Egypt holidays

Why Egypt

Choose holidays to Egypt and you’ll be greeted warmly in a country where so many people rely on the tourist spend. Once upon a time you would have spent hours queuing to see the Valley of the Kings or the treasures of Tutankhamen: not anymore. The turmoil that has affected Egypt since 2011’s revolution has caused a drastic decrease in the number of tourists visiting the resorts of the Red Sea, despite the majority of the unrest centred in Cairo and the north of the country.

First timers to Egypt are always surprised at just how close the Great Pyramids of Giza are to the centre of Cairo. Africa’s largest city and the largest city in the Middle East, modern Cairo is a chaotic mix of contemporary metropolis mixed with a rich history that dates back more than 4,000 years. That history is also very apparent at Luxor, or the ancient city of Thebes, so much so in fact it is known as the greatest open-air museum in the world. On the coast historic Alexandria and ultra modern Sharm El Sheikh couldn’t contrast more strongly. But the true beauty and wonders of this ancient land are perhaps best appreciated on a leisurely Nile cruise.

When to go

Climate

Planning Egypt holidays, it is necessary to know general facts about the climate to choose the most appropriate time for trip. Temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius on the Red Sea, so you're almost guaranteed winter sunshine. Egypt’s climate is generally dry, hot or very hot in summer while in winter it is warm or mild. The thin coastal strip to the country’s north is where temperatures are the most mild because of winds off the Mediterranean Sea. In winter temperatures range from an average minimum of 9 degrees Celsius (49 Fahrenheit) overnight climbing to 17 degrees Celsius (63 Fahrenheit) in the daytime. In summer, the average night-time minimum is 23 degrees Celsius (73 Fahrenheit) reaching an average maximum daytime high of 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit).

Where to go/stay

Cairo

Cairo is Egypt’s capital, home to the great pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx the city and Egypt’s most famous attractions. More history can be found at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which is known to everyone as the Egyptian Museum, it holds the greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world. The city is also filled with an array of fantastic Islamic architecture including Al-Azhar Mosque – one of the pillars of Islamic thought and the oldest university in the world – the Citadel and Mosque of Mohamed Ali Pasha and Ibn Tulun, which built between 868 and 864 makes it the oldest in the city.

Alexandria

Based on the Mediterranean coast one of the icons of Alexandria is the Citadel of Qaitbay. The fortress was constructed in 1480 on the famed site of the Pharos Lighthouse also known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It now serves as a maritime museum. Other sights of note include Pompey’s Pillar a 25-metre (82 feet) column built in 297AD and the Roman Theatre, an amphitheatre dating from the 2^nd century. Meanwhile the Alexandria National Museum features more than 1800 archaeological artifacts so it is really worth visiting during your holidays in Egypt.

Port Said

Egypt’s third largest city yet with a distinctively modern feel, the 1869 Lighthouse of Port Said is the oldest building in the post city due to heavy bombing during the Suez crisis.

Aswan

A city with many amazing sights and used as a base from where to visit the incredible temple at Abu Simbel.

Luxor

Situated as the gateway to the Valley of the Kings – the burial place of almost all the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, and other incredible attractions.

Hurghada

Once a sleepy fishing village, this resort town on the Red Sea has become a tourist Mecca and is in fact the most visited tourist destination all of Egypt full of all-inclusive resorts. It is famed for its diving opportunities.

Dahab

Like Hurghada, this has evolved into backpacker central in the past 30 years, with excellent scuba diving it is a place that many people fall in love with returning year after year.

Karnak

Known for its large-scale temples particularly the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak and for ram-headed sphinxes.

Memphis and Saqqara

The former was a capital of Ancient Egypt, the latter is famed for its step-pyramids and visiting both during Egypt holidays is often done as a day trip from nearby Cairo.

Sharm el-Sheikh

An immensely popular resort town situated on the Sinai Peninsula, package holidaymakers particularly from the UK flock here for sun, sand and sea and some of the best scuba diving in the world.

Things to do

Let’s face it Egypt really is about seeing the legacy of a once powerful and fascinating civilization up close but apart from seeing the remnants and artifacts of ancient Egypt. There is the history of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantine Empire, Islamic empire, and the Ottomans. While it is difficult to avoid the history some manage at the resorts in Sharm el-Sheik and Hurgharda where charter dive expeditions are part of the experience.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take a cruise down the Nile either on traditional Felucca boat or a cruise ship on your holidays to Egypt. The more traditional Egyptian experience choose the former, however if you prefer all the comforts of home and more (and air-conditioning) opt for the latter.