| Egypt is consistently the top destination for world | | | | A Little Ocean with your Sand? |
| travel each and every year - and not surprisingly so. | | | | Aside from the Nile River Valley, Egypt is largely made |
| The country uniquely bridges the African and Asian | | | | up of the Saharan desert to the south and west; |
| continents across the Suez Canal by possession of | | | | however, Egypt also happens to be a first class resort |
| the Sinai Peninsula. This key positioning has guaranteed | | | | destination with nearly all (500 miles) of its eastern |
| Egypt a major role in the strategic and historic | | | | edge bordered by the tranquil azure waters of the |
| relationships between the east, west, north and south | | | | Red Sea Coast. Visit the lively town of Harghada |
| of Africa, Europe, Asia and the more direct Middle | | | | where traditional Egyptian life intermingles with |
| East beginning more than 5000 years ago when the | | | | international resort luxury. This area is extremely |
| first Kingdom of Egypt was unified. In addition to a | | | | popular for scuba diving and snorkeling with its |
| most remarkable past, Egypt offers the eager traveler | | | | numerous underwater shipwrecks, sea caves and |
| thriving international cities, lavish Red Sea resorts, | | | | exotic fish. There are a multitude of islands to which |
| fabled oases and literally hundreds of miles of ancient | | | | you can escape by ferry or paddle boat and many |
| pharaoh monuments along the Nile River Valley. | | | | small fishing towns for a little peace, quiet and local |
| Water, Torch and Tomb | | | | flavor added to your vacation. |
| When Muslim Arabs introduced Egyptians to Islam in | | | | The Mediterranean coastline also provides a nice |
| the 7th century, much of the already weary | | | | break from the rolling sand dunes. Alexandria is |
| monuments of the native dynasties became even less | | | | Egypt�s busting port city with more Greek |
| central to national heritage. Luckily, a renewed interest | | | | and French flare than the rest of the country. The |
| in archeological preservation over the past few | | | | city�s history is extremely eclectic, making a |
| centuries has kept these ancient wonders intact for | | | | stroll through the streets feel like a wander across |
| the world to continue to enjoy. The ideal place to begin | | | | cultures and time periods. Alex the Great staged his |
| is Cairo, where the Egyptian Museum boasts hundreds | | | | resistance against the Romans from Alexandria, |
| of thousands of artifacts and will give you an | | | | bringing a large population of Greeks with him, and for |
| opportunity to catch up your knowledge of ancient | | | | a short period Napoleon had managed to gain control |
| Egyptian history from the 4th grade. Nearby are the | | | | of the ancient city. |
| breathtaking Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, cut from a | | | | Remember that Egypt is both ancient and modern. |
| single slab of stone over 4,000 years ago, which can | | | | Travel to Egypt is not only about the archeological |
| be viewed more peacefully beyond the crowds from | | | | wonders and bone-chilling tales but also about the |
| horseback. South of Cairo, Upper Egypt offers a string | | | | experience of a nation that is geopolitically and |
| of exciting temple towns between legendary Luxor | | | | economically central to its larger surrounding region, a |
| and Aswan, including the Valley of the Kings. Although | | | | nation that is just as crucial to the identity of North |
| King Tutankhamen�s Tomb rests here, it is | | | | Africa as it is to the Middle East and the |
| not nearly as impressive as the surrounding royal | | | | Mediterranean. Egypt is justifiably as monumental |
| tombs, particularly the general-kings of the Ramesses | | | | today as the Giza Pyramids that symbolize the |
| Dynasties. | | | | nation�s heritage. |