Egypt - The gift of the Nile

The Arab Republic of Egypt, also known as Egypt in-short, or Misr, is a large country, located in north-eastern Africa, and bordered by Israel to the north-east, by Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the east, by Sudan to the south and by Libya to the west.

Egypt, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the North and Red Sea to the East, also extends into Asia by virtue of holding the Sinai Peninsula.

Geographically, Egypt is dominated both by the River Nile and its fertile well-watered valley, and by the Eastern and Western deserts, and thus it is often known as “the Gift of the Nile.”

Egypt along with its southern neighbor Sudan is perhaps best known as the home of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, sphinx and its pyramids. Egypt, known for its beautiful landscapes, is one of the most popular tourist destinations world-wide.

Cairo, the capital and the largest city of Egypt, is home to the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and fabulous Islamic architecture. The main attractions of the capital and the adjoining areas include Giza, Memphis, Saqqara, Abusir and Dahshur. The other important destinations in Egypt include Alexandria (Egypt's window on the Mediterranean), Aswan known for amazing sights, Luxor - gateway to the Valley of the Kings, and amazing temples, Siwa - an oasis town, Lake Nasser and Abu Simbel - two great monuments, one modern, one ancient, the Western Oases - five pockets of green in the midst of the Western Desert, each with their own unique attractions, the Red Sea Coast - luxury beach resorts, diving and marine life, and the Sinai Peninsula - rugged and isolated, with fascinating relics of the past.

The other important destinations include Abydos, Amarna, Beni Hasan, Dahab, Damanhour, Dendera, Mansoura, Meidum, Rachid, Tanis, and Tell Basta (Bubastis).

Climate: Egypt, an extension of the great Sahara Desert, generally experiences dry and very hot summers, and moderate winters.

The period from November through to January is the most comfortable time to visit and travel Egypt. The Sun is sometimes very harsh, so the travelers are advised to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and sturdy hats with them.

Traveling To Egypt: The best option for traveling to Egypt by air is via Europe. Most travelers come into Egypt through Cairo.

Egypt is served by international airports at Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada on the mainland, and at Sharm el Shaykh on the Sinai Peninsula. These airports are served by Egypt's national air carrier EgyptAir, and Air Sinai, and receive flights from major African, Asian, North America and European cities.

The other options of traveling to Egypt from Africa and the Middle East include the bus from Israel via the Gulf of Aqaba or the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, and ferries from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.