Egypt Vacations
This transcontinental country links northeast Africa with the Middle East. Egypt boasts one of the world’s longest histories and is a vast open-air museum containing some of the world's most-visited ancient structures, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the Karnak Temple Complex, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and Luxor.
Region:
Africa
Featured Egypt Hotel
This modern luxe hotel features a wide array of in-house amenities, including 9 international dining options, a business center, fitness center, 3 pools, and 24 meeting/event spaces.
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Overview
Egypt is also home to the fabled Nile River, the longest river in Africa and since the days of ancient Egypt a major means of travel and transportation as well as food and resources. Cairo, the nation’s capital and largest city, is a megalopolis that houses millions of people who live in close proximity to the Giza Pyramid Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most-visited and significant archaeological sites on Earth. Down the Nile in “Upper Egypt,” the historic city of Luxor is a treasure trove of ancient temples, including namesake Luxor, Karnak, and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Even further down river, Aswan is home to the Aswan High Dam, which is built across the Nile and is one of the world’s largest embankment dams.
Nile River Cruises
What to See
Cairo - The Giza Pyramid Complex is home to the Great Pyramid, which is the largest pyramid in Egypt and the oldest and last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Pyramid of Khafre, the second largest of the group and the tomb of Pharaoh Khafre; and the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three main pyramids. The Giza Pyramid Complex also boasts the world-famous Great Sphinx. Take a trip back in time in Coptic Cairo, home to some of the holiest and most historical sites in the city. Some of its most venerated attractions include the Babylon Fortress, which was built by the Romans, and the Hanging Church and Church of St. George are built into and on its walls; Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga), one of the oldest Coptic churches in Egypt allegedly built on the site where Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus once rested; and Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo, which is said to be built on the site where Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses. Learn about the history of Egypt at the Egyptian Museum, which showcases more than 100,000 unique artifacts. It is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and possesses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world, including the Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun.
Luxor - Located on the banks of the Nile River, Luxor is often referred to as “the world’s greatest open-air museum.” Here you will find Karnak, a temple complex consisting of a plethora of pylons, temples, obelisks, chapels, and other structures that is dominated by the Temple of Amun-Ra, considered to be where the Egyptian god Amun lived on earth; and Luxor, once the most significant religious center in Thebes, the capital of ancient Egypt upon which Luxor is built, believed to be where many kings of ancient Egypt were crowned.
Aswan - Hop aboard a felucca and escape the heat at Aswan Botanical Garden, a lush paradise at Kitchener’s Island on the Nile whose manicured gardens are home to a plethora of exotic plants, trees, and birds. Keep sailing to nearby Elephantine Island, where you will find traditional Nubian villages, archaeological sites, and the Aswan Museum. Discover the art, history, and culture of Nubia at the Nubia Museum, which displays a cornucopia of prehistoric artifacts including painted pottery bowls that are more than 6,000 years old. See where the ancient rulers and dignitaries of this land are laid to rest at the Tombs of the Nobles.
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