The Arab Republic of Egypt including the Sinai Peninsula borders the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It shares borders with Libya to the west, Sudan in the south, and Israel to the west.

Egypt’s desert is all encompassing – save for the lush fertile Nile Valley and delta which comprises only 3% of the nation’s land mass. No less than 95% of Egypt’s population has made their home in the Nile Valley, and so too did their ancestors over 5,000 years ago.

Egypt is gloriously steeped in history – from the ancient builders of the first pyramid in 27^th century BC to the rise and decline of Egypt’s Pharaohs.

Egyptian highlights:

• Aswan is Egypt's sunniest southern city with a distinctive African ambience. Lying on the east bank of the Nile, it has several marvelous engineering feats such as the world

famous Aswan High Dam, which used 18 times more material than what was used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops; and the Philae Temple, which was rescued by UNESCO from the rising waters created by the dam. The temple was completely dismantled and rebuilt to the original orientation on the nearby island of Agilika.

• Cairo, the capital city of Egypt has both cultural icons as well as an internationally famous bazaar to explore. The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities has an astounding collection of antiquities including the Treasures of Tutankhamen, and the Mummy Room. The Citadel is a medieval fortress which also holds the Mohammed Ali Mosque, by far the most impressive. The Pyramids at Giza houses the tombs of King Khufu, his son Khafre and grandson Menkaure - all three are a World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Meanwhile the Great Sphinx, lies next to Khafre's causeway and valley temple; its purpose still unknown.

• In Alexandria, while the Qait Bey Fort stands on the former site of Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina hopes to replace the ancient Alexandrian library tragically destroyed some 2,000 years ago.