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EGYPT- ATOL HOLIDAYS
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DISABLED ACCESS HOLIDAYS IN EGYPT
TEMPLE OF KARNAK, LUXOR
Egypt is synonymous with Pharaohs, the pyramids, temples and antiquities from ancient civilisations. And at the centre of these great civilisations lies the Nile River that has influenced their economics, social life, politics and religion. It is the oldest travel destination on earth: Greek and Roman travellers came in 430 BC to wonder at some of the very sights that make it a modern travel destination today. The magnificence of the painted Valley of the Kings, exquisite temples and the pyramids were all sought-after subjects of admiration, and many were already 2,500 years old!
From desert landscapes and dry, rugged mountains that reach to the sea, dusty cities full of exotic sounds and smells, and green strips of agricultural land snaking along the banks of the Nile, Egypt has something to offer all travellers from all walks of life. Spectacular diving in the Red Sea; unique desert experiences, whether on the back of a camel to Mount Sinai or on a jeep safari to the inner oases; the colour and chaos of Cairo and its markets; and felucca cruises on the Nile River are just some of the exotic attractions awaiting visitors. Egypt promises an unforgettable experience of history and relaxation - a mixture of discovery and pleasure.
SPHINX AT GIZA, CAIRO
Africa’s largest city with a population of over 18 million, Cairo is a chaotic mixture of sights, sounds and smells. It is heaving with life, volatile, polluted and boisterous, with an intensity that both exhausts and invigorates the visitor. It is also distinctive with its ancient monuments in juxtaposition to the modern and cosmopolitan. The congested streets of Islamic Cairo are full of donkey carts, traders and mosques, while camels weave their way haughtily between the crumbling pyramids on the outskirts. Taxis clamour for attention and pedestrians elbow their way past busy coffee houses, where those seeking a brief escape from the hustle and bustle sit sipping at a strong cup of coffee while contemplating the smoke rings of a ‘hubbly bubbly’ water pipe – in true Egyptian style.
Visitors can also practice the age-old art of bargaining for trinkets, spices and perfume in one of the world’s largest bazaars, or pay a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and is one of the country’s main attractions.
Situated on the Nile, Egyptians arrogantly refer to Cairo as the ‘Mother of all Cities’; many visitors who have experienced its unruliness would perhaps describe it in less endearing terms. But no matter how it goes down there is no doubt that Cairo is as beguiling as it is messy, and its charm lies in the blend of African, Arab and European influences, the timelessness of the old and the energy of the present.
THE NILE VALLEY
AMAN-RA, KARNAK
The Nile River has been the lifeblood of Egypt for thousands of years. The narrow fertile strip on either side lies in stark contrast to the desert wasteland beyond. Annual flooding of the Nile and the deposit of silt on its banks has resulted in layers of previous settlements that have been discovered underneath almost every town and village in the valley. Excavations have revealed thousands of tombs, temples and monuments along the banks of the river, and the best places to explore some of these relics are from the small towns of Luxor and Aswan.
ABU SIMBEL FESTIVAL
The festival takes place twice a year, in February and October, in celebration of Ramses II's birthday. When Ramses II built his temple he carefully positioned it so that on his birthday and during the sun solstices the inner sanctum would become lit, the rising sun gradually illuminating the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amun, while the god of darkness, Ptah, remains in shadow. Before sunrise the temple becomes packed with people waiting to witness the spectacular show. The outside celebrations include music, dancing, markets, and food and drink stalls.
Venue: The Temple of Abu Simbel; Date: 22 February 2007; Time: Sunrise
RESORTS
See our separate guides to the following resorts in The Nile Valley: Luxor and Aswan
ATTRACTIONS
ABU SIMBEL
The two temples of Abu Simbel, the Temple of Ramses II and the temple of Hathor (the Sun God) dedicated to his wife Nefertari, were cut out of the sandstone cliffs more than 3,000 years ago. Not only are these temples among the most magnificent in the world, but also their removal and reconstruction are recorded as a major historical feat during the construction of the High Dam on Lake Nasser. The monuments were threatened with submersion, and after an appeal by UNESCO in co-operation with the Egyptian Government they were dismantled and reassembled exactly, about 197ft (60m) higher up. The intimidating sight that first greets the visitor is that of the four colossal statues guarding the entrance to the Grand Hall of the Temple of Ramses. The interior is highly decorated with relief paintings and is supported by eight statues of Ramses acting as giant pillars. Leading off the hall are painted sanctuaries and chambers. The Temple of Hathor is smaller and simpler, also with statues guarding the entrance and a manifestation of the Sun God portrayed above. It is aligned in such a way that the sun's rays reach inside to illuminate the statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, Ramesses II, and Re- Horakhty twice a year.
TRANSPORT:
Hotels in Aswan organise bus tours to the site; Opening time: Daily 6am to 5pm (summer); 6am to 4pm (winter); Admission: LE 34
NUBIAN MUSEUM
This museum is an excellent introduction to the history and culture of the Nubians. It contains a collection of artefacts from Nubia (the region approximately between Aswan and Khartoum in Sudan) and an exhibition of Nubian culture and crafts. It also portrays the history and people of the Nile Valley from ancient times until the present, the project of UNESCO to move monuments like Abu Simbel endangered by the High Dam on lake Nasser to higher ground, and a hall containing impressive statues and tombstones from the region.
Opening time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm (summer); 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm (winter); Admission: LE 35
THE TEMPLE OF KARNAK
The main place of worship in Theban times and built over a period of 1,300 years, the massive Temple of Karnak is an incredibly impressive structure. One of the world's great architectural achievements, the Hypostyle Hall, is filled with immense stone pillars still bearing the engraved and painted inscriptions from the 12th Dynasty, and covers an area of 64,583 square feet (6,000 sq metres). The complex also contains the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the Sacred Lake, and many huge statues, halls, ornate wall murals, obelisks and colonnades.
Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm (winter), 6am to 6pm (summer); Admission: LE 40
THE WEST BANK
The West Bank is an area of limestone hills and valleys riddled with tombs and temples. Goats roam freely among the ruins, and the tiny settlements on the slopes provide a splash of colour in an otherwise desert-like barrenness. The 59ft (18m) high pair of enthroned statues of the Colossi of Memnon are the first things most visitors will see on the West Bank, the only remaining part of the mortuary temple of Amenophis III. Most travellers come to visit the Valley of the Kings where the secretive tombs of the Pharaohs were built to immortalise their mummies and treasures for eternity. In an attempt to thwart tomb robbers, traps and deceptions were part of the architectural planning. Dramatic descents, spectacular murals on the passage and chamber walls and a replica of the original sarcophagus at the end of the tunnel create an awe-inspiring atmosphere. Highlights include the Tomb of Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The country's finest tomb lies in the Valley of the Queens, the Tomb of Nefertari, which has exceptional painted murals, but is at present closed to the public. Also worth a visit is Hatshepsut's Temple, mortuary temple of Egypt's only female Pharaoh.
Opening time: Daily 6am to 6pm (summer), 9am to 5pm (winter); Admission: 3 tombs in the Valley of Kings LE55; an additional ticket for the Tomb of Tutankhamon is required: LE70. Valley of Queens LE20. Hatshepsut’s Temple is LE20
THE SINAI PENINSULA AND THE RED SEA
DIVING IN THE RED SEA
Sinai is about contrasts. A desert interior full of history, where Moses received the Ten Commandments en route to the Promised Land, the Pharaohs found gold and searched for their gods, and where the Bedouins camp beside ruins of Crusader Forts. Christianity, Judaism and Islam know Sinai as a holy land and over the years prophets, saints, pilgrims and warriors have crossed this vast nothingness. Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery at its foot are frequently visited.
The desert comes to an abrupt end at the Red Sea, where exquisite coral reefs provide a fine underwater playground for divers and snorkellers from around the world. The coral reefs along the Sinai coastline are among the best in the world and ‘diving tourism’ is the most recent catchphrase on the peninsula. The Red Sea has one of the highest amounts of marine life variety in all the tropical seas.
