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Egypt

6

Reasons To
Visit Egypt

  • Ancient Civilisations

    The Ancient Egyptians have attracted more interest and attention than almost any other ancient civilisation. Their feats of engineering, and the details of their lives we can glean from tomb and temple walls make them seem very alive; similarly their obsession with death also fascinates us.

    Ancient Civilisations

  • Ancient Ruins

    From the temples of Upper Egypt, to the numerous fantastic pyramids near Cairo, Egypt is probably best known for its ancient ruins. Even once away from the ever-popular Nile Valley, there are oasis tombs, and remnants of Roman Alexandria to uncover.

    Ancient Ruins

  • Beaches

    The shores of the Red Sea are rightly famous the world over. The water is a stunning clear blue and the coral reefs are simply amazing. Year-round, the sun shines, and there are excursions into the mountainous interior to tempt you away from the sand and lapping waves.

    Beaches

  • Cruises

    Gliding serenely past lush green fields, farmed by ox-drawn ploughshares, admiring the sleek form of a egret is one of the great pleasures of a visit to Egypt. The fact that this glimpse of unchanged rural life also links together some of the greatest historical monuments in Egypt makes a Nile cruise a must!

    Cruises

  • Museums

    The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is one of the world's great treasure troves, crammed with artefacts from the country's illustrious past. Other, much smaller museums are more than worthy of your time: Luxor museum is especially noteworthy.

    Museums

  • Souqs & Shopping

    As you twist and turn deeper into the Khan El Khalili, passing under Mamluke arches and admiring Ottoman 'mashrabiya' window screens, you're drawn into a traditional world where charismatic vendors try to persuade you to purchase handicrafts and goods manufactured in a tiny workshop behind the shop front.

    Souqs & Shopping

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Visit St Catherines and Mount Sinai, The Sinai Peninsula

At the heart of the peninsula is Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses.

St Catherine's Monastery, Egypt
St Catherine's Monastery, Egypt

St Catherines and Mount Sinai

The Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

At the heart of the peninsula is Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses. The mountain also overlooks the valley where Moses encountered the Burning Bush, and it was on this site that the Byzantine Empress, Helena, founded a monastery in 337 AD.

The monastery was fortified against raiders, and dwindling numbers of monks received a boost when the remains of St Catherine, an early Christian martyr, were found nearby at the summit of Egypt’s highest mountain.

Visiting the monastery

Today the monastery is open to visitors who can admire the 6th century Church of St Catherine, the medieval monks’ quarters (still used) and a descendant of the Burning Bush. The dramatic location and preserved historical state of the monastery make a visit truly inspiring.

It is best to spend a night here: this allows you to climb Mount Sinai and see the dawn if you wish, and also make the most of the short visiting hours at the monastery.

Getting there

There are two routes to the summit, the most punishing being the 3750 "Steps of Repentance", carved by a remorseful monk. It is also worth paying the extra local charge to see the monastery's collection of icons, some of which are both breathtakingly old and beautiful.

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