Egypt is home to some of the world's most famous and stunning ancient monuments and lies in North Africa. Libya borders the western side of Egypt, while the eastern side edged by the Red Sea and the northern side by the Mediterranean Sea. Travel directly south of Egypt and you will find the Republic of Sudan, which is Africa's biggest country by overall area.Egypt holidays are unforgettable, not only for their history and sightseeing, but for the colourful characters, extremely sunny and hot weather, and the rather endearing lifestyle. No trip to Egypt is really complete without visiting Cairo, its bustling capital city. Here you will discover the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza, the equally impressive and much loved Sphinx, and the treasures of one of the country's most well-known pharos, Tutankhamun. Cheap holidays to Egypt and in particular, Cairo, are becoming more and more readily available, particularly when booked far in advance and during the hot and often humid summer months - the low season. The main towns and cities in Egypt line the banks of the winding River Nile and rarely stray far from the waterfront.
As you approach both the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea coastlines, many superb beachfront resorts present themselves. Amongst the best and most popular are Alexandra next to the Mediterranean, and Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, both of which lie alongside the Red Sea and present exceptional scuba diving opportunities.
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World Guide to Abu Simbel, Egypt A small settlement sited to the south of Aswan and close to the border of Sudan, Abu Simbel itself is a fairly unassuming village. However, Abu Simbel is where you will find both the Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor. |
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World Guide to Alexandria, Egypt Founded by its very own namesake Alexander the Great, the Egyptian city of Alexandria was famously rules by Cleopatra and is steeped in history. Alexandria contains some ancient ruins and long stretches of Mediterranean beaches. |
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World Guide to Aswan, Egypt Aswan is Egypt's most southerly city and famed for its rich Nubian past. Serving as an important African gateway, Aswan enjoys a scenic setting alongside the River Nile and is close to the Elephantine Island and its Nubian villages. |
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World Guide to Cairo, Egypt Egypt's capital city of Cairo is quite literally vast and can be quite overwhelming when you first arrive. Take time to explore Cairo's many famous attractions, such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx and Tutankhamun's tomb. |
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World Guide to El Alamein, Egypt An appealing coastal location some 100 km / 63 miles west of Alexandria, El Alamein is well known for its WWII war memorials and huge cemetery, with over 7,000 tombstones. The beach resort of Sidi Abdel Rahman is close to El Alamein. |
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World Guide to Hurghada, Egypt Hurghada was originally a small and quiet fishing village. Standing next to the Red Sea, today Hurghada has become a leading holiday destination and with spectacular reefs, is amongst Egypt's most highly regarded scuba diving spots. |
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World Guide to Luxor, Egypt Luxor is one the most unique Egyptian cities, standing alongside the Nile Valley and featuring an enticing mixture of past and present. The city of Luxor comprises three main areas, the city centre, Karnak village and the remains of Thebes. |
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World Guide to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt The spectacular coastal resort that is Sharm el Sheikh is situated next to the Gulf of Aqaba. Sharm el Sheikh is also extremely close to Tiran Island and the Ras Mohammed National Park, and boasts sandy beaches and turquoise waters. |
Egypt Information / Egypt Fast Facts
- Country: Arab Republic of Egypt (North Africa)
- Population: 80,000,000
- Population Growth Rate: 2 percent
- Capital city: Cairo (population 20,000,000)
- Language: Arabic
- Main exports: petroleum products and cotton
- Area: 386,700 square miles / 1,001,500 square kilometres
- Currency: pound sterling (GBP)
- Time zone: two hours ahead of GMT / UTC (daylight-saving time observed)
- Country dialing code: +20
- Religion: mainly Muslin, remainder Coptic Christian
Map of Africa
Map of Egypt
