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    Tourist Attractions in Egypt

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Egypt. Photos and a brief description.

    About Egypt

    Egypt has been holding the bar for many decades as one of the most popular places for a beach holiday. Tourists from all over the world come here to relax on the picturesque shores of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. The season at the well-known resorts of Hurghada, Taba, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab lasts all year round. Egyptian hotels offer all-inclusive holidays, which is the most convenient for travelers.

    The best time to travel to Egypt is considered to be the period April-the first half of November. In the winter months, the winds blow and the sea remains cold, although it is sunny and warm enough during the day. Many tour operators offer New Year’s tours with a diverse holiday program.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Egypt

    Egyptian Pyramids

    Majestic buildings of antiquity, which are about 5000 years old. Tombs of powerful pharaohs, storing a large number of still undisclosed secrets. Many guesses exist around the pyramids. Some researchers are of the opinion that they were erected by a non-human race or aliens.

    Egyptian Pyramids
    The Pyramid of Cheops

    The Pyramid of Cheops

    The largest of the pyramids, the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) and his dynasty. The structure was built for more than 20 years and completed by 2260 BC. The height of the structure is 146.5 m., it consists of 2.3 million rectangular stone blocks. The Great Pyramid is the central structure of the Giza complex.

    The Great Sphinx

    The statue of a giant lion with a human face is 73 m long and 21 m high. Inside, the statue is hollow. Such structures served for executions and sacrifices, which is why the Egyptians call the Great Sphinx "the king/father of horror." It also symbolized retribution and catastrophe, which, according to ancient beliefs, should come from heaven.

    The Great Sphinx
    Egyptian Museum in Cairo

    Egyptian Museum in Cairo

    A large museum, which contains a huge number of rare exhibits. It will take a few days for the visitor to see everything. Here is the famous treasury of Tutankhamun, occupying 8 halls. It was discovered in 1922, almost not looted. The oldest manuscripts of the museum are more than 5000 years old.

    Karnak Temple

    The main sanctuary of ancient Egypt of the era of the New Kingdom (XVI-XI centuries BC), the temple was once the residence, treasury and administrative center of the capital of Thebes. It is located 500 km away. from Cairo near Luxor. The well-preserved buildings of the temple complex attract many tourists.

    Karnak Temple
    Luxor Temple

    Luxor Temple

    One of the greatest creations of the ancient Egyptian civilization, where the central place is given to the supreme god Amon-Ra. It is distinguished by monumental architecture, elegant bas-reliefs, tall columns and majestic statues of gods. The temple began to be built during the heyday and power of the New Kingdom under Amenhotep III.

    Suez Canal

    A man-made sea route connecting Africa and Eurasia. It was opened for shipping in 1869. The length of the canal is 161 km., it originates in Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea and ends in Suez on the Red Sea. In honor of the opening of this waterway, the brilliant Italian composer Verdi wrote the opera "Aida".

    Suez Canal
    Aswan Hydroelectric power Plant (dam)

    Aswan Hydroelectric power Plant (dam)

    A huge 110-meter dam on the Nile River, a miracle of engineering. The width is more than 3 km., the thickness is 800 m. It was built according to the project of the Soviet engineer N. Malyshev. The hydroelectric power plant was conceived in order to eliminate the consequences of floods in the 60-70 years . XX century, as well as to provide the country with electricity.

    Valley of the Kings

    The burial place of many Egyptian pharaohs and nobles near Luxor. The tombs were equipped with cunning traps for protection, and the entrances to them were disguised to hide the treasures from the eyes of robbers. The most famous tomb belongs to Thutmose III, who initiated the burials in this place.

    Valley of the Kings
    Temples in Abu Simbel

    Temples in Abu Simbel

    They are located on the shore of Lake Nasser in the depths of the Nubian desert. They are giant statues of gods carved in the rock, Pharaoh Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. The buildings were erected in honor of the ruler's victory over the Hittites. In the middle of the XX century, the temples were moved to a higher place due to the construction of the Aswan hydroelectric power station.

    Temples of Philae Island

    According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, the god Osiris is buried on the island of Philae in the middle of the Nile. There is a temple of the goddess Isis (wife of Osiris) and the goddess Hathor. These are the only structures of this type from the Ptolemaic dynasty that have survived to the present day. The island has been under UNESCO protection since the 80s of the XX century.

