Holidays in Egypt - Steeped in History, Great For Adventure
Author: Jimi St Pierre

Steeped in history but very much a destination of the
present, Egypt is still a land of mystery for many people.

Egypt is one of the few places which not only lives up to
your dreams but exceeds them. Egypt is a land of ancient
pharaohs brought to life by the Pyramids and other
magnificent pharaohnic structures - and where the
intoxicating culture and vibrant energy of modern-day Cairo
touches your soul. It is also a place where you can kick
back and laze on soft sand beaches or get adventurous among
desert dunes and mountains or below the waves in crystal
clear coral waters.

To give your holiday planning a start, here are 10 great
reasons to visit Egypt.

Beaches: Queen of Egypt's Red Sea Riviera is Sharm el
Sheikh, the resort which began it all more than a quarter
of a century ago. More recent Sinai Peninsula additions
include designer resort Taba Heights, while Western Red Sea
favourite Hurghada has been joined by the likes of El
Gouna, Safaga and Makadi Bay. Watch out for the developing
Mediterranean resorts, among them El Alamein and Porto
Marina.

Nightlife: Hit the major Red Sea resorts at night and the
streets buzz with life, from thronging cafes with
hubble-bubble pipes to lively rooftop bars, while inside,
clubs churn out the latest beats. Cairo's historic Khan el
Khalili bazaar district comes alive after dark with the
atmospheric calls of traders trying to entice passers-by to
stop.

Food and drink: Mint tea and strong Kahwa coffee, so thick
you can almost stand the spoon up in it, are staple drinks;
stuffed vine leaves, kebabs and humus are among local food
specialities.

Adventure: The desert offers all sorts of action for
adrenalin junkies, from wadi-bashing in 4x4 vehicles or
quad bikes to sunset camel rides followed by dinner under
the stars in a Bedouin camp. Head under the Red Sea to
explore wrecks and see exquisite corals, tropical fish -
and even a whale shark, if you are lucky.

Sport: Golf is an unlikely sport which has taken off in the
country. You can tee off in and around Cairo, including
under the shadow of the Pyramids, putt alongside the
sparkling Red Sea and play seemingly within a chip shot of
the pharaohs' tombs. Windsurfing is popular on the Red Sea
because of the constant breeze.

Cities: Experience the hustle and bustle of Cairo and you
are seeing the real Egypt, laid bare. Haggle for bargain
shoes and cotton goods in the markets of Cleopatra's
capital, Alexandria, and soak up the colourful sights,
sounds and smells of Luxor's markets before watching the
evening sound and light show.

The Nile: The heart of the country, it runs from the south
of the country through Luxor and on 500 miles to Cairo to
flow into the Mediterranean by Alexandria. Take a Nile
cruise from Luxor to Aswan past astonishing edifices, and
enjoy an excursion on a traditional sailing felucca.
History: Egypt's glorious monuments were already 2,500
years old when they were first seen by Greek historian
Herodotus.

Shopping: There are shopping centre in resorts such as
Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, but the real joy of shopping
is to barter with a local stallholder in one of the many
markets. Never pay more than half to two-thirds the
original asking price, and enjoy the sellers' theatrics.

Sightseeing: You can't rent a car and drive around Egypt,
but coach tours go to all the top sights. Favourites
include Cairo's Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and Muslim
Quarter, the Valley of Kings and temples of Karnak and
Luxor in Luxor, and St Catherine's Monastery and Mount
Sinai, a day trip from Sharm

Many companies offer package holidays in Egypt, as well as
superb Nile Cruise arrangements. The availabilty of cheap
flights to Egypt from European cities also makes the
country accessible and affordable for tailor made trips.


About the Author:

Jimi St. Pierre, in collaboration with travel correspondent
Penny Church, writes for the map-based holiday destination
and flight finder Travelwhere. On the Travelwhere website
http://www.travelwhere.co.uk , you can find cheap flights
to Egypt along with a wealth of additional information -
including the package holiday brochures of specialist tour
operators.