Egypt is a magnificent tourist destination which is situated in North Africa. Most of the tourists attractions in Egypt are located along the Nile river hence one can take a cruise of the Nile river to get a glimpse of Egypt. However there are several monuments, pyramids and historical places which one can visit by spending some time in this exotic holiday destination. Being a popular tourist destination there are exclusive facilities offered in Egypt that include luxurious accommodation and convenient travel to make ones stay very comfortable.

Some of Popular Places and Tourist Attractions

Cairo

Cairo is the capital city where one can find several attractions such as the Egyptian museum of Antiquities which display over 1,00,000 works of art in their hundred and seven widespread halls, the Tutankhamun gallery being the most admired. The other most often visited tourist attraction is the Khan-al-Khalili market which is one of the major markets in the world. This market sells mementos, Arabic clothes, and exotic perfume bottles as well.

Pyramids

Egypt has over eighty pyramids which were built from 2600 BC to 1500 BC. The majority of these were built near the river Nile. Hence while taking a cruise one can see them all at a glance. Around twenty to thirty thousand workers toiled to build the pyramids at Giza. The most famous pyramids are the pyramids of the Sphinx and Giza. The mummies in these pyramids are believed to be the bodies of the prominent royal rulers or queen which were wrapped and preserved after they died. The prime pyramid at Giza is the ‘Great Pyramid’ which rises to a height of 481 feet. Imphotep is the famous architect that built and designed the first pyramid here known as Step pyramid at Saqqara which is the first monument in Egypt made out of hewn stone.

Alexandria

This is a shipbuilding yard where ship building and repairing of boats is undertaken by craftsmen. One can visit the Qaitbay fortress at the entrance of the port where the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria was once situated. Other places a person would want to see here are the library, the Abu al-Abbas as-Mursi Mosque, the Royal Montaza Palace, King Farouk palace, the Roman theatre, the Catacombs, museums, Pompey’s pillar and more.

The Abu Simbel Temples

The rock temples of Abu Simbel are ranked among the most astonishing monuments of ancient Egypt. Thee temples are carved out of sandstone cliffs high above the Nile River. They were built during the rule of Ramesses II and included two temples, one temple dedicated to Amun-Re of Thebes and the smaller temple to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses wife. However, over time as the waters of Lake Nasser began to rise these temples were moved to a higher location during 1964 and 1968.

Valley of the Kings

The east valley of the Valley of Kings is more popular than the west as most of the tombs of the New Kingdoms of Pharaohs are found here. On the whole, there are 62 tombs found in both of the valleys. The Valley of Kings is situated on the west bank of the river Nile. The last tomb was built by King Ramsees XI which most people believe was not actually used by him.

Siwa Oasis

This is a beautiful landscape located sixty feet below sea level and was difficult to get to until recently. This area has beautiful springs and is well known for its dates and olives.

Karnak Temples

This is an enormous complex which encompasses three major temples with several smaller ones. These were built within a period of thirteen hundred years. The most amazing part of the temples is that the entrance of the temples has many sphinxes lined up in a row. The most popular temple among the ones found here is the temple of Amun. The well known section of these temples is the Great Hypostyle hall.

Nubian Museum of Aswan

The museum is a three storey building with an outdoors exhibition area. This is a community museum which undertakes educational trips, lectures and workshops for people and holds cultural events as well. The museum located in the city of Aswan has a collection of items uncovered from the archeological excavations from the Nubia campaign.

Alabaster Mosque

This is a popular Islamic mosque which is located in Cairo and which was built in the 19th century. This mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha is known for its grandeur and location. It is visited by many Egyptian travelers.

Dahab

This is a little village located on the southern coast of the Sinai Peninsula which was previously a fishing village. Recently, international hotel chains have sprung up in the area. The word Dahab means “gold” in the Arabic language and the reason for this could be the golden color of the sand found in the town.

The Red Sea Coast

The crystal blue water and its splendid marine life is what attract people to this place. It is one of the world’s top aquatic sports destinations. The northern part of the Red Sea is included in the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. There are 800 species of fish found here, and the beach is visited by thousands of migratory birds every year. Hurghada is the major bathing resort on this sea coast which is visited by several tourists. There are numerous aquatic sport opportunities available here such as scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing and more.

Sharm-el-Sheikh

This is also known as the City of Peace and is located on the Egyptian Red Sea Coast at the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula. There are a number of peace conferences which have been held here which is why it has gotten this name. There are a number of coral reefs here and an abundance of natural resources. The nightlife is also quite attractive with a large number of clubs, bars and restaurants. The best places to see in this area are Tiran Island, Sinai Mountain, Na’ama Bay, White Lagoon and Terrazzina beach.