Egypt

Egypt will give travelers the ultimate history lesson from the world's first civilization.

Cairo a diverse modern city of 20 million houses the world-renowned Egyptian museums along with Old Cairo and its mosque and markets. This fascinating country has Mediterranean, sailing the Nile and of course trekking through the monuments of ancient Egypt .

The Giza pyramids one of the ancient wonders of the world are a landmark of the Cairo landscape. These pyramids built over 4500 years ago still stand as a legacy of a once powerful society. The opportunity to descend into one of pyramids and stand in the center of the king's tomb is an exhilarating experience. Guarding the great pyramid is the Sphinx monument carved from a single bedrock outcrop and still shows some color from the glory years.

Further to the south in the Sahara desert the original pyramids built by King Djoser, better known as the step pyramids. These monuments built 75 years before the Giza were an inspiration to Khufur but provide us with some of the oldest antiquities on earth.

Traveling south of Luxor is best done by river boat cruises along the Nile with desert mountains on either side and palm trees lining the banks. Here you can relax and enjoy the sights of villages and ancient ports used by the pharaohs. Daytime stops will allow visits to the temples and monuments.

The Valley of the Kings and Queens on the west bank of Luxor will allow visitors inside the burial tombs to view the painted art work on the walls and ceilings. Here you can visit the famous tomb of King Tutankhamun and later visit its contents at Cairo 's Egyptian museum.

The east bank offers two major temples of Luxor and Karnak . These landmarks are the largest in Egypt and are distinctly different. Luxor temple houses a Coptic church and a active mosque and is considerably smaller than Karnak . Originally linked for 3Km by the Avenue of Sphinxes these two temples are connected but are now buried under modern Luxor after centuries of sand from the Sahara . Touring through the 247 acres of Karnak you will witness 1500 years of construction by generations of pharaohs. Noting a few highlights is the 30 meter Obelisks of Hatshepsut built by the only female pharaoh and the Hypostle hall where a forest of 134 columns at heights of 15 and 21 meter. Here you can follow the stories and history of ancient Egypt as still displayed on the walls.

These are only a few of the vast amounts of antiquities Egypt has to offer as every corner of the country there lies another piece of history of mankind.

Egypt is not only about pyramids and monuments; travelers can enjoy all the modern attributes of Cairo and Alexandria . These centers provide museums, markets and excellent dining opportunities. The original oils for perfumes are still produced in Egypt and factory outlets are open to the public. This is a fun place to match your favorite fragrance to take home. Papyrus literature and art was developed in ancient days and still is produced in many locations.