Welcome to Egypt!

Egypt is tucked into the corner of north-east Africa. Cairo, its capital, is also its largest city. Since the Sinai Peninsula region belongs to Egypt, the country also extends into Asia. Israel and the Gaza Strip lie to Egypt’s north-east and Jordan and Saudi Arabia, across the Red Sea, to the east. Egypt’s other neighbours are Sudan in the south and Libya to its west. On Egypt’s northern shores is the Mediterranean, and to its east, the Red Sea. The country’s predominant geographical features are the great Nile River and its alluvial valley, besides the Eastern and Western deserts.

There are simply so many highlights in Egypt that choosing what to see and do can be a difficult choice! Cairo has attracted large numbers of tourists for centuries whilst the trendy street cafes of Alexandria, from where visitors can watch the world go by and the frenetic shoppers’ hotspot, Khan al-Khalili continue to be as popular today as they have been for a couple of centuries. Egypt’s monuments, scattered across the country, have always inspired awestruck wonder – Cairo’s graceful minarets, the royal tombs of Luxor and the perfectly engineered Pyramids of Abu Sir are but a few examples of ancient structures that visitors may admire while touring the cities, cruising up and down the Nile or foraying into the magnificent desolation of the desert.

There are numerous resorts and hotels in Egypt to accommodate its visitors, and a trip to Egypt wouldn't be complete without taking a tour in Egypt to visit all its wonderful sights. You can also use our Egypt map to choose your hotel in Egypt based on its location.

If this is your first visit to Egypt, the obvious place to begin would be Cairo. When you’ve had your fill of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, head towards the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Depending on your interest, there’s enough here to keep you absorbed for hours or even days, particularly unforgettable exhibits such as Tutankhamen’s Gallery. Another time, take a leisurely spin through Coptic Cairo, the city’s oldest sector and enjoy a session of hardcore bargaining at the local bazaars.

Luxor features on most visitors must-do list and for good reason. Taking a local Egypt tour of its many temples and the iconic Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens are an experience of a lifetime. A visit to Egypt would be incomplete without a Nile cruise. There are several options available, varying in standard and duration, depending on the cost. Generally, most cruise trips will include the most famous sights like Kom Ombo, Edfu and the Philae temples, Aswan’s dam and the wonderfully preserved temples of Abu Simbel. Cruises on Lake Nasser are also popular.

If you’re based in the resorts and hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada, your Egypt hotel or tourist agency can arrange for full-day or overnight trips to Luxor and Cairo. Most Red Sea resorts organise interesting day tours by boat. Activities thrown in could include memorable barbecue lunches on uninhabited islands, with sufficient time for swimming, snorkelling, diving or sunbathing. If you’re looking for some adventure, you might like to try a quad biking trip into the Western or Sinai Desert. These are hair-raising journeys alright, but generally safe.

Want to visit Old Testament country? From Sharm el-Sheikh or Taba heights, trips can be organised to Mount Sinai’s St. Catherine’s Monastery, the site of Moses' Burning Bush. At Luxor, Aswan or Lake Nasser, experience the traditional way of sailing down the river in a leisurely felucca ride. For an unforgettably romantic evening, there’s little to beat a sunset cruise on the Nile. From spectacular natural beauty to a richly layered culture, Egypt has it all.