Egypt Guide
Beyond the ancient pyramids, mummies and carpets of sand, jump into Cairo's party scene, explore pristine coral reefs, discover Red Sea resorts and let time, and the desert, drift by your felucca as gentle winds carry it along the Nile.
The Pyramids at Giza alone are worth a trip to Egypt. Haggle in Cairo's sprawling, medieval Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, then head north for the corniche of cultured, contemporary Alexandria and its Bibliotheca, a futuristic storehouse of millennia of art, culture and literature. Wander Luxor's majestic Avenue of Sphinxes then sail south to Aswan's peaceful Nubian villages.
Dive the Red Sea's clear waters for rainbow-hued fish and take a closer look at intricate coral life at Ras-Muhammed National Park. Rest among Bedouins at oases around the Western Desert, from remote Siwa to lush Feiran Oasis. Lie back on a felucca as it glides down the Nile Valley. Climb or ride a camel up Mount Sinai to greet the sunrise at St Katherine's Monastery.
Hunt for fresh dates and olive oil from Siwa Oasis, traditional Nubian baskets in Aswan and a sheesha pipe and fruity tobacco anywhere. Buy chunky hand-blown glassware, a slinky belly-dancing costume, inlaid backgammon set and appliqué fabrics from the vendors in Khan el-Khalili market. Pick up a traditional stringed oud from any decent music store.
Breakfast on garlicky ful midamess (fava beans with olive oil) and grab a shwarma (spit-roast lamb kebab) for lunch or national favourite koshary (rice, lentils and onions). Dinner kicks off with mezze then launch into a stuffed grilled pigeon or kufta (roasted ground lamb). Finish with mint tea.
Tee off at one of the Seven Wonders of the World and play a round of golf next to the pyramids, or indulge in traditional Nubian hot sand therapeutic treatment in Aswan.
