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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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Excursions in Egypt: Philae Temple Excursion

Philae Temple
Philae TemplePhilae Temple, AswanPhilae Temple, AswanFelucca at sunset, AswanTemple of Philae, AswanAncient relief at the Temple of Philae

Philae Temple Excursion

Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt
  • Culture & History
  • Outdoor Activities

As the water rose behind the small dam, it became apparent that the Temple of Philae would now be partly submerged for half of the year on its island, with tourists having to pass through the halls and colonnades by boat. With the construction of the High Dam, it became apparent that the temple would be completely submerged, along with several other key Nubian monuments. UNESCO launched a bold scheme to save these monuments and they were moved block by block to dry land.

Philae was moved to another island, to preserve the special atmosphere of the temple. It was a centre for the cult of Isis, whose worship spread far and wide in the Roman Empire, and was Christianity's principle rival between the third and the fifth centuries.

Today, after a short boat ride, you disembark into a colonnaded courtyard which leads into the temple itself, flanked by wonderfully carved pylons. Off to the side is the Kiosk of Trajan, a small compact temple with delightfully carved columns.

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{9C3B4635-8822-4C02-A13C-65206B040914}Egypt for the First-time Visitor

Home to some of the world's most iconic historical sites, Egypt is undoubtedly a “must see” destination. Its proximity to the UK and size makes it possible for the first time visitor to see many of the major highlights in a relatively short trip.

Read Travel Guide

Further reading:
EgyptWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasEgypt CruisesPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout EgyptCountry Guides

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