Find your next Egyptian adventure
It's no surprise that Egypt's fascinating history, well-preserved temples, fish-filled coral reefs and swathes of golden-sand beaches have lured holidaymakers for years. Add to that the country's average maximum temperatures of 20 degrees in winter and 35 in summer, and you've got a fantastic holiday package any time during the year.
Here's how to spend your time in this captivating country:
Step into the Nile Valley's classroom
Egyptology enthusiasts in search of the greatest archaeological sites this ancient land has to offer should head straight to the Nile Valley on arrival. If you have time, be sure to visit both Cairo's imposing Pyramids of Giza and the open-air museum of Luxor, where you'll find the remains of Thebes, the vast Karnak Temple complex and the stunning Valley of the Kings, home to many of the New Kingdom pharaohs' tombs including that of Tutankhamun. Whether you take a day trip or a 2-week tour of the country, the incredibly preservation of these 4000-year-old relics will whisk you right back to ancient Egyptian times.
Photo by @sheriframadan__.
Get wet and wild in El Gouna
El Gouna's golden beaches and azure lagoons appear like a mirage, shimmering against a backdrop of mountains and desert. As well as being a tranquil oasis of boutique hotels, super yachts and waterfront restaurants, the town has some of the best conditions for watersports in the country. El Gouna's warm shallow waters provide the perfect conditions for high-adrenaline kitesurfing during the day and paddleboarding at sunset, or head to Sliders -- one of the world's largest cable parks -- where you can hone your wakeboarding skills.
Photo by @maxleproux.
Meet the locals in Aswan
Aswan may be famous for the languorous stretch of the Nile it sits on, palm islands and impressive dams, but it's also home to some of the most important sites for traditional Nubian villages. Siou and Koti on Elephantine Island are easily accessible options and a feast for the senses. Wander the towns' maze of streets, where you'll find hajj scenes painted across buildings in daubs of cobalt blue, shocking pink, sunshine yellow and emerald green, and barter with local merchants for hand-made crafts, mounds of rich spices and thirst-quenching tea.
Photo by @essramostafa.
Head into the desert in Sahl Hasheesh
Perched between crystal-clear waters and the rocky Red Sea Mountains, Sahl Hasheesh is a luxury resort complete with Arabesque-style design and a 12.5-kilometre-long beach, and is the perfect base from which to explore the area’s scenic desert plains -- home to a few thousand Bedouin. For an authentic experience of life in the desert, hire a jeep and spend the night under the stars in a traditional Bedouin camp, complete with campfires and storytelling. Thrill seekers can also ride quad bikes across the sandy dunes as the sun goes down
Photo by @zizogamaly.
Test the Red Sea's waters
Below the waves, you'll find technicolour corals, vast schools of fish and maybe even a whale shark or two. So, grab your flippers and mask, and find out why the marine-filled waters of the Red Sea are considered among the finest in the world for diving.
Our recommendation? Head to Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, where the famous wrecks of the Chisola K, Carnatic and Giannis D lie, or the Big Brother and Little Brother reefs for some of the best conditions in the area. For something a little different, try the Sunken City in Sahl Hasheesh -- an artificial maze of underwater temple-like structures inspired by Atlantis and the pharaonic city that once stood in the area. And for the chance to see friendly local sea turtles and dugongs (sea cows), be sure to put Marsa Alam on your itinerary, too.
Photo by @think_n_travel.