''Nowhere are there so many marvellous things... so many things of unspeakable greatness' - 5th century BC Herodotus. The Sphinx, the Nile, ancient Luxor, the pyramids – Egypt is glorious and so special.

Modern day Egypt is more than being drawn back into past times as modern Egypt now has mud houses with TV antennae’s and ancient monuments now mixed with modern glass and stone buildings. The blend all adds to the melting pot that is this ancient country.

It's not just the monuments that have drawn travellers to this country since long before the birth of Christ - it's the legacy of the Greeks, Romans and early Christians, and the profusion of art and architecture accumulated from centuries of successive Islamic dynasties.

Weather & when to go to Malawi

Egypt's climate is hot and dry most of the year. Everywhere south of Cairo is uncomfortably hot in the summer months (June-August), especially Luxor and Aswan where daytime temperatures soar up to 40°C (104°F). In Cairo the combination of heat, dust, pollution, noise and crush makes walking the city streets a real test of endurance.

When visiting somewhere such as Luxor, winter is by far the most comfortable time. Cairo isn't quite as pleasant, with often overcast skies and chilly evenings, while up on the Mediterranean coast Alexandria is subject to downpours. Even Sinai's beaches are a little too cold for sunbathing in January. March to May or September to November is the best time to enjoy the warm days without the hordes of tourists.

Most popular time to visit:

With it's consistant climate, Egypt is a popular all round destination.

Good time to visit:

Winter is easily the most comfortable time to visit the southern areas. While September – November is best for the beaches in the North.

Worst time to go:

June-August if you are going South as it is very hot.

December – January for the beaches along the Sinai as it is too cold for sunbathing.

Best things to do in Egypt

1. Visit the Sphinx
2. Dive in the Red Sea coast line
3. Explore the Egyptian Museum
4. Cruise the Nile River by boat
5. Escape the city in one of Egypt’s six oasis
6. Try your skills at bargaining at Cairo's famous Khan-el Khalili bazaar
7. Experience the Pyramids Sound and Light Show

Areas of interest in Egypt

Cairo

Home to more than 16 million Egyptians, Arabs, Africans and sundry others, the 'Mother of the World' is an sensory explosion. You will either love it or hate it. It is a crazy place with noise, pollution and millions of people scuttling around the city.

Mud-brick houses lean up against modern buildings, smart cars crowd donkey-drawn carts.

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

The sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza live up to more than 4000 years of hype and the worlds oldest tourist attraction. Their extraordinary geometry and age render them alien constructions rising out of the desert. The Sphinx lies nearby, a 50m-long character carved from a single block of stone.

Due to the popularity of the area there are literally hundereds of daily visitors. It's great to get their in the afternoon around 5pm where it is quieter. If you are looking to get close to them then the morning is the best time but you will battle through crowds of people.

These structures are all part of a massive necropolis, or burial site, attached to the ancient capital of Memphis, south of Cairo, a city that predated the founding of Cairo by more than 3500 years.

The key sites to visit are Giza, closest to Cairo, and the day-trip sites of Abu Sir, Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur. The oldest pyramid at Giza and the largest in Egypt, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) stood 146m high when it was completed around 2600 BC. YOu can spend the day walking through the giant construction, made up of about 2.3 million limestone blocks.

Known in Arabic as Abu al-Hol (Father of Terror), the Sphinx is carved from the natural bedrock at the bottom of the causeway to Khafre's pyramid. Unfortunately the Sphinx decaying even though they have tried to restore it. This has unforetunately increased the decay.

A great way to see the Pyramids is at the sound and light show held near the Sphinx.

Hours: 7:00am-5:30pm

Lake Nasser

Lake Nasser is the world's largest artificial lake. It is simply massive (5250 sq km (2027 sq mi), stretching 510km (316mi) in length and between 5km (3mi) and 35km (22mi) in width. It is a great spot for photo's due to the contrast of the desert and the massive area of water.

Created when the High Dam was built near Aswan, Lake Nasser covers the land of Nubia, site of hundreds of tombs, temples and churches. When created many of the monuments that made up the area below the waters were moved from their original sites and grouped together at four locations: Kalabsha, Wadi as-Subua and Amada (both accessible only by boat) and, of course, Abu Simbel with its famous Temple of Rameses.

Aswan

Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city, has long been the country's gateway to Africa. The wealthy city straddles the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes. In ancient times it was a garrison town to early Coptic Christians.

A great activiy is to simply sit and watch the faluka's sailing down the river.

Dahshur

Dahshur is an impressive 3.5km-long (2.2mi-long) field of 4th- and 12th-dynasty pyramids, older cousins of the Pyramids of Giza. Of the original 11 pyramids, only the Bent and Red Pyramids remain intact.

