Egypt has long been the gateway between the Middle East and Africa and the birthplace of one of the world's most ancient civilisations. The Great Sphinx, the Giza Pyramids, and Tutankhamen’s tomb are among the iconic ancient Egyptian artefacts still on display today. Egypt's major cities are Luxor, where the pharaohs used to live on the east bank of the Nile, and the Mediterranean Sea port city of Alexandria. At least three weekly flights travel non-stop between Bangkok and Cairo, Egypt's capital and biggest city, covering a distance of 7,264 km and a flight time of nine hours.
Don’t MissThe Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert are the two main influences on Egypt's hot desert climate. Summer temperatures can soar up to 50°C in the southern community of Aswan, while average northern Egyptian summer temperatures are a mild 31°C. Winter temperatures can drop to 4°C between December and February. Dusty and hot winds can darken skies and turn houses orange during March and May. September and November bring Egypt's most pleasant weather and smaller crowds compared to winter.
No Egyptian visit would be complete without seeing the Giza Pyramids or Great Sphinx. Both of these legendary ancient Egyptian landmarks are conveniently located on Cairo's southwestern outskirts. The Valley of the Kings contains Tutankhamen’s tomb on the west bank of Nile River in Luxor. Tutankhamen’s gold burial mask is among the most famous of the more than 120,000 artefacts on display at Cairo's Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The modern day Bibliotheca Alexandrina stands on the same spot as the ancient Library of Alexandria on Alexandria's Mediterranean Sea waterfront. Another modern Egyptian landmark, the Suez Canal, links the Mediterranean and Red seas.
Restaurants and BarsEgyptian food is a delicious mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences. Two famous Egyptian foods are koshary (rice, sauce and chickpeas) and ful medames (fava beans with spices and vegetables). Ishta is an Egyptian fruit sold alongside watermelons, guava, mango, and many more fresh fruits at stalls throughout the country. Seafood restaurants are plentiful in coastal areas. Nightlife in larger cities combines typical Western nightclubs with more traditional entertainment like belly dancing.
ActivitiesFurnished dahabiya wooden boats or small felucca sailing boats are the most popular and eco-friendly Nile River cruising vessels. Sharm el-Sheikh's shallow waters can be explored by snorkelling, while Ras Muhammad National Park is one of Egypt's breathtaking Red Sea scuba diving destinations. It takes roughly three hours to scale Mount Sinai, which is especially spectacular at sunset, but tourists can also hire camels to climb to the summit.
ShoppingCairo's Khan-el Khalili Bazaar is among the oldest and biggest marketplaces, while the Citystars Mall is the biggest shopping centre in the country. Alexandria's Attareen neighbourhood is another good place to find good deals on perfume, carpets, jewellery, backgammon boards, papyrus, and other authentic Egyptian souvenirs.