Visitors come to experience the simplicity of sun, sea and sand, surrounded by rugged mountains, history and modern Bedouin culture.
Egypt is synonymous with Pharaohs, the pyramids, temples and antiquities from ancient civilisations. And at the centre of these great civilisations lies the Nile River that has influenced their economics, social life, politics and religion. It is the oldest travel destination on earth: Greek and Roman travellers came in 430 BC to wonder at some of the very sights that make it a modern travel destination today. The magnificence of the painted Valley of the Kings, exquisite temples and the pyramids were all sought-after subjects of admiration, and many were already 2,500 years old!
From desert landscapes and dry, rugged mountains that reach to the sea, dusty cities full of exotic sounds and smells, and green strips of agricultural land snaking along the banks of the Nile, Egypt has something to offer all travellers from all walks of life. Spectacular diving in the Red Sea; unique desert experiences, whether on the back of a camel to Mount Sinai or on a jeep safari to the inner oases; the colour and chaos of Cairo and its markets; and felucca cruises on the Nile River are just some of the exotic attractions awaiting visitors. Egypt promises an unforgettable experience of history and relaxation - a mixture of discovery and pleasure.
SPHINX AT GIZA, CAIRO
Africa’s largest city with a population of over 18 million, Cairo is a chaotic mixture of sights, sounds and smells. It is heaving with life, volatile, polluted and boisterous, with an intensity that both exhausts and invigorates the visitor. It is also distinctive with its ancient monuments in juxtaposition to the modern and cosmopolitan. The congested streets of Islamic Cairo are full of donkey carts, traders and mosques, while camels weave their way haughtily between the crumbling pyramids on the outskirts. Taxis clamour for attention and pedestrians elbow their way past busy coffee houses, where those seeking a brief escape from the hustle and bustle sit sipping at a strong cup of coffee while contemplating the smoke rings of a ‘hubbly bubbly’ water pipe – in true Egyptian style.
Visitors can also practice the age-old art of bargaining for trinkets, spices and perfume in one of the world’s largest bazaars, or pay a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and is one of the country’s main attractions.
Situated on the Nile, Egyptians arrogantly refer to Cairo as the ‘Mother of all Cities’; many visitors who have experienced its unruliness would perhaps describe it in less endearing terms. But no matter how it goes down there is no doubt that Cairo is as beguiling as it is messy, and its charm lies in the blend of African, Arab and European influences, the timelessness of the old and the energy of the present.
THE NILE VALLEY
AMAN-RA, KARNAK
The Nile River has been the lifeblood of Egypt for thousands of years. The narrow fertile strip on either side lies in stark contrast to the desert wasteland beyond. Annual flooding of the Nile and the deposit of silt on its banks has resulted in layers of previous settlements that have been discovered underneath almost every town and village in the valley. Excavations have revealed thousands of tombs, temples and monuments along the banks of the river, and the best places to explore some of these relics are from the small towns of Luxor and Aswan.
ABU SIMBEL FESTIVAL
The festival takes place twice a year, in February and October, in celebration of Ramses II's birthday. When Ramses II built his temple he carefully positioned it so that on his birthday and during the sun solstices the inner sanctum would become lit, the rising sun gradually illuminating the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amun, while the god of darkness, Ptah, remains in shadow. Before sunrise the temple becomes packed with people waiting to witness the spectacular show. The outside celebrations include music, dancing, markets, and food and drink stalls.
Venue: The Temple of Abu Simbel; Date: 22 February 2007; Time: Sunrise
RESORTS
See our separate guides to the following resorts in The Nile Valley: Luxor and Aswan
ATTRACTIONS
ABU SIMBEL
The two temples of Abu Simbel, the Temple of Ramses II and the temple of Hathor (the Sun God) dedicated to his wife Nefertari, were cut out of the sandstone cliffs more than 3,000 years ago. Not only are these temples among the most magnificent in the world, but also their removal and reconstruction are recorded as a major historical feat during the construction of the High Dam on Lake Nasser. The monuments were threatened with submersion, and after an appeal by UNESCO in co-operation with the Egyptian Government they were dismantled and reassembled exactly, about 197ft (60m) higher up. The intimidating sight that first greets the visitor is that of the four colossal statues guarding the entrance to the Grand Hall of the Temple of Ramses. The interior is highly decorated with relief paintings and is supported by eight statues of Ramses acting as giant pillars. Leading off the hall are painted sanctuaries and chambers. The Temple of Hathor is smaller and simpler, also with statues guarding the entrance and a manifestation of the Sun God portrayed above. It is aligned in such a way that the sun's rays reach inside to illuminate the statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, Ramesses II, and Re- Horakhty twice a year.