Pharaoh Sneferu (2613-2589 BC), father of Khufu and founder of the 4th dynasty, built Egypt's first true pyramid here, the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid, which were the same height. They are tied at being equal third-largest pyramids in Egypt, after the two largest at Giza.

Many travellers are choosing to visit Dahshur instead of the Giza Plateau. The pyramid is just as impressive as its counterparts at Giza, the site is much more peaceful and the entry fee here is a lot cheaper.

Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm

Egyptian Museum

More than 120,000 relics are housed in this outstanding museum.

Simply walk down the corridors and stumbling into some ancient treasures. You will certainly love this place even if you don't 'do' museums.

Hours: 9:00am-6:45pm

Temples of Karnak

A appropriate monument to Egypt's New Kingdom power, Karnak is a mind-blowing area made up of obelisks, columns, sanctuaries and pylons dedicated to the Theban gods and the glory of Egypt's pharaohs.

Built and then added onto over 1500 years its million-plus square metres overwhelm you with the style of buildings that is Egypt.

Hours: 6:00am-5:30pm

Recent history in Egypt

In 1952 a group of dissident military officers, led by Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser, orchestrated a bloodless coup. The British and French were loathe to relinquish control, so they invaded. The USA and the Soviet Union joined the United Nations-deployed peacekeepers and insisted that the invaders should leave. Nasser became a hero, particularly among Arabs.

Nasser attempted to unite Egypt, Syria, Yemen and later Iraq in the late 1950s, emphasising Arab unity and demonising Israel. Following months of heightening tension between Egypt and Israel, the Jewish state attacked on 5 June 1967, starting the Six Day War. Israel destroyed the Egyptian air force, captured Sinai and closed the Suez Canal.

Anwar Sadat, Nasser's vice president, took over from Nasser when he died in 1970, and set about improving relations with the West. On 6 October 1973, the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Egypt launched a surprise attack on the Israeli occupiers of Sinai. Its army initially beat back the much better armed Israelis; although these initial gains were later reversed, the ceasefire agreement favoured Egyptian interests.

In 1977 Sadat began making peace with Israel, leading to the 1978 Camp David Agreement. Israel agreed to withdraw from Sinai, and Egypt officially recognised Israel. Many in the Arab world felt Sadat had betrayed them, and he was assassinated on 6 October 1981.

Husni Mubarak, Sadat's vice president, replaced him and has been the country's leader ever since and is currently in his 5th term. Mubarak has surprised many with his deft political footwork, improving relations with Israel and other Arab states. With the rise of fundamentalism in the Arab world, Mubarak's position has at times been precarious and he has suffered numerous attempts on his life.

In 1992 Islamic fundamentalists began a campaign of violence and intimidation against tourists and Egyptian security forces. The mid-1990s were characterised by tensions with Sudan over the contested Halaib territory, severe flooding in 1994 and a series of conflicts with fundamentalists culminating in an assassination attempt on President Mubarak in 1995.

In 1997, the massacre of more than 70 people, most of them tourists, by Islamic militants shocked Egyptians and caused thousands worldwide to change there holiday plans.

In July 2005, at least 88 people were killed in bomb attacks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. More recently calm has come of the country.

Attractions in Egypt

1. Visit the Sphinx
2. Dive in the Red Sea coast line
3. Explore the Egyptian Museum
4. Cruise the Nile River by boat
5. Escape the city in one of Egypt’s six oasis
6. Try your skills at bargaining at Cairo's famous Khan-el Khalili bazaar
7. Experience the Pyramids Sound and Light Show

Quick facts of Egypt

Full name:

Capital city:

Cairo

Area:

1,001,449 sq km; 386,659 sq miles

Population:

69,500,000

Time Zone:

GMT/UTC +2 ()

Daylight Saving Start

Daylight Saving End

Languages:

Arabic (official)

Religion:

94% Muslim, 6% Christian

Electricity:

220V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

European plug with two circular metal pins

Plug configuration

Country Dialling Code:

Visa Details:

Money matters

Medical matters

1. yellow fever
2. malaria
3. schistosomiasis (bilharzia)

Getting there

Fly into Egypt through Cairo, although you can fly into Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada (Al-Ghardaka), Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh.

These airports are serviced by a number of smaller carriers and charter companies with direct connections to Europe.

Safety in Egypt

The risk of terrorist attacks in Egypt remains high. In the past such attacks have targeted areas frequented by tourists with the resort city of Dahab in Sinai the most recent target in April 2006.

Check with your travel advisory for the latest update.