    Temples of Philae Island
    The Colossi of Memnon

    The Colossi of Memnon

    They are stone 20-meter statues – the remains of the temple of Amenhotep III. The building itself has not been preserved. In ancient times, these columns guarded the entrance to the sanctuary. For 3.5 thousand years, the colossi underwent significant destruction, only the outlines of the figures have reached us. In the XX century. after the construction of the dam, the flooding of the Nile stopped and there was a chance to save the statues.

    St. Catherine 's Monastery

    Located on the Sinai Peninsula, it is considered a stronghold and center of Orthodoxy in the Arab East. The monastery was built under the Roman Emperor Justinian. In the I century A.D. it was used as a fortress to protect against the raids of nomads. In the 10th century, a mosque appeared on the territory, which made it possible to avoid the destruction of the temple with the arrival of Islam in these parts.

    St. Catherine 's Monastery
    Kite Bay Fortress

    Kite Bay Fortress

    A medieval architectural monument in the city of Alexandria, built on the site where the Pharos Lighthouse stood in ancient times. The fortress served for defense against the fleet of the rapidly growing Ottoman Empire, but the Turks still managed to take it. For more than 500 years, the fort served its intended purpose and was used as a strategic object.

    Montaza Palace and Park

    It is located in the second largest Egyptian city of Alexandria. The park complex is located on the shore of a small cozy bay. The royal palace, the residence of King Farouk, was built here at the beginning of the XX century. This is a great place to relax with picturesque beaches, Mediterranean pine trees and date palms.

    Montaza Palace and Park
    Alexandrina Library

    Alexandrina Library

    A modern building erected on the supposed site of the ancient destroyed Library of Alexandria. The complex includes several museums dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of Egypt, and a cinema hall. The huge reading room of the library accommodates more than 2000 people.

    The Nile River

    One of the largest waterways in Africa, stretching for almost 7000 km. It was the Nile that gave impetus to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, its fertile valleys in the midst of lifeless stones allowed people to grow crops, invent cunning irrigation systems and move engineering thought.

    The Nile River
    Color Canyon

    Color Canyon

    A gorge in the Sinai Mountains, formed millions of years ago due to a strong earthquake. Then there was a monstrous fracture of the earth's crust and a canyon of red sand with numerous intricately intertwined inserts of purple, burgundy, white, green and yellow colors appeared.

    The Blue Hole in Dahab

    This is the name of a circular underwater sinkhole near the resort of Dahab. The depth of the hole is more than 130 meters, at a distance of 50 meters from the surface there is a tunnel that connects to the Red Sea. Due to the unique beauty of the coral reef, this place attracts many divers.

    The Blue Hole in Dahab
    Tyrant Island

    Tyrant Island

    An island in the Red Sea, located between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which formally owns this territory. But the Egyptian authorities have rented the island and are taking tourists there, as lovers of spearfishing there opens up a real paradise for research. The island is almost uninhabited, so its unique nature is still intact.

    White Desert

    A national park located in the north of the Farafra oasis. Once millions of years ago there was an ocean floor here, and since then there have been bizarre white karst formations that are now of interest to researchers and tourists. To get into the national park, a permit is required, but it is quite easy to get it.

    White Desert
    Ras Mohammed National Park

    Ras Mohammed National Park

    The oldest Egyptian nature reserve, combining a piece of the coast and the waters of the Red Sea. It is known for the fact that the most beautiful and rich in marine life coral reef is located here. Foxes, hyenas, white storks and gazelles also live in the park. At the bottom are the remains of the 1941 British ship .

    Mount Sinai

    A sacred mountain for all Christians, where, according to beliefs, God appeared to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments. At the top there is an Orthodox church and a small mosque. This place is popular among pilgrims, special pilgrimage ascents are organized here.

    Mount Sinai
    Resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh

    Resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh

    One of the most famous Egyptian resorts, where the emphasis is on youth recreation. There are many bars, restaurants and club hotels here. The infrastructure of the resort is perfectly developed - entertainment for every taste and age is offered. The beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh are made of stone, with the exception of Nabq Bay.

    Khan El Khalili Market

    The traditional colorful Cairo bazaar, located in the historical center of the capital. Here you can buy a huge number of goods: from antique furniture and manuscripts to Bedouin jewelry. The market is small in size, but it is very popular with tourists and collectors of various antiquities.

    Khan El Khalili Market