TRANSPORT:
Hotels in Aswan organise bus tours to the site; Opening time: Daily 6am to 5pm (summer); 6am to 4pm (winter); Admission: LE 34
NUBIAN MUSEUM
This museum is an excellent introduction to the history and culture of the Nubians. It contains a collection of artefacts from Nubia (the region approximately between Aswan and Khartoum in Sudan) and an exhibition of Nubian culture and crafts. It also portrays the history and people of the Nile Valley from ancient times until the present, the project of UNESCO to move monuments like Abu Simbel endangered by the High Dam on lake Nasser to higher ground, and a hall containing impressive statues and tombstones from the region.
Opening time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm (summer); 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm (winter); Admission: LE 35
THE TEMPLE OF KARNAK
The main place of worship in Theban times and built over a period of 1,300 years, the massive Temple of Karnak is an incredibly impressive structure. One of the world's great architectural achievements, the Hypostyle Hall, is filled with immense stone pillars still bearing the engraved and painted inscriptions from the 12th Dynasty, and covers an area of 64,583 square feet (6,000 sq metres). The complex also contains the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the Sacred Lake, and many huge statues, halls, ornate wall murals, obelisks and colonnades.
Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm (winter), 6am to 6pm (summer); Admission: LE 40
THE WEST BANK
The West Bank is an area of limestone hills and valleys riddled with tombs and temples. Goats roam freely among the ruins, and the tiny settlements on the slopes provide a splash of colour in an otherwise desert-like barrenness. The 59ft (18m) high pair of enthroned statues of the Colossi of Memnon are the first things most visitors will see on the West Bank, the only remaining part of the mortuary temple of Amenophis III. Most travellers come to visit the Valley of the Kings where the secretive tombs of the Pharaohs were built to immortalise their mummies and treasures for eternity. In an attempt to thwart tomb robbers, traps and deceptions were part of the architectural planning. Dramatic descents, spectacular murals on the passage and chamber walls and a replica of the original sarcophagus at the end of the tunnel create an awe-inspiring atmosphere. Highlights include the Tomb of Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The country's finest tomb lies in the Valley of the Queens, the Tomb of Nefertari, which has exceptional painted murals, but is at present closed to the public. Also worth a visit is Hatshepsut's Temple, mortuary temple of Egypt's only female Pharaoh.
Opening time: Daily 6am to 6pm (summer), 9am to 5pm (winter); Admission: 3 tombs in the Valley of Kings LE55; an additional ticket for the Tomb of Tutankhamon is required: LE70. Valley of Queens LE20. Hatshepsut’s Temple is LE20
THE SINAI PENINSULA AND THE RED SEA
DIVING IN THE RED SEA
Sinai is about contrasts. A desert interior full of history, where Moses received the Ten Commandments en route to the Promised Land, the Pharaohs found gold and searched for their gods, and where the Bedouins camp beside ruins of Crusader Forts. Christianity, Judaism and Islam know Sinai as a holy land and over the years prophets, saints, pilgrims and warriors have crossed this vast nothingness. Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery at its foot are frequently visited.
The desert comes to an abrupt end at the Red Sea, where exquisite coral reefs provide a fine underwater playground for divers and snorkellers from around the world. The coral reefs along the Sinai coastline are among the best in the world and ‘diving tourism’ is the most recent catchphrase on the peninsula. The Red Sea has one of the highest amounts of marine life variety in all the tropical seas.
Visitors come to experience the simplicity of sun, sea and sand, surrounded by rugged mountains, history and modern Bedouin culture.