNESCO. Ramses had four gigantic statues of himself built in order to intimidate travellers entering Egypt from the rest of Africa.
• See the gems of the Nile's West Bank, the vast Theban Necropolis, containing some of the world's most impressive tombs: the Valley of the Kings; Valley of the Queens; and Tombs of the Nobles. Highlights include the Tomb of Tutankhamun; Ramses II; and the Tomb of Nefertari, reputed to be the country's most remarkable.
Do
• Dive in the Red Sea, from such resorts as Sharm el-Sheikh, Na'ama Bay and Shark Bay.
• Escape to an oasis. The largest and most developed is Kharga, with a Berber community, temples and museums. Dhakla has hot springs and camel rides over the sand dunes. The nearby village of Bashandi sells handicrafts made by local girls. The smallest is Farafra, an ancient fort town.
• Go on a Nile cruise. One of the most popular is between Luxor and Aswan, lasting around five days. Along the Nile, felucca owners tout for custom; from Luxor, it is possible to hire one for a brief sunset cruise to Banana Island.
Article continues below
Taste
Egyptian cuisine combines many of the best traditions of Middle Eastern cooking, with local specialities such as foul (bean dishes), stuffed vine leaves, roast pigeon, grilled aubergines and kebabs. Wash it all down with kahwa (thick, strong coffee) or the more refreshing shay bil na'na' (mint tea).
Did you know?
Stunningly positioned in the midst of remote desert, Lake Nasser is the world's largest artificial lake, with a staggering 5,250 sq km (2,027 sq-mile) area, 510km (316-mile) length and up to 35km (22-mile) width. Created when the High Dam was built near Aswan, the lake covers the land of Nubia, site of hundreds of tombs, temples and churches, many of which were moved.
