Egypt’s essential sights and activities range from the Sphinx and the Pyramids to Red Sea diving. Jeannine Williamson takes her pick
The UK is Egypt’s top market, with more than one million arrivals in 2006.
Few countries can match Egypt’s heritage sites. The Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings are possibly the oldest tourist attractions in the world – even the Romans used to go and marvel at them.
Conversely, Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is a classic sun, sand and sea destination with some of the world’s best dive sites.
Here’s a guide to the country’s key destinations.
Cairo
The Arab world’s largest city has a population of 20 million and is home to some amazing sights.
The Pyramids at Giza are the only survivors of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World and the Egyptian Museum is a treasure trove.
Luxor
The Valley of the Kings is Egypt’s biggest attraction after the Pyramids, and contains the tombs of Tutankhamun and other pharaohs, which are found deep in desert mountains.
Everything is on a gigantic scale at Karnak, once the most important place of worship in Egypt and dominated by huge statues of Ramses II.
Alexandria
Founded by Alexander the Great, the elegant seaside city has atmospheric old-style cafes immortalised in Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet.
Excursions run to El Alamein, 65 miles west of Alexandria, scene of the decisive allied victory during the Second World War.
Red Sea Riviera
Stretching for more than 500 miles, the coastline is Egypt’s most rapidly developing tourist area and the hotspot for beach holidays.
Sharm el-Sheikh is the largest resort and Hurghada has outstanding dive and snorkelling sites. Nearby cultural attractions are the early Christian monasteries of St Anthony and St Paul.
Sinai
Sandwiched between Africa and Asia, this biblical wilderness is a spectacular region characterised by its mountains and desert.
Pilgrims spend the night on Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments. The Ras Mohammed National Park on the coast contains ancient fossil reefs.
Western Oases
The vast region of the Western Oases is a world away from Egypt’s teeming cities. The region covers 10.8 million sq miles and is characterised by white sand desert.
Tours are based around the oasis settlements of Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra and Bahariyya. Prehistoric rock paintings are a must-see sight on the Kharga-Dakhla road.
Sample product
Peltours has a 15-night Egyptian Discovery tour taking in Luxor, Sharm el-Sheikh and Cairo combined with a seven-night Nile cruise. Prices starts at £1,299 per person in November, including flights, full board on the cruise and internal flights.
Thomson offers a three-night Cairo break from £433 per person, including flights and bed-and-breakfast accommodation, but excluding hotel transfers.
Egypt travel facts
Flying time: Three hours, 50 minutes from London to Cairo.
Airlines: British Airways flies from Heathrow to Cairo, Egyptair flies from Heathrow to Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh and GB Airways flies from Gatwick to Sharm el-Sheikh. Other carriers include Thomsonfly and XL Airways. BMI will start a Heathrow-Cairo service on November 4.
Tour operators: Abercrombie and Kent, Bales Worldwide, Cox and Kings, Discover Egypt, Dragoman, First Choice, Hayes and Jarvis, Libra, Peltours, Somak, Thomas Cook and Thomson, among others.
Visa requirements: Tourist visa, costing about £5, available at the airport on arrival.
Inoculations required: None.
Pitfalls: Hassle, particularly in markets and tourist areas, is common and women can be subjected to unwelcome male attention.
Weather: Between November and March daytime temperatures can reach 30C. June to September can be scorching, soaring to 42C. April, May, September and October are mild and ideal for touring holidays.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice: The foreign office warns about indiscriminate terrorist attacks, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula where there have been three bombings since 2004.
