Egypt

Vitial Statistics

Population: 61.5 million
Area : 1,002,000 sq km
Capital: Cairo
Language : Arabic
Religion : Muslim and Coptic Christian
Time Zones : GMT +2hrs
Currency : Egyptian pound divided into 100 piastres
Electricity : 220V 
Weights and Measures : metric
International Dialling Code : 20

The Place

The Land of the Nile has often exercised a potent spell over quite ordinary people. Egypt - or someone's idea of it - has inspired styles in everything from Western architecture and furniture to paper packaging, modern American condoms and cigarettes

The Highlights

Cairo

A roaring metropolis of 17 million people, Cairo is loved and hated in equal measure. But most visitors to Egypt spend at least a few days here, sampling its mosques, museums and bazaars.

Egyptian Museum, Cairo

This fantastic museum holds the world's greatest collection of Egyptian artifacts. No-one should be advised to miss anything if possible, but visitors in a hurry should turn left and see the treasures of the Old Kingdom, then head for the end of the corridor to the Akhenaten Room. From there, take the stairs up to the galleries containing the treasures of Tutankhamun.

Giza

The Pyramids of Giza - the most famous symbol of Egypt and the only survivors among the Seven Wonders of the World - are not hard to find. Standing at the end of a boulevard (Shari' al-Ahram) on the desert plateau above the western edge of Giza, across the river from Cairo, they can most usefully be seen in combination with a visit either to the sites of Saqqarah or to the modern villages of Kirdassah and Harraniyyah.

Saqqarah

Built by the last king of the 5th Dynasty (circa 2375-2345 BC), this houses the earliest Pyramid text. The ceremonial causeway has been excavated and the pyramid at the end is one of the least difficult for visitors to enter.

The River Nile

Aswan offers some of the loveliest views of the Nile. It's a wonderful place to take a felucca trip, either for a short voyage around the islands or, for the hardy, to embark on a cruise to Luxor.

Aswan

Ivory, ebony, rose and gold are the defining colours of Aswan (215 km south of Luxor). Here, a wild jumble of glistening igneous rocks, strewn across the Nile, suddenly creates narrows between the highlands of the Eastern Desert and the sandy wastes of the Sahara. The barrier to navigation is known as the First Cataract, and was once where the civilized world stopped.

Luxor

To many egyptologists, Luxor is the most important and dramatic site in the country. Al-Uqsur (the Palaces) is the Arabic name for Thebes, the capital city of the New Kingdom (1570-1070 BC), whose glory still glowed in the memories of classical writers a thousand years after its decline. Here the booty of foreign wars, tribute and taxes poured into the coffers of the pharaohs of the 18th and 19th Dynasties, each of whom surpassed his predecessor in the construction of gorgeous temples and tombs, creating a concentration of monuments that rivals that of any imperial city before or since.

Karnak, Luxor

The temple complex of Amun-Ra at Karnak and its neighbouring buildings constitute the most overwhelming of all the Egyptian monuments. Apart from the immense conglomeration of elements that make up the temple itself, it also has the most complicated form in the country because, unlike most other temples in Egypt, it was developed over many centuries.

Abu Simbel

Every year on 22 February and 22 October, only one day later than originally planned, the dawn rays of the sun reach to the heart of the reconstructed Temple of Ramese II to revive the cult statues. The colossal statues, with finely carved faces but crudely finished bodies, and the reliefs inside the temple, never fail to impress. Guided tours conclude with a visit behind the scenes to the futuristic structure that was built to support the temple once it had been moved.

The Red Sea

Gorgeous corals, shooting damsel fish, brightly coloured parrot, butterfly and angel fish - Egypt's Eastern coasts teem with brilliant life. Though the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea attain great depths in the middle, relatively shallow seas cover the continental shelf that runs along the shores. The underwater world is a paradise for divers and for snorkellers, who only need to swim a few metres off the barren coast to discover its treasures.

Red Sea and Sinai Monasteries

In the Sinai Desert and along the Red Sea coast, where religions and cultures have so often clashed, lie several ancient monasteries. Santa Katarina - with well-developed tourism facilities - has a very famous monastery near what many believe is Mount Sinai. The Monasteries of St Paul and St Anthony, easy day-trip destinations from Hurghadah, have lost much of their original remoteness. St Anthony Monastery is considered the oldest in the world.

The Climate

Summers are hot and dry in Upper Egypt, humid in the Delta and along the Mediterranean Coast. In recent years the humidity has spread to Cairo and the city swelters in August. Winters are mild with some rain, but usually there are bright, sunny days and cold nights. Spring and autumn are short, and during the 50 days (khamseen) between the end of March and mid-May, dust storms can occur sporadically. The creation of Lake Nasser has had an effect on the climate of the whole Nile Valley.

Dos and Don'ts

Egypt is a conservative country. It is an affront to your hosts to appear in a mosque or even on the street in clothing that is considered immodest. Women should keep shoulders and upper arms covered. Neither men or women should wear shorts except at resorts, or when playing sports.

Cotton is suitable for all seasons; wool for winter and many summer nights. Loose and flowing garments are not only considered modest here, but also extremely practical in a hot climate. Hats are vital and necessary, to protect against heat stroke and so are sunglasses, to defend the eyes against the glare. Bring stout, comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and neither Cairo's streets nor Luxor's temple floors are friendly to feet.

Photographing individual people requires a bit of consideration. The Egyptian people are constantly having cameras pushed in their faces, so be courteous and ask first. If a person does not want you to take his or her photo, do not take it. If he or she wants to be paid, pay. If you don't want to pay, don't take the picture. You will find plenty of good shots elsewhere.

Tourism website www.egypt.